Over the past couple of months, we at GTC have done our best to contact all the vendors (hundreds) involved in a season’s worth of travel planning. The reality is that in early March, many vendors either closed their doors permanently or temporarily; leaving tour operators in the dark regarding the future.
Since that time we have continued to make contact and in some cases, have been successful but still, there are so many that are still quiet. We say all this because we are in the middle. As your agent/trip counselor/mediator, we represent you and will go to the ends of the earth for you. At the same time, if the vendors are silent and unresponsive, there is little immediate recourse we can take on your behalf.
Our industry has been rocked by COVID-19…there will be businesses that do not survive. We have asked and will continue to do so, that those waiting for refunds be patient. We will get there once the economy reopens and commerce begins again. Vendors are applying for emergency loans, hotels are working with skeleton crews, airlines are not offering refunds…so much is happening and we are in gridlock. Patience and time are all we have.
The following is an article just published by SYTA (Student Youth Travel Association) whom we are members of. It helps to understand the process of not only creating a great trip but the massive amount of work it takes to cancel one. Hopefully, this will lend perspective.
