New York-based SmarTours shuttered on Friday after 29 years in business.
The tour operator, founded in 1996, offered tours in Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, China, Europe, India, Nepal, Japan and Latin America. It is unclear why the company closed but SmarTours shut down its website and posted a goodbye message to clients.
"For the past 30 wonderful years, SmarTours has been honored to serve travelers like you, bringing unforgettable experiences to destinations around the world," the message on its website says. "It has been our privilege to be part of your journeys, and we are deeply grateful for your trust and support."
The company directed travelers with outstanding credits to file a claim with the U.S. Tour Operators Association, where SmarTours was a member. The USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program provides financial protection for travelers who are affected by the closure of an active member of the association.
USTOA president and CEO Terry Dale said it is not clear how many potential claimants there are but said that the association was "closely monitoring the situation."
Prior to submitting a claim to the USTOA, the association said SmarTours' customers should first submit a claim with their credit card company if the payment was made with a credit card or with travel insurance if that was purchased.
The USTOA sent a notice to travelers that they may only be eligible if they purchased a tour from SmarTours on or before Jan. 31. Tours purchased after the company's closure are not eligible.
The claim form is available online and due by May 1. The fund does not cover travel advisor commissions.
SmarTours did not respond to an inquiry from Travel Weekly about the closure.
UPDATED: This report was updated on Feb. 4 to include a statement from USTOA president and CEO Terry Dale.