I am writing to you as we are in week 8 of the quarantine as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. First, and most important, I hope all my clients and readers are healthy and staying sane throughout this ordeal. My thoughts are with those who have fallen ill and for the hospital staff members who are working harder than most to save lives.

Now……Please don’t ask me what day of the week it is, I sometimes I have to ask Alexa or check my phone…. but many people have been asking me what the future of travel will look like and I think it’s time to open up that conversation. The first few weeks of the pandemic were spent cancelling and postponing travel. I worked diligently to keep my clients updated on the options, which were changing by the minute, and also to negotiate the best refund terms possible. I helped clients file insurance claims on their cancelled trips. I even offered free consultations to those who didn’t use a trusted travel advisor and booked online. I think that the horrible service that people experienced with their on-line booking sites will further the conversation about why working with a travel advisor is so important, now more than ever. I always put my client’s best interest first, above everything else.

WHAT IS THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL GOING TO LOOK LIKE NOW?

In the past I gave you lists such as “BEST DESTINATIONS FOR 2020” and now I am going to tell you what I think is going to happen in travel for the remainder of this year into next. Keep in mind that things are changing, seemingly minute to minute; I am thinking ahead based on some trends we are seeing.

First, I believe we will see a return to travel in 2020, with Americans looking to travel more domestically and by car.

I took a poll of friends and family on their feelings about future travel and here are the results I received. I had 291 responses in total. The question posed was “How do you feel about air travel in the future?”:

17% responded : I feel comfortable traveling domestically AND internationally and can’t wait for flights to open up and get out of town.

22% responded :I feel comfortable to fly and travel domestically at first, but will wait longer to fly internationally.

61% responded: I will drive to travel for the rest of the year and not get on a plane at all.

My take away here is that about 40% of you will be open to air travel, or traveling in general, while 60% of you feel more comfortable staying closer to home. Using this information, I have been spending time researching domestic (North American) and drive-able itineraries. Many of you cancelled your European plans, but please know there are amazing options out there for you to travel closer to home.

Now is a great time to re-discover our own country’s beauty and wonder.

Second, when travel does open up, the experience you have is going to be extra special on different levels:

• There are many good deals out there right now, but they won’t last forever. But a strong caution here: bargain-basement pricing, mad cut rate “deals”, liberal cancel policies are not going to be the rule of the day in the future. Many have learned hard lessons from that in the past decades, and those of us with something truly special know our worth to you. Sure, I expect some attractive pricing initially to get people moving, and this will apply as each country’s people can leave their homes and explore their own “backyards”. But the price of discounting services is not sustainable, and travel providers who have weathered the storm will go back to their pricing models from February, and projections for 2021 pricing after an initial “get back to travel” lower pricing are on the increase. Your investment in travel makes the world better for all, we make up 10% of the worlds work force. Discounting does not help economic recovery.

• You are going to be greeted with big love from the travel providers. You know that strange feeling you have right now when a friend drives by your home waving from a social distance? You are excited and elated to see someone outside your quarantine clan. Well, hotels and airlines will feel the same way about you when they welcome you in this “new” world we are experiencing. You will enjoy special attention and feel the love from the drivers, guides, hotel managers, etc as they will be expressing their gratitude to have you back.

Travel tip: NOW is the time to capture the best air deals, and booking now is more risk-free with eliminated change fees and extended rebooking periods. Check with the airline you prefer for their policy and ticket type for most favorable terms – or ask your Travel Advisor (who can save you the time and manage the ticket changes easily). Plan your travel now in anticipation that the late summer and fall may be the perfect travel window for light crowds in popular destinations, lower prices and hosts who are excited to welcome guests back with stellar service.

Third, the way you travel and your destinations are going to change.

One thing this pandemic has taught us is the extra care we need to take in crowds and popular tourist attractions. This hyper-awareness will carry through to your travel

• We will see is a desire to go to off-the-beaten-path destinations. This is great for those, like myself, who love to explore special recesses, enjoy outdoor adventures, and get away from crowds. As stated before, I am researching some wonderful places like this.

• Private experiences and tours will be in higher demand than ever. We will not want to mix with too many strangers.

• We will expect the airlines and other forms of public transportation to take steps to ensure our health. I am monitoring this closely to see what hotels and airlines are doing to stay cleaner than ever. Which leads me to…..

• We can expect to see a downturn in HUGE super cruise ships, for the time being. It will come back. But there will be an uptick in small river cruising (You can do this in the United States!!!) , expedition cruising, small luxury ships, and sailing charters.

Fourth, you will see higher safety standards and procedures in an effort to stay healthy.

We are already seeing announcements in the news about what the airlines and hotels are doing to ensure passengers safety.

• Many Airlines are updating and enhancing their cleaning procedures. There will be more thorough cleaning, more often. For example, American Airlines announced that beginning in early May, the will expand their procedures in both the cabins and team member areas You will also see flight attendants wearing mandatory masks.

• Boarding procedures will change. Most likely, passengers can expect to stay seated in a waiting area until their ROW is announced. They will board the plane back to front so passengers will not have to pass each other in the aisles. On April 11th, Delta Airlines detailed their plans, but their first-class passengers boarding procedures will stay the same.

• Passengers might expect to be checked for fever prior to boarding the plane. They also may have instant-covid testing soon, which will determine if someone has an active case before boarding a plane.

• Hotels, even the boutique ones, are changing their protocols. They are increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting in public spaces in the hotel. They are paying closer to high-touch items in the rooms (like the phone or drawer knobs). They are also increasing the frequency of cleaning in the “behind the scenes” areas to ensure the health of their employees. Hotel employees can expect to see a roll out of new training with hygiene and cleaning to be the focus.

Companies are announcing these changes on a daily basis. I feel good knowing they are taking great care to improve cleanliness and hygiene so that people can feel more comfortable with their travels.

Fifth, you will see new travel regulations be put into place globally.

Prior to Covid 19, many of my travel partners were already looking into the issues of over tourism and the detriments to our natural resources, historic monuments, art, and wildlife. Sustainable tourism has been quite the buzz in our industry for the past few years. During this travel downtime, I believe the issue of over-tourism is being addressed world wide. You will see limits on crowds, tickets sold, and overall number of tourists allowed into any area at a time.

Sixth, travel will REALLY need to be meaningful to you and your family.

When you travel, it is going to have to mean something more to you, because it will take more effort to do it. Your trips will need a level of customization that it may not have had before. You will need more guidance when it comes to policy and procedures. And you will need to be patient as we all navigate our way into the new ways we travel.

Finally, a trusted travel professional is going to be in higher demand more than ever.

I believe you will see less on-line bookings, and more demand for the personal service you experience with a travel advisor. You will want someone with a comprehensive understanding of your needs and how to navigate the “new normal”. The partnerships I have with the travel providers around the world will mean more than ever. Travel advisors give you access to the best insurance policy fit for your trip.

In the end, a trusted travel advisor provides the great travel you dream about AND gives you peace of mind when things go wrong. Prior to this global pandemic, Forbes magazine published an article “Now , More Than Ever, You Need To Find A Good Travel Agent”. As the article concludes, it says “Without a travel agent, you are on your own. Now, more than ever, it couldn’t be truer. “