Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Travel Tips When Traveling During Hurricane Season Based on Real Life Stories from America’s Travel Leaders
  • USA - English


News provided by

Travel Leaders Group

Sep 21, 2017, 08:30 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX


With hurricane season continuing through the end of November, travel agents with Travel Leaders offer advice on how best to travel and stay safe during hurricane season.

Post this

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 21, 2017 -- When massive hurricanes – such as Harvey, Irma and Maria – hit, the impact can be far-reaching, even affecting those who are not in the path of the storm. With hurricane season continuing through the end of November, travel agents with Travel Leaders – America’s largest retail travel agency brand with thousands of travel agents across the United States – offer advice on how best to travel and stay safe during hurricane season. These real life stories from Travel Leaders travel agents and their clients show how travel agents helped consumers navigate to their final destination during both Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

“The six-month hurricane season affects the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico more severely between August and October. Our Travel Leaders travel agents are trained and available to assist consumers who may be impacted during this time,” said Roger E. Block, CTC, President of Travel Leaders Network. “A top priority for our travel agencies in situations such as these, is proactively moving clients and their families out of harm’s way, from arranging shelter or transportation, and doing so with a sympathetic ear and calming voice.”

Follow the evacuation directions of local authorities. If the city is recommending that you leave town, plan to do so as quickly as possible in advance of the storm rather than the day the storm is due to make landfall. “We had corporate travelers who live in the Miami area contact us to assist them, their family members, and even a friend or two in finding flights out of the area before the hurricane was supposed to hit,” said Holly Kahl of Travel Leaders in Raleigh, NC. “Flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach were all sold out, so we had one agent dedicated to monitoring flights constantly and grabbing an available seat here or there whenever one might pop up. One traveler was willing to fly anywhere, just to get out! Within a few hours we were able to get them all out ahead of the storm.”

Feel secure knowing that the travel industry is working on your behalf. “During Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, our airlines relations team at Travel Leaders worked closely with airline partners from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to reserve seats on flights and provide real-time information,” said Peter Vlitas, Senior Vice President of Airline Relations for Travel Leaders Group. “Specifically, during Irma, our airlines team sent more than 100 messages to more than 6,500 travel agencies within Travel Leaders Network, providing them with up-to-the-minute information about airports and flight status.”

Drive to neighboring destination in advance of storm. If you can rent a car or hop a ride to a neighboring state or city that is not near the eye of the storm, you may be able to catch a flight there, and without additional cost. Travel agents are updated immediately of any waivers and cancellations that airlines may be offering to impacted travelers. A few hours wait may mean the difference between a hefty fee for changing travel plans, versus a fee waiver. That was the advice Rey Alton, a Travel Leaders agent in Houston, Texas, gave his client.

“A client had an anniversary trip to Spain planned, leaving Houston at the time of Hurricane Harvey. They didn’t want to cancel, so they decided to leave early before one drop of rain came. I told them that to change the flight it would cost $6,500, but if they drove to Dallas and waited, the airlines would probably change its policy,” said Alton. “My clients waited 48 hours, and sure enough, Delta issued a travel waiver and they were able to depart from Dallas instead of Houston, at no cost.”

Shelter in place at a hotel. If your flight is canceled and you can’t get another flight, it is best to stay at a hotel that is inland, away from the beach. Hotel staff may direct you to interior rooms, shelter areas or stairwells if the storm is directly in your area.

“My client, her mother and 4-year-old son all traveled to Disney World for a week from Pittsburgh on Sept. 3. They were scheduled to return on a 7 p.m. flight from Orlando to Pittsburgh on Sept. 9, however the airport closed down at 5 p.m.,” said Anna Aey, a Travel Leaders agent in Boardman, Ohio. “We looked into the possibility of traveling to other airports further north, renting a car to travel home, going to the airport to try to fly standby from Orlando. In the end, I encouraged them to stay put. I stayed in contact with my client all weekend as flight after flight was cancelled. I eventually was able to book them on a flight into Pittsburgh after the storm.”

Upcoming flights impacted by the storm. Travel Leaders travel agents also assisted clients who may have had plans to travel to or near the impacted areas during or right after the storm. “We rebooked several flights for travelers heading to the affected areas, but one of the biggest things we’ve been doing is staying in constant contact with travelers who have Florida or Caribbean packages or cruises booked for later this year,” said Amy Eben, a Travel Leaders travel agent in Sioux Center, Iowa. “We wanted to assure all clients that we are monitoring the situation and have their best interests in mind. As additional details come out, we notify travelers of any hotel/resort issues that may affect their vacation….even if it is scheduled for two months down the road.”

Keep your mobile phone charged. Staying in touch with loved ones and your travel agent is important to one’s travel planning during a hurricane. A Tempe, AZ-based, Travel Leaders agent, Chris Davidson, arranged for her clients to receive a 25 percent discount on a satellite phone, which would work during hurricanes even when cell towers are not available.

Kellie Bishop, a travel agent with Travel Leaders in Charlottesville, VA, often stays in touch with her clients via text messages. The Saturday of Hurricane Irma she received a text message from a long-time client whose daughter, son-in-law and infant grandson were on a ferry boat in Puerto Rico after evacuating St. John. “Through a series of text messages and brief phone calls, I learned they had attempted flights to D.C., Charlotte, Boston and other destinations, to no avail. I was able to ticket her daughter and the two-month-old son on the one seat left on a nonstop United Airlines flight. The father was able to join them a couple of days later.”

Travel insurance with “trip cancellation” options. Not all travel insurance policies are the same, but some allow you to cancel a trip for any reason and provide a full refund of what may have otherwise been non-refundable expenses. “We had a couple who could not leave Fort Meyers in time to make their extended vacation in Europe, which included a motor bike tour around the Alps. Because they had travel insurance they were fully reimbursed for their European tours, which saved them nearly $10,000,” said Kurt Crowl of Travel Leaders in West Palm Beach. “Another couple with plans to head to China not long after Hurricane Irma, also was fully reimbursed after they canceled in order to tend to storm-impacted properties they own in West Palm Beach and North Carolina. The ‘cancel-for-any-reason’ insurance is useful for any unknown circumstance that may affect travel plans.”

Travel agents save the day even for those at home. Some customers know they can rely on their travel agents in a pinch. Houston-based Travel Leaders agent Michelle Weller received a call from a client in Dallas who had an aunt trapped in her house outside of Beaumont, Texas, one of the affected areas during Hurricane Harvey. The aunt used an oxygen tank. “I got in touch with the Cajun Navy to send out a rescue boat to her home,” said Weller. “As travel agents, we like to help people. We are good caretakers. People needed an anchor in the storm and all of us were there to help.”

Travel agents are a traveler’s proactive guide. “The main thing we try to do is be proactive when there are natural disasters or other emergency situations,” said Terry Denton of Travel Leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “We figure out who is or even might be impacted and reach out to them with a reassuring voice and a suggested course of action. We’d rather reach out to them to tend to their travel needs than wait for them to call us with a frantic voice.”
“Travel Better” with Travel Leaders. TravelLeaders.com features extensive profiles of travel agents who can advise travelers on their domestic or international travel plans. To find a qualified travel agent or to find the nearest Travel Leaders location, visit TravelLeaders.com or call 800-335-TRIP (8747). #iTravel Better with @TravelLeaders.

# # #

About Travel Leaders Network
Travel Leaders Network assists millions of leisure and business travelers, annually, and is the largest seller of luxury travel, cruises, river cruises and tours in the travel agency industry. Led by flagship Travel Leaders-branded travel agencies (http://www.travelleaders.com), the network includes 6,800 Associates and Member travel agencies locations in the United States and Canada and represents more than $17 billion in annual sales volume. Travel Leaders Network’s award-winning Agent Profiler agent-locator, marketing, technology, supplier partnerships and educational programs are designed around our travel agents’ commitment to our vacation and business travel clients in providing a progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Travel Leaders Network is a Travel Leaders Group LLC company.

Sheree Curry, Travel Leaders Group, http://www.travelleaders.com, +1 763-577-3679, [email protected]

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.