Arnie Weissmann
Last year was about conserving cash. The vast majority of the Travel Weekly 2021 Power List agencies saw their business plummet in high double-digits. Curbing spending and borrowing was what kept agencies alive.
But at long last, the phones are ringing. Cruise lines are sailing from U.S. ports, airlines are adding routes, shuttered hotels are reopening. The promised pent-up demand for travel is materializing, and, as expected, travel advisors are among the beneficiaries of a still-complex travel ecosystem.
Now that the travel floodgates are opening and business is returning in some cases, walking through the door unbidden is it time to build up cash reserves by both taking advantage of consumer demand and keeping the purse strings tight?
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âThe pent-up demand is real,â says Betsy OâRourke, CMO for Xanterra, the countryâs largest national park concessions management company. âWeâve all been sequestered for a year, and many of our guests have saved money, so the desire to travel along with the funds to pay for it are combining for a swift recovery for our cruise, tour and train brands.â
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