Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June until the end of November, which is quite a long stretch of the calendar to be concerned about your clients’ travel plans. Even with the threat of potential bad weather, these months are extremely popular for vacations because of summer break travel, honeymoons, and potentially reduced rates during peak hurricane months.
Here are four things you should do as a travel advisor when booking trips during hurricane season and preparing your clients for travel, particularly when a named storm is threatening their plans.
Monitor the weather and its impact on your clients’ vacations.
When you know a hurricane could disrupt your clients’ travel plans, keep a close eye on NOAA updates along with announcements and advisories from tour companies, resorts, and cruise lines. This allows you to provide your clients with options in the event they must change plans.
Modify or cancel your clients’ reservations.
Remember that one of the reasons your clients are working with you is because they appreciate having one person dedicated to their travel plans. They like that they do not need to worry about being bounced around a call center, waiting on endless holds as thousands of other travelers work to change their plans. You provide personalized service for them, and they rely on you. Make yourself available to make adjustments to their bookings.
Show your clients that you care.
You genuinely care about your clients so remind them that, first and foremost, you want them to be safe. Then, they can really enjoy their time away. Try to make sure that all arrangements go as smoothly as possible so they can relax.
Offer travel protection.
When you start planning a vacation with your clients, discuss their options for travel protection and direct them to an insurance representative for their specific coverage questions. Remember to have them sign a waiver as part of your booking process.
Hurricane season is difficult to avoid, but when your clients are working with a travel agent who advocates for their safety and travel plans, they can relax a bit knowing they are in your capable hands.
