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Four-sight: Hopeful
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Roadmap to travel freedom?
As they await the reopening of international borders, our agent columnists tell us how they are adjusting to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the prospects for travel Train travel trending
High street stores back in business
Our focus is on rebooking existing clients, and that’s ok!
We have found that many of our customers whose deposits were held over from 2020 are now making plans for later this year. I’m not sure I’d call it a boom as such, but I think the industry will definitely encounter one when there is more clarity about exactly when and where we can travel internationally and what will be required of us.
Most of our customers are over 50, so many have already had their first vaccine, which, hopefully, will make them feel more confident about holidaying.
Over the last few months or so I’ve seen various online posts of people making high-value bookings, and I’ve worried that we’re not busy enough compared to others. However, after having spoken to a lot of my colleagues in travel with similar businesses to us it seems we’re not alone in focusing on re-booking existing clients and trying to keep our heads above water!
Given the year we’ve all had in the industry, I think everyone deserves a pat on the back just for keeping on keeping on! Travel is such an amazing industry full of positive, hardworking and resilient people – here’s to an easier road ahead. Is the road map a false dawn as far as small ship cruising is concerned? How do we respond to the constant questioning of “Will my booking for July be OK?” Or “Is it safe to book a September sailing?”
Us self-employed commission-only agents are all desperate for some cashflow and thus want to reassure booked clients that all will be well, and to take new bookings to give 2021 some income flow, but there seems to be no certainty yet.
During the recent CLIA virtual river conference, the head honcho of a leading USA-based river cruise line assured us that they will be sailing in Europe in May. Yet just 24 hours later a different head
honcho of another USA-based river cruise operator stated it will be at least August before sailings recommence.
It is clear that the UK’s vaccination programme is a massive success but Europe is falling way behind in getting any significant numbers vaccinated and many countries are still seeing rising Covid numbers. We may well be ‘fit to travel’ by late spring but will we be able – or want to – visit our European or even further flung friends at last?
THE FAMILY BUSINESS Anneka Desrosiers
Southern Cross Travel, East Sussex
THE CRUISE SPECIALIST James Hill
Go Cruise, Cruise specialist, Worcestershire
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`` Support fellow agents and focus on wellbeing ´´
Clients must be willing to pay for testing in the short term
While we still eagerly await updates and travel advice, we can assume that if clients want to holiday abroad in the short term they must be willing to pay for testing and accept they may have to quarantine and test again on the return.
The majority of clients that have changed from 2020 to 2021 are preparing to change their dates again to 2022. Most tour operators have flexible policies and it really helps that lots of holidays, flights and cruises are on sale for 2022.
We decided to open the office from April 12, but with reduced hours and a reduced team of staff. Flexible furlough is such a big help compared to what was available last year. We will also be encouraging customers to phone ahead to make an appointment and have introduced desk screens and hand sanitiser in the office.
We are lucky that so many people have been vaccinated in the UK but until the rest of the world catches up we may be cancelling and amending for a while yet.
To end on a positive note, Ive booked to go to Corfu in June and Jersey in August and will accept whatever the rules are for travel or amend the date if I have to. But I am so ready for a holiday! I think people are still waiting until nearer the so-called ‘allowed’ travel date of May 17 before booking holidays, and then hopefully there will be a flurry of booking. I personally can’t wait to get away!
I also think there’s going to be a shift towards train travel and cruising.
There have been quite a few railway programmes on TV recently and I think this will influence people who want to tick off a number of places in one go. The same goes for river and ocean cruising.
I was reading about ways to boost employee wellbeing during lockdown by the Howden Group, one of ABTA’s partners who advise on wellbeing. They say to remind people of employee benefits and of the support available and to encourage colleagues to maintain a positive work/life balance. Also, check in with team members regularly, especially with so many working from home. It can feel isolating and lonely out there!. Encourage your team to get active and organise a company challenge, a daily steps target or miles cycled, and have a leader board. ‘You’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.’
THE HIGH STREET AGENCY Liz Beaty
The Travel Team Brampton, Cumbria
THE HOME WORKER Sandy Murray
Sandy's Travel Escapes
Jersey trip on the cards for Liz
Could we be sailing Europe by May?
Next issue: Is there a new appreciation for the complex job of a travel agent?
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