Travel agency retains concierge service

As governments close borders, cruise lines cancel sailings, and museums and attractions around the world shut their doors indefinitely, the travel industry has come to a virtual standstill. Olga Placeres, owner and president of Preferred Travel of Naples, has been busy dealing with that new reality, helping her travel agency clients with cancellations and changes.

“We’re getting them home if they need to come home and answering their questions and setting their minds at ease,” she says. “We’ve always had a 24/7 emergency service, and this is kind of that heightened and on steroids.”

A good chunk of the agency’s two dozen or so staff members have already transitioned to working from home, with more to follow. Technology investments made over the last couple of years to help the firm deal with hurricanes are proving useful in this new environment, making it easy for staff to work from their own laptops, smartphones, or tablets.