Travel & Tourism

Our Travel & Tourism litigation team is a specialised practice representing tour operators, European and Caribbean insurers, national and international hotels, and resorts in foreign accident and personal injury and illness claims. We provide strategic defence and advisory services to the international travel, tourism, and hospitality industries.

Sector Expertise

Navigating the intersection of domestic regulations, international treaties, and cross-border jurisdiction requires specialist legal expertise. Our dedicated travel and tourism team defends clients against complex personal injury claims, package holiday disputes, and serious accidents. We combine sector knowledge with practical litigation experience to protect our clients’ commercial and reputational interests.

Representative Clients

• Tour Operators – Defending claims under package travel regulations, including food-borne illness claims and accidents.
• European & Caribbean Insurers – Representing insurers in complex indemnity disputes and subrogation claims across multiple jurisdictions.
• Hotels & Resorts – Advising national and international hotels and resorts on indemnity disputes and public liability, occupiers’ liability, and local standard disputes.

Notable Matters

In addition to numerous cases tried or settled, we have acted in landmark reported decisions that shape travel and tourism law and cross-border jurisdiction:

Wood v TUI Travel Plc (t/a First Choice) [2017] EWCA Civ 11

We represented TUI at trial and in the Court of Appeal in proceedings concerning liability for illness arising from allegedly contaminated food and drink supplied as part of an all-inclusive package holiday. The Court considered the application of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and issues of causation. This decision remains the leading authority on illness claims and is regularly cited in subsequent judgments.

Hoteles Piñero Canarias SL v Keefe [2015] EWCA Civ 598; CJEU Case C-491/17

We represented the Spanish hotel in jurisdiction proceedings under the Brussels I Regulation. The Court of Appeal addressed whether an English claimant could sue a Spanish hotel in England when the claim was joined to a direct action against the hotel’s Spanish liability insurer. The matter reached the Supreme Court, which referred the issue to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Why Mackrell

Our team combines deep sector knowledge with proven expertise in private international law, equipping us to handle jurisdictional challenges, choice of law disputes, and the application of local standards to overseas accidents. We deliver pragmatic, cost-effective solutions that resolve claims efficiently while safeguarding our clients’ commercial and reputational interests.