COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS)
Office Closed Until 8th June.
The Government has ordered all non-essential businesses to stay closed until 8th June. That includes us. My staff and I continue to cover emergencies from home and we are available by e-mail. Without access to the office, we regret that we are unable to pick up phone messages. We are also doing what we can to recover refunds from our suppliers during this period, so we will be able to pass them along when we do reopen.
Even the biggest companies have laid off huge numbers of their staff, so their resources are dramatically lessened. Most Irish travel companies, like us, have gone into “sleep mode”, until we are allowed back to work. Airlines and cruise companies, with their diminished staffing, are very slow with their refunds and some are only offering vouchers for future travel. In reality, they are attempting to slow the “run-on-the-banks” type of event that they are experiencing. Unless that is managed carefully, it could undermine the viability of the worldwide travel industry and ultimately affect millions of staff and consumers. So, getting your money back is proving to be a bit slower and more complicated than we would like but we are continuing to pursue those funds for our clients.
Some airlines and cruise companies are insisting that clients take vouchers rather than refunds. There is some discussion at European level, about permitting airlines, cruise companies and other travel companies, to refund in the form of vouchers, that may be used for future travel or eventually be refunded at a later date. In many cases, companies are already doing that.
For our part, we want to get back to work as soon as we can. We will be unable to do so until 8th June at the earliest. We will then be working on files by date-of-departure. We will do that carefully and responsibly and it will take some time. Anyone expecting an instant refund may be disappointed as we will need the time and space to work through this enormous task. We are asking for patience and understanding while the process unfolds. We also look forward to the day when we are booking holidays in the sun for you again.
In the meantime, if you need us, just e-mail us at leisure@jgt.ie. Please bear with us and stay safe.
John & all @ JGT.
