Page 50 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2020

AAA experts share their views on AAA today
Having worked for AAA Ohio Auto Club’s travel agency for more than 17 years, I have witnessed seemingly annual disruptions to the travel industry, whether they were caused by economic recessions, political uncertainty, natural disasters and now, a virus. However, my experience has instilled in me optimism in the travel industry and that travel will return in time as we have known it.
Travel is a personal choice. It is an especially important choice during the current pandemic with many different factors to consider. Understandably, safety is the chief concern of most travelers today. When the time is right to return to travel, it is essential to understand new regulations and practices that have been put in place,
as well as any travel restrictions. AAA has always had a focus on providing safety, security and peace of mind. AAA Travel agents have and will continue to receive training on these new protocols to keep travelers safe. This will be a priority in our agents’ education going forward as knowing different resort options or hotel room types. Helping clients anticipate what to expect along the way has always been part of the value provided by the travel agent profession.
For many, a return to travel is taking place in the form
of a road trip that is closer to home. Through AAA’s 2020 Summer Travel Forecast, it was projected that Americans would take more than 700 million trips from July through September. Road trips were expected to make up 97% of those trips. AAA has developed a Travel Restrictions map that is available on AAA.com for those still planning a road trip. This map shows current travel restrictions by state, county and city. When clicking on the map, you can get specific restrictions about dine-in restaurants, gatherings of people, mask requirements and closure information
for beaches, state parks, rest areas, etc.
If you are thinking of a road trip for the fall but need some ideas and inspiration, visit AAA.com/RoadTrips. AAA has curated hundreds of road trip ideas that are divided up into regions of the country. Each road trip provides a start and end point with a suggested route along the way, including attractions and hotel recommendations. There are some great options in the Great Lakes region for
those who want to stay in the Midwest.
When you are ready to book a trip and select a hotel, AAA Travel agents can find hotels for you that have earned the AAA designation of AAA Best of House- keeping. This designation recognizes AAA Inspected & Approved hotels that receive the highest possible cleanliness and condition scores. While this designation is not new, during this time, it certainly can provide added peace of mind in selecting a hotel for your
next trip. For a complete list of hotels that have been
Jeremy Marshall
Vice President, Travel
awarded the designation of AAA Best of Housekeeping, contact a local AAA Travel agent.
Air travel, cruising and international travel are on a slower path to recovery. Travelers will decide the pace of that recovery. When the time is right for travelers to go beyond road trips for travel, agencies like AAA Travel have strong global partnerships and can help protect your investment and secure the most flexible terms. AAA Travel agents can be someone to rely on for all of the pre-trip details, anything that comes up during the trip and any post-trip needs
At the start of Ohio’s stay-at-home order, our travel team recognized the importance of travel to people. While everyone was trapped at home, we launched a series of webinars called Virtual Escapes. For many who are still not ready to travel, we remain committed to providing Virtual Escapes as a way to experience new destinations from the comfort and safety of your own home. Our Virtual Escapes webinars are a mix of presentations delivered by presenters that are local to a destination, a representative from AAA preferred travel companies (such as Amtrak Vacations, Viking Cruises, various resort partners, etc.) or our own travel agents virtually guiding you through some of their favorite destinations.
Helping clients understand new protocols once on the road is not our only concern. We also have looked to improve the way our travel agents deliver service to our members. For example, we have introduced appointment scheduling with travel agents. These appointments can be scheduled in-person, by phone or even by video conference.
As countries continue to re-open and more people consider travel, stay safe and seek the assistance of a travel professional to help where needed in understanding the new world of travel you will be experiencing.
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