Following Serendipity Tours’ recent suspension from the BSP after the group failed to settle R5,5m in Kenya Airways ADMs, frustrated SWG ITCs took to Travelinfo’s Open Jaw Facebook platform to complain that local airline offices would, in some instances, not process their refunds until SWG’s outstanding remittances had been settled. This was regardless of the fact that the agent was an ITC and not responsible for the head office’s BSP status.
Serendipity Tours’ group operations director, Dinesh Naidoo, told Travel News that following its BSP suspension, the agency had been unable to settle remittances through this channel. He advised that the agency was now liaising with airlines to obtain direct invoices from them for any funds that were owed.
“The instance mentioned on social media related to a remittance under R1 000, which has since been settled allowing the airline in question to continue assisting our ITCs. Our office is still available to assist partners with refund issues and can be contacted at refunds@serendipitytours.co.za or at claims@serendipitytours.co.za,” said Dinesh. This was confirmed by the airline in question.
VM Insolvency and business rescue practitioners have been appointed to liquidate Serendipity Tours and its ITC brand, SWG.
Natasha Saikoolal can be contacted on 031 262 2009 or at nsaikoolal@vminsolvency.co.za in relation to the liquidation.
