It's more than just booking a holiday

Ever since I started working in travel nearly 20 years ago, I’ve always loved putting together peoples holidays whether it’s an hour away or the other side of the world. Since i launched my own business 4 years ago the travel industry has had to navigate

Airport Strikes Volcanic eruptions Oh and a Global pandemic

Recent events in Dubai have shed light on the other side of my profession – the challenges and responsibilities that come with unforeseen circumstances. Last week’s floods in Dubai were a quick reminder of how quickly travel plans can be disrupted. As a travel agent, my priority shifted from booking new holidays to providing support and assistance to clients whose plans were affected. Cancellations and Rescheduling is the toughest part of my job during such events and having to cancel holidays for clients who have been eagerly anticipating their trip really isn’t nice at all.

It’s heartbreaking to deliver this news, knowing the excitement that goes into planning a holiday. However, ensuring the safety and well-being of travellers always comes first. In addition to cancellations, there’s the challenging task of rescheduling flights for customers already in resort which can lead to hours on hold to airlines but luckily with our Duty office of Travel Counsellors in Manchester who have been amazing this week it helps keep Me calm and easy to process what needs to be done.

Coordinating new travel arrangements amidst chaos requires patience, flexibility, and swift action to minimize disruptions to the customer so it’s key to keep the customers updated at all times, I find Whatsapp is great for allowing me to update my customers as we go along so their overall experience is as stress free as possible. One client unfortunately couldn't collect all their luggage which included a baby stroller, after a quick phone call to the hotel we had arranged one for them. Another customer needed to be back and could not afford the delays so we rerouted the flight ensuring they were back for important meetings.

Rescheduling flights is just the beginning. I’ve also had to work tirelessly to rearrange accommodations, extend hotel stays, and adjust excursion schedules to accommodate changes in travel plans. This involves liaising with airlines, hotels, tour operators, and transportation providers to ensure despite the mayhem they can enjoy as much of the holiday as possible and allow me to update them whilst they have managed to get out and enjoy Dubai whilst the floods have disappeared.

Whether it’s offering alternative travel options, answering questions, or simply lending an empathetic ear, I think it is so important to offer comfort and reliability for my clients but you have to also be honest and manage expectations .

Events like the floods in Dubai serve as a powerful reminder of the unpredictable nature of travel and for me personally a strong reminder of why it is important to booked through a trusted travel agent and not leave it to chance. You spend a lot of money on your holidays and it breaks my heart when I see people stranded at airports not able to contact anyone to help them .

While we can’t control external factors, we can all control how we respond to them