According to RouteOne magazine Facebook page, Bowen Travel Group have called in the administrators this morning.
Confirmed. In local news online and their website has been suspended. Another one bites the dust?
Hopefully something can be sold on as a going concern.
I would think the travel agencies will struggle to find a buyer as a large number of Travel Agents seem to be shutting branches and concentrating online.
But the rest must be useful for somebody. As well as Bowens there is Jeffs running coaches and buses from near Brackley.
Quote from: D10 on October 25, 2012, 09:24:11 PM
Hopefully something can be sold on as a going concern.
But the rest must be useful for somebody. As well as Bowens there is Jeffs running coaches and buses from near Brackley.
Not to mention Appleby's too. I noticed BTG had closed a handful of booking offices recently so they must've been trying to slim the operation down somehow. Hoping they won't completely disappear.
Quote from: Mr Wood on October 26, 2012, 07:56:12 AM
Quote from: D10 on October 25, 2012, 09:24:11 PM
Hopefully something can be sold on as a going concern.
But the rest must be useful for somebody. As well as Bowens there is Jeffs running coaches and buses from near Brackley.
Not to mention Appleby's too. I noticed BTG had closed a handful of booking offices recently so they must've been trying to slim the operation down somehow. Hoping they won't completely disappear.
They have had a large number of older coaches advertised for sale recently as well. I'd be surprised if some or all of the business can't be saved, Bowens, Appleby's, Yorks & Jeffs all have good names & reputations. It looks as though its more of a cash flow problem that has caused them to call in the administrators or their banks have forced the issue
I've been thinking about this this morning, particularly as I passed their closed booking office in Sedgley. I wonder if this says something about companies buying up others and creating large travel groups, as has been the norm over the last few years. In some cases, not saying that this is the case with Bowens as I don't have all the information, expansion has perhaps come at a price, such as quality of service etc.
I took a week's holiday to Kent with Bowens in August and the service was of a very high standard.
So i'm sorry to see them go since i was planning to go with them again.
With regards to the coach tour operation part of the problem was the door to door pick up service..All well and good being picked up in a brand new 6 seater volkeswagon but you then had a 2 hour wait at Hopwood park services to board a 10 year old plus tour coach! Operators need to subscribe to the Parrys and Leons outlook to survive.
One Bowens Travel Group coach was in city 0800
What is 2 bowens black minisbuses doing parked at house just up from Kings Head from city side
The owner of Thandi coaches lives there