New York, NY -- May 31, 2001: With the closing of Kingdom Vacations on May 30, 2001, Vista Travel Ventures and its companies Adventure Express, African Safari, Dive Tours, and Tropical Ventures are no longer Active Members of the United States Tour Operators Association, reports USTOA president, Bob Whitley.
All consumer deposits and payments to Vista Travel Ventures' companies made prior to June 1st will be covered by the USTOA $1 Million Consumer Protection Plan. However, deposits and payments made after that date will no longer be covered, reports Whitley. "We are deeply saddened by the closure of Kingdom Vacations, and are doing everything possible to see that affected consumers receive reimbursement for their deposits and payments," he adds.
USTOA is urging travel agents whose clients purchased their Kingdom Vacations' packages via credit or charge card to contact their credit card company for a full refund. Agents whose clients paid in cash or by check are advised to have them file a claim for reimbursement of funds paid, directly through USTOA. Details of the USTOA $1 Million Consumer Protection Plan, and downloadable claim forms are available through the USTOA web site's home page, www.ustoa.com, by clicking on the "Travel Agent's Room" icon. Travel agents can also fax USTOA at (212) 599-6744, or write to USTOA, 342 Madison Ave., Suite 1522, New York, NY 10173, for a claim form. To be eligible for reimbursement, completed claim forms must be received no later than July 31, 2001.
Instituted in 1993, USTOA's $1 Million Consumer Protection
Plan requires that each of the organization's Active Member companies
post $1 million in the form of either a bond or letter of credit.
The security, to be held by USTOA, is solely for use in reimbursing
consumer deposits and payments resulting from a member company
bankruptcy or insolvency.
Public Relations Contact:
Linda Kundell Communications
(212) 877-2798, (212) 877-3387 fax
(For all other inquiries about USTOA, please contact USTOA.)
