Prior to Covid, we saw a significant reduction in members signing up for the trips. We had always priced the trips assuming we had a minimum of one bus or at least 25 travelers signing up. The last couple of trips we couldn’t make the numbers, so we had to raise the trip cost after publishing the rates or cancel the trip altogether.
We determined that the factors for the reduced member participation were:
- Age of our travelers. Since we are all getting older, more members had health issues that prevented them from going on the trips.
- The increased average age of our members traveling meant that we had a much higher travel insurance cost (since we were experienced rated).
Most trips had multiple travelers that wanted to go, paid their deposit, and signed up. As the trip got closer medical issues arose and they had to use their travel insurance to pay for their cancellation costs. Without an influx of new, younger members, our trips were no longer the value that they had been when Bob Jones planned the trips.
So, our response to these conditions means that we no longer plan larger group trips.
But, on the positive side, Volare Travel has been helping a number of retirees continue to plan their trips, both the fall and winter trips. Linda at Volare Travel worked with Bob Jones and his committee to offer the trips. Linda still develops package discounted trips that she offers. If interested,
Linda at Volare Travel can be reached at (586) 263-4500 or lindavolare@aol.com.
The NCRO supports referring members to Linda’s company.
Dave Poxon, Events Coordinator
for the NCRO