Teletext Holidays

Last updated

Teletext Holidays
Teletext Holidays logo.png
Type of site
Private
Founded1992
Area servedWorldwide
IndustryTravel, tourism
Products Package holidays, hotels
Services Travel Agencies
URL www.teletextholidays.co.uk

Teletext Holidays is a British travel company established in 1992. The company was owned by Teletext Ltd and initially operated as a teletext service before transitioning to an online platform in the 2010s. [1] In 2021 its parent company Truly Travel entered into liquidation. The brand was revived in 2024.

Contents

History

Prior to 1992 Teletext services were available via television sets on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. In 1992 a new company called Teletext Ltd bought the TV teletext service from previous owners Oracle, which had provided the teletext services on ITV and Channel 4.

On 1 January 1993 Teletext Ltd released a new version of Teletext on TV, with holidays a major part of this revamped offering.[ citation needed ]

In December 2009 Teletext Ltd removed its services, including Teletext Holidays, from ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, leading to a fine of £225,000. Teletext Holidays remained available on Freeview. [2] In October 2012 Ceefax services on BBC also ended.

Online offering

In late 2010 Teletext Holidays modernised its website. [3] In 2013 the company appointed Truly Travel as their sole provider of package holidays. [4]

Data breach

In August 2019 it was revealed that Teletext Holidays had left 212,000 customer call recordings on an unprotected server for three years, exposing sensitive personal data. [5]

Unpaid refunds and liquidation

In February 2021 the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into Teletext Holidays and its parent company Truly Travel, following hundreds of complains regarding unpaid refunds for holidays cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6] [7] The CMA began related court proceedings on 18 October 2021. [8] In November 2021 Truly Travel went into liquidation. [9] On 28 February 2022 the High Court of Justice found that Truly Travel broke the law regarding the unpaid refunds. [10]

The liquidation left Teletext Holidays with no holiday provider and its owners Teletext Ltd sought new buyers. A deal was not struck and in late 2023 Teletext Ltd itself went into liquidation.[ citation needed ]

New owners

In 2024 the Teletext Holidays brand was revived by Teletext Travel Ltd., which is unaffiliated with Teletext Ltd or Truly Travel. [11]

Awards and recognition

Teletext Holidays has received industry recognition, including the "Best Online Travel Agent" award at the British Travel Awards in 2018 and 2019. [12] [13] It was also recognised for "Best All Inclusive Holiday Company" in 2019, [14] and received an award for "Best Use of TV" at The Travel Marketing Awards the same year. [15]

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References

  1. ↑ "Teletext Holidays to move brand into digital age". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  2. ↑ "Teletext fined £225,000 by Ofcom for closing early". BBC News. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Branwell (2 December 2010). "Teletext Holidays unveils new platforms and supporting campaign". Marketing Week. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Teletext Holidays strikes deal with Truly Travel". TTG. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Scammell, Robert (30 August 2019). "Exclusive: Teletext Holidays data breach exposes 212,000 customer call recordings". Verdict. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  6. ↑ "Teletext faces court action unless it pays over £7m in refunds". gov.uk. Competition and Markets Authority. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  7. ↑ Brignall, Miles (4 February 2021). "Teletext Holidays faces questions over failure to offer Covid refunds". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "CMA launches court action against Teletext Holidays". gov.uk. Competition and Markets Authority. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Dennis, Juliet (3 November 2021). "Liquidators appointed by Teletext Holidays supplier Truly Travel". Travolution. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Court finds that Teletext Holidays broke consumer law". gov.uk. Competition and Markets Authority. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "About Teletext Holidays | Discover our 50-Year Journey". Teletext Holidays. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  12. ↑ Thompson, Nigel; Delahaye, Julie (29 November 2018). "British public's favourite travel firms and airlines revealed for 2018". The Mirror. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Delahaye, Julie (28 November 2019). "Brits' favourite travel companies for 2019 announced as voted for by the public". The Mirror. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Delahaye, Julie (28 November 2019). "Brits' favourite travel companies for 2019 announced as voted for by the public". The Mirror. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "Teletext Holidays | Media Case Study". Guerillascope. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
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