Ocean Holidays is pleased to announce our special status as “Ones to Watch” by best companies for demonstrating “good” levels of workplace engagement. This is particularly pleasing during a time when the travel industry has had its worst crisis in living memory due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Achieving “Ones to Watch” status requires a score of at least 600/1000. However, having scored 659.3 this is just 0.2 marks off 659.5 which would have resulted in a ‘1 star accreditation’ of ‘very good’ workplace levels of engagement. This has been reason to celebrate in the first year of running the comprehensive b’ companies survey. Being so close to the next level of best companies is a fantastic platform to continue to improve Ocean Holidays as a travel industry leading employer. Employee engagement is more than just survey results. It is a promise of honest conversations and a pledge to provide a rewarding and healthy environment for employees at a company that puts its people first.

Notable highlights in the b’ companies survey include 94% of staff agreeing the company encourages giving back and charitable activities, 92% believing they make a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation and more than 40% of senior managers being women.

For more information visit https://www.b.co.uk/companies/ocean-holidays

Former Love Holidays and Tui marketing boss Christian Armond has been appointed by Ocean Holidays Group as its first marketing director.

Armond joins the Essex-based destination and luxury holidays specialist having left OTA Love Holidays last October after a year as marketing director.

Prior to that he worked in digital marketing at Tui for just over four years, latterly as head of digital marketing overseeing SEO, PPC, display, affiliates, and biddable social.

Ocean Holidays comprises consumer brand Ocean Florida and upmarket concierge operator Winged Boots, which Armond is tasked with drive continuing growth for.

He will also oversee the B-B Ocean Beds brands, which supplies accommodation to trade partners. Armond is the first non-founder to oversee marketing for the group’s three brands.

Harry Hastings, co-chief executive of Ocean Holidays Group, said: “‘The next phase of our scaling-up plans will rely heavily on the success of our performance-led marketing and we are delighted to be welcoming Christian into our management team as group marketing director. He is the right leader for this new role, with the track record to match.”

Armond, added: “I’m hugely excited to be joining the Ocean Holidays team, and was very impressed with the strategic vision for the business to build on Ocean Florida’s position as the leading Florida specialist, and Winged Boots expertise in personalised luxury travel management”

Ocean Holidays Group has offices in Romford, Essex, and Orlando, Florida. It has seen an average annual revenue growth rate  of 30% over the past five years, surpassing £60million revenue in 2019.

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

• Thomas Cooks official statement and information can be found here: https://thomascook.caa.co.uk/customers/
• Visit the ATOL website for details on how make a claim for your Thomas cook package. Read more here

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

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 27^thJune 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!

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…!