Travel Agent Day 2020: A Celebration To Remember
May 6 marks the 10th anniversary of Travel Agent Day. Although this year’s celebration is going to be quite different given the circumstances, Baxter Media is pleased to share the annual special combined Travel Agent Appreciation edition of Travel Courier and Canadian Travel Press.
In our cover story in this special issue, managing editor, Ann Ruppenstein reports that the travel industry was and continues to be hit hard by COVID-19, but through it all agents have taken a lot of the stress away from clients by rebooking cancelled flights, staying on hold for hours with suppliers to facilitate changes and credits, and making the necessary arrangements to get travellers home.
“In these uncertain times for our industry, the shining light truly has been our agent partners,” David Green, VP Commercial at G Adventures tells Travel Courier. “Their support for our travellers and staff across the globe has been incredible. I’m thankful for their dedication to doing the right thing for all our travellers in these trying times and for remaining strong while we get through this together. I’m confident we will come out of this stronger than before.”
Similarly, his colleague, Sean Russo, National Sales Manager, Canada for the tour operator adds, “I could not imagine navigating this experience as a traveller without the help of a travel professional. Our agent partners are a strong bunch and their role in the travel industry’s future rebound is pivotal. Our agent partners inspire, educate and support global travel and we appreciate their resiliency and support as we get through this together.”
As Travel Agent Day approached, Colleen Lorenzen, who came up with the idea of holding an annual day in appreciation of the travel trade, says, “I think there has never been a greater need to celebrate agents than now. I have definitely been pleased with the different attitude that I am finding online and just from people in general. They now see where our value lies. We are so much more than someone who books your travel. We are there to give advice, to help when things go wrong and to take care of our clients like they are family. Just having someone to call when you are so far from home makes all the difference.”
For the full story check out the Annual Travel Agent Appreciation Issue.
Coinciding with the edition, tourism representatives from across the industry united to send messages of thanks to the loyal agent community in a special video.
