Search Travel Market Report

ALGV
riviera
mainlogo
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Barbara Peterson
    • Brian Israel
    • Daine Taylor
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Jessica Montevago
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Mary Gostelow
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Steve Gillick
Sponsored By NCL
Sponsored By NCL
globus

Travel Agents Help Destinations Recover Faster from Disaster

by Richard D'Ambrosio / December 04, 2017
Travel Agents Help Destinations Recover Faster from Disaster

Caribbean destinations are recovering faster from Hurricanes Maria and Irma because travel agents are educating consumers. Photo: Arvid Olson


It’s not an easy balance to strike for a travel agent. A loyal client questions whether they should keep their reservation for a vacation to an island they heard was devastated by a hurricane.

The agent has been in touch with the tourism authority and other local contacts, and has a more accurate grasp on how satisfying a vacation can be there. So, the agent forwards links to webcams at the resort, recent photos on social media, and reviews from other travelers, since the weather event.

Many times, agents and others report these confidence-building conversations are the reason why travelers do not cancel their reservations, leading to a momentum that helps the island rally while providing memorable vacations to customers.

During its recent Best of the Best conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Travel Impressions officials spoke about how Caribbean destinations are recovering faster from Hurricanes Maria and Irma because travel agents are educating consumers, and convincing them to maintain bookings on islands that have not been impacted.

“What suppliers are telling us is in certain situations, they see the channel coming from the agency community has fewer cancellations,” said Travel Impressions President Scott Wiseman. While Wiseman said his conclusions were based on conversations and anecdotal evidence, “we believe strongly that agents are helping stem cancellations versus the consumer direct channel.”

Parris Jordan, chairman of the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS), held earlier in November, said several attendees and tourism board executives confirmed what Wiseman had experienced.

Travelers need agents to help decipher the news
“It’s a little bit challenging for the typical traveler to differentiate between different islands. There are a lot of folks who mistake Barbuda for Bermuda. And Bermuda said it was getting cancellations because of the confusion.

Having that push from the travel agencies, the people interacting with the destinations, definitely helps,” Jordan said. “Those properties interacting with travel agents recover quicker because agents react to the canceling or shifting.”

“Destinations should use agents as their primary source to ensure that there are no unnecessary cancellations due to misinformation about conditions. Our clients have utmost confidence in the agent's ability to steer them to the right spot,” said Loesken Vanderpoel, an agent with Protravel in Chicago who specializes in the Caribbean.

“When you drill right down to it, that is what sets us apart from other channels,” said Deborah Director, luxury travel advisor for her own SmartFlyer travel agency in Boca Raton, Florida. Following the fires in the Northern California wine country region, “I was getting clients asking me, 'Is it safe to go to Napa? Are they ready to receive us?'”

Visit, take photos, and post on social media
Director recently decided to tack on a side trip to the region following a personal trip to Southern California so that she could experience the damage and, importantly, the venues that were not damaged, for herself. “There is nothing like first-hand experience,” she said.

Prior to and after her trip, Director has been able to assuage clients that the region is ready to host them and that they can set high expectations for the quality of their experience.

Agents help clients overcome the fact that “Dominica isn’t the Dominican Republic,” said Jason Naito, senior director of product for Mexico, Central and South America at Apple Leisure Group, the parent company of Travel Impressions.

“Bookings were impacted by that misunderstanding. That was a challenge for us” following the hurricanes, Naito said. “Travel agents were able to save bookings.”

Naito advised agents traveling to the Caribbean to take pictures and post them on their social media feeds. “I’m going to Mexico myself soon. I will Instagram me on the beach, giving confidence to the brides worried about the resorts, that everything is fine.”

Director posted multiple times on her Facebook and Instagram feeds during her Napa/Sonoma trip in November.

“In the absence of being able to go there, a well-networked travel advisor has the communication skills to get the people on-site to provide the photos and videos we need to educate our clients,” Director advised.

  0
  0
globus
Related Articles
Five Caribbean Hotels Reopening in Time for Holiday Getaways
Dominica Update: Balancing Tourism Reopening with Safety
The Dominican Republic Plans for Rapid Testing, No-Cost Travel Insurance to Boost Tourism
Caribbean Destinations Prepare to Reopen Borders to Tourists
Barbados Looks to Life After COVID-19
7 Standout Resorts Opening in the Mexican Caribbean
Banyan Tree Inks Deal for First Bahamas Property
Dream Hotel Group Enters Turks & Caicos Market
7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Caribbean Sea
Jazz Festival Showcases the Spirit of Saint Lucia

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. U.S. Will Require Negative COVID-19 Tests for All International Visitors
  2. U.S. Congress Reaches Agreement on Stimulus, ASTA Says More Support 'Will Absolutely' Be Needed
  3. Op-ed: Five Travel Predictions for 2021
  4. Reflecting on 2020: ‘Primed’ for Self-Reflection Heading into the New Year
  5. Kauai Reopens to Tourists with New Travel Rules in Place
  6. 8 Travel Trends for 2021, According to MMGY Global

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. U.S. Will Require Negative COVID-19 Tests for All International Visitors
  2. Caribbean Destinations, Hotels Work to Meet to New CDC Requirements
  3. Kauai Reopens to Tourists with New Travel Rules in Place
  4. U.S. Congress Reaches Agreement on Stimulus, ASTA Says More Support 'Will Absolutely' Be Needed
  5. ASTA: CDC Testing Requirement ‘Threatens to Create a Logistical Crisis’
  6. What Advisors Need to Know About the Latest COVID-19 Relief Package
Tip of the Day

I think being in contact with [my clients] gave them more confidence in me and the suggestions I offer.

Linda Kinsey, Custom Travel & Cruise

 Share...
Daily Top List
Brought To You By

5 Things Every Travel Agency Should Do To Boost Business

1. Specialize
2. Give a personal touch
3. Find your niche and sell an experience
4. Maintain a high standard of quality
5. Become a salesman…but inspire trust

Source: Azavista.com

 Share...
Previous Daily Top List
globus
Top Stories
G Adventures Brings Back Popular Agent Incentive
G Adventures Brings Back Popular Agent Incentive

The “G-Normous” agent incentive program is back for the eighth consecutive year.

Read...
Pleasant Holidays Expands Zero Change Fee Policy to All Destinations
Pleasant Holidays Expands Zero Change Fee Policy to All Destinations

The tour operator announced the elimination of brand change fees for land vacations to all destinations in their product lines.

Read...
Reflecting on 2020: This Year 'Took Us on Some Type of Roller Coaster'
Reflecting on 2020: This Year 'Took Us on Some Type of Roller Coaster'

As 2020 comes to an end, TMR invited a number of travel advisors and suppliers from all over the world to pen their own letter to the industry, reflecting on the year that was and looking to 2021.

Read...
Pleasant Holidays Rolls Out Social Media Marketing Resource for Travel Advisors
Pleasant Holidays Rolls Out Social Media Marketing Resource for Travel Advisors

The free, pre-messaged social media posts provide travel advisors with images and customizable content they can publish on their own channels. 

Read...
The Travel Corporation Launches COVID-19 Insurance Program
The Travel Corporation Launches COVID-19 Insurance Program

The new plans are available for new bookings made on or after Dec. 15, for travel starting on April 1, 2021.

Read...
Reflecting on 2020: New Beginnings and Reconnecting With Cultures in 2021
Reflecting on 2020: New Beginnings and Reconnecting With Cultures in 2021

As 2020 comes to an end, TMR invited a number of travel advisors and suppliers from all over the world to pen their own letter to the industry, reflecting on the year that was and looking to 2021.

Read...
News Briefs
  • Join Avanti's Travel Advisor Webinar
  • Insight Vacations to Debut Journeys to Latin America For the First Time
  • ALG Vacations Launches Digital Publication for Travel Advisors
  • TTC Brands Now Include Specially Trained Well-Being Director
  • The Travel Corporation Introduces ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Option
  • In Memorium: USTOA Legal Counsel John Hughes
TMR Outlooks
Expedition 2020
Wellness Outlook
Distribution Outlook
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/9LEYlsgImf4/0.jpg
Video: What Was It Like to Be the Travel Expert for the CBS Morning News?
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
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
243 South Street, OysterBay, NY, 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2021 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