Thinking of running a retreat? You’ve secured a dreamy location, booked a hotel through a bonded travel agent, and are all set to go. You even add an ABTA or ATOL logo to your website because, hey, your travel agent is covered, so you must be too… right?

Wrong.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions in the retreat world, and unfortunately, it could land you in serious legal trouble. Just because a travel agent handled your hotel or flights does not mean your retreat is legally compliant under Package Travel Regulations.

The key point? Unless your travel agent is coordinating every single element of your retreat—including workshops, activities, meals, and transport—and is taking direct payments from your customers, you cannot use their ABTA or ATOL protection.

And let’s be clear—it’s not just about what happens if things go wrong.

Selling a non-compliant travel eg a retreat is a criminal offence.

Failing to comply with Package Travel Regulations is not just risky—it’s illegal. You could be:

- Heavily fined

- Prosecuted in court

- Banned from selling travel services altogether

This is not a grey area, a loophole, or something you can brush off as “no one will notice.” The law exists to protect consumers, and authorities take non-compliance very seriously.

So, if your business is built on ethics, integrity, and putting customers first, it’s not just a legal issue—it’s a moral one too. Selling a retreat you know isn’t compliant is misleading at best and fraudulent at worst.

Let’s break it down.

Who’s Really the Travel Organiser Here?

Under UK Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, the key factor is who is receiving the payment from the customer. And here’s the important bit:

- If you are collecting money from customers and then paying the travel agent, you are legally the travel organiser.

- If your travel agent is handling everything—including taking direct payments from your guests—they are the organiser, and you’re off the hook.

Since most retreat leaders take payments directly, this means you are liable for all compliance and legal protection—not the travel agent.

And liability means more than just refunding customers if something goes wrong—it means you could be taken to court if you fail to comply.

ABTA & ATOL Protection: Not as Simple as It Seems

Many retreat organisers assume that because they booked a retreat’s accommodation or flights through an ATOL-protected or ABTA-bonded travel agent, their entire retreat is covered.

Not true.

- ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) only protects flight-based packages.

- ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) protects non-flight packages.

But here’s where the issue arises: if you are adding activities, workshops, transport, meals, or excursions to the package, you are creating a new travel package. This means your travel agent’s ABTA/ATOL protection no longer applies, and you cannot legally use their logo.

And if you think getting your own protection is an easy fix, think again. The cost of obtaining your own protection is a major barrier. Becoming an ABTA or ATOL-bonded operator requires:

- Tens of thousands in financial bonding

- Expensive tour operator insurance

- Financial failure protection policies

For most retreat organisers, this simply isn’t cost-effective, especially if you’re only running one or two retreats per year.

If something goes wrong—flights are cancelled, the hotel closes, or a global pandemic strikes—you could be personally liable for refunds and legal claims.

And even if nothing goes wrong, selling a non-compliant retreat is still illegal.

How to Stay Compliant (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Savings)

Instead of navigating complex legal compliance yourself, work with a specialist retreat agent like Retreat Yourself.

We handle:

- All customer payments—so you’re not classed as the travel organiser.

- Complete travel compliance—so you don’t have to worry about package travel laws.

- ATOL & ABTA-protected packages—ensuring your guests are legally covered.

Rather than taking on huge financial risks, work with a company that ensures your retreat is fully compliant, while letting you focus on what you do best—delivering an amazing experience.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Be That Person

Retreat planning is stressful enough without the legal complexities of Package Travel Regulations. But ignoring them won’t make them go away—and it could financially and legally ruin your business.

The moment you take direct payments from guests, you become a travel organiser—with all the legal responsibilities that come with it. And it’s not just about avoiding problems if something goes wrong.

Selling a non-compliant retreat is a criminal offence.

You wouldn’t run a retreat without insurance, a safety plan, or clear policies in place. Why take the risk of breaking the law?

If your brand is all about trust, integrity, and doing things the right way, then compliance isn’t optional—it’s essential.

So, before you stick an ABTA/ATOL logo on your website and assume you’re covered, take a step back. Make sure you’re actually legally compliant—or better yet, work with Retreat Yourself and let us handle it for you.

Want to run a retreat without the legal stress? Get in touch—we’ll make sure your dream retreat doesn’t turn into a compliance nightmare.