Australian travel agency Traveldream.com.au has collapsed into voluntary administration, leaving dozens of travellers stranded and out of pocket – with some customers reportedly losing tens of thousands of dollars on prepaid trips.
The online agency, operated by Australian Travel Deals Pty Ltd, ceased trading on 28 April 2025. Administrator Bill Karageozis from McLeods Accounting has been appointed to manage the process, with more than 75 customers already coming forward, and that number expected to climb.
Despite having paid in full, many customers discovered their bookings had not been secured. One family lost $33,000 on a European trip, while another couple is reportedly out of pocket $15,500.
The collapse has triggered a warning from the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), which confirmed Traveldream had its accreditation cancelled back in March 2020 and had not been part of the ATIA Accredited program since.
“This unfortunate situation serves as a timely reminder of the importance of booking travel only with an ATIA Accredited business,” said ATIA CEO Dean Long. “If a business is not accredited, you should ask why.”
ATIA said 16% of businesses that apply for accreditation are rejected for failing to meet its stringent financial and professional standards, which include mandatory experience and qualifications for frontline staff. Accreditation is reviewed annually.
Travellers impacted by the collapse are being urged to contact travel insurers, confirm the status of any bookings with suppliers directly, and consider lodging a claim with the administrator.
For a list of ATIA-accredited travel businesses, visit www.atas.com.au.
