In the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as governors issued shelter-in-place orders and countries closed their borders to travelers, millions of Americans began cancelling their anticipated 2020 trips. By mid-April, nearly half of people in the U.S. with summer vacation plans had called them off, according to data from ValuePenguin, a consumer data research firm.

The virus halted the once-booming travel industry dead in its tracks. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development recently reported that the global tourism industry will lose at least $1.2 trillion this year.

Ellen Overcast, vacation specialist at Main Street Getaways, a Dream Vacations franchise in Kutztown, PA, says the unprecedented number of cancellations was one of the most challenging situations she and her fellow travel agents have ever experienced.

“At the beginning of it, we thought, ‘This isn’t going to last that long,’” says Overcast. “But this makes 9/11 look like a walk in the park, in all honesty. And it’s an ongoing process. We’re still cancelling trips.”

With all of the challenges, the virus has shown one thing: the value of a travel agent. “We are definitely advocates for our clients,” she says. “We’re keeping up with all the protocols and cancellations, where you can travel and where you can’t, what you need to do in order to travel. There’s a lot of information out there and we’re keeping on top of it.”

Podcast Chapters
1:00: Popular travel promo over the years
1:40: The first days of the pandemic
3:23: Clients rebooking for 2021
5:05: Opportunities with airlines
7:20: Hotel and resort promotions
9:10: What does the cruise industry look like?
12:20: Popular destinations in 2020

And now, after five months of shutdowns, people are ready to get out of their homes. They’re starting to travel to Mexico and the Caribbean, says Overcast, and they’re rebooking for 2021. “People want to travel,” she says. “I get calls every day and so do my fellow agents. I’m really optimistic that we’ll travel again.”