The collapse of Late Rooms and Super Break could see thousands of summer holidays cancelled – adding to the woes of holidaymakers already plagued by strike threats and airline chaos.

The Malvern Group went into administration on Thursday. The company’s Indian part-owner Cox & Kings had defaulted on loan repayments a month ago, leading to the management team appointing accountants KPMG to try and find a buyer for the group. But with no buyer emerging, the company was put into administration.

The situation for holidaymakers either already on holiday, or with a trip booked, differs depending on whether they booked with Late Rooms or Super Break.

What to do if you have a booking with Super Break

Super Break was a member of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and so most of its customers have a certain amount of protection.

If you are currently on a Super Break holiday, you should be able to continue with your trip as planned, but you can contact ABTA if you encounter any difficulties with arrangements.

ABTA has warned that all Super Break bookings that have not yet departed may be cancelled. However, the majority of holidaymakers’ travel arrangements will be covered through one of a number of different types of financial protection.

If you made your booking through a travel agent – not directly with Super Break – then you will need to contact that company for advice and guidance.

Super Break customers who have booked a holiday which includes a flight should contact the Civil Aviation Authority to make a claim for their holiday booking.

If you have booked a holiday which includes accommodation and travel (excluding flights) and/or other services with Super Break, you’ll be able to make a claim either through ABTA or your credit or debit card company.

Hotel-only bookings are not protected by ABTA, and will be cancelled unless the customer pays for the accommodation again. Customers will need to submit a claim to their credit or debit card company.

Tickets to events and attractions from Super Break are also now cancelled, while gift vouchers will no longer be accepted.

What to do if you have a booking with Late Rooms

Late Rooms was not a member of ABTA. If you booked accommodation through a travel agent, you’ll need to go back to that agent for further advice.

ABTA says that if customers booked directly with Late Rooms, payments were made directly to the hotels and therefore bookings should go ahead as planned. Any queries should be directed to the hotel in question.

Aashna Shroff, personal finance editor at money.co.uk, said: “This year is rapidly turning into the summer from hell for British holidaymakers, and the torrent of bad news keeps coming. A perfect storm of airline and airport strikes, a volatile pound and travel companies going bust is not the ideal recipe for a relaxing break.

“Brits face long queues at the airports, potentially higher costs while away, and now many will be worried that they won’t be going away at all. Rather than looking forward to some much needed sunshine, this latest news leaves a dark cloud over many peoples’ plans.

“The best thing consumers can do now is to contact their travel providers and to look at the ABTA website for advice as they are doing their best to keep travellers updated on developments.”