Hey, it's
LORI PATTERSON!
Business Development Manager- Eastern Canada, Holland America Line & Seabourn
The New Year is here. What’s giving you hope for the future?
Happy New year for sure – I know we all have lots of expectations for 2021! 2020 has tested us all to our limits on every level. We have all seen so much tragedy and loss but in between it all, we have also experienced many silver linings that give us all hope. Our faith in the expectation that 2021 will be a better year gives me hope. It has been a privilege to work for companies like Holland America and Seabourn with their complete focus on returning to sailing in a safe environment. The support and commitment has been inspiring and never has there been a day where we doubt our return. I am committed to speaking with our travel industry partners daily and all of them are holding on to the opportunity to get past the challenges of this past year. The tremendous efforts from every travel advisor, tour company, and our amazing cruise industry have inspired me every day to keep moving forward. Many people worldwide depend on what we do every day – that gives me personal hope and a reason to keep doing my best for my family. I do know that so many people, industry and none, are so excited to be able to travel again – you must be hopeful when you know that SO many are relying on all of us to get the industry up and running again!
“We will all have to be stronger and more efficient – more adaptable and more reliant on partnerships to get through this time and move forward into the new landscape of travel. If we have not learned to lean on each other now, we never will!“
LORI PATTERSON
Holland America Line
How have you been coping during the pandemic and how have you been keeping busy?
Keeping busy was never an issue. Having this tremendous opportunity to work during this unprecedented time has been an amazing learning experience. Being off the road when you are used to being away does allow for time to connect with my family – especially my daughter who is in her last year of high school. So frankly, this time together has been a gift – we have all learned to adapt to keeping busy and staying active. It has been a great opportunity to eat more meals together and have conversations that may not have happened. Slowing down creatively has been our goal – we are experimenting with lots of great recipes, hiking trails and music. Not to mention, lots of great wine…
What have been some of your strategies to keep the trade engaged over the last year? How are you staying connected with travel advisors during this time?
This has been an excellent opportunity to focus on how we can assist the industry during difficult times – we began our STAYING CONNECTED Webinar Series last summer and it has allowed us to reach out to all our partners with relevant and helpful information. Of course we have done our usual bi-weekly email updates and virtual meetings which is key to keeping in touch. We have some excellent tools for the trade and leveraging partnerships will be key to future success.
Do you have anything you want to share with travel agents?
We give profound thanks to all of the trade who have worked tirelessly this past year. We could not have done this without leaning on each other and I hope that we take all of the insights we have gathered to stay strong. We are completely focused on summer 2021 and beyond and utilizing science to guide our decisions with protocols and deployments – we will always prioritize the safety of our guests and crew beyond anything else. There will never be a better time to instil the value of a travel agent and the knowledge they bring to the table. As we navigate into the new normal travel landscape, agents need to shout from the rooftops all the knowledge and experience they have that makes planning a vacation successful. You need to keep in touch with your database consistently and I see successful agencies doing this daily – that personal touch will be all the difference and keep selling the dreams and experiences that we are all longing to return to! Make sure your clients have something to look forward to and they will see how indispensable you are. Keep in touch… Keep in touch and work your client base.
Is there something that you think people may not know about HAL?
Not everyone realizes our historic legacy was one of bringing many people to North America. Through Ellis Island in New York and Pier 21 in Halifax, thousands of new families began their new lives on board Holland America Line in hopes of a better life in North America. This incredible history is alive and well on all our ships and we are keeping that spirit alive on an historic sailing October 15, 2022 on our newest Pinnacle Class ship, The Rotterdam. This date celebrates our 150 years at sea and we will have many exciting events planned as we sail from Rotterdam to New York! Our destination focus and immersive programming is unique in the industry with international product offerings reflecting our exploration history.
Over the 20 years I have been with HAL and SBN, I have witnessed so many exceptional moments but I have to say that during the early COVID outbreak, our ships spent many months at sea fully staffed. We devoted exceptional time and resources to keep our staff safe until we repatriated every one of them home. This extraordinary effort will forever stay with me. I have such pride when I see the dedication of protecting staff, guests and the oceans we sail. It is our strongest asset.
Is there a particular HAL Itinerary that’s high on your wish list?
I have always dreamed of our Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage! Such an exotic cruise with the Inca influence, a chance to sail on the Amazon right up to Manaus and the extraordinary experience of cruising Glacier Alley and Cape Horn. Can’t wait for 74 glorious days of immersive South America. Check it out – it is a very popular itinerary and already selling well in 2022. Now I just need some more vacation time.
There has been a lot of talk about the travel industry coming out better on the other side of COVID 19 – What are your hopes?
We will all have to be stronger and more efficient – more adaptable and more reliant on partnerships to get through this time and move forward into the new landscape of travel. If we have not learned to lean on each other now, we never will! There is lots of hope for the future of travel and we all know the pent-up demand will be exceptional, so let’s all make sure we are as prepared as possible.
How has travel impacted your life?
I have been so lucky in my life to have been in this industry since I was 20 – it has not just impacted my life but truly made my life what it is. I have had a distinct pleasure to work with a fantastic team here in Canada and the USA – we have enjoyed the best of times. Travel connects all of us like nothing else, enlarges our perspective, shows us compassion and educates. How can that not bring out the best in everybody? I have explored a lot of the world and STILL have so much to see and experience. I met my husband while in this business and we have built our lives in this industry. We are forever thankful for all it has done for us. My lifelong friends and family around the world have been my early inheritance and enhanced my life so I think that is a lot to be thankful for and representing HAL and SBN have been the icing on my cake!
