Companies Travel Advisors Say Helped Them the Most in 2021

Travel companies and travel advisors worked together to navigate a new normal in 2021. The travel industry continues to go the extra mile to support travel advisors who are still struggling to recoup business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a brutal 2020, 2021 was not all bright spots, and there were many ups and downs. A lot of travel companies continued to find ways to help advisors along the rocky road.

During ASTA's 2021 Global Convention held August 25-27 in Chicago, AmaWaterways received the top award, Partner of the Year, an honor voted on by ASTA travel advisors that recognize an organization among all cruise, land and air suppliers that goes above and beyond to support travel advisors.

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has been working tirelessly for travel advisors since the pandemic started. From virtual events to live events to countless hours spent advocating for the advisors and the industry as a whole, the association deserves high praise for its efforts.

Tammy Levent, CEO of Elite Travel, who attended ASTA's annual convention in Chicago called it the "best event of the year."

Azamara went the extra mile to showcase how it was safe to travel in Europe, according to Levent.

"Azamara. Wow. Is all I can say, Lionel Garcia offered me a social media project, he sent me and a companion to Greece in September to share our journey with the cruise line and the travel industry. It was phenomenal. Showing how we were able to travel freely in Europe."

Club Med was called out for its help and understanding during the COVID pandemic and the unique situation that put both travel advisors and clients in.

"Club Med, especially through COVID, was great to work with. A lot of different vendors were sometimes super hard to get a hold of but with Club Med, you knew you were going to get somebody. You knew when you sat on hold you would get someone to talk with. They were so understanding as far as working with the clients. Even to this day, when it comes to COVID, they are so understanding and work with the clients so that they are comfortable. They take every concern seriously..." said Todd Embree, a travel advisor at Gypsea Travels, LLC and a Platinum Advisor with Club Med.

Levent sang the praises of GOGO Vacations for helping out with a live travel advisor event, one of the first to take place as the pandemic subsided.

"The president of GOGO John Van den Heuvel came to Cancun for support because I asked him to," she said. "He explained what GOGO will be doing for the industry, also shared some hope and inspiration to out travel agents."

Anthony Tucker, vice president and general manager at All Inclusive Outlet praised the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) for keeping travel advisors sending clients to the country abreast of the situation.

"During the pandemic the JTB did an amazing job with disseminating information as soon as they had it. If we had questions about specific hotel policies regarding cancellation, they were able to quickly assist and help satisfy our mutual customers' concerns," said Tucker.

At a Playa Hotels & Resorts event over the summer, travel advisors poured praise on the company for all it has done for them.

"Since [attending several VIP events] I have contracted 4 more wedding groups and am currently working on another at Hyatt Cancun making a total of 6 contracts in 10 months," said Tripp Maeghen Tripp of Escape and Relax Travel. "For me these VIP events give us agents the tools to showcase the Playa Resorts in a way no other brand has done. I am told by clients they hear my confidence when I recommend a Playa resort for their wedding."

"Playa Resorts has gone above and beyond for travel advisors this past year by hosting in-person events at their resorts to help us attract travelers and specifically fun social groups," said Jessica Pressler, a luxury travel advisor at Blissful Vacations.

ASTA praised Royal Caribbean for all the company had done to help travel advisors. The company launched an incentive spearheaded by Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support & Services, that offered a cruise to travel advisors who joined or renewed their membership with ASTA.

"There are simply no words to describe the extraordinary impact that Vicki Freed, Richard Fain, and the entire family of Royal Caribbean brands has had, and continues to have, on our industry," said Zane Kerby, president and CEO of ASTA. "Throughout the month of September, our phones exploded, and they haven't stopped ringing. Our staff accountant, Greg, who has been with us for 22 years, said he can't remember anything like this. Nor can I."