b"TRAVEL BUSINESSBEATING THE VIRUSFor businesses able to operate virtually or redesign theirgovernmentprograms since the pandemic started, as business model, COVID-19 has been a bearable burden.travel agencies have sufferedover a 95 per cent drop.For the travel and tourism industries, however, it hasNonetheless, Burndorfer is optimistic about the revival been a disaster. Its devastating. Its absolutely devast- of the industry. Unlike independent businesses in many ing, says Linda R. Burndorfer, president of Outn Aboutother industries that have lost market share to enormous, Travel. When it started, a lot of us in the business wereweb-based concerns, she believes independent travel somewhat nave. We thought Weve been through SARS,operators had a unique opportunity to demonstrate their weve been through 9-11, well be down for a couple value to clients in the dark, early days of the pandemic.of weeks. In March and April of 2020, Outn About was fielding In hindsight, after 15 months of lockdowns, eventphone calls day and night, first to bring their own clients cancellations and border closures, Burndorfer and herhome, and later to assist people who had booked online partner and wife Lynne Robidoux are still reeling fromor through other providers. Through SARS, through 9-11, the vicious assault that COVID-19 unleashed on theirthrough a volcano in Iceland, we have always been the industry. I dont think anybody could have seen thisones who got people home, she says. COVID has been coming or even predicted what we were coming into.an absolute sucker punch for so many of us, but were Travel is one of those industries that got shut down rightgoing to be here, were going to be stronger, and were away and continues to be shut down. When peoplegoing to come out of this okay. It comes down to the talk about reinventing yourself, thats all very well, butsupport of our friends, our family. Theyre there for us, weve got nothing to sell, she says. Weve used all theand were going to be there for them when this is over.Association (IGLTA) could be. They are goodM A RKETPL ACEreference points to always keep me up-to-date on whats opening up and YAAAS AUTOMOTIVEwhats not, she says, pointing out that inEVERYONE APPROVEDthe pre-Internet days, it was much more difficult to get an accurate sense of the socialYaaasAutomotiveisproudlyCanadian.Westarted climate in other countries than it is now. operations in Manitoba and expanded to Ontario in 2018. Before email and social media, marketingWe have been helping customers get approved for 7 was also a much more grassroots affair.years. We now offer services Canada-wide, helping over Located in the progressive Osborne Village,743 customers get behind the wheel of a new vehicle. Outn About was able to network withNomatteryourfinancialhistory,ourteamatYaaas other local businesses and residents. IAutomotive is there to get everyone approved.would pound the pavement and put flyers in peoples mailboxes, just getting out [andYAAASAUTOMOTIVE.CAgetting] more face to face at that time. And Id give travel talks, says Burndorfer.Outn About advertised in the OsborneKENASTON WINE MARKETVillage neighbourhood magazine,10% off* withInterchange. The ads were effective, and after Interchange ceased publishing, the companycode PRIDE10continued print advertising campaigns with Swerve, Winnipegs first LGBTQ+ magazine. www.kenastonwine.comThese days, Burndorfer says its interesting how the dynamics have changed,We're happy toand how things have changed for the better.celebrate Pride as anally to the LGBTTQIA+The world has opened up, she says. CruiseCommunity!clients used to go only on RSVP and now they go on Royal Caribbean. Is the gay and lesbian*not applicable on case deals, products carried by the MLCC, event tickets, or sale items. market still as niche as it was in the 90s? IPromo code runs until September 30, 2021. dont think so.Online only.2021|QBiz CANADA |7"