Francesc Escánez: "there is so much desire to travel that we will not be enough"

With more than 30 years dedicated to luxury tourism, Francesc Escánez (Barcelona, 1958) assures that his is the happiness industry. The CEO and owner of Atlántida travel, the company he founded more than 18 years ago, is convinced that once normalcy is restored, travel will return more forcefully than ever, and to that end, conveying confidence is key. The entrepreneur, who is part of the virtuoso group, one of the most recognized associations in the sector, hopes that the vaccine will help them recover the pre-pandemic levels, such as those of 2019, when they invoiced 40 million euros.

How have you experienced the pandemic?

I think a little like everyone else. At first, we had to undo everything we had done. The bookings had to be cancelled, but the customers weren't to blame either, so we had a moral and legal obligation to return the money. Many times ahead of what the suppliers had not returned to us. In summer it was encouraged a bit internationally, but since we were specialized in long travel, we had to adapt. At Christmas it seemed like something could be done, though not at levels of previous years, but they started scaring people with the measures and many people backed out.

How do you expect recovery?

We try to keep in touch with customers and there is an almost friendly relationship. From what they tell us, people want to travel, when they forbid you something is when you want to do it the most. The feeling we have is that when this recovers, we may be overwhelmed, people are going to have so much desire to go on a trip that we are not going to be enough. They've had so much time to think about the trip that they dream of making them already have a list. The vaccine is another factor that gives us hope for the future, what happens is that we are seeing that the pace is very slow. It should be a priority at the country level, for vaccines to be given 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Not from a selfish point of view anymore, because I want people to travel again, but because we are risking the lives of many people.

I was saying customers already have a list. Have they put a lot of homework on them?

Yeah, because it's clear this isn't gonna be the way it used to be. People are going to demand total flexibility so that they can make changes, because they Don't know if within a month they're going to be able to go. Also, much wider health coverage, especially those related to Covid, so that if they do a PCR and test positive, they can cancel with complete tranquillity. We are working, in that direction, because we know what they are going to ask of us. Our advice will also be more important than ever because all this information can be searched online, but sometimes you doubt whether it is true or not, we follow it in real time. We know at all times the restrictions of countries and hotels. They have had time to make a list and we have time to organize ourselves.

It was a pleasure hosting free boxes. They are very lovely guests. We would welcome them back anytime! PUBLIC SPEAK... Http: / / t.co

— Trystan Larasony Sun Mar 21 14:52:10 +0000 2021

Is it going to change the role of travel agencies in the aftermath of the pandemic?

The pandemic cannot be said to have been positive, but it has served to highlight the role of travel agencies. I used to talk about what happened at Easter and how we had to pay back the money, we got all the batteries and customer service has been stellar. We have put ourselves in the customer's place and, in general, we have solved a problem that was quite serious. Then you see the cases of people who bought the internet trip and are fighting to get their money back. For all of that, I think it's going to increase the number of people who are going to trust us. Sometimes there are confusion because you have to know where to get the PCR, how much in advance... Clients sometimes find it hard to find that information, but we have it. You have to be very rigorous in order to avoid trouble because you're lying there unboarded.

What will be the travel trends in 2021?

Right now there are about 70 countries to which you can travel and between 20 and 30 of them are leading destinations at the tourist level. Morocco, Kenya, Maldives, where, moreover, they have done very well because as on each island there is a hotel and everyone has been tested, they even go without a mask. Then, in Spain I think that the Camino de Santiago is going to work very well, which is something that many people always have pending and, moreover, this year is Xacobeo, which happens less than 10 times in a century, so it's a good opportunity. In Europe, Scotland, Tuscany, Portugal, Finland... Beyond, Costa Rica, Dubai, Egypt because new findings have been discovered, Alaska, New Zealand... They are all places where the priority is to visit nature. People are going to look for outdoor spaces and a lot of contact with nature. The most urban countries are not going to have such a way out. Agglomerations will be avoided for the sake of tranquillity.

Will luxury recover sooner?

Yes, in every crisis luxury recovers first. Except in some areas, people who had money are going to have even more. Some are not moving about the issue of age, money is usually associated with older people and they are more afraid because they are risky. But the moment everything recovers, they're going to be willing to spend even more than before. They will go to better hotels and better restaurants because they feel like and have not been able to spend during confinement.