For those of us in the travel industry, the past few months have been heartbreaking. The financial loss is clear. What might not be understood is how painful it is to have fear placed around travel. This is our livelihood, our everyday, our dreams, our joy, our purpose. Travel is a gift. And not just for leisure escapes, either. Business travel is essential for building strong, long lasting relationships.
Let me give you an example. (My husband famously says this while parenting.) Flashback to when I was in business travel sales. I worked at a brand new hotel that was directly next door to a major bank. The travel manager sat in London and was not keen on taking my calls. A colleague who had an existing relationship tried to present my case with no luck. What is a tenacious sales person to do? I flew across the pond to meet with the travel manager to show him a video of me walking from our front door to their building in 24 seconds. And that was wearing 4.5 inch heels. Within a matter of minutes, we secured the account and laughed about the story for years to come. Clearly, travel has fiscally measurable results.
Health Benefits of Travel
What about the well-being benefits? Travel is good for your mental health. Forbes walks us through five ways this happens starting with decreasing stress. “According to a 2013 study, more than 80% of Americans, who were surveyed, noticed significant drops in stress just after a day or two of traveling.” The article goes on to speak about how travel helps you reinvent yourself, boosts happiness and satisfaction, makes you mentally resilient, and increases creativity. How can we be scared of something that supports us as our best selves? Anything that decreases my stress and increases my happiness is on my priority list. Insert the benefits of working with a travel advisor <here>. (Cough, cough… get the hint?)
I’ll admit it – during this season I have fallen for video calls. I started a daily FaceTime phone tree with my group of girls so we have at least five minutes a day of seeing each other and being a support. This saved my sanity, helped us grow even closer, and opened up conversations that wouldn’t normally be discussed. I’m truly grateful for this. Would I drop that tree in a heartbeat to sit next to them and chat? Absolutely!
Safety Measures
I’ve spent almost two decades in travel. That gives me comfort in the safety this industry provides. I know every supplier is making changes to support our physical health as well as our mental health. It’s up to each of us to continue our vigilance in cleanliness, social distancing, and wearing masks as instructed. The love of humanity and global camaraderie developed over these past few months could propel us forward. Once the green light for international travel is lit, my bags will be packed.
This is the longest I’ve gone without traveling in 20 years. In its absence, I feel a bit lost. It’s my boost of serotonin and sense of balance. We’re meant to connect, be together in person, break bread, and give hugs. We’re destined to see more than our small slice of existence. Exploring this world helps us grow, learn, and expand our understanding. Who are we without travel? I don’t want to know the answer.