Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Who We Are
    • Brian Israel
    • Briana Bonfiglio
    • Candace Protzman
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Jennifer Arango
    • Kelly Fontenelle
    • Louis Intreglia
    • Tom McCarthy

Staffing Remains the Biggest Issue for the Travel Industry

by Daniel McCarthy / June 23, 2022
Travel Industry Staffing

Photo: Henk Vrieselaar / Shutterstock.com


Travel demand is back, but that does not mean the pre-pandemic experience has yet to recover. Almost every single service sector worldwide is struggling with staffing issues and the travel industry, which is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, is no exception.

The concern had always been that, once demand for services snapped back post-pandemic, would the industries be prepared with supply and staffing to meet that demand. But that has not been the case, either in data from the industry (employment is still 7.9% below pre-pandemic levels, with 1.3 million jobs lost) or in what’s actually happening on the ground.  

Last month, reports of hour-long waits at security at Toronto’s Pearson Airport, which persisted into June, caused chaos for travelers. Cancellations and delays last weekend got so bad at several U.S. airports that USA Today called it “Travel Armageddon.” And American Airlines said this week that it was ending some services to regional airports in Iowa, New York, and Ohio starting in September because of a pilot shortage.

Travel industry voices this week in Washington D.C. for ASTA’s Legislative Day spoke about what is happening at airports and across the sector, and what consumers, and travel advisors, can do to minimize pain ahead of the busy summer travel season.

“We can be incredibly empathetic but there is this idea that the airline industry did receive $56 billion worth of aid,” Virtuoso’s Matthew Upchurch said. “There is some accountability to be had.”

“I’d like to coin a new acronym W-T-H-I-E—where the hell is everyone?” Marc Casto, a senior vice president for Flight Centre U.S. and ASTA chairperson said on Tuesday.

He added that some of the more needed jobs in the industry are the ones that need training, so “it’s going to take quite some time to reconcile that. We can’t grab someone off the street and put them in front of the plane.”

According to Upchurch, who called the staffing shortage the biggest issue impacting travel right now, one issue that can be solved is the industry becoming “more inventive” in the way it is merchandising the jobs and presenting them to the public. But that’s not a quick fix.

There are no magic tricks for beating staff shortages, but there are moves that travelers can make in order to make the experience as smooth as possible, including some simple things.

“My advice for travelers through this is why would you bother checking luggage? Ship it in advance if possible,” Casto said.

According to Culture Traveler’s Kareem George, consumers have to first, realize that using a travel advisor will allow them to be able to better deal with those disruptions. Then, being agile in how you are booking trips will make it easier to save vacations.

“Have some margins before and after the departure because things happen,” George said, adding that if you’re heading to a scheduled cruise or a tour, it’s best to anticipate any impact from flights that may cause you to miss the departure.

Ultimately, travelers are going to have to “pack your patience,” Kathryn Mazza-Burney, NEST president, said.

“Pack your patience and definitely have a backup plan,” she said. “The consumer needs to understand that there is a lot going on at these airports today.”

According to Mazza-Burney, some segments are experiencing triple-digit growth because of both demand and promotion from some of NEST’s preferred partners. That demand will level off, she added, but for right now and into next year, it is not going away.

That demand could even get stronger in the short-term—Casto added that there are at least three major populations who have not started traveling again - corporate travelers, unvaccinated travelers, and residents of China, a massive market that hasn’t reopened

  36
  0
Related Articles
ASTA’s EVP of Advocacy Eben Peck to Leave Association Next Month
What’s New in Caribbean Travel According to Tourism Ministers
Advisors Get the Caribbean Experience at the 2023 ASTA Caribbean Showcase
ASTA Hosts 250+ Advisors for Caribbean Showcase, Announces Plans for 2024 in Curacao
House Approves FAA Reauthorization Bill, Now Heads to Senate
ASTA Kicks Off Mentorship Program
Legislative Day 2023: Driven by Demand, the Advisor Community Is Growing
Tennis Icon Venus Williams Will Headline ASTA’s 2024 Global Convention
New Legislation Would Give Travel Advisors a Seat on DOT Advisory Body
Tips for Delivering Bad News to Your Clients

MOST VIEWED

  1. Maui Fires Update: Which Hotels and Resorts Are Open and Closed After Lahaina Fires
  2. FAA Issues Nationwide Ground Stop for United Airlines Flights
  3. Southwest Airlines Strike Seems Imminent
  4. Hurricane Lee's Uncertain Path Raises Some Travel Concerns
  5. Celebrity Cruises Removes Gratuities from "All Included" Pricing
  6. Hurricane Lee Intensifies to Category 5: Caribbean and U.S. Impact Uncertain


  1. Two Florida Ports Remain Closed After Hurricane Idalia
  2. Updated Cruise Line COVID-19 Vaccination, Booster, & Testing Requirements
  3. Idalia Expected to Hit Florida as ‘Extremely Dangerous Major Hurricane’ on Wednesday
  4. Hurricane Lee Update: Storm Poses Threat to New England and Atlantic Canada
  5. Royal Caribbean Monitoring Haiti Violence
  6. Cruise Ships Reroute to Avoid Hurricane Idalia
TMR THIS WEEK
Sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=8eb8c379-4b59-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b&Width=350&Height&250

Why Every Travel Advisor Needs a Business Plan…And How to Start One

A business plan is not just a document; it's your compass. 

Read More...
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Ask An Advisor: How Do I Nudge My Clients for Referrals Without Seeming Pushy?
Ask An Advisor: How Do I Nudge My Clients for Referrals Without Seeming Pushy?

'I’m not getting the referral business I had expected, and as a result, my client list isn't growing."

Read...
Tips for Recruiting and Hiring Independent Contractors from The Travel Institute
Tips for Recruiting and Hiring Independent Contractors from The Travel Institute

Where to find prospects, what traits to look for, and what to be aware of during the recruitment process.

Read...
AI Unleashed: Empowering Travel Advisors for Business Growth
AI Unleashed: Empowering Travel Advisors for Business Growth

"I firmly believe that AI represents the most significant advancement for travel advisors, and it should be welcomed rather than feared." 

Read...
ASTA’s EVP of Advocacy Eben Peck to Leave Association Next Month
ASTA’s EVP of Advocacy Eben Peck to Leave Association Next Month

Peck has spent nearly 12 years with ASTA.

Read...
Travel Advisors Access Free Social Media Content, Suppliers Extend Their Reach
Travel Advisors Access Free Social Media Content, Suppliers Extend Their Reach

For most travel advisors, the importance of having a strong and regular presence on social media is a given. 

Read...
Travel Vets Launch AVANCE Collective, a 501(c)(3) Focused on the Industry’s People
Travel Vets Launch AVANCE Collective, a 501(c)(3) Focused on the Industry’s People

The ultimate goal of the organization is to “demonstrate the charitable power of the travel industry." 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
European Travel Trends 2023 Outlook
CP White Paper 1
Cruise Trend Outlook 2023
View All
industry insider
industry-insider.jpg
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=f22339b7-9c5b-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b
What Does Social Media Really Mean?
Advertiser's Voice
//services.travelsavers.com/AMGService.svc/REST/GetImage?ImageID=19a07eaa-b65e-ee11-92d0-005056a8720b
MasterAdvisor 77: Tips for Making the Move to the Luxury Travel Segment
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Packaged Travel |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Air |Training & Resources |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy