Colette cancels Israel tour until June and offers refund: Travel Weekly

Colette will cancel trips to Israel through the first half of 2024 and offer refunds to travelers while allowing travel advisors to keep the advance fees paid on those bookings.

Travelers who paid for an Israel tour that was scheduled to depart on June 30 but was canceled due to the Israel-Hamas war will receive a full refund of the tour cost, along with airfare and insurance.

Allowing advisors to keep their commissions is part of the firm's Advanced Commission Program, which Collette launched in 2020. This program allows advisors to earn up to $200 per booking, which they receive in advance of travel for one month after the booking.

“Even in cases where departures are canceled, as is the case in Israel today, these commissions are never recovered,” said Jeff Roy, Collette’s senior vice president of revenue management, pricing and worldwide operations. “The world is always changing, and we wanted to find out what travel advisors do long before our clients travel.”

Roy said many travelers who have been affected by pushing back their Israel travel dates to late 2024 and early 2025 are determined to travel to Israel once it is safe again.

Greece was the most popular among travelers who rebooked to other destinations, Roy said, adding that Colette had also seen a lot of activity in Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Still, for many travelers cash is king.

“Ultimately, when presented with the option, most travelers will get their money back and decide where to travel later,” Roy said.

After the war broke out in early October, Colette canceled trips to Israel until March 31 and said he would reassess the situation by April 1.

The company offers several incentives, including cashback when departures are canceled, which is usually the first option offered to travelers, Roy said.

Collette customers can also purchase travel insurance that allows them to cancel for any reason. This insurance allows travelers to cancel up to one day before departure and receive a full refund, minus the cost of travel protection itself.

“This has been our standard policy for decades and has served travelers well, so as the world changes, travelers are free to change their minds and get all their money back,” Roy added. “In these situations, we are always willing to work with travelers who wish to transfer their money and insurance to other trips and departures.”