Year in review? Are you kidding me?
Who in their right mind would want to look back at a 2021 that saw this industry continue to disproportionately suffer from travel bans and restrictions, ever-shifting entry requirements, uncertain government support, insane supplier wait times, endless cancellations and - to top it all off -- a near absence of revenue?
Not me. Not the team at TravelPulse Canada. And probably not you.
As the Omicron variant explodes across Canada on the cusp of what should be another peak winter travel season, the green shoots of a travel recovery are withering on the vine.
Maybe this is a last blast from a virus on its way to being just another seasonal irritant. We can only hope. Maybe by this time next year we really will be in recovery, assessing the damage, counting the casualties and looking optimistically to the future. We can only hope.
But instead of looking back at a year - actually almost two years - of previously unimaginable disruption to one of the world's most important industries - we asked our readers to share stories of things or people that have given them strength and solace in terrible times.
Here are some of the responses we received. Thanks to all who shared, and if you'd like to add your thoughts in the comments, we'd love to hear from you.
Firdosh Bulsara, Manager, Product & Marketing, Victours
"As a tour operator specializing in destinations like Africa, Middle East and South-East Asia, 2020 & 2021 have (brought) challenges I never could have imagined nor expected. However, I look at the many positives that emerged out of the turmoil. I found new compassion in travel agents whose clients I was looking after…a much greater degree of camaraderie and understanding. In many of them I have found new lifelong friendships. I am grateful to ACTA for their unrelenting efforts to keep the industry afloat… a big shout out to Wendy!"
Cindy Almond, Romance & Foodie Travel
"What has been beautiful about this is the number of clients who have reached out to express sincere care for this repeating situation for me. It is nice to know people are thinking of me and appreciate what I'm going through."
Cindy reinforced these thoughts a couple of days after sending them, passing on a note from a someone who has "truly appreciated your regular emails over these last two years."
"I do hope that you hold on Cindy, keep your travel consulting business going, and keep searching out these great packages and destinations for us, your clients. Because I need to keep dreaming about the future, about seeing the world, and tasting it. About experiencing new people and places, about learning new ways to see life."
Nicole Bursey, Commercial Director, Transat Tours Canada
"I am incredibly thankful for my colleagues at Transat. Even through the toughest days we were there for each other. I consider myself very lucky to get to be part of a fantastic team."
Rosanne Sewerynek, The Travel Agent Next Door
"As all of us, I have very supportive and loyal clients. Receiving flowers, cards and lovely emails of support and thanks was very uplifting. One text from a client said I am their shining star and was a real trooper through 2020-2021. They continue to educate me with amazing destinations, plans and dreams for 2022. The respect is mutual."
Patricia Marques, CTM, ACM, CAA North & East Ontario
"I have to say that the strength and resilience of my new team has been a true inspiration to me. They continue to go above and beyond and have taken the time to really know how to travel in this pandemic world. We had a taste of the 'return to travel' in the fall, so we just need to stay strong a bit longer. People showed us they want to travel and they need a professional by their side."
Arlene Peddle-Gibbons, The Travel Agent Next Door
"I am so thankful for my all of my travel industry family. I was so happy to spend a whole week with so many of my TTAND colleagues and supplier friends in Jamaica at conference last month. My 1st trip since the pandemic began! I am also supported by independent travel advisors coast to coast who were once strangers and are now my friends. Thank you to ACITA and all the members for all you continue to do!"
Rod Hanna, Director, Branding, Red Label Vacations
"I'm thankful for the trips I decided to take in 2021. The smiles in the eyes of the masked industry personnel (flight attendants, drivers, bellboys, housekeeping, sales and servers), all expressing thanks and gratitude for supporting their livelihoods. Sometimes we tend to forget the staggering number of people who depend on tourism.
I'm thankful for amazing partnerships strengthened or made in 2021. In many cases 2021 has brought us even closer in our industry. And as that guy Rod Hanna says: "Travel is, and always will be, essential to my health and well-being."
Penny Martin, Vice President, The Travel Agent Next Door
"I am so thankful for my incredible colleagues on our support office team who were patient, kind and supportive to our agents and each other at The Travel Agent Next Door and to our agents who inspire me every day to look on the bright side (they are incredible!) and of course to our fearless leader Flemming who was always sooo positive and didn't let any of us go! I am thankful to the press who kept us informed when things changed and still are changing every day."
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