07/14/2020
**This is NOT my post but worthy of repost!!
Travel & tourism account for 1 in 10 jobs worldwide. 🌎
I am that 1 out of 10. 🙋🏻♀️
Many people surely think that my job working in the travel business is to travel for free (I wish!). ✈️🛳🏖🕍⛩. Most times we pay to go to the destinations so we can better sell it to our clients.
In reality, 90% of my job is spent sitting at my desk designing itineraries for couples, families and clients from around the world. I spend hours, weeks, sometimes even months working on single trips, making sure every detail is thought out and planned. And truly I LOVE doing so!! 💜
The travel industry has been dealing with the coronavirus since January — an additional two full months before it really began impacting daily life here in Canada. 😢
Fun fact: Many travel agents only get paid after their clients actually travel. Many agents have been refunding their hard-earned money back to their clients by the thousands. They’ve spent these last four months working tirelessly to negotiate refunds, (where applicable), postponements, and cancellations. Being yelled at and explaining we as an agent/company are the middle man - we physically do not hold your money, the provider of the holiday does!
Most of us haven't booked any new travel for clients for months !!
There is zero income !!!
But we do it without question because we have wonderful, personal relationships with our clients - something that credit card companies, Costco and online agencies do not - and know travel will come back stronger than ever once this is all over.
**So when you do decide to travel again - PLEASE use a travel advisor. It doesn't matter who, or what company - we're all on the same team. But please use a live person. Do not click a “book” button on a website ever again.**
To my industry colleagues - you are warriors! Until we all travel again❣️