It Depends on who is answering that question.
Hard-er times have not been with us for very long. Relatively speaking. Most people have financial reserves to carry them for the short term. Travel is not an extravagance for people who do most of the leisure traveling. It is more of a necessity. Raising a plane fare by $100, a hotel suite by $50, or restaurant tab by $75 does not phase people who really want to go to Banff.
American travelers are staying on our continent and European travelers are flocking to our popular cities – New York, Vancouver, Cancun. Local economies are stimulated by American and Foreign travelers. People are going on StayVacations (thank you Travel Channel). Travel is by car or train and close to home. Going to that downtown hotel suite on the club level for two nights is possible when you don’t have to fly there. You can easily forget what city you are in when enjoying the spa Jacuzzi at The Ritz.
Independent Contractors in businesses affected by the economy are taking the slow time to travel before the recovery begins. I have not taken a week’s vacation since last October, my travel business has been that demanding. But I will be cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage in a couple of weeks. Holiday travel and spring vacations are just beginning to be planned. Also - the self employed are better prepared for lean times.
Hotels of every star rating and even the luxury cruise line Crystal are promoting streamlined prices, more perks and special enticements to travelers. At the same time fuel charges are being added to cruises ranging from $8-15 per day.
Travel Suppliers are once again realizing how their financial slice of bread is buttered – Travel Agents. When my clients are thrilled by the 2 category upgrade into the presidential suite – I bring the resort more business. I never make decisions for my clients on where to stay but will tell them that this hotel is offering complimentary monogrammed stationary and half priced spa services. It is hard not to be enticed.
I will not even discuss the constant changes in the crumbling airline industry. Please just raise the price of my ticket by $50 instead of nickel and diming me for every extra! This is big time buyer beware. Check on your airlines if it is a smaller one. Air Tran is down sizing in Atlanta and Delta reducing routes.
Travel insurance looks really good now. In fact – policies are also changing with the times. You can get a very basic medical plan for NOTHING. Yes $0.
The Travel Industry is once again leading businesses in adapting to change. Neither the Internet nor an unstable economy can keep people from wanting a travel agent to take care of things so they can just go away, relax and forget about it all.
Jo Giraudo [email protected]
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