Lo Bue-Said said on Friday (5 November) agents would play a key role helping clients navigate the complexities of travel to the US when the country reopens to fully vaccinated foreign arrivals on Monday (8 November) for the first time since March 2020.
Advantage members have seen a surge in leisure and business travel bookings for the US since the White House said in September the country would reopen its borders in early November.
However, Lo Bue-Said said agents must not lose sight of the complications clients are likely to face over the coming weeks and months when transatlantic flights resume in earnest. These include a requirement for pre-travel tests to be conducted in front of a medical professional by videolink.
"Travel remains incredibly complicated," said Lo Bue-Said. "Testing still remains confusing – for example, it’s not widely known that the lateral flow test required for entry into the US has to be videoed.
"And domestic Covid protocols once in the US differ from state to state. The need for a human travel agent to help both business and leisure travellers navigate their way through the booking process is more important than ever.
"We will continue to collaborate closely with all of our partners, our members, trade bodies and the Government to support the travel industry at this vital time of recovery.”
Travel has for several weeks now been gearing up to the 8 November reopening, and Lo Bue-Said said it was undoubtedly going to be one of the biggest and most important moments for the UK travel industry since the onset of the pandemic.
"Since the announcement last month that the US will open its borders to vaccinated travellers, travel agent bookings for the US naturally increased for both leisure and business trips.
"Travel management companies booking business travel will be particularly relieved that finally the lucrative transatlantic corridor will once again be open which will certainly help to build their businesses back after such a turbulent time.
"We know from our members whose businesses rely on business travel that there is significant pent demand for corporate travel to the US with the London to New York route being the most important."
