COVID-19 Rocks Our Travel Agency, Shakes Up Our Lives
The Shangri-La Team
In this world of fighting a tough opponent, the travel industry took the first hit and more than likely will be the last to recover. We plan on being around for this return, but not in the same way.
At Shangri-La World Travel, we started to see the first cancellations in mid-February 2020 as our Asia trips were really impacted by the airlines. Our folks with cruises out of Singapore, Seoul or Tokyo had booked to pass through Hong Kong International Airport, but travel there was not allowed. That was the first sign that the virus would change the world and our lives.
We all know the rest of the story. Next, we close the border from China, then Europe and finally the UK. Our US airlines can’t fly international and with shelter-in-place, we stay at home. CDC says no cruising for now as well, so we have no inventory to present you. Our agency works from our respective homes now and we spend most of the workday canceling or changing travel dates for Future Travel Credits.
So, what is next ... 2020 is very much unknown for the travel industry. Both cruise lines and airlines need to reinvent themselves based on future legislation. There may be some discounted inventory for cruises during the holidays that leave from US ports and don’t go far. We have found that working remotely can be productive and provides some personal advantages. We Zoom for meetings with each other and can do so with clients as well. However, a thriving agency for customized international travel will have 80% less activity this year than last.
Mike opened a Seattle branch for Expedition and Adventure Travel in 2019, and the Curries bought a condo on Alki Beach. Their first grandchild, Sadie Rose, will turn 2 in the fall and their son’s family lives outside Seattle as well. So, Gloria and Mike will now move to Seattle and enjoy their family while they re-invent their companies’ world of travel.
Locally, their super-star sales manager, Taryn Stevenson will meet with new clients and continue to work on travel bookings that she has worked on for 2021. If anyone of our existing clients would like to work with Taryn locally in town, in your home or on the PC, we will refer to her. Mike and Gloria know most of you and your preferences, so we can certainly assist Taryn with the help she may need from Seattle to help you create your next great adventure!
Mike and I do have a lot of clients that are currently rescheduled or booked in 2021, and we will continue. To help fulfill these trips and future trips to create the trips of a lifetime. We will continue selling travel and will continue to do our Shangri-La World Travel group trips!
It is ironic, that with business as in life, your best of times can become the most challenging when an unforeseen event rocks your world. After the shock, it is time to look around you and see what you have and what you no longer need. If your eyes are open and clear that vision will appear. It won’t be the same, and it will be different. If it matters, then you should go there. Shangri-La will be around for you and share how and when the world opens for travel. Gloria, Taryn, Megan and Mike thank you for all the good times of old and want to be the ones to introduce to the New World of Travel.
Our contacts are the same:
Email: Mike@Shangri-LaWorldTravel.com; Gloria@Shangri-LaWorldTravel.com; Taryn@Shangri-LaWorldTravel.com
Phone: 817.421.7447
Expedition and Adventure Travel: 1.800.879.5906
