The boss of Holland America Line has predicted a strong upturn in demand for the second half of 2021, insisting that customers will “relish the opportunity to travel again”.
Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast, the line’s president Gus Antorcha said that “losing the ability to do things that you once took for granted makes you cherish them even more”.
He added: “The world was used to largely unabated travel, we could go anywhere at a moment’s notice. We could take these amazing voyages on ships. But we’ve lost our ability, whether it’s to just jump on a plane or whether it’s because of the restrictions on travel or borders, we’ve really lost the ability to do that.
“And so I think when we open, you’re really going to see people relish the opportunity to travel once again.”
Antorcha predicted the industry would see an “uptick in demand” – and said the line was already seeing “a lot of strength” in bookings for the second half of next year.
“It’s interesting. You’ve heard different CEOs comment on their businesses and whether they have changed fundamentally or not. Some CEOs are more positive, some are more negative or cautious, I really lean much more towards the positive view,” he said.
“The bookings suggest that in the second half of next year, we’re seeing a lot of strength. I think, in the consumer’s mind, people are thinking that a year from now, the world will have sorted through this.”
He added: “There’s still demand. Even in times of uncertainty, and this has happened throughout my experience in the industry, it’s really the past guests; the experienced cruiser, that’s more comfortable booking.
“They’ve been on board, they know what it’s like, they know the care we take on safety and security and health. And so they’re like, yeah, that’s a pretty good deal. I’m gonna go.”