WHY IT RATES: Stuart sees a new normal coming and not a return to the past. -Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer
The pandemic has lasted longer than anyone could have predicted. The stress of fits and starts to recovery, particularly the reversals from the impact of the Delta variant, have left travel advisors weary and wary of their future. To help Signature advisors see beyond these day-to-day challenges, Signature Travel Network invited Andy Stuart, former president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, to share his vision of the future and a needed dose of adrenaline, to get us all to the finish line. What follows is a summary of his pep talk for all in the travel industry.
Andy Stuart, who loves the travel industry and who the travel industry loves, took a break from running Norwegian Cruise Lines in 2019. The timing was fortuitous with the coming onset of COVID, but also frustrating, he noted as he often wished to join his colleagues in fighting for their very survival the past 20 months.
Andy noted that he has been impressed with industry response to the pandemic and how they quickly developed a plan to outlast it, though longer than anyone envisioned. Fierce competitors became partners, consortia (and particularly Signature Travel Network), ASTA, governments and all suppliers worldwide recognized that unity and sharing of information was the road to success for all.
He sees a new normal coming, not a return to the past. He shared that this rebirth of the travel industry is coming, but few of us can be sure what our individual place and role will be in this new world of travel. This uncertainly may be frustrating now, but it presents a unique opportunity for travel advisors. Andy then described how he personally worked to define his own future.
The most important step is to define your own passion and purpose. In doing this you will find your "why", why you work and what you want to do with your life. If you look at your passion and purpose, those things that bring you joy, you will find your own personal why and that is your launching pad to soar as the travel industry is reborn.
While not as simple as "the crisis is over and here we go", Andy added he believes there is most surely a bright shining light on the other side of this. This is the time to redefine your role in the reconfigured travel world. Search for where you will find joy as the industry opens again. Define it and go after it.
What has looking at his own passion and purpose taught Andy he wants to do in the future? "Mine is to build a team and create a culture to build outsize outcomes." Watch out world, here he comes.
He ended by asking Signature advisors to look at defining their own passion and purpose. "We all love this industry but that bright shining light will offer new opportunities, new roles that will help you see your purpose. Don't jump back on the treadmill. Those who really look at what brings them joy will be the winners as the world reshapes itself." He challenged all listening (and now reading this): "What is your personal plan to drive success to capitalize on the pent-up demand that we all know is there? How will you increase your knowledge, your expertise to make you the best prepared, most knowledgeable advisor coming out of this crisis? Do your due diligence now to become the person you want to be."
"I think we have just scratched the surface of the changes we will see coming out of this industry. The opportunity is coming, will you be ready to embrace it and soar?"
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