It has been about a year since our world was turned upside down by the pandemic, and travel came to a halt. For this issue, the editors asked themselves how TravelAge West should acknowledge this grim anniversary. We could have focused on the immense tragedy of lost lives, destroyed businesses and a travel industry that continues to suffer. We could have also talked about the hope we have seen in recent weeks as the vaccine continues to be distributed across the country. (According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, 80% of respondents have travel plans over the next six months.)
But what we chose to highlight instead are a few of the silver-lining efforts that have inspired us. In this issue’s cover story (“When Life Gives You Lemons"), we profile eight advisors who have spent the past year creating new travel businesses. These endeavors have the potential to not only have a big impact on the industry, but to directly help other agents, too.
These advisors are representative of the scores of agents throughout the industry who — when faced with exceptional circumstances and all the reason in the world to quit — dug deep within themselves and used their entrepreneurial spirit to take positive action. This generation of advisors has learned the hard way how important resilience and community are in business.
This generation of advisors has learned the hard way how important resilience and community are in business.
“How connected we have become as a travel industry during this time has been the overlying silver lining of it all,” said Chelsea Martin, one of the advisors featured in the story. “It has also been incredible to see some of the innovations that have come out of the pandemic.”
Of course, we may be dealing with the effects of COVID-19 for a long time to come, but there is no doubt that we have adapted to a new reality — and no matter what comes next, we will adapt to that, too. More than ever, people want to feel connected to the world at large, and travel is the best way to do that. And that’s a truth that will ultimately see us through any dark times ahead.
