The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said that hotels across the globe are “suspicious and angry” as some 3,000 hotels are owed money.
A hotel in Mexico is owed £2.5m and tourists have been “held hostage” by many hotels unless they pay extra for their accommodation after the collapse of Thomas Cook on Monday.
CAA chairwoman Dame Deirdre Hutton told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday that the CAA has given guarantees to all hotels owed money that are Atol protected.
When the Radio 4 presenter asked if £338m was owed by Thomas Cook to the hotels, Dame Deirdre said, “Yes, we have learned of one hotel in Mexico that is owed £2.5m, so it is hardly surprising they are worried.
“That hotel is working very closely with us, which is great.”
She added, “It’s very distressing for people who are finding difficulties with their accommodation.
“We have got more than 200 staff working here together with Thomas Cook staff and we have already started making the first payments.
“But, as you say, given how much those hotels are owed by Thomas Cook, it is hardly surprising that they are suspicious and angry.”
