Travel Advisor Community Faces Impact of Los Angeles Wildfires

Wildfires in Los Angeles, which began a week ago and are likely to last well into this week, have left at least 24 people dead and more than 12,000 homes and businesses destroyed. 

Among the residents impacted are travel advisors, their clients, and others in the community. The industry has banded together to assist those who have lost or had to evacuate their homes. 

Montecito Village Travel (MVT) told TMR that one of the Santa Barbara-based host agency’s advisors has lost her home in Pacific Palisades and many other advisors have been evacuated.  

“Our hearts and thoughts are with all those affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California,” Colin Weatherhead, chairman and CEO of MVT, said in a statement Monday afternoon. “The impact of these events on our community, our travel partners, and our network of advisors cannot be understated, and we remain deeply committed to providing support where it’s needed most. 

Weatherhead has donated $5,000 to Jill Hurd, the advisor who lost her home, and encourages others to donate to her GoFundMe page. MVT has also donated $25,000 to the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund. 

Internova Travel Group reported that some of its advisors have been affected by the fires as well. The company’s vice president of advisor and partner engagement at Global Travel Collection, Mickey Weill, is helping evacuated advisors and their clients secure hotels and accommodations. 

In addition, Internova extended the Family Bonds Foundation‘s January nomination deadline to Jan. 17 so that those impacted by the fires can apply for a grant through the charity, which offers aid to travel advisors who have fallen on hard times each quarter. 

Rhonda Shumway, who owns TerraMar Travel in Hemet, California, said her business is outside of the fire zone and not impacted. Though many of her agents are located near the fires and are experiencing long power outages and heavy smoke, none have been evacuated.

“So far we have been very lucky,” she told TMR. “I know several friends in the travel industry who have lost everything. This is so sad and devastating. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them.”

Firefighters have made some progress to subdue the fires, but heavy winds and dry conditions are expected to wreak more havoc on the situation late Monday through Wednesday. 

Discover Los Angeles, the city’s tourism and convention board, has been keeping an updated webpage on hotels offering discounts to evacuees and the attractions that remain closed, including Warner Bros. Studio Tours, the Hollywood Sign, and others. 

The organization warns residents and visitors to Los Angeles, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, young children, and the elderly, to take precautions. They also urge donations to Los Angeles Fire Foundation and American Red Cross.