Every week is Travel and Tourism Week for us, but this week we’re celebrating it nationwide. It’s National Travel and Tourism Week, and it’s a great reminder that if you haven’t booked your travel for this year yet, it is time to contact your advisor. Summer season has filled up fast as eager travelers gear up to go anywhere and everywhere now that most COVID restrictions have been lifted. If you’re lucky, your advisor might find some last-minute space, but time is of the essence. Even for trips the rest of this year and into next, space is limited as the world rushes back to travel. The sooner you can plan, the better.
There really isn’t an offseason or a shoulder season right now to take advantage of small crowds and big discounts. It’s all peak season at the moment, but a travel advisor can make sure you’re well taken care of wherever you may roam and connect you with the behind-the-scenes access and exclusive experiences. After all, you can’t VIP yourself. As Virtuoso chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch says, “It’s not just that I’m sending you to that hotel. It’s that I know the general manager.” While your advisor can’t have been everywhere, through our network we have partners on the ground everywhere who prioritize our travelers.
As we celebrate the return of global travel, we need to bear in mind that the industry is still catching up from two years with limited activity. A lot of hotels, tour operators and cruise lines are still bringing new employees up to speed, and with the amount of inquiries they are getting now, things can take a little more time and service levels are a work in progress. Patience will get us through. On the plus side, many hotels and resorts have taken advantage of the lull to invest millions in upgrades and are putting their best foot forward.
As for us advisors, we’re busier than we’ve ever been, which is a welcome change from the last two years, but the more lead time you give us the better we can make your trip. May 4 is Travel Advisor Day, so be sure to send yours a note of appreciation – and thoughts on your next few years’ worth of trips. The world is open again, let’s get back out exploring and see what we’ve been missing!
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