Conquest Vacations ceases operations

Popular tour operator, Conquest Vacations Inc., announced Wednesday the cessation of its tour operations effective immediately.

A message to customers appeared on the company’s website, saying it was the result of "overcapacity and price war among the major tour operators" and "unrealistic and unreasonable demands by the credit card processing companies."

Customers who are booked and paid using cash or check through a travel agency are being told to contact their respective agency who will assist with respect to a refund or claim.

The statement says customers who have booked directly with Conquest Vacations will be contacted or should they wish to contact Conquest, please email to directcustomers@conquestvacations.com with a booking reference number.

Customers who have booked and paid for their future travel using a credit card, should contact their credit card issuing institution for a refund.

The company also blames a "credit squeeze and economic turmoil in recent months" and says that made it "impossible for companies like Conquest to continue in business even after weathering many storms over the past 37 years."

Flight Centre Canada has dozens of passengers affected by Conquest’s closure who are currently on vacation in Cuba, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, according to Allison Wallace, a spokeswoman for the travel agency.

Those customers, from Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, are currently travelling on Air Canada Vacations packages that were sold by Conquest through Flight Centre’s agencies.

"Any client that travelled to their destination on Air Canada Vacations’ planes through Conquest will be picked up on their scheduled departure date," she said.

Conquest, which was established in 1972 and has offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

The company, which has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax, was established in 1972 by owner and president Robbie Goldberg. It started as a motorcoach operator for trips to Florida and ski destinations and eventually moved into charter tour market offering packaged tours to tropical destinations.

The company says it flew more than a million passengers last year across Canada to destinations in Britain, Europe, Florida, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, Central America and the United States. Its summer schedule was primarily based on service between Hamilton, Ont., Halifax, Calgary and Vancouver to the U.K. destinations of Gatwick, Manchester, Dublin, and Edinburgh.

It chartered seats on planes operated by Air Canada, Air Transat, Canjet and Skyservice, according to its website.

If you have been affected by this, call Global News at 416-446-5460 or email us at newstips@globaltv.com.

With files from Financial Post.