Stop sales go with free sale arrangements. VisitEngland’s inbound tourism toolkit describes free sell as rooms, seats or vehicles provided to a wholesaler or inbound tour operator in unrestricted quantities until the supplier indicates otherwise, so bookings can be confirmed to clients straight away. The Edinburgh Tourism Action Group’s guide to trade jargon says free sale lasts until the supplier closes out or stops sale. It describes close-out dates, also called blackout dates, as dates when the product is not available to the travel trade.

How it works

Under free sale, the operator confirms bookings without asking the supplier each time. A stop sale ends that for the dates it covers. How much notice is needed, and what happens to bookings already confirmed, depends on the contract.

Other contracts leave availability entirely to the hotel. Marriott’s terms for its wholesale programme, for example, give each participating hotel sole and absolute discretion over room availability, with no obligation to provide a minimum number of rooms on any date.

Why it matters for travel businesses

If a supplier fails to provide a room confirmed in a package, the organiser is still liable to the traveller under the Package Travel Regulations, whoever was due to provide it. For package contracts made from 6 April 2027, amended regulations add that a third party that cancels or fails to perform a travel service in a package must refund the organiser within 14 days.