Hunt ADR Limited, exclusive providers of arbitration and mediation services to Love Holidays, On the Beach, Dial-a-Flight and more than 1,000 tour operators and travel agents who are members of ABTA, the Travel Association, is launching a new commercial dispute resolution service for the travel industry.  The service, known as TACS, will be available to access from Monday 5^th October 2020. 

Gregory Hunt, Founder & Managing Director of Hunt ADR, himself an award-winning mediator who has mediated dozens of travel industry disputes, says:

The travel industry is being hit particularly hard by a significant fall in activity due to COVID 19.  The last thing any business in the travel industry and its partners needs is to find itself in a dispute which could lead to expensive, public, protracted litigation.  This is why we are launching TACS on 5^th October, providing parties involved in commercial travel disputes the opportunity to have their dispute resolved quickly, cost-effectively and privately through mediation or arbitration.  Commercial parties can rely on TACS. Our arbitrators and mediators have resolved thousands of travel disputes, giving them unparalleled status as the UKs leading group of dispute resolution professionals for disputes involving parties in and on the periphery of the travel industry.

TACS can deal with any commercial dispute involving any business involved in the travel industry. Whilst a dispute could relate to a specific travel contract or service, it can equally relate to disputes between businesses in the sector and their landlords, their office suppliers, their communications providers and so on. TACS is not limited to the UK markets and parties can benefit from New York and Singapore Convention rules.

Procedures are clear and pricing is competitive, fixed and transparent. Full details will be released on 5^th October.

Of the service, Dean Dunham, arbitrator, barrister, solicitor-advocate and Legal Commentator on LBC Radio – who will be a member of the TACS Arbitration Panel, says:

Travel Companies who find themselves in commercial conflict can use TACS to achieve a judgement or settlement within a tiny fraction of the time and cost associated with going to court. The fact that arbitration and mediation are also conducted in private will allow businesses the opportunity to have disputes resolved without negative publicity which could affect their value and status in the eyes of the public. A real advantage of TACS is that it will reduce legal spend on dispute resolution allowing businesses to ensure that their consumer customers do not suffer due to commercial agreements which may have gone wrong.

Keith Richards, former of Head of Consumer Affairs & Business Development at ABTA and current Board Member of Transport Focus, adds:

With uncertainty around costs and the unpredictability caused by delays, no business will want to find itself in the courts, whether making a claim or having to defend one. In the travel sector more than most, where good business is built on strong and trusted relationships, margins are often very small, so resolving disputes quickly and cheaply is essential.  Disputes happen – they are a part of all our lives. And when they do there are many benefits for all parties of using TACS.  Whether mediation or arbitration, TACS is perfect for dealing with disputes in this important sector. They are cost-effective, quick, and crucially, outcomes are private.  Mediated outcomes are driven by what is agreed by both parties, allowing trust and fractured relationships to be repaired and business to continue on good terms. In my experience of the travel sector these are all benefits that no business should ignore.

Krystene Bousfield​, Associate at leading travel and leisure law firm Travelaw LLP adds:

At Travlaw, we have had great experience with Hunt ADR and their assistance in dealing with B2C mediation matters. To now have the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills in B2B matters will be extremely beneficial to our clients, especially in these current times

For more information please contact gregoryhunt@travelarbitration.co.uk.