We Are All Strong: Giving Back to Destinations in Need

These past few months have been full of many natural and human disasters. If you are Houston, Caribbean, Florida, Las Vegas or Napa or Sonoma Strong, we are all feeling the effects. As so many of these tragedies are hitting tourist destinations, our jobs have been challenged with rebooking, cancellations and confusion all around. Part of me says this means the travel advisor’s stock keeps rising. With so much uncertainty in this world, a consumer booking travel on their own is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. There is nothing and no one to save you. 
John McMahon and Tom Ludington
Tom Ludington and John McMahon

As travel advisors, we must help save our partners that have felt the economic downturn of these disasters. We must be on top of all upgrades and create an open dialogue with our clients on the recovery updates that are available. Destinations need to be true to the consumer and set expectations on what the guest should expect upon arrival. If that message is clear and accurate, we have a great opportunity to drive the recovery.

As many of you know, hotels are built to withstand these hurricanes and earthquakes. It’s the employees’ homes that have taken the hit and need help. Wouldn’t it be great for your client to spend winter break on a beautiful beach for a week and take a day to volunteer and help a family in need? I know you can sell that. We must give back to these destinations that have given so much to us for so many years. We also must be educators and continue to sell the destinations that are fully up and running with business as usual. I’m pictured here with Tom Ludington, who heads up the U.S. for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. Tom and I recently spent the day at The Presidents Cup Tournament. The Cayman Islands didn’t have a palm fall off a tree and is ready to receive your clients who may have been displaced over these circumstances.

Stay strong, we will all get through this together.

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