Please note that it is important that every member reads this message as it affects us all.
Dear Member,
Recently we became aware of EU and Spanish travel regulations which had become law, and which directly affects the way our Travel Teams (inc. S.C.&C.) operate.
In law, there is now a very clear divide between ‘Social’ Organisations (like the U3A), who organise occasional travel events for their members and who have certain exemptions under the legislation, and Travel Agents who must be bonded.
Simply put, if a business (hotel, transport company, etc.) that we had booked with was to fail (having taken our money), then in certain circumstances the U3A Jávea and its ‘Agents’ could possibly be held liable for the loss. This could arise if the trip had not been booked through a bonded Travel Agent, as we would be operating as the Travel Organiser/Travel Agent for that particular trip – but without the bond.
Consequently, we must now take the following actions:
- We have opened a separate bank account (in a different bank) for all travel funds – this protects the membership fees that we collect.
- We have introduced a rule for those organising our travel trips, that any trip where an individual travel supplier is charging us in excess of €5,000 must be booked via a Bonded Travel Agent.
- To stay within the law as a ‘social’ organisation, we must limit the number of overnight trips (not day trips) that we book ourselves directly with the hotel/travel provider (without using a Travel Agent) to 10 per annum. There remains no limit on trips booked via a Travel Agent.
- Also, we have decided that, with immediate effect, any new Day Trips being organised will carry a small levy of €1 per person per trip, and Overnight Trips a levy of €2. This levy will be deducted by the Treasurer and set aside towards any possible future losses on trips not booked via a Travel Agent.
A great deal of work has been done by a sub-Group of the Executive Committee over the summer, to investigate this matter and to produce this action plan, in order to limit any risk (regardless of how low and unlikely) to the organisation, the executive and members, our treasured and much loved Travel Teams who have brought us so much enjoyment over the years (and continue to do so), and – Our Funds!
For those of you wishing to have a more detailed explanation of this matter, we have written a plain English, comprehensive explanatory document “Revised Travel Regulations”.
If you have any questions, please read that document first – it is available by following the link below.
Also, revised Guidance has been drafted and issued to our Travel Organisers and to Spanish Culture & Cuisine, as has our Travel Terms & Conditions – all available on the website and available by following the links below.
On behalf of us all please rest easy and continue to enjoy your travel with us.
Sincerely,
Claude Grealy – President
Ends:
Link: Revised Travel Regulations
