A Villa Parade director has blamed a rival company for 'fatally wounding' it as the Huddersfield firm ceased trading.

In an email seen by the Examiner a senior member of Villa Parade staff blamed rival agent Travelopo for an 'attack' on its trade in Majorca.

Travelopo last month emailed Villa Parade customers telling them their bookings would not be honoured.

Villa Parade, who are based at Highfields, last month obtained a High Court injunction ordering Travelopo to retract the statement.

But in an email Villa Parade sales and marketing director, Andrew Warden, yesterday said Somerset-based Travelopo's actions had 'fatally wounded' the Huddersfield-based company.

Villa Parade ceased trading last night.

Mr Warden said: "We have been placed into liquidation by the banks...

"...we have been fatally wounded by the Travelopo attack which we just haven’t been able to recover from the devastation (sic)."

Mr Warden added that 12 employees had been made redundant.

In the email to a customer Mr Warden added: "I am really sorry that this has happened and left you in this very difficult position. Please accept my sincere apologies."

Office of villaparade.com in Huddersfield
Office of Villa Parade in Huddersfield


Travelopo was struck off the ABTA register for failing to comply with the travel association and insurer's financial regulations.

The Examiner contacted Travelopo.

The company failed to respond.

Travel industry regulator ABTA is setting up a special "travel clinic" to advise many of the holidaymakers who have paid out for flights or holidays.

The company has spent years renting out villas, mainly in Spain and Portugal.

ABTA say there around 1,300  bookings for future holidays with villa accommodation only.

What ABTA say

Any customers who have booked this type of arrangement directly with Air Parade Ltd can get all the information to make a claim by going to ABTA's Travel Clinic and a refund for the villa accommodation will be arranged.

The watchdog says there are around 400 forward bookings for flight-packages that will be protected by its ATOL cover.

Any customers who have booked this type of arrangement should contact the CAA on  020 7453 6350  or visit  www.atol.org.uk

In addition there are around 300 forward bookings where Air Parade provided the accommodation via another company.

Customers should contact the company they used to book the accommodation and they will be looked after by that company, who will either advise that their holiday can go ahead, arrange an alternative booking, or arrange a refund.

In a small number of bookings Air Parade was acting as an agent for other travel providers.

Any customer who made a booking through Air Parade but whose accommodation or travel is being supplied by another company (the travel provider) should contact the travel provider in the first instance.

Huddersfield travel Villa Parade company at centre of "scam" storm - click to read

Villa Parade granted high court injunction ordering firm Travelopo to retract email saying holidays are at risk - click here to read

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