group organiser
The views expressed in this column are not necessarily the views of the publisher.
Your rights versus the right thing
Like me, I am sure your diary of group trips and
holidays has been blown apart. But remember, we
are all in this together. I will not cancel, I will
postpone. It is the kindest thing we can all
do. If you can, spare a thought for the
many venues, attractions, hotels, cruise
lines and operators right now. Give
them some slack... many phone lines
into tourism businesses are hot with
customers seeking information and
possibly refunds. If your needs are not
urgent, I am sure they would appreciate
some breathing space to concentrate on
those who really need help. Think about
all those wonderful memories you have from
past group experiences, and the things you still
want to do. If we don’t support the tourism industry
now, there are sections of it that might not recover.
Hold on in there, we’re coming
The past few weeks have put a lot of things into
perspective. Perhaps things that seemed
important now seem less so. A night at
the theatre, a day trip to a wonderful
garden or a European city break
might be insignificant at present,
but boy are we going to need it
all when this is over. Be sensible,
be mindful, and be informed
and we will take pleasure in the
company of our friends and family
again and enjoy more memorable
experiences together. Hold on
tourism industry... groups are going
to be walking... no, running through
your doors and filling up your dates as soon
as humanly possible. We’re all going to need it
like never before. Let us hold on to that thought.Let’s all find a nice open space...
together at the same time
The Government has been criticised for sending out
mixed messages during the coronavirus pandemic,
and this of course has had a knock-on effect. Despite
advising social distancing, up until the PM announced
a more robust lockdown (and let’s face it, it’s only
partial), I was still getting emails suggesting I visit here,
there and anywhere that boasted open spaces, or a rural
location. However, so many people thought it a good
idea the open spaces became rather busy and things
changed pretty quickly. Cornwall was the first British
tourism destination to tell visitors to stay away, and
others quickly followed. One moment I was listening to
someone from the National Trust telling us which venues
offered the best open spaces, the next even McDonald’s
was shut. Calling this a strange time doesn’t quite hit the
nail on the head, does it? It’s inevitably brought out the
best and worst in people. What has been nice to see is the
positivity and support within the groups market... but I
would expect nothing less. Taking trips and being social is
what we love to do, and the relationships we have forged
over many years are strong and lasting.
There’s only one subject in town and he’s having his say.
46 April 2020 groupleisureandtravel.com