Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

I truly believe that in life you win or you learn. I do not believe in defeat and I avoid negative thoughts and negative people – PERIOD! The only negative people I like are the Covid-negative ones!

We don’t need a blog to tell us what a difficult year we are having. I leave memes about 2020 for the incredible people out there to create. My intention here is to bring some light to the end of the tunnel for those who are having a hard time seeing it. I admire those who are using every skill they possess to improve themselves, and who are taking this year as a gift as much as they can.

I for example, love to read books, mostly whodunnits and novels – this helps me escape reality, and it brings me happiness when I build my bucket list of places to visit based on those books.

My bucket list is not dead, kicked down the road, in the toilet, or being used in the garden; it is very much alive in my head and in my daydreams, and ready for when it is safe to go ahead stronger and with more purpose than before. We have ALL somehow been touched by the COVID experience, and now more than ever, understand how life is precious and fragile. The only thing that we know for sure in life is that one day we will be dead – in the meantime, it is our obligation to make the best of it.

For most of us, I can say for sure, the best of life involves travel. Travel when you feel safe but until then, be strong and build your bucket lists. Read books, watch movies, eat ethnic foods, experience the world with all of your senses, and believe that the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than your fear tells you it is.

Find your blessings and keep your bucket list ready to go. I am your cheerleader!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

Pack your suitcases, we are traveling!

For those who are not ready to do it physically, let’s do it emotionally. Feeling sorry about your travel business is not what your clients and prospective ones are looking for in an expert and professional consultant ready to take care of their needs.

We all know that selling travel is selling dreams. Not all the places our clients are interested in going are our favorite ones, not all their wishes would be our wishes, not all their bucket lists match ours…do you follow what am I saying?

What the best travel agents sell is themselves – and their positivity in making dreams a reality.

I have been watching cruise lines and other great companies selling different types of travel. They continue to sell dreams. People are buying too, because these companies are painting and designing such beautiful images – so colorful that even those who are colorblind can see the picture.

If clients give a deposit before the end of July, they can guarantee the price of a package –  land, cruise or whatever it is that they are selling, for any date in 2021.

Well, that is a nice way to build your client base, an awesome way to network, and  keeps you occupied instead of preoccupied with the news.

Reinvent 2020 as the year that you pre-sell all of 2021 with solid deposits. While other people are posting bad news and hatred, you can post beautiful pictures of nature, places to visit and cultures to be exposed to. Show how your positivity and smile can be contagious and show more of your best self. This time will pass, and next year you can collect all the fruits from a year well planted.

Cheers!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

Allow me share some stories about AirBnB (more like nightmares) during Covid. Feel free to share them with friends, clients, and prospective friends and clients, LOL!

First, let me confirm that all brand-name hotels, from the most economical to the most expensive, have to follow a protocol of hygiene for Covid-19 in order to stay in business. They are constantly monitored.

Now I can begin to tell my stories.

One of them happened to a friend of mine who is a full-time attorney. She booked a big house in the winery county of Sonoma for 3 nights (Friday through Monday). The house had 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a BBQ and swimming pool. She has 2 young kids, and was taking her in laws as well. On Friday morning (the same Friday she was supposed to leave) she got a phone called from the rental company in charge of that property, apologizing for double booking. They were refunding all the money she had paid, plus they would give her a night in any other property they own for free for a future booking. My friend told them she didn’t want to do business with them again, and how disappointed her family was, and so forth.

Airbnb got them another property which had 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, but for 2 nights only (Saturday through Monday). It was last minute and the cost was $500 more than the previous rental (despite being minus one night, and less 1 bedroom, and bathroom) but in an even better location. My friend accepted that rental, but she wanted Airbnb to at least pay the $500 difference in price. She spent all weekend on the phone with Airbnb trying to get in touch with their attorney, since she is one. Six weeks later, she is still fighting about it. Sure, she is an attorney herself, so she is not being charged for the time she is “wasting” trying to get what would be considered fair.

Another story happened to a friend’s neighbor. She went through Airbnb to get a place for her family in Oxnard (beach area in California). Apparently Airbnb is supposed to have rules on hygiene and cleaning for Covid. As they arrived at the premises, the cleaning crew was still cleaning. She saw that the place was not completely cleaned by the time they finished. She complained to the crew and to the rental place. After a couple of hours, outside on the sun, back and forth, she decided to buy some cleaning products and clean the place herself so she wouldn’t disappoint her family. Unfortunately, she is not an attorney herself. LOL!

To both people, my neighbor and my friend, I said the same thing: lesson learned, next time get yourself a travel agent who will find you a great place!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear Travel Agents/Advisors,

I have a secret to confess, I love to watch people’s reactions to my blogs and posts. The reactions confirm my beliefs that not all of my readers are proactive, some always see the glass as half empty, and a few like to find the negative in every possible positive suggestion. It is OK. Honestly, my goal is to give travel agents and advisors food for thought, ideas, and also show them that we are in charge of all things we can change in ourselves and around us.

My reward is positive feedback, from those who share my blogs and posts, and especially the ones who appreciate them.

I love to share my knowledge in this industry. My tour operator company had to be recreated after 9/11. Now we are in the midst of an even tougher time, but people who love travel have always had a bug (let’s not use the word virus in this case) but a nice and healthy bug, that screams “I need a vacation, somehow, somewhere!” and a creative travel agent can deliver it.

Yes, I’ve heard some doctors telling people to stay home but by the same token, I believe in safe travel. I believe that many good hotels are doing a great job in cleaning the rooms and making sure they have enough staff to keep all common areas safe. They are responsible enough to close the use of pools and gyms.

I believe in respecting everyone’s level of comfort about Covid. I am not saying that travel agents should work as therapists and try to convince clients who are afraid to travel to go places – but be creative and offer opportunities to those who are looking for choices.

Be a positive force in your client’s life, for you and for them. Build relationships now during this difficult time, and your clients will always remember that.

Cheers!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com