The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has prohibited several advertisements from three major travel companies. This decision follows investigations into misleading eco claims used to promote holiday destinations. Thomas Cook, loveholidays, and DialAFlight all had their ads deemed in breach of advertising rules.
These firms utilized phrases such as “Eco Resort,” “Eco Hotel,” and “eco-conscious resort.” However, they failed to clarify the environmental basis for these descriptions. Consequently, the ASA found that consumers lacked crucial details to understand what these environmental claims truly meant.
For instance, a Meta ad for DialAFlight, seen in July, promoted the Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort as an “eco-conscious resort.” DialAFlight stated this claim originated from the accommodation’s factsheet. The hotel did provide a list of environmental initiatives to the ASA.
Meanwhile, loveholidays ran two Google ads, also in July, featuring the “Green Garden Eco Resort” and the “Marvida Family Eco Hotel.” The online travel agent explained that the term “Eco” was part of the hotel’s registered trading name. It was not an environmental claim made or endorsed by loveholidays itself.
Thomas Cook faced scrutiny for the “Sandos Caracol Eco Resort.” The travel firm indicated the resort would change its name in July 2025. Furthermore, Thomas Cook had already implemented measures to block “Sandos Caracol Eco” as a search term, preventing future appearances.
Miles Lockwood, ASA director of complaints and investigations, underlined the importance of trust in advertising. He stated that holidaymakers seeking environmentally conscious options need clear information. This clarity enables them to make informed decisions about their bookings.
A loveholidays spokeswoman confirmed the company does not operate or manage the accommodations it sells. She noted that hotel names in their advertising reflected the properties’ trading names. Therefore, they were not environmental claims formulated by loveholidays. The company has since updated relevant listings, removed advertisements, and pledged to review its processes for transparency.
