Could it be the tornados?
I don’t think people who live outside of tornado alley understand how we think here. How we pull together in a crisis.
When the pandemic hit, I lost count of how many of you called to tell me you were praying for me and for my company. I was moved to tears so many times by your calls and emails.
I actually had a customer call me from the back of a motorcycle. She said the Lord spoke to her to pray for us, and she acted on that impulse immediately. Does it get any better than that? I had a customer whose entire Sunday School class was praying for us. I couldn’t believe it.
Because of you (and your prayers) we were able to maintain our entire staff. That’s right, not one agent lost their job here due to the pandemic.
The pandemic taught us lessons we will never forget, didn’t it? From our desks we saw our preferred partners struggle to maintain their employees, and when employees had to be furloughed it was handled in a way that allowed them to maintain their benefits for as long as possible.
Sadly, we saw the opposite of that as well. I have countless friends in this industry with over 25 years of experience who lost their jobs. Their companies opted to keep the least experienced, most affordable employees on staff.
We saw companies hire additional employees to handle the enormous call volume, and we saw companies who literally turned off their phones. They were off for weeks.
We saw resorts who immediately laid off over 70% of their employees, and resorts who never laid off a single worker.
A man who tried to buy me out a few years ago, then courted me as a partner, literally closed down 11 of his storefront travel agencies last spring. The minute he saw red ink, he quit. Leaving customers and his employees stranded.
We saw it all, we survived it all.
We are changed by it. Profoundly changed. Companies with whom we had done business for over a decade are now a last resort for us due to the way they handled the pandemic. Suppliers we previously used only a few times a year are now our preferred partners for the same reason.
The past six months have been a whirlwind of honors and events that I would never have dreamed possible back in 2005 when I opened our little agency. Every single award is due to you, loyal customers who have supported us, referred their friends and family to us, and trusted us during this life-changing pandemic.
Most recently, (I leave today in fact), I have been honored to attend the President’s Retreat with Renee Jongmans, President of Vacation Express, a supplier we have been using since the first of the year who handled the pandemic splendidly. Due to your support our first 90 days of bookings met our annual predicted sales with this supplier. To say they are blown away by your support of The Joy of Travel is an understatement. This event is being held at the new Live Aqua, Punta Cana.
Last month I was nominated and accepted a membership with the “Female Leaders in Travel” group. Again, it was due to your support that my agency rose above the crowd as an example for others. I’ll be attending the annual Leaders Event at Le Blanc in Cancun in June.
Back in March the family that owns my favorite brand, La Coleccion, invited me and 9 other agents to the grand opening of their first resort outside of Mexico. Guess what resort it is? The new Live Aqua in Punta Cana. That’s right; I can’t believe I will have stayed at this fantastic resort twice within 60 days.
We have been invited to the Apple Vacations Platinum retreat as well as the Funjet Vacations 500 Club award trip. I am sending my business manager/amazing daughter/future owner of The Joy of Travel, Leigh Ann Mobley, to these events.
But the biggie was last fall.
I was awarded the 2020 “Leadership in Travel” Wave award late last year. This is “the” huge industry event and was the first time this award was given to an agent. Again, I was only able to achieve this recognition because of YOU. Your support put me at the top of the heap. Your “tornado alley” pull together spirit is responsible for this recognition.
We have booked a record setting numbers of new customers in 2021 due to your referrals. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude.
Maybe it’s the tornados. I don’t know how to explain it, but I know our customers are more loyal, more supporting than customers in other areas of the United States. Other agents are so jealous of us when it comes to you.
On behalf of myself and my entire staff, thank you. We never could have made it without you. Your patience and understanding as we worked throughout 2020 to secure your refunds, to rebook your trips, to help you make informed decisions, were so very heartwarming and appreciated. YOU were outstanding.
The world of travel is opening up, but it’s still a bit complicated, isn’t it? You can count on us to provide you with the most up to date, detailed information about any trips to any destinations you are planning. You can count on us to help you make informed, safe decisions.
As we enter tornado season, keep your eyes on the sky and your passports up to date.
With heartfelt gratitude
Joy