Coping during COVID-19
This week Travel Courier checks in with Melissa Tolmie, Team Manager with Travel Gurus in Edmonton, who took part in an Air Canada do-it-yourself FAM to Jamaica in August and says rapid testing in Alberta is helping bookings.
What has it been like being a travel advisor during this challenging time?
It’s been very humbling, our agency was growing rapidly, and we were excited for the continued growth. Once this all happened it really made us appreciate the little things that we did to grow our company and made us look at other aspects of our business and how to diversify including opening up an online travel accessory store: www.mytravelshop.ca.
We also focused in on booking international flights for travelers returning home or needing to visit their families and domestic flights & accommodations for Canadians looking to escape within their own country. This kept generating income for us during the pandemic which we are very thankful for. Our diverse clientele is what has helped us keep generating bookings. Keeping our staff employed was our main goal.
Interview for Travel CTV Morning Live
We’ve now reached the nine-months mark of the pandemic. How are things going right now?
Things are really picking up for us. October was our best month since the pandemic started and November is looking even better. A lot of travellers have expressed their need for travel. Since August, our office has been able to showcase & travel to at least two destinations per month to locations with limited travel restrictions. Our clients were able to watch our social media Instagram stories which has put confidence in our clients that it is safe to travel. (See our Instagram stories #safeashome at www.instagram.com/travelgurus. Our social media helped us showcase the safety measures and protocols in destination and what to expect when you arrive. We had many bookings that came direct from these social media posts.
With our office being in Alberta, the new rapid testing that is now available at the Calgary airport has been huge as well. This new rapid test allows Albertans to reduce their quarantine to only two days by opting into this pilot project – amazing news and a great start for our industry and we are hopeful that more airports and provinces will put these systems in place.
Travel Gurus Sponsored Unified MMA Event
“During the pandemic we worked tirelessly day in and day out to get our clients’ home. When so many companies were turning off their phones, we were always available 24/7 to assist our clients and that is the biggest value of all, being able to speak to a real person at any time with access to important information to alleviate the stress of a pandemic is priceless.“
Melissa Tolmie
What do you miss most about travelling?
I am so thankful that during this time I had some great opportunities to travel safely. I took part in Air Canada’s Do-It-Yourself FAM trip to Jamaica in August and spent four nights at the Grand Bahia and three nights at the Hyatt Zilara. It was so amazing to see firsthand the new health and sanitization policies and procedures the airlines and resorts have in place to keep travellers safe, which has really helped our office instil confidence to our clients wanting to travel during this time, but are unsure of how the process and experience is.
I also got the opportunity to work remotely on Vancouver Island for two weeks in the beautiful Comox Valley, which is my hometown and spend some much-needed family time.
What I miss most about travel before the pandemic is the amount of flight options we had available giving us access to so many amazing destinations around the globe with no travel restrictions.
Greetings from Machu Picchu, Peru
Are you doing anything to grow business through domestic travel?
Domestic travel has always played a role in our business and has picked up with a lot of clients wanting to stay closer to home due to international travel restrictions and limitations. We have teamed up more closely with local organizations to put together custom itineraries. A ton of suppliers have some great domestic travel options as well that we showcase on our website and social media. It has opened that door for everyone to explore their own backyard and to support local Canadian businesses during these tough times. We continue to make new connections like provide RV rentals, highlight Local unique stays and offer all airlines including low-cost to book with us.
If there’s one positive thing that’s come out of this situation, it’s been that more people have seen the value of using a travel agent firsthand. Do you agree? How can advisors get this message out?
I agree with this so much! We are our client’s biggest advocates. Even if the outcome is out of our control, we are always there for them and get the answers they need and listen to any questions or concerns they may have. During the pandemic we worked tirelessly day in and day out to get our clients’ home. When so many companies were turning off their phones, we were always available 24/7 to assist our clients and that is the biggest value of all, being able to speak to a real person at any time with access to important information to alleviate the stress of a pandemic is priceless.
Tolmie at Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Jamaica during the pandemic
Do you have any strategies to get through the next few months?
We are focusing on millennials and people that can travel with restrictions. People that understand that they will have to adapt to the new way of travel and understand what to expect in their destination. You must know what to expect and with all the new rules, our agents need to provide the best information to our clients so they can travel safely.
Tolmie receiving the Guru of the Year Award
How has travel impacted your own life?
In every way possible. My own personal growth has been directly impacted by travel. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t get to see how people in different parts of the world live, travel humbles you and makes you appreciate the little things and to be thankful for what you have. The people I have met while travelling are all a part of my story and their memories and connections will always be with me and have impacted me in a huge way. I am so incredibly blessed to work in an industry that no matter where I travel it helps me to recommend the destination and experiences that will have an impact on other people’s lives.
Charles Bridge, Prague
How long have you been in the industry and what are some of your secrets to success?
It has been the most incredible journey with Travel Gurus. I have been in the industry for seven years; I started my career with Travel Gurus in 2013 when I was only 18 years old. Within my first year I became a million-dollar agent and a couple years after that I was promoted to General Manager, a few years after that I became an owner of the agency. The key to my success is our slogan, Real People. The power of human connection cannot be underestimated. Being real and connecting deeply with your client on a personal level is a huge key to your success and will set you apart from others. Taking advantage of all travel opportunities available which allows you to provide firsthand knowledge to your clients. We encourage all our agents to travel as much as possible around the globe to help them be the most diverse agents they can possibly be.
