LEGAL action could be taken against Malton's town management company in a heated row over an unpaid bill.
Northumberland-based Steve Reed Tourism says it is owed £1,000 for a "group travel familiarisation event" which would have brought together national coach and tour operators with local guest house owners, retailers and attraction chiefs – had the event not been cancelled by the Malton and Norton Initiative with just days to go.
Steve Reed Tourism managing director, Steve Reed, said: "Planning and signing up of tour operators takes a considerable amount of time and effort.
"By October 2005 we had successfully signed up 20 companies, reserved accommodation, made site visits and put together programmes involving local attractions.
"To suggest at that point – 12 days before the event – we could cancel and somehow resume next year was totally unacceptable. They've missed out on a great opportunity to bring lots of business into Malton and Norton and we are thousands of pounds out of pocket.
"We are now instructing our solicitors to recover the money. We have a business to run and feel we have been treated in a cavalier fashion."
Steve Reed Tourism was commissioned to organise the three-day event in Malton and Norton at the end of 2004 for £3,395 plus VAT.
Malton town manager Peter Mudge was confident at the time of being able to get the cash to pay, but Steve Reed Tourism had to seek other sponsors when the Malton and Norton Initiative (MNI) ran into problems securing the finances.
Scarborough Council paid £1,500, leaving MNI with just £1,000 to find to fund the scaled- down event. Mr Reed said Mr Mudge promised him half the cash last August and the rest after the event, but none changed hands.
Guests were due to arrive in Malton's Market Place on November 22 and spend a morning in town before meeting tourism providers and local business leaders in the Green Man Hotel. But on November 9, an e-mail was sent to Mr Reed asking for a postponement.
Mr Reed said it was too short notice to cancel and on November 22 around 50 tour operators were taken around Eden Camp and Scampston Hall and driven through Malton.
However, they stayed in Scarborough and visited attractions there and in Whitby where "the red carpet was rolled out".
Mr Fitzgerald-Smith, chairman of MNI, said: "The directors decided the event could not take place in 2005 and as no contract had been supplied or signed, the directors asked Steve if he would be willing to arrange a date for the new year. We would welcome a meeting to discuss this further."