Why did ‘Premier’ go bust – part 3

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   On Saturday, October 15th, it became perfectly clear that ‘Premier’ company (Premier Travel Service) abandoned its obligations before agencies, tourists, and receiving partners, and does not intend to continue its existence on the travel market. Such an unfavorable conclusion can be made based on information that BANKO received during weekend from different sources. On the one hand, ‘Premier’ agents whose tourists are staying in Tunisia, testified to the facts of non payment for hotels. On the other hand, leadership of accepting party ‘Carthage Plus’ declared to BANKO it had to address ‘Premier’ agents directly for repeated payment of tourists’ staying in the country. And also a message came from UTE Megapolus group that ‘Premier’s’ block of places on ‘VIM-Avia’ flights will be put up for free sale since Monday. Mr. Kuznetsov, director general of UTE Megapolus group, confirmed that all the tourists sent to Tunisia with ‘Premier’ vouchers would return home at the expense of his company, even if they have no return tickets on their hands. Employees of UTE Megapolus group charter structure devoted weekend to coordinating tourists’ return.
   According to unconfirmed information, ‘Premier’ office was getting ready to leave rented quarters since Friday, which infuriated arriving agents. And on Saturday telephone and fax was switched on so that employees could transfer last information to retail partners. At the same time Albert Potapov didn’t come to the office on the last days and didn’t give any official comments concerning last events. Simultaneously crisis arose in two ‘Premier’ retail subdivisions, ‘Travel time’ agencies.
   According to what we know, ‘Premier’ employees learned about suspension of company’s activities in the evening of October 14th. This news was really unexpected for them, because the operator spent this summer season practically without losses, and even managed to close some debts to hoteliers for the summer of 2004.
   Current debts of ‘Premier’ company before Tunisia and UAE hoteliers where the company operated actively, does not exceed $300,000–350,000 according to our evaluation. As BANKO IS managed to learn, no-one of foreign partners put pressure on ‘Premier’ company leadership to return the money as soon as possible. When heads of ‘Carthage Plus’ learned about Mr. Potapov’s intention to close the business on Wednesday October 13th, they offered him help, installment payments and so on. Thus, external factors could not play decisive role in such a sudden death of the company.
   According to busted operator’s, partners, reasons for such misfortune lie inside ‘Premier’. On the 1st of August Mr. Potapov’s wife, Ekaterina Der’abina, left the company. Family and partner relations were broken. Meanwhile Mrs. Der’abina, experienced financier and leader, played an important role in managing the company. Besides, Albert Potapov himself grew cold to his brainchild after futile attempts to find strategic investors for realizing big plans.
On Monday news team continues to look into circumstances that lead to stopping of Premier Travel Service activities. We’ll also be thankful for information about destiny of the tourists that are currently in Tunisia, UAE, Egypt and other countries with vouchers of the scandalous company. Please address your messages to phone 8-903-290-6398 and e-mail news@tourdom.ru.