Need to know: Updates to Package and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations

The Government and the travel industry have always worked together to provide protection to UK holiday makers. To continue providing important protection to consumers, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has recently released some new guidance that affects the Package Travel Directive Regulations.

The new legislation which came into force in July 2018 significantly expand on the scope of the existing Package Travel Regulations and businesses are being advised to double check their products to ensure that they are compliant.

Who do the regulations apply to?

The regulations apply to all organisations that offer a package deal to a customer where there is a linkage between two of more of following elements:

Transport
Accommodation
Motor or Vehicle Hire
Other Tourism Services (Can include tickets to an attraction, a meal, a spa treatment and similar services.)

Therefore, if you are a B&B owner and you offer a package that includes an overnight stay and a trip to a local Golf Club or similar, you will need to ensure that you have read through the updated regulations carefully and have made any changes as required. Dependant on the circumstances, any sale that links two or more of these elements will be deemed as either a Package or a Linked Travel Arrangement. For more information, please consult the BEIS.

Important changes to be aware of...

In particular, there are three major changes that you need to be aware of that are included within the new regulations. These include:

Motor Vehicle Hire: Motor vehicle hire is now a separate and distinct element and should be reviewed within your products.
Circumstances: The circumstances in which a package is deemed to have been created have been significantly expanded to include dynamic packaging and when a single company sells two or more elements.
New Forms: A new form of Package has also been introduced by the BEIS. Titled a ‘Linked Travel Arrangement’ it is when a targeted offer is made to a customer when they make a purchase.

A quick reminder...

If you do provide Travel Packages that are available to customers, it is really important to ensure that not only do you follow the new regulations but that you also have the standard information available on your website that is required. The standard information lists the key rights under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 and should be made aware to the customer before purchase.

More Information

For more information and detailed advice on the new legislation and how it may impact your products or services, we strongly advise that you consult the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for specific guidance or download the Guidance for Businesses: The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here.