Cruise con? New York’s party planner to the stars is at the center of a jaw-dropping travel scandal! On January 6, cops slapped Destiny Travel NY boss Tavia Thomas, 47, with a slew of criminal charges after furious vacationers claimed she pocketed stacks of cash for holidays that never even happened.
Thomas, whose travel business has been booking lavish getaways since 2016, now faces accusations of masterminding an elaborate fraud operation. Police in Nassau County say she raked in more than $35,000 from nine hopeful travelers last July, all itching for a Royal Caribbean extravaganza. But when the group showed up at the Bayonne, N.J. port? They were met with a bombshell: their supposed cruise didn’t exist.
Investigators allege Thomas didn’t stop there. Just weeks later, she convinced two clients to fork over $5,000 for what was supposed to be a dreamy destination wedding at an ALG Vacations resort. But the venues never got booked and other wedding guests who also paid up were left high and dry—no refunds, no fairytale event.
It wasn’t long before more stories stacked up. September saw another major complaint: A woman shelled out over $10,000 for accommodations in the Dominican Republic to celebrate her mother’s birthday with 50 loved ones. The family says Thomas never paid the resort and refused to return their money.
With three counts of third-degree grand larceny, three counts of scheme to defraud in the first degree, and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny hanging over her head, Thomas appeared in Hempstead’s First District Court and pleaded not guilty, according to CBS News. She’s due for another showdown in court on January 8.
Destiny Travel NY boasted glimmering credentials—its website touts luxury getaways to Croatia, Italy, Vietnam, and beyond. The company pushes promises of expert wedding planning, tailor-made group holidays, and industry certifications from big names like Disney Resorts and Sandals Resorts.
But a quick scroll online paints a different picture: Google and TheKnot reviews roar with claims of ruined trips and missing refunds, alleging that Destiny Travel NY left their summer dreams in shambles.
