In light of the news of Thomas Cook going into administration on 23rd September 2019 please find the following information

If you booked a Disney holiday with Thomas Cook

We can now offer customers affected by Thomas Cook a Disney holiday with the same requirements as their original booking, including holidays with Disney Dining plans. Our teams will simply transfer your booking from Thomas Cook to Ocean Florida, ensuring all your original bookings are honoured.

Customers rebooking their Disney holiday will no longer receive their Disney gift cards and will have to rebook extra services like FastPass+ and dining reservations using their new Disney confirmation number.

Please note: This only applies to enquiries that are requested EXACTLY as per the original booking

If you had a villa booking with Thomas Cook

Yesterday, our Orlando Welcome Centre team secured contracts with the two main villa suppliers Thomas Cook were using at discounted rates. Therefore, there is a high likelihood that we can match your existing villa booking. Contact one of our USA Travel Specialists to discuss your options on 020 7788 8254.

If you have an upcoming booking with Ocean Florida on Thomas cook flights

Your booking with us is ATOL protected so your holiday is completely safe. Our teams have been working to secure alternative flights for all customers since Monday. If you have not spoken to us yet, please call our After Sales Team on 020 3814 2198 between 9.00am and 5.30pm today. Our teams have completed all 2019 departures and will begin working through 2020 and 2021 departures.

If you have booked with another travel company but are staying in a villa or hotel provided by Ocean Holidays

Your booking with us is ATOL protected so your holiday is completely safe. Our teams have been working to secure alternative flights for all customers since Monday. If you have not spoken to us yet, please call our After Sales Team on 020 3814 2198 between 9.00am and 5.30pm today. Our teams have completed all 2019 departures and will begin working through 2020 and 2021 departures.

If you didn’t book with Ocean Florida but want to rebook your USA Holiday

If you had an upcoming holiday to the US with Thomas Cook, we can help rebook your trip to ensure you don’t miss out. Contact one of our USA Travel Specialists to discuss your options on 020 7939 7775 or make an enquiry.

How to rebook and reclaim

  • Speak to one of our USA Specialists or make an enquiry
  • Secure a similar package to what you originally booked
  • Claim a full refund for your original Thomas Cook holiday from ATOL or your credit/debit card provider if your holiday booking is protected

How we can help

  • We will aim to book your USA holiday for the same price as your original booking with Thomas Cook with departures available through 2021
  • Your new package holiday will be fully ATOL protected and booked on a scheduled airline such as Virgin Atlantic or British Airways
  • Our Orlando office and welcome centre is the largest Florida specialist for UK customers. We are therefore fully prepared and ready to help customers dream holidays still come true

How to make a claim

We have found that Moneysavingexpert has the most up to date and rounded guide on all other options regarding the various status’ of bookings made with Thomas Cook including how to reclaim on your credit/debit card using section 75. Read more here

We are incredibly flattered to announce that we have won the Overall Winner for the British Travel Awards’ Best Holiday Company to the USA!

Roll up, roll up and hear the news of the world! Ocean Florida has won the Overall Winner place for a British Travel Award in the Best Holiday Company To The USA category, as well as a Bronze award for the Best Villa Holiday Company category. This is a huge accolade which has completely overwhelmed us all overnight.

We’re a home-grown, family-run company who have strived to provide the most amazing USA holidays possible over the years. We are constantly grafting to improve our service, and work tirelessly to make sure that our customers are satisfied with their experience when they book with us. Our improvement this year shows, since in 2017 we won a Silver award for the Best Medium Holiday Company To The USA, and now we’ve won the Overall Winner for Best Holiday Company To The USA.

We are delighted for our efforts to be recognised by such a prestigious organisation like the British Travel Awards, and more importantly, our loyal customers. We send a huge thank you to customers old and new, as well as everyone who had voted for us to win this fantastic award. It really does mean a lot and has sent joyous shockwaves throughout the entire company.

Thank you so much, and here’s to 2019!

Love,

Ocean Florida

Ocean Holidays Win Apprentice Employer of the Year Award

Ocean Holidays has won the prestigious Apprentice Employer of the Year Award from the Havering College of Further and Higher Education. The awards evening was held at the Ardleigh Green Campus on Wednesday 27thJune and was attended by Denise Morrison, Ocean Holidays Accounts Manager.

This rewarding ceremony celebrated those who were nominated and awarded in a range of categories. There were three companies nominated for the Apprentice Employer of the Year Award and the winner was chosen by Asfa Sohail, Vice Principal and Steve Lee, Head of Apprenticeships and Traineeships. Ocean Holidays are overjoyed to be awarded with this accolade, proving that our apprentices make a real difference to the business whilst learning the necessary skills to help them grow and develop their career.

Well done to everyone involved!

OCEAN HOLIDAYS SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL TO BECOME OFFICIAL TRAVEL SUPPLIER OF JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS!

– FIRST UK HOLIDAY FIRM TO SIGN DEAL WITH NFL TEAM –

Monday 13th November Ocean Holidays has signed a two-year partnership to become the official travel supplier for NFL team, Jacksonville Jaguars.

This ground-breaking partnership means customers of Ocean Florida – Ocean Holidays’ Florida specialist – will be able to buy Jacksonville Jaguar NFL holidays, which include tickets and transfers to see the Jaguars at their home-ground EverBank Field, during the 2018 NFL season. This is the first time such a package will be on offer from a UK holiday provider.

Ocean Florida’s Jacksonville Jaguar NFL holiday packages start from £819 per person. This is for a 14-night holiday at the Mystic Dunes Resort in Orlando, on a room-only basis, return flights from London Gatwick departing on November 8, plus NFL tickets and transfers to and from the match. Price based on four sharing. Packages will officially go on sale early 2018, in line with the release of the NFL schedule.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are the first and only NFL team to have made a multi-year commitment to play league matches in the UK. This season they defeated the Baltimore Ravens 44-7 at Wembley Stadium during the recent London Games series.

Ocean Florida and the Jacksonville Jaguars will also run a range of additional marketing activity giving UK holidaymakers the chance to win exclusive Jaguars prizes and experiences in both the UK and USA.

Harry Hastings, co-chief executive of Ocean Holidays, said: “We are thrilled to announce this exciting partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The popularity of the NFL is increasing exponentially in the UK, and this deal will give NFL fans unparalleled access to tickets and experiences both in the UK and USA.”

Hussain Naqi, Senior Vice President, International Development for the Jacksonville Jaguars, said “This partnership illustrates exactly what the Jacksonville Jaguars are about – collaborating with like-minded transatlantic businesses to create new experiences and opportunities that excite our fans.”

“The unique service Ocean Holidays provide means that there’s no better way for Jaguars fans from the UK to sample the best that Jacksonville has to offer, and to experience the energy of a game day at EverBank Field.”

A key part of the partnership will see Ocean Holidays become the new official corporate travel partner to the Jaguars through its specialist luxury travel management company, Winged Boots. Its Personal Travel Managers will be instrumental in managing the team’s travel needs as they travel to and from their second home at Wembley Stadium in the UK.

Travel Weekly brand, ‘Travolution’ has featured an article on Ocean Holidays…!

With the brand new offices and constant expansion within Ocean Holidays, it’s a very exciting time and so Lee Hayhurst from Travel Weekly recently visited Ocean Holidays HQ to sit down with Co-CEOs Harry Hastings and Daniel Ox to chat more about the company’s growth, the roll-out of the new CRM platform and more…!

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Winged Boots Moves Into Business

With the current success and growth of Winged Boots offering leisure holidays, we have organically found an increasing amount of requests for business travel.

As a result, Ocean Holidays is officially launching Winged Boots Business which will be headed up by James Kenyon our new Head of Business. This exciting new part of the Ocean group will concentrate on day-to-day corporate travel, staff incentives and rewards, group travel and prize management.

David Ox, MD and Co-founder of Winged Boots says “My team and I are very excited to see the launch Winged Boots Business and it is testament to the amazing staff I have behind me which allows us to move forward with this new challenge. Clients have grown to trust Winged Boots when it comes to their personal travel, so I’m really looking forward to representing their travel when it comes to business also.”

To find out more, visit our Journal

If you have a question contact: James Kenyon, james@wingedboots.co.uk

Ocean Holidays Signs a Further Two-year Deal with the O2, London

Last month the Ocean Holidays directors were delighted to announce that the company has extended its tenancy of suite #235 at the O2 Arena in Greenwich for two more years!!

Alongside our recent excellent news regarding the West Ham sponsorship deal, this is another fantastic opportunity for the company to grow its name and establish itself as one of the big players in the market – as well as offer staff, trade partners, friends and families the chance to witness some of the most fantastic events to grace our Capital!

Apprentice of the Year – Winner!

Our very own Michaela Gordon attended a lavish ceremony the Houses of Parliament in Central London on 20th July to receive her Apprentice of the Year Award from the Institute of Travel & Tourism.

This prestigious award is a unique opportunity for employers to reward their apprentice for hard work and dedication, not just to their job role, but to their NVQ qualification over 12 months. Michaela has excelled at Ocean Holidays, proving to be an integral part of the company and for that we are extremely proud – well done Michaela!

OCEAN HOLIDAYS SIGNS THREE-YEAR DEAL TO BECOME OFFICIAL TRAVEL SUPPLIER TO WEST HAM UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

Ocean Holidays has signed a three-year partnership to become the official travel supplier for West Ham United Football Club.

The deal comes at an exciting time as the club prepares to move into its iconic new home stadium, previously used for the 2012 London Olympic games.

Ocean Holidays is run by two sets of brothers, Daniel and David Ox, and Harry and George Hastings. The award-winning company employs more than 150 people at its head-office in central Romford.

Harry Hastings, co-chief executive of Ocean Holidays, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting West Ham, our local premiership team, at this incredibly exciting time as they move into the London 2012 Olympic stadium.”

West Ham United’s vice-chairman Baroness Karren Brady CBE, said: “At a time when the club is expanding its global footprint, it is all the more important that we remain true to our roots. I am therefore delighted to be joining forces with a prominent local business, while continuing to grow the club’s international reach.

“On behalf of all at West Ham United, I would like to welcome Ocean Holidays on board and I hope this is the start of a very successful relationship over the coming years.”

Ocean Holidays’ brands, Ocean Florida, Ocean California and luxury division Winged Boots, specialise in tailor-made travel to destinations all over the world. Its travel experts will be able to assist the club in ensuring all travel arrangements are hassle-free, meaning the players are able to perform to their best ability on the pitch.

Daniel Ox, Ocean Holidays’ co-chief executive, added: “This is a landmark partnership for Ocean Holidays, one that we are confident will allow us to take the business to the next level, proving that businesses like ours are still investing post-Brexit.”

George Hastings, managing director of Ocean Florida, commented: “Ocean Florida is Europe’s largest independent Florida specialist. This, coupled with West Ham’s family-friendly policy, makes this a perfect match.”

The partnership forms an important part of Ocean Holidays’ strategy to broaden its reach. As part of the agreement, Ocean Holidays will be screening Ocean Florida’s debut TV advertisement on the new stadium’s two huge indoor digital screens, the largest in any European football stadium, and the group has access to exclusive hospitality at home games. The partnership also means Ocean Holidays will be offering exclusive travel deals to supporters, players and staff across social media channels, via the West Ham website, the match-day programme and the Ocean Florida site.

Ocean Holidays’ luxury division, Winged Boots, is also set to benefit from the partnership. David Ox, managing director of Winged Boots, commented: “We started out 14 years ago by organising bespoke trips for footballers and discerning city workers, and so this deal is a perfect fit for us.

“We’re looking forward to entertaining key contacts, customers and suppliers at this fabulous new ground. The team at Winged Boots will also be taking care of the travel arrangements for the team for overseas pre-season friendly matches, and mid-season warm weather training.”

To follow West Ham United FC this season,
visit their websitetwitter or Facebook pages.

For more media information contact:
Ocean Holidays: Louise Prior, louise@priorpr.com 07786 227572

About Ocean Holidays

Ocean Holidays was established in 2004 by two sets of brothers. It is privately-owned, and has been on a 50% growth path since 2012. Ocean Holidays has sent more than 250,000 holidaymakers overseas in the past 10 years.

Ocean Holidays’ headquarters in Romford, Essex comprises four distinct brands; Ocean Florida, Europe’s largest independent Florida holiday specialist; Winged Boots, a bespoke travel and hospitality specialist; Ocean California, specialist in complex itineraries to the West Coast of the USA; and, Ocean Beds, the largest wholesaler of Florida vacation homes to the global travel trade and based out of Kissimmee, Central Florida.

Current and recent accolades for the company and the management team in 2016 include:

  • The Business Ambassador Award for job creation in Florida presented by the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott in July 2016
  • Winner of the 2016 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Travel and Hospitality British Hall of Fame ceremony in April 2016
  • Various awards and nominations from the Institute of Travel & Tourism and National Apprentice awards for services to employing apprentices aged 16 – 21
  • Nominated in the British Travel Awards as USA Tour operator of the year and Self-catering specialist of the year as Ocean Florida as well as luxury tour operator of the year as Winged Boots
  • Nominated as Tour Operator of the year in The Sun Travel awards

About West Ham

West Ham United is an East London based football club and a member of the Premier League. The new stadium is homed within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and has a capacity of 60,010, allowing West Ham to boast the highest number of season ticket holders in London. The new stadium stands adjacent to Westfield Stratford City, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe.

What ATOL Protection Means For You

In light of the recent announcement regarding the Low Cost Holidays Group, we just wanted to reassure and remind you that Ocean Holidays are ATOL protected (T7523) and supported by the Travel Trust Association (U0898). This means that any booking made through Ocean Holidays, including Ocean Beds, Ocean Florida, Ocean California and Winged Boots is 100% secure.

The importance of ATOL protection needs to be highlighted now more than ever. Did you know that if you book with a company who aren’t ATOL protected you could be stranded abroad or lose your money should anything go wrong? ATOL protection means you’ll be able to continue your holiday as planned or receive a full refund if you haven’t already travelled.

It’s easy to check if the company you want to book with is ATOL protected. Look out for the following logo in brochures, advertisements and on websites.

Each ATOL protected company will have a unique ATOL number which you can check over at www.packpeaceofmind.co.uk.

If you’ve booked through the Low Cost Holidays Group, our team of Travel Specialists are on hand to help re-book or re-protect your holiday so you don’t have to miss out.

Discover more about ATOL protection in the video below…