Travelers are still going on winter getaways despite the economy, industry professionals say.
“In the fall, everybody had a yellow or red light on, but we have recently been just deluged with people coming in wanting to go away,” said Cappy Devlin, president of Cappy Devlin International Inc. in Mount Kisco.
“Obviously 2009 is going to be a difficult year, but for the consumer, we have the best deals we have seen in many, many years.”
Devlin said she has noticed travelers cutting back on the duration of their trips, but not forgoing them altogether.
She said airfares to Florida this winter “seem like a bargain” compared to last year”™s high prices, and “the fact that the oil has gone down has been a huge plus.”
“As far as air travel is concerned, people are flying,” said Colleen Gillette, president of New Paltz Travel Center Inc. in New Paltz. “Mid-February flights are packed and the prices are high.”
Gillette said this winter, people are looking for deals “and that could mean a value-added amenity” such as a two-for-one restaurant discount or upgraded services and perks like breakfast on the balcony at a resort.
“That way, pricing integrity is kept yet you are adding value to the proposition,” Gillette said.
Gillette said she has seen “some very good pricing” in the River Maya area of Mexico as well as in Jamaica.
And, “cruises can be very convenient, you can see a lot in a short period of time, and they”™re usually all-inclusive, so it can be a great value.”
David Dober, director of corporate services at The Travel Group in Fairfield, Conn., agreed the cruise industry is at the forefront of discounts and deals.
As long as it”™s not peak holiday or school break week, travelers can take an all-inclusive Caribbean cruise for $75 per person per day, Dober said.
However, only 15 to 17 percent of the traveling public has taken a cruise, Dober said.
“I think what the cruise industry is trying to do is sway some of the land-based travelers to cruises with deals,” Dober said. “We book more all-inclusive land-based trips than we do cruises.”
Dober said business at the travel agency started to soften in the last quarter of 2008, but the news is not all bad.
“In 2009 the volume of travelers will be softer than in past years, and that”™s the bad news,” Dober said. “The good news is that there are going to be deals for those interested in traveling. What we don”™t know is if it”™s going to continue in the summer.”
Devlin said at travel agencies, excellent customer service and marketing, advertising and promotions such as matching or beating the price of an online find can help agencies compete with online travel services.
“Our phones have been ringing,” Devlin said. “I am not underestimating what a difficult year it will be, but we had a strong 2008 so we are in the position for a strong 2009.”
