stranded in a hurricane

Supporting My Clients Through Hurricane Melissa When Hurricane Melissa barreled through the Caribbean—one of the strongest storms the region has seen—some of my clients were unexpectedly stranded in Jamaica. The storm caused airport closures, flight cancellations, and days of uncertainty. In moments like this, travel advisors and travelers share one essential skill: patience. Airline Decisions Rule Everything During a Storm When airports shut down, every traveler is at the mercy of the airline. No advisor—not even the resort—can override: Closed runways Cancelled flights Limited aircraft availability Rescheduled flights that get cancelled again Airlines control the seats. Airports control access. Advisors work within those boundaries. This is why listening to your travel agent’s guidance matters. We know how the system works, what options are realistic, and when it’s time to wait versus act quickly. What I Did for My Clients During the Shutdown Even though I couldn’t reopen an airport or force an airline to fly, I could do what matters most in a crisis: stay close, stay informed, and stay available. I checked in with my clients: Every single day Often many times a day I made sure they knew: What the airlines were doing When flights might resume What options would open next But I also wanted to know how they were doing . I asked: Are you safe? Is the resort taking care of you? Are they communicating updates? Do you have everything you need? Travel isn’t just logistics—it’s people. And when my clients are far from home, they deserve to feel supported, not forgotten. Why Booking With AND Trusting Your Travel Advisor Matters During a hurricane (or any other major disaster), information online spreads fast—and not always accurately. Having a travel advisor means having someone who: Filters real updates from rumors Understands how airlines respond to weather events Knows what actions help and what actions cause more delays Advocates for you the moment new seats open My clients stayed safe, fully informed, and rebooked as soon as flights resumed. Travel Is Unpredictable—But You’re Never Alone Weather happens. Delays happen. But when they do, having a travel advisor in your corner makes all the difference. Hurricane Melissa was a powerful reminder of why personal service matters. My clients had support, answers, and someone watching out for them every single day—because that’s what I do!