World travel is TAKING OFF
Long established Nelson House of Travel and its corporate arm Orbit Travel are experiencing a wave of demand for overseas travel following the difficult years of the Covid pandemic. Owner Jason McKay reports that New Zealanders are embracing the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones abroad or treat themselves to long-dreamed-about holidays while business people are throwing Zoom meetings aside and jetting off again to conduct their activities overseas. We asked him some questions about travelling in 2023.
What was the effect of Covid on your business?
It came to a shuddering halt. Fortunately, we were able to retain most of our staff thanks to the Healthline phone line needing extra people to answer questions about Covid. The team switched from giving travel advice to providing information on Covid.
Is it safe to go back onto cruise ships?
The cruise industry is booming, in fact you now have to book well in advance to be able to secure a place. There are strict protocols to manage the risk of illness which are giving travellers confidence and there are a number of exciting new destinations available. There have even been some magnificent new cruise liners launched.
Why are travel agents still needed in this do-ityourself world?
We have so many years of expertise within our team and have dealt with thousands of travellers, building up an extensive knowledge that helps us to create the travel experiences of a lifetime. We work with each individual to find the very best options and prices available for the trip they want. If you book your itinerary with us, you can travel confident that if anything unexpected happens, we are only one phone call away to sort it out for you.
Who makes up your team of travel experts?
We are very fortunate to have years of travel experience within our team. Brendan Maguire has been sending clients to all corners of the globe for nearly thirty years, while highly experienced travel consultants Carmel Layton and Monique McKechie have travelled widely themselves. Harrie Van Den Berg, our resident Dutchman, joined us in July last year. He has travelled extensively throughout Europe and has detailed knowledge about train travel which he specialised in while working there.
What are the most popular holiday destinations at present?
With travel restrictions having been lifted in most countries, our clients are travelling anywhere and everywhere. The Pacific Islands have been popular for flop and drop beach holidays, while further afield, many people are looking for the security of a tour or cruise where everything is taken care of.
What does House of Travel offer that people may not be aware of?
You can now obtain all your Travelex foreign exchange requirements through us. With foreign currency no longer available through banks we are pleased to be able to offer anyone this service, regardless of whether they are a travel customer of ours or not.