he travel industry has been sickly for
a long time, but it's sitting up and taking nourishment. To say
that the industry is in recovery would be an exaggeration -- but
the wailing we've heard for a long time is being replaced by
positive reports.
A recent thread on the message boards at TravelWeekly.com
is a reflection of the improved climate. The opening message from
agent Gregg Welpe is headlined, "I am so busy," and proceeds to ask
if "there has been a breakout at the asylum and everyone has my
phone number?"
Another agent replies: "There's a huge difference between being
busy and being profitable. I hope you're the latter of the two."
Welpe writes back that in one day he sold "two Vegas packages, two
to Disney, two to Cancun and two to Europe, one of which has
Eurostar, car rental and multiple tours for both London and Paris
with Grayline Tours ... and a seven-night Beaches Turks and Caicos
with one-bedroom villa package for $2,004 on deposit."
"Nancymckenzi" chimes in that she had just achieved her "best
ARC report ever" and "jwhetsone" writes that May was "awesome" and
"June ought to be OK, as well."
The agents on the forum agree that there are fewer shoppers
these days. One writes, "Could it be that the shoppers have
migrated to the Internet to do their stuff, leaving travel agents
to handle the serious buyers [after they've (done their)
research]?"
One agent from the South writes, "I am coming to work for y'all.
Anyone looking to hire a weird 31-year-old with a thing for
Hawaiian shirts? Congrats to everyone and send business down
South."
This mini-celebration on our Web site is echoed by other agents
who say that the pace of business has improved noticeably in recent
weeks. Could it be that people who love to travel are tired of
waiting for the next crisis and are determined to get moving now?
Certainly there is much pent-up demand still to be satisfied.
The good news doesn't mean that all is well in travel land.
Prices still are too low for agents and suppliers to make decent
profits in many sectors, and a larger percentage of summer
travelers appear determined to use the family car and stay closer
to home, which doesn't help most travel professionals.
But in an industry starved for positive signs, the upbeat mood
of recent days is a refreshing change from the endless litany of
"woe is me" messages that have circulated through the business for
what seems forever.
It has even stopped raining in the Northeast. I've suspended
construction of the ark and now believe all things are
possible.