In the travel industry, we know all too well how much adaptability has been required to evolve within ever-changing restrictions, navigate government regulations, embrace dynamic customer preferences and the plethora of other whirlwinds that continue to rock our sector.
Each day is a battle and every pound is a prisoner now we’ve passed a critical stage – the end of September – and with it the end of furlough.
It leaves us wondering how we will adapt to the next phase. Aside from significant financial efforts and planning, at Oasis Travel we have prioritised securing future business to not only ensure the survival of the company but to keep our staff inspired and excited about coming to work every day.
After all, our people are passionate travel enthusiasts who love what they do and they must never forget that incredible feeling of making someone’s travel dreams come true.
To support this, we have adapted how we communicate with our clients. We’ve substituted our large-scale flagship events, such as our Northern Ireland Cruise Fair, for virtual shows, partnering closely with our suppliers to deliver inspiring sessions that people can view from the comfort of their own homes.
More recently, we have been able to return to more intimate in-person events, allowing us to regain vital human connection, talk through future travel aspirations and give people hope for a successful return of international travel.
Our roles and responsibilities have also adapted with the times, becoming more wide-ranging as we do whatever is necessary to make progress every day.
My company accountant and I took a pit-stop from our usual duties to serve freshly baked treats and refreshments at our in-store cruise event last month, while other members of the team have rallied and gone above and beyond to ensure we can continue to weather the storm.
Our travel consultants have been flexible in adapting to new working routines, and their ability to guide clients through the new travel processes and embrace new technologies has been remarkable.
The knowledge that we have future bookings is mutually advantageous by not only giving people something to look forward to, but also providing a much-needed lifeline for the viability of the company.
Without these, the future would look very bleak indeed. However, to fully support the recovery of the sector, there is still work to be done.
I am concerned at the lack of financial support on the table at this present time. At Oasis Travel, we want to map out a brighter future, but we are currently in the dark.
We as an industry have adapted and done our part; now it is time for the government to do theirs and help restore travel, which is not only crucial to the economy but to people’s livelihoods and wellbeing.
Sandra Corkin is managing director of Oasis Travel
