Essex coach firm Crusader Holidays gets new owner
An Essex coach holiday firm which went into administration earlier this month has a new owner.
Crusader Holidays, based in Clacton-on-Sea, has been bought by Buckinghamshire company Motts Leisure Ltd.
Its director Roger Mott said it was "working flat out" to ensure existing bookings would go ahead or be refunded.
He said the booking offices in Clacton would be retained and it hoped to retain "the majority" of its staff who were left after administration.
The Essex-firm called in administrator Ernst and Young on 1 December.
Motts Leisure Ltd completed the deal to take on its business on Monday.
'Operate all tours'
Mr Mott said the Aylesbury company had had an association with Crusader Holidays for 13 years.
He said: "Obviously it's very difficult at the present time because we're picking up loose ends and are finding all sorts of problems.
"But our plans are to operate all tours going forward."
Mr Mott added it was having "one or difficulties" with some hotels who had heard about the administration and cancelled their reservations.
He said: "We're working flat out to rectify this and all customers we are hoping to offer their holidays.
"But no passenger will lose money out of this at all, because there is a procedure in place due to the Bonded Coach Holidays scheme where all customers will either have their holiday or they will have a refund of the monies paid."
Crusader Holidays has been operating coach tours across the UK and Europe since 1974.