Hey, it's
Jared Gelfand!
BDM, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario West, Scenic & Emerald Cruises
The New Year is here. What’s giving you hope for the future?
What gives me hope is the way people have come together to overcome the tough times of the pandemic. Our dedicated frontline workers, who put themselves at risk to help others, the science and medical community and also seeing how the travel industry has banded together to overcome these challenges. Through the adversity I do believe we will come out stronger after this.
How have you been coping during the pandemic and how have you been keeping busy?
It’s a nice change being off the road. When I’m not working I enjoy reading, watching sports or documentaries, going for walks and exercising.
I love being outdoors in nature, hearing the wind breeze through the trees or seeing birds soaring over my head looking down below and smelling the fresh air.
“Travel has had a dramatic impact on my life. I love learning and experiencing new cultures and seeing different ways of life. Travel is a true educator and is something that enriches our lives, it brings people together, builds life-lasting friendships and ignites your senses. “
Jared Gelfand
Scenic & Emerald Cruises
What have been some of your strategies to keep the trade engaged over the last year?
I’ve been meeting with partners virtually or having conversations on the phone. It’s amazing with the technology in place we don’t skip a beat and meeting with partners across the country is simple with a click of a button.
Do you have anything you want to share with travel agents?
Stay positive, focussed and exude the energy you want to receive in return.
Is there something that you think people may not know about Scenic or Emerald Cruises?
Both brands offer a high quality product but vastly different experiences. Scenic is the white glove all inclusive experience where you don’t need to open up your wallet while traveling and Emerald Cruises is very inclusive but doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles that Scenic delivers. The ships, staff, excursions and food/drink is high quality on both brands but depending on your style of travel one brand might be better suited for you.
Is there a particular itinerary that’s high on your wish list?
I would love to sail the Eclipse to Antarctica or on the Scenic Spirit and journey down the Mekong river through Vietnam/Cambodia.
There’s been a lot of talk about the travel industry coming out better on the other side of COVID-19. What are your hopes?
I agree, we’ve already seen signs and have the stats to prove that 2022 and beyond will be a strong years for the travel industry. After speaking with many partners (and I agree) after almost two years of no travelling, people are excited to start exploring the world again when it’s safe to do so.
How has travel impacted your life?
Travel has had a dramatic impact on my life. I love learning and experiencing new cultures and seeing different ways of life. Travel is a true educator and is something that enriches our lives, it brings people together, builds life lasting friendships and ignites your senses. Oh, and I love trying food from around the world, obviously.
