Select Traveler asked these group travel planners, “How is your travel program handling the current travel environment?” Check out their responses.
Kelly Peticolas, Principia Lifelong Learning
Elsah, Illinois
“I am working very closely with my travel providers right now. I sent out a survey to our travelers to learn more about their comfort level with travel at this time. They are looking for domestic travel opportunities. We just postponed our South of France/Barcelona program, which was to take place in late July. France is scheduled to reopen July 11, without restrictions or mandatory quarantine, but I had several travelers who were not comfortable going. However, the response to my announcement of our intended trip to Kenya, for a safari in July 2022, is huge. I have a long interest list for that particular trip.”
Laurie Status, Central Bank of Sedalia
Sedalia, Missouri
“This definitely has not been an ideal travel season, but I hope in the next several months that things will start to change. Some of my trips for this year, of course, have been canceled. I’m just waiting to see what happens with the other ones that are planned for the end of this year. I try to stay connected with my travelers with phone calls, emails and just sending a note every once in a while to let them know I’m still here for them and that there is hope for travel again in the future.”
Tammy McCullars, Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina
“With this being a university, we have many avenues for communicating and are taking advantage of all that with our travelers. We have had four international trips canceled so far this year and have doubts about an Egypt tour in November. Besides individual outreach to my travelers on these tours, we have, on a broader scale, sent updates on how COVID-19 is affecting travel and Appalachian State University.”
Maddie Stojanovic, First National Bank of Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas
“Prestige Platinum has introduced both a e-newsletter and Facebook page in the last calendar year that we have since benefited from greatly. We were in search of a quicker means of communication to reach our customers in times where things seem to change by the day and were glad that we have optimized our social media presence.”
