April 24, 2009


TICO brings remaining Conquest Vacations travelers home Sunday




(Mississauga, ON, April 24, 2009) – Sixty-one remaining passengers affected by the collapse of Conquest Vacations will be returning home Sunday, says the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO).

Representatives from TICO including Dorian Werda, Manager of Administration and Claims, are leaving onboard a TICO-chartered flight on Sunday, April 26 to personally assist and escort the travelers back to Toronto Pearson Airport.

The charter will stop at three resort destinations to pick up vacationers in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and Holguin and Varadero in Cuba.

“TICO is there to protect the consumer,” said President and CEO Michael Pepper. “Part of our mandate is to ensure the safe return of all vacationers who book through an Ontario registered agency. We have protected fourteen individual flights since April 16 to assist those affected by the demise of Conquest Vacations and look forward to bringing safely home the remaining passengers.”

Consumers who will not receive their travel services due to the closure of Conquest Vacations and who have purchased their travel services from an Ontario registered travel retailer (travel agency) and paid Conquest Vacations by credit card, may contact their credit card company and request a chargeback. Should a consumer be unsuccessful in obtaining a chargeback from their credit card company, they may request a claim form from TICO against the Compensation Fund or download a claim form from TICO’s website at www.tico.ca

“All consumers purchasing their Conquest Vacations travel services from a registered Ontario travel agency or directly from Conquest Vacation’s website are eligible to file a claim with TICO,” said Mr. Pepper.

About the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)

The Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund is wholly-financed by the industry to protect consumers who do not receive the travel services for which they paid, due to the insolvency or bankruptcy of an Ontario-registered travel agent or travel wholesaler or due to the cessation of an end supplier airline or cruise line. The Fund only covers consumers who have booked through an Ontario-registered travel agent. The Fund is administered by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, a not-for-profit corporation. TICO may be contacted at (905) 624-6241 or 1-888-451-TICO. Or visit TICO’s web site at www.tico.ca or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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For more information, media please contact:

Mr. Michael Pepper
President and C.E.O.
Travel Industry Council of Ontario
Tel: (905) 624-6241 / Toll Free: 1-888-451-TICO