Well, I did try and to keep up on writing a blog every week, but sadly, it went awry.

But, this is a special blog.

In this year, 2020, I am celebrating 30 years in the travel industry. 30 years!

Am I really that old? This really ages me!

WOW!

It is though, a bittersweet celebration.

Why bittersweet?

This year began with great promise, having opened my own cruise travel agency at Ashridge Garden Centre in December, people were coming in, excited about booking their summer cruises. It was really busy, and I was loving it.

Then…. well we all know what happened.

This year has been really difficult, and that’s putting it mildly, without expletives!

People are asking me if I will continue in this profession post lockdown, and I say, yes!

The only other career choice I would possibly consider, if I had to give this up, is starting up a doggy day care, or sanctuary. I would love to do this. If I didn’t want to focus 100% of my time on cruise, I would even consider running a day care alongside it. Maybe one day.

Being in the travel industry is more than a job. It is a career, a vocation, an addiction.

Travel is in my blood. I cannot live without it.

Speak to anyone in this industry, and they will tell you the same.

A lot of my travel colleagues are currently working for free, and have been since lockdown started. All the holidays which were booked, had to be cancelled. All holidays booked for April, May, June, July, and possibly further ahead, are being cancelled. Any monies that would have been made on these bookings, is now not being made.

We are on the front line, the go-between for customers and tour operators. We are the support system, there to answer all your questions, there 24/7 to work on your behalf.

Why are we still here? Because we love our jobs. We love booking holidays for people. We love making dreams come true.

The travel industry is a very close-knit community. We help and support each other. We lift each other’s spirits to get through events like this. When a company is in trouble, for example, the collapse of Thomas Cook, other airlines, tour operators & travel agents stepped into help, to bring the stranded staff, holiday reps, and holiday makers home.

This industry is vulnerable to World events; terrorism attacks, wars, SARS, swine flu, ebola, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, etc. These have all tested us. We are still here.

Yes, 2020 is pretty much written off, but 2021 is already looking fantastic. People are booking. Cruise Lines are also starting to release their itineraries for 2022, offering further choice for future bookings.

The travel industry is here to stay. People will go on cruises again. People will travel again. People will go on holidays again.

So yes, this is a bittersweet celebration, but roll on another 30 years, and I will probably be doing the same thing.

If you would like to book your next cruise with me, please contact me here.

Let's Celebrate!

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