I’ve spent my entire career working in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. Throughout this time, I have been a part of an industry that changed, adapted, grew, and shrunk to meet consumer demand. I’ve seen incredible technological progress; things that we couldn’t imagine a decade ago are now commonplace.
Through the years, I’ve been fortunate to meet colleagues around the world who are talented, professional, and innovative. I’ve learned something from everyone; people who work in the travel industry are like members of a vast, extended family. In one way or another, we are all related.
When COVID impacted global travel, nearly overnight, everything stopped. I’ve never seen anything like this in my lifetime; the effects of the tourism collapse affect tens of thousands of people who make the travel experience happen.
My own small business specializes in sales and marketing consulting across the tourism industry; most of the projects I handle are referrals from existing and former clients of mine.
Some of the people and companies I work with I’ve known for decades, and in a flash, work stopped for thousands of us. When I look at travel industry trends and forecasts, recovery seems very far away. Some travel companies have folded, never to return.
For now, my business is dead. While this hurts my heart, and I am an eternal optimist, I don’t think I’ll see a miracle recovery any time soon. However, each of us in travel is special. We believe The Resurrection is just around the next corner.
I can’t wait.
Are we there yet? 