01/01/2021
To say that it has been a challenging and tumultuous 2020 that would probably be the understatement of the year.
It is hard to find anyone who has not been directly or indirectly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Whether it be those persons who lost loved ones or those who were infected. Or the many who got stranded overseas for months due to border closures. What about the many persons who lost their jobs, their businesses and exhausted their life savings. This pandemic has by far had the most wide ranging impact perhaps since 9/11. The effects of 9/11 still pales in comparison to the COVID 19 effects.
The Travel industry has been front and center directly impacted by the Pandemic. Airlines were grounded for months due to worldwide border closures. Cruise Ships were placed in dry dock while others became scrap metal faced with early retirement. Some Airlines and cruise companies went out of business, while others cut jobs and equipment to mitigate losses. Travel agencies and Tour operators were overwhelmed with canceled flights, stranded passengers, refund requests and a cataclysmic drop in new travel requests. Unfortunately some went out of business while others are still today struggling to stay afloat. Sadly many lost their jobs.
Travel Wize Ltd faced similar challenges but we realized that we could not just buckle under the great challenge that lied ahead of us. Instead we summoned our resilience and our ability to adapt. In March with the closure of the local, regional and international borders all of the commercial airlines suspended their flights and some even went out of business. We realized the void and the need to get persons home who were stranded here on vacation while others were unemployed and in dire circumstances. We quickly organized chartered flights to/ from regional destinations like St. Maarten, St Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia. St. Vincent, Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and many more. Reconnecting families and friends and helping to restart livelihoods. It was great hearing the many heartwarming stories of persons being re-united with their families.
Of course this would not have been possible without our many airline partners of whom we are thankful for their cooperation. VI Air link, Island birds, One Caribbean Barbados, Intercaribbean, Anguilla Air, Silver airways, Air Sunshine, Winair and Air St. Maarten. It was a great challenge dealing with the various protocols and requirements but we rose above it.
In 2021 we look forward to continue serving our customers with our usual resourcefulness, attention to good customer service, and beyond the call commitment. We know that Travel Wize would be nowhere without its customers and we are thankful for your patronage.
On behalf of Byron, Christine, Lianie, Urenna and Luther we wish all our customers, the entire BVI, the Region and beyond all the best of health, prosperity and happiness for the New Year ahead 2021! Stay safe. Stay positive.
