For Agents, Frigid Winter Is Mixed Blessing

Much of the country is in a deep freeze again this week, and that means travel plans are taking a hit. Icy pileups and gridlock have walloped locales that are normally balmy this time of year. And flight cancellations are wreaking havoc.

Having dealt with early January’s polar vortex, travel agents across the country are rising to the occasion once again. And while icy weather has caused travel nightmares, for some agents the arctic temperatures are having a decidedly warming effect on sales.

Inquiries are up
There’s no question that Annette Youngbauer’s clientele is looking to ditch the cold weather. She’s president and CEO of Journeys Travel Group in Delafield, Wisc.

“We’re getting a fair amount of calls from people who were not planning to do a winter trip and just want to get out. The cold is definitely a motivator,” said Youngbauer.

While that’s good news, consumers’ increased interest in escaping frozen zones has travel agents working hard to find availability.

Product scarce
Agents reported that product is scarce, especially for last-minute travel bargains.

Youngbauer, however, just managed to snag a one-week tour package to Cozumel for a client.

“The price was great, $850 per person. The tour operator runs charter flights and prices are determined ahead of time. I was lucky to find the inventory,” said Youngbauer.

But deals like that Cozumel package are getting tough to find.

Motivated to go
“Without question, people are motivated to get out, said Jennifer Leventhal, president of Sentinel Travel in Northbrook, Ill.

Destinations in demand among Leventhal’s clients include Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and in the Caribbean both Jamaica and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

“I had a client looking for a last-minute beach getaway at the end of February. Even though it was for after President’s Day, the charters out of Chicago and Milwaukee were sold out,” said Leventhal.

For some clients, getting a bargain warm weather vacation isn’t as important as getting out of the cold fast.

“I just had a client ask me to move up a $30,000 stay at Four Seasons Nevis. They wanted to get out of the cold and go sooner. Fortunately, I had taken out insurance for them, and we were able to change it,” said Leventhal.

Airfares hurting cruise
Sub-zero temperatures and warm-weather cruises usually go hand-in-hand this time of year, especially with cruise lines making a big push to fill ships with WAVE season upgrades and promotions.

But steep airfares are cooling off enthusiasm for close-in cruise bookings, agents said.

“Cruising is great if you’re in Florida or in one of the drive-to states. Those are viable cruise markets. But for those of us who have to find commercial air flights, the last-minute environment is not as appealing right now,” Youngbauer said.

Leventhal reported that with airfares running between $600 and $700 per passenger, flights often cost more than the cruise for her clients.

There’s an upside, however. Even if airfares are precluding quick getaways, many clients are looking at future trips.

“I had a lady who decided against going to Florida now because the airfare was too high. But she had me research New Orleans for her family as a spring break trip. That way they’ll have something down the road to look forward to,” said Leventhal.

Bad weather blues
Not all agents are finding a silver lining in this winter’s snow clouds.

“Our office is slow. No new customers are braving the temperatures to come in. And most people have already booked for their spring break trips in March. It may be they’re just waiting for that,” said Kay Light of B&B Travel in Schaumberg, Ill.

Ellen Paderson of Smiles and Miles Travel in South Easton, Mass., had similar observations. “We’ve really seen a big increase in advance bookings. That means clients planned their escapes from the cold a while ago,” said Paderson.

Other agents, including Mary E. Ray of AAA Naperville faced their own problems due to the cold. Ray’s office is in Naperville, Ill., where temps this week once again dropped below zero. AAA Naperville had to close due to the frigid conditions and a lack of heat.

“I’ve had a bit of a backup,” said Ray.

Heating expenses take a toll
Youngbauer said the bad weather has hit some clients especially hard.

“I’ve had a few clients cancel last-minute winter trips because they could no longer afford them.

“ In the more rural areas where we have farming communities, people use propane as the primary heating fuel for their homes. The cost of propane has skyrocketed, and that’s wiped out travel plans,” said Youngbauer.

And then there are the travel disruptions.

“It’s been one of the tougher winters with so many delays. The mess right after New Year’s really packed a punch. And this week I had three groups to re-accommodate, either with cancellations or refunds,” said Leventhal.

“We’re used to having cold weather this time of year. But it needs to thaw out quite a bit before we’re back to normal.”