Rising COVID-19 cases in some states create new headache for travel agencies

In Kenosha, LaMacchia Travel's Tom Karnes said the first wave of coronavirus cases threw a wrench into trips his agency had planned for people in the spring - when schools are on spring break.

NOW TO THE REBOUNDMILWAUKEE... AND GETTING BACKTO WORK.

IT'S AN EXTREMELYDIFFICULT TIME FOR LOCALTRAVEL AGENTS /PETE ZERVAKISJOINS US WITH THE STORY...THE PANDEMIC ALREADY CRATEREDTHE SPRING BREAK TRAVELSEASON.

NOW... RISING COVID-19CASES IN SOME STATES - LIKEFLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA - AREMAKING IT HARD FOR THE TRAVELINDUSTRY TO REBOUND.COVID-19 HAS CRASH LANDED ONTHE TRAVEL INDUSTRY.

THE U.S.TRAVEL ASSOCIATION SAYS IT'LLCOST AMERICAN TRAVEL COMPANIESA TOTAL OF $505-BILLION JUSTTHIS YEAR.

TOM KARNES TRAVELAGENCY 8:22 we virtually havea year of no revenue KENOSHA'SLAMACCHIA TRAVEL AGENCY IS NOEXCEPTION.

OWNER TOM KARNESSAYS VIRUS OUTBREAKS EARLYTHIS YEAR RUINED THE SPRINGBREAK TRAVEL SEASON ... ANDPUSHED OTHER CUSTOMERS TOCANCEL PLANNED TRIPS TOEUROPE.

TOM KARNES LAMACCHIATRAVEL AGENCY 7:39 we got tospend three months undoing 7months worth of work andrefunding all the money backto clients (BUTT TOGETHER)17:44 our domestic businessjust year to date right now,we're down over 55% inbusiness.

Our international isdown 75%.HE SAYS BOOKINGSPICKED UP SLIGHTLY IN JUNE...WITH PEOPLE LOOKING AHEAD TOTHE FALL.

BUT OUTBREAKS INPOPULAR VACATION SPOTS LIKEFLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA HAVEONCE AGAIN BROUGHT BUSINESS TOA HALT.

TOM KARNES TRAVELAGENCY 16:32 were at thatpoint again now where we'reright back to where we were inmarch KARNES IS NOW SPENDINGMOST OF HIS TIME ON CUSTOMERSERVICE... AND HELPING áHISCLIENTS GET THEIR MONEY BACK.IF YOUR TRAVEL PLANS CHANGEDDUE TO COVID-19... HERE'S SOMEIMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THEREBOUND RUNDOWN: KARNES SAYSTRAVEL COMPANIES WHO CANCEL ONYOU ARE REQUIRED - BY LAW - TOGIVE YOU A FULL REFUND IF áYOUCANCEL... YOU'RE SUCCEPTIBLETO ANY CANCELLATION FEES -EVEN DURING THIS TURBULENTTIME ALTHOUGH HE SAYS MOSTAIRLINES AND CRUISES HAVE BEENOFFERING CREDITS AND VOUCHERSFOR FUTURE TRAVEL.ACCORDING TO KARNES... THISDOWNTURN ACTUALLY CAME AFTER ARESURGENT 5-7 YEARS FOR TRAVELAGENCIES.

HE SAYS THE INDUSTRYGREW AS MANY YOUNGER PEOPLETRAVELED - OR HELD DESTINATIONWEDDINGS - THAT GOT THEMINTERESTED IN THE BUSINESS.