XL collapse, a rep's account

A holiday rep has told how she lost her dream job and was left stranded in Kefalonia after the collapse of travel firm XL Leisure. Thousands of tourists were abandoned in 50 destinations worldwide when the UK’s third largest package holiday group announced it had gone into administration last Friday.

Jenna Wood had been employed for just five months with Kosmar Villa Holidays – a tour operator which was bought by XL in 2006. The 23-year-old had been on the Greek island since July and was expected to stay in the Mediterranean resort until October doing the job she loved.

She said: “On Friday morning I got a call from my boss saying he needed to speak to me and went through the door and the reps were all there.

“He said, ‘Just to let you know, XL has gone bust and you have no jobs anymore’. I was just in shock, and thought, ‘Oh my God are you being serious?’

“We thought it was just a joke but he told us it was going to be all over the papers and television. I was totally devastated.”

The reps informed holidaymakers while being forced out of their own accommodation paid for by XL until fellow tour operator Thomas Cook was able to fly them home two days later.
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