Travel Experts, one of the leading Host Agencies, with a focus on luxury travel, has been helping to support its affiliated independent consultants over the past year with an assortment of programs that have allowed them to survive the extreme economic downturn resulting from the prolonged pandemic.

“As we are now seeing the light at the end of this dark period for the entire travel industry, we are hearing from our advisors that our initiatives have been well received,” said Sharon Fake, Director of Operations for Travel Experts.

Chief among the initiatives launched a year ago at the inception of the pandemic was a platform of online resources including a library of forms and waiver documents. “At the onset of the pandemic we launched a new web page focused on COVID information pertaining to travel,” Fake said, adding: “We provided daily updated information and notifications from suppliers to enable the advisors to keep their clients informed and protected. We also provided research and disseminated information about everything and anything that pertained to the disruption of travel.”

Travel Experts also provided loan counseling on state and federal funding and unemployment information on a state-by-state basis and also reduced its fees to help advisors struggling financially.

“Guidance and support has always been a key platform of our Travel Experts’ program, but we were really put to the test over the past year as our advisors needed upgraded care,” said Fake, adding: “And I think we succeeded.” Here are just a few of the advisor comments about the support received this past year.

“Travel Experts’ financial assistance during the pandemic was invaluable. They waived our IC fees for months and also let us carry commission charge-backs as long as we needed to,” said Claire Saunders, Austin, TX.

“The upbeat, yet understanding, correspondence from Travel Experts has kept us well informed about the options available to us. I also feel that being associated with such a respectable network gave us a stronger position while negotiating refunds and credits,” said Ruth Wood, The Charted Path, Southampton, NY.

“Sharing of best practices from other IC’s was helpful as it kept me motivated and inspired by what others were doing during slower times. I also found it motivating to learn that we are constantly adding new advisors to the Travel Experts team – it speaks volumes about this host agency,” said Elaine Smith, E-Destinations, Cary, NC.

“The most helpful aspect has been the staff that has been there to assist. With all the madness and questions and new policies, the answers were merely a few minutes away,” said Denise Sullivan, Opulent Journeys, Cross Roads, TX.

“Travel Experts took such great care of us during the pandemic. They reached out to each of us to make sure we were okay. I have always known that I am with the best travel group and their compassion and empathy proved it,” said Barb Holmes, Soba Travel Group, Fairhope, AL.

“Travel Experts once again proved how important their ICs are to them. We are their most important clients, and I’ve never felt that other host agencies understand that the way Travel Experts does,” said Stacy Small, Elite Travel International, Lahaina, HI.

“When you have a host agency that is acutely aware of the challenges their advisors are facing, you get a reaction like the one we did from Travel Experts, which helped to ease the financial burdens and help us weather the pandemic,” said Ryan Spear, Spear Travel Group, South Orange, NJ.

“While Travel Experts certainly went to bat for us with suppliers and helped us with our fees, I think one of the best things they did is keep their staff employed. We have so many specialists like air and rail that were not needed as much during 2020 but I am very happy to know that as my business is picking up, I have my trusted support team still in place,” said Kimberly Kiel, Kiel Travel, Birmingham AL.

Kathy Mueller, Authentic Travel Group, Naples, FL, said: “I can’t imagine what it would have been like managing travel and all that came with it during COVID without Travel Experts. The amount of information that has been crucial in cancelling travel, rebooking travel and generally responding to our clients needs during this time has been overwhelming. Travel Experts has been there every single step of the way. Accurately supplying everything we need in a timely manner to professionally and thoughtfully guide our clients through the new normal.”

“Our RFI (Request For Information) site where nearly 500 travel advisors share up-to-date destination and supplier information has been very helpful navigating current travel trends. The support from Travel Experts has been uplifting during this travel industry shut down,” said Shelly Krygier, Blue Heron Journeys, Marco Island, FL.