How One Travel Agency Dealt with COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
byDaine泰勒/
随着旅游行业在本月初处理冠状病毒(Covid-19)爆发的影响时,一家机构利用这场危机作为一个机会来适应其商业模式,通过为客户提供机会成为“自己后院”的旅游者。
该机构,Pack Up + Go是一家拥有独特业务计划的旅行公司。他们提供令人惊讶的度假行程,旨在同时消除与计划旅行相关的压力,同时为客户提供自发感。就像目前运营的许多机构一样,他们不得不应对爆发的后果。
“Due to the disruption from the Coronavirus, and the media frenzy surrounding that, we mostly have our travelers reaching out and we’re doing our due diligence to see if their destinations declare a state of emergency, or what happens if airlines stop service,” said Lillian Rafson, Founder and CEO of Pack Up + Go.
作为一个惊喜旅行社,Pack UP + Go必须代表客户监测冠状病毒在其许多目的地产品中的进度。“That’s been a big challenge for us, we are following the lead of the government officials [and] agency officials… We have a small team, so we’re just trying to communicate as thoughtfully, thoroughly and personally as we can with our travelers to make sure that their safety is always prioritized.”
随着实施新的旅行限制,对整个旅行的需求低,并且对事情何时恢复正常的深刻不确定性,Pack Up + Go选择了为那些可能保持警惕的人提供新的服务在全国旅行;“住宿”。
Though the program was introduced before the recent bout of lockdown measures and social distancing initiatives, it serves as an excellent example of a business adapting its strategy to cater to a changing market.
“So as a team, our mission is always to promote exploration and spontaneity, and we were thinking ‘how can we continue to promote that, even when it feels a little bit scary to dive into the unknown and travel to a new place? How can we continue to encourage open-mindedness and that spirit of adventure, with a little bit more of a safety net?’”
“因此,这就是我们决定推出'住宿'的方式,我们认为这是鼓励旅行者成为自己城市的旅游者的绝佳机会。”
Pack Up + Go arranges entire surprise itineraries by letting clients decide how they’d like to travel (road trip, by plane, etc.), how many people are going on the trip (solo, couple, family, etc.), their budget for the trip, and then having them fill a pre-trip survey, which asks about their previous travel history, personal interests, and anything else the agency will need to know to make the trip an unforgettable experience. The more information they provide on the pre-trip survey, the better agents can cater this trip to match their expectations.
But while ordinary Pack Up + Go trips could have clients travel across the country to discover new places to explore and enjoy, the ‘Staycation’ program is designed to let people discover the hidden gems in cities nearby that people don’t often take the time to appreciate.
“We are here always promoting being a tourist around the U.S., discovering a new city you might not have thought to visit, but what about the places that are right in your backyard, that you never take the time to visit?” said Rafson.
“I used to live in New York, and I would never go to the MET or Guggenheim, or any of the museums, and it’s really because they’re too easy, too accessible. So really carving out the time and space to be a tourist at home is what we’re after.”
该公司最初将新计划销售给了前Pack UP + Go Travelers,后者对新想法表示兴趣,并为该行业的这种艰难时期提供了称赞。“我们有很多很好的反馈。A lot of people said ‘oh this is so much easier for us, because I’ve got kids, and it’s hard to arrange childcare for a whole weekend, but I can make one night happen’… The logistics are so much easier, and it’s also a lower price point.”
As part of its ‘Staycation’ package, Pack Up + Go is offering both one-night and two-night ‘Staycations’, so this will include the one or two nights in their accommodations, valet parking, customized itineraries based on the traveler’s interests, as well as one guaranteed surprise activity or attraction.
拉夫森说:“目前,我们正在全国大约80个城市提供'住宿'……我们总是会随着我们的发展增加更多城市。”
“这是一个很好的机会,可以在自己的城市成为游客,并为自己改变风景,改变步伐,而不会走得太远。”