Similarly, Sherri Coleman believes the most challenging thing about being a travel agent in the days of the pandemic is trying to console frustrated clients about refunds versus travel credits.
“Trying to reassure them that they won’t lose money and then dealing with companies starting to refund, so they are confused,” she says. “It’s also extremely hard to keep up with the trending constant changes and the key answer is always, we don’t know.”
Although she doesn’t like to vent, the Travel Consultant/Manager at Robert Q Travel in Goderich, Ont., would also like more support from the Government for the industry.
“I just wish that the Canadian Government would help out these agents and agencies to keep the industry moving,” she tells Travel Courier. “They have doled out enough money to lesser things.”
Another challenge across the industry has been dealing with commission recalls.
“It’s very frustrating that the protection for this is not being dealt with at all or quick enough,” she says. “It is very upsetting to know that we certainly were hit the hardest in this pandemic and we worked the hardest to do everything in our power to protect and help our clients. Some of these poor bricks and mortar places are closed due to the work they put in. Seems very unfair.”
Although it was challenging for suppliers in the beginning to manage such an unexpected high volume of cancellations and booking changes, she says people in the industry are being very helpful now that things have slowed down.
“I don’t think one supplier has not reached out to us yet to see if we can band together and get people travelling,” she adds.
Overall, Coleman has also tried to remain positive throughout the pandemic.
“My mother, who is elderly and took quarantine very serious for the first bit, asked me one day ‘How can you remain so happy and positive?’ I said ‘mom, there is no other way to get through any of this! Outlook on life. Everyday you get up and think to yourself. This is a new day and it can only be better than yesterday!’ Keep your eye on the sky and let’s travel!”