Holiday claim news
05/10/2011

Operator claims it spoiled holiday by accident

A lesbian couple, who flew home in tears after an £1,800 holiday, claim they were the victims of homophobic discrimination, the Daily Mail reports.

But bosses at the tour operator behind their honeymoon trip to the Dominican Republic say the disaster "could have happened to anyone".

The West Yorkshire pair, who tied the knot at Leeds Town Hall in front of hundreds of friends and relatives, said the fantasy holiday became a nightmare as their new marital status went unacknowledged.

"The honeymoon was meant to be a romantic trip," they told reporters. "But it was a daily nightmare of disappointment and complaints.

"Every other couple got three or four complimentary, romantic candlelit meals with wine – we didn't get one. There was supposed to be complimentary fruit and rum in our room as honeymooners but that never appeared."

The couple are said to be seeking holiday claim compensation on the grounds of discrimination.

Now executives at the British firm say they will pay the couple's compensation claim – but insist the let down had nothing to do with their sexuality.

"Unfortunately we let them down but we let them down as customers," said a spokesman for the tour operator. "They are wrong to believe it was anything to do with them personally.

"The holiday didn't live up to their expectations and it didn't live up to our standards. But it could have happened to anyone."

Citing thousands of satisfied gay customers as evidence against the couple's holiday claim, he said that the business was ‘totally diverse' and employed gay staff across the board.