Travel Advisors See Uptick in Calls Following Vaccine Roll Out

News of the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine has spurred an increase in both telephone calls and, in some cases, new bookings for vacations.

According to Suzanne Terry, president of Blue Sky Excursions, a member of Travel Experts, has seen this trend first hand.

“I specialize in cruising and my clients have been waiting for the vaccine. Most of them are older and were not willing to commit, but now the phones are ringing. I am booking cruises for summer 2021 and all of 2022. The cruise lines have great promotions and flexible cancellation policies which is desirable.”

Claire Saunders, of Where Next Adventures, has also seen a rise in bookings, mainly to Mexico and Costa Rica.

However, “clients are still hesitant about making travel plans further away because we don’t know how vaccine distribution will go in other parts of the world,” she said. “Just because we can travel doesn’t mean that we are welcome to visit. It’s still a wait and see game.”

“I’ve had a marked increase in inquiries this week since the news of the vaccine. I’ve had a request for New Zealand for Christmas 2021 and an inquiry for Africa for 2022,” said Sandy Pappas, Sandy Pappas Travel, a Travel Experts member.

“Another client who previously had been radio silent about rescheduling his 2020 Italy and France trip reached out to me to schedule a call to discuss rebooking for 2021. Another client asked about some place warm for March and another about spring break. I’m feeling very invigorated by this new energy.”

Linda de Sosa, Bucketlist Travel Consulting, has booked three tours since last week to Ireland, Italy and Tanzania, more than the entire previous month. “One client said she just wants to put money down on a trip to give her something to look forward to.”

However, some advisors pointed to the fact that not everyone is planning on getting the vaccine right away out of concerns over side effects. Because of that, Renee Taylor, Travel Experts affiliate, said she expectes most of her business for 2021 to be domestic based, especially if proof of vaccine ends up being a requirement for international travel.

“I’m definitely feeling that my clients are now more optimistic, said Margot Kong, Journeys Unparalleled, echoing the overall sentiment. “I have clients who were initially wavering about a trip they’d booked to Mexico in January and now they want to push through and proceed. I do a lot of family travel and there seems to be a general sigh of relief that travel now seems realistic for next summer, maybe even for spring break.”