For those of you who know me well, you know that I have a good memory. I can remember dates, times and places. I remember movies and tv shows and I remember phone numbers. It is a blessing and a curse at time to remember so many little details.

Memories bring back…..

That this week thirty years ago, yes you read correctly thirty years ago I go my first job in travel at the Last Minute Club. I have shared the story many times, but my aunt and uncle were best friends with the owners of the company. I graduated high school in January 1990 and wouldn’t be starting school until the fall. My uncle had already gotten his nephew a job there, and he son was working there as well, he asked me, what do you plan on doing until university. I didn’t have any plans, so a travel agent I was born.

Memories bring back….

The days before computers. Big white boards all over the walls in the call centre, shared cubicles and smoke. Lots of smoke. It was allowed thirty years ago. We had to call in to confirm space and make bookings. Once the space was sold out we told the product manager who went up to the boards and erased the product.

Those early days were fun days. My first day on the job my uncle told me I had to get a passport. He said, “if you get asked to go on a FAM trip to Cuba, and you don’t have a passport, you will miss out”. I guess that was the birth of the love for stamps in my passport.

Memories bring back….

Times of crisis that I have been through in thirty years of this life. The coronavirus is far from my first crisis rodeo – I lived through Zika, Sars, H1N1, airline bankruptcies, supplier bankruptcies, economy downfall of 2008, and of course the event that shifted time forever, 9/11.

I remember the days and weeks after that day in 2001 when the world stopped. Phones stopped. People did not travel. It was about two months of quiet. People were scared. They were afraid. They didn’t know what leaving home would be like in the new world.

And then it was November. The first snow fall was almost like seeing the buds bloom in springtime. People woke up and realized that they haven’t been living, planning, preparing for their winter vacations. The phones started to ring again, and they didn’t stop for a long time.

That is what I have to keep reminding myself the past few weeks. As I woke up this morning to hear that all of Italy is on lock down, and this afternoon to hear that Air Canada cancelled all flights until May 1st. That is a long time, considering that Italy is our top selling destination the Europe department.

I have said that May is probably the time that people will wake up. Wake up to wanting to travel again, that the virus has slowed down progression due to the temperature rising.

I know people are scared of the unknown. I am as well. I told my mother tonight that she couldn’t go to bulk candy store to buy her dried fruit, because let’s be honest, people do put their hands in the bins.

I hope that it doesn’t take until May for those of you who are planning summer holidays to actually book something. We all want to think that prices will be low due to the industry having taken such a beating, but I am not sure. I feel that you will be able to get a great deal on a cruise come summer and fall, but our top selling destinations in Europe will be back on track and as popular as ever.

As I look back on all that I have accomplished in my career as a travel professional I feel that there is one word that comes to mind – resilient.  I have been knocked down more times than I am willing to admit, and yet here I am, still standing through it all.

My current role as a European Destination Specialist has given me a sense of excitement and interest I hadn’t had in the industry in a very long time. I always thought of myself as an educator of travel. I now consider myself a travel artist. Every client request is a blank canvas. A canvas that requires me as the artist to customize and paint the picture of the most amazing European Adventure of your dreams.

Memories bring back….

The days before this global scare – just a short few weeks ago. When I was busy creating perfect paintings of European experiences. I hope they come back soon.

Until then, live your best life and please wash your hands,

Lisa