The Global Travel Group - aka dnata - aka Holiday Direction - aka Cruise Direction
You might know The Global Travel Group (TGTG) by many other names, as they are basically a franchise operation who, (for a handsome fee/fees), take on small independent travel businesses, which each keep their own name but are basically spokes of this outfit.
My misfortune has been to book a cruise with one of their franchisees, HOLIDAY DIRECTION (t/a CRUISE DIRECTION).
TGTG itself is apparently owned by yet another organisation, a holding company (dnata) based out of the UAE - whose financial filings with Companies House are now 6 months late, which is a concern in itself.
So what you have is a complex web of companies, with no transparency for the customer whatsoever - especially when you want to get the refund due to you (within 14 days) for a cancelled cruise.
It is now 90 days since I notified Cruise Direction that I wanted a refund for our aborted cruise - but they simply say it’s out of their hands as TGTG are holding the money for them. All very convenient I’m sure. I am now making a Section 75 claim from my credit card company out of utter despair and frustration at Cruise Direction’s lack of action.
This was my first - and clearly my last - engagement with Cruise Direction and I strongly recommend you steer clear of them. It’s not the fact that a problem (Covid) has arisen, it’s how you deal with them that matters. And Cruise Direction have not dealt with this in an honourable or efficient way.
Be warned: check who actually owns any travel agent you go with, as it’s not always clear and can lead to a massive passing of the buck.