Center Parcs forced into u-turn after threatening to kick out guests on Monday
Center Parcs has been forced into an embarrassing u-turn after threatening to kick out holidaymakers on Monday as it closed for the Queen’s funeral.
Hundreds took to Twitter to express their anger and frustration after the short-breaks specialist announced its villages across the UK would close on 19 September “ as a mark of respect”.
The decision was taken “to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment” as it promised refunds or rescheduling for any guests affected.
In a statement published on its site, Center Parcs initially warned “guests who were due to arrive on Monday 19 September.. not [to] travel on this day, though we will reopen on Tuesday 20 September and be ready to welcome our guests then.”
Center Parcs told anyone affected they “will receive an email today explaining the options available”, but many on social media responded saying they’d be left out of pocket.
In a statement, it said “like many businesses we have taken the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday 19th September.. as a mark of respect.”
It said it contacted guests and “offered them a number of different options”, but this led to a furious backlash online, as holidaymakers were left in the lurch.
In an apparent u-turn, Center Parcs’ updated its statement saying “we have.. reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday and we will be allowing them to stay on our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday.”
“The villages will still remain closed on Monday and we will be offering a discount for the lack of facilities available on that day.”
Many took to social media to vent at the approach, with one user on Twitter called @LisaaJune said her family had “paid over £600 for a four day holiday” and it was unclear how much they’d be refunded.
“This has now been effectively cut short by a full day. You’re discounting for those that have a delayed arrival date but what about those of us who have lost the last day of their holiday?!”
Another person, under the handle @bonzo_g replied to Center Parcs saying they were “very angry about this – we are not travelling directly to you, so this has left us stranded half way up the country without accommodation for a night. 30% offered is nowhere near close enough to covering the extra costs.”