One of our agents was let go today. That's the first time I've seen anyone lose their job due to lack of work in my twelve-plus years of being a travel agent. The agent was not surprised, we've all been wondering when the ax would fall ever since we lost a big corporate account to a big travel agency, but it's still kind of hard luck. It's also probably just what the agency needs to survive the traditional slowdown of November and December. People aren't traveling much for business or pleasure right now. The phones aren't ringing. And it's not only that airline and discount websites siphoned off a much bigger percentage of our clientele for short distance tickets this last year. People really are staying home, driving instead of flying, worrying about war and terrorism and losing their jobs.
Oddly enough, this means when I do make a sale it tends to be the big money packages to warm destinations with white sand beachs. I guess only people with plenty of money in the bank are traveling so they don't balk at the Christmas prices. They certainly make up for the time I waste answering odd client questions like, "Don't you just love the [name of ten-year-old cruise ship]?" to which there is only one reply: "Are you nuts?" Wait. That's the reply in my head. I meant to say with great sincerity, "It is quite a ship, isn't it?"
So it'll be a lot quieter at work now, albeit busier for me because I'll pick up most of the other agent's corporate business. I've been terribly bored even with cruise ship worshipping goobers stopping by my desk to annoy me. Having no time to sit around reading celebrity news sites will be fine by me. Besides, Winona was found guilty, so the thrill is gone.
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