Australian online travel agency Traveldream collapsed last month, ironically taking away the travel dreams of dozens of Aussie clients, many of whom were left thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Traveldream went into administration on 28 April 2025 with no staff, but around 75 clients with current bookings. Affected customers were told to contact the suppliers directly to see if their bookings were still valid.
ATIA accreditation crucial for consumers
The Australian Travel Industry Association said it was a timely reminder for consumers to only book with accredited travel businesses for professionalism and protection.
It noted that the unfortunate situation highlights the importance of booking travel with an annually ATIA-accredited (formerly ATAS) business that operates with stringent professional standards, including mandatory experience and qualifications for frontline staff.
Not every travel business meets these high standards with 16 per cent of applicants rejected for failing to satisfy the rigorous accreditation criteria.
Traveldream had its accreditation cancelled in March 2020 and has not been part of ATIA’s national accreditation program since.
ATIA CEO Dean Long strongly encouraged consumers to always check for accreditation status when dealing with travel agencies and to look for the ATIA-accredited logo when booking.
“It is critical that travellers only book through an ATIA-accredited travel business. Accreditation is the best way to ensure you are dealing with a trusted, professional and financially sound operator. If a business is not accredited, you should ask why,” he said.
Earlier this year, the association added five new travel agencies to its accreditation program.
For the latest list of accredited travel businesses, visit atas.com.au
