While we are still less than one month into 2026, several travel companies in different parts of the world have already had to shut down or filed for bankruptcy.
On Jan. 9, Canadian travel agency Vegas Vacations was stripped of its license to operate after multiple customers contacted regulators about invalid bookings in the flight-hotel packages they purchased.
British travel agency Regen Central Ltd shut down on Jan. 13 after losing the Air Travel Organisers’ License required to operate as a tour operator in the country. Regulators have told those with booked trips to hold tight and wait to submit claims once a court initiates liquidation proceedings.
The first news of a travel agency shutdown in the U.S. is Windermere, Florida-based North America Destinations. Founded in 2000 by current chief executive John Hulsewe, the agency specialized in selling tour packages to Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando to the Latin American and Brazilian markets. It operated as both a travel agency and wholesaler for both local hotels and the theme parks.
As first reported by local press, North America Destinations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Middle District of Florida on Jan. 15.
Related: Global airline cancels all flights in Chapter 7 liquidation plan
The Subchapter V section of the bankruptcy code allows the agency to file for a simplified form of bankruptcy protection as a small business with less than $1 million in assets. In its filing, the company reported between $1 and $10 million in liabilities to fewer than 50 creditors.
The filing also reports approximately 50 employees specializing in the Latin American travel market whose employment is now also in the balance; North America Destinations could not be immediately reached for comment on its current situation.
Local outlets further report that the bankruptcy filing came after the company received an Orange County tax collector’s notice for $4,480 in unpaid taxes.
Travel news:
In the filing, North America Destinations names snowballing debt that it took out during the Covid travel slump as the primary reason for its financial problems.
Many of the other tour operators that also filed for bankruptcy in the last year cited similar challenges, exacerbated by the rising cost of labor and operations.
