Companies Making a Difference in the Travel Industry

As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the travel industry, one bright spot is the way in which suppliers are coming to the aid of the agents and their clients.

Here's a look at 10 suppliers that travel advisors say are making a discernible effort in the ways in which they are helping agents through the COVID-19 crisis.

"I would like to call attention to AIC Hotel Group/All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels for being the first resort brand to proactively release a very flexible rebooking program for worried travelers," said Ryan Doncsecz of VIP Vacations. "Many key resort partners from around the world have followed AIC's action plan."

"The relationships we have with our group support staff at Apple Leisure Group has proven to be huge-there are individuals who really go out of their way to be helpful to us, all while they are dealing with agents who are not so nice to them all day long," said James Berglie of Be All-Inclusive.

Agents are applauding that the fact that even though AmaWaterways suspended river cruise operations until May 31, it is protecting agent commissions on canceled departures and paying 10 percent again when their clients rebook using future cruise credits-valued at 115 percent of the initial payments.

Agents are commending Carnival's move to enhance its "Onboard with You" pledge to include a 1 percent bonus commission and maintaining commission levels during the suspension of operations. The line will pay an additional 1 percent bonus commission on new bookings from April 20 through June 30, 2020.

Crystal's new Crystal Assured Savings program, which lets travelers make a $500 deposit by June 30, 2020, for an additional 2.5 percent savings on any seven-night or longer voyage through 2022-is receiving rave reviews from agents, enabling them to earn commission on the deposit while locking in new future bookings with full pay.

"Delta Vacations immediately updated policies to help cover travel agents by allowing new rules to help agents protect the money spent on the booking in terms of an agency service fee, offering flexible future credit options, and are the first company out to update their waiver policies with which other companies follow suit," said VIP Vacations' Ryan Doncsecz.

Agents are raving about the line's RCL Cares program, which helps them navigate through the intricacies of the coronavirus relief bill, among other things. The program's online resources "keep us about to date on everything related to the coronavirus, "said Shari Marsh of Cruise Holidays.

Claire Schoeder of Elevations Travel gave Delta a nod for being the first U.S. carrier allowing ticket credit for travel booked from March through September 30, 2020, travel used by September 30, 2022, and extending 2020 Medallion status through Jan. 31, 2022.

James Berglie of Be All-Inclusive had high praise for Karisma Hotels & Resorts for its agent-friendly policies. It has protected its entire full-time workforce and is delivering 800 meals a day through Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to those in need

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Travel Experts has "offered assistance with our fees, given us resources and ideas, and created an area on our internal web page to collate all of the coronavirus supplier rules-and subsequent versions of the rules-to keep us organized," said Becky Lukovic of Bella Travel Planning.