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Travel vs COVID-19
Things went from (usually) planned and predictable to... not that. Fast. One minute everything was set, the next minute it felt like rules were changing by the hour. Like everyone else, we had to adjust on the fly and figure things out as we went.
We were all in it together: individuals, venues, companies... everyone trying to make sense of the same situation at the same time.
Our Venues
In the lifestyle space, venues that agreed to host events were taking on real risks.
Everything was on the table, including business relationships, brand perception, etc. Securing and maintaining venues has always required care, but during this period? it was like walking a tightrope... in a windstorm... while holding contracts.
Booking Process
Before any reservation could be processed, guests had to acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions. Not optional. Very much required.
Trust became the backbone: guests trusted their experience would be delivered, and we trusted that people had at least skimmed the fine print (we can all be honest here).
In times of uncertainty, that mutual understanding became even more important.
Impact on Events
The travel department felt the impact immediately.
Bookings became shaky, questions poured in, and everyone wanted answers... fast. Fair enough, as we did too. The problem? We didn't always have them. So, we did what everyone was doing at the time: we adjusted and reassessed, moving forward one (very) careful step at a time.
Contingency is Key
Postponing events wasn't a simple decision, nor something we could do alone.
Like past disruptions (natural disasters, last-minute venue issues), every decision required coordination, availability checks and contract review. Timelines were unpredictable, and almost every decision depended on outside factors.
The venues we worked with showed incredible support for the lifestyle community, and together we worked on contingency plans that kept everyone moving forward as smoothly as possible under the circumstances.
Postponing vs Cancelling
One distinction became key: postponement isn't cancellation.
Cancellation ends agreements and triggers refunds. Postponement keeps contracts and arrangements intact, it just shifts the date.
The goal was to preserve the experiences and minimize disruption, so when conditions allowed, events could pick up where they left off instead of starting from scratch.
Insurance!
Travel insurance became more important than ever. Options like "cancel for any reason" were highly recommended. Not everyone opted for it, but it offered an extra layer of protection during a very unpredictable time.
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