Tourism & More

Winter Travel and Tourism

February 2009

Much of the world lives or travels to climates that are especially inhospitable during the winter months. Due to fact that many airlines use a spoke and hub flight system of travel, winter travel can be especially precarious. Not only can a single snow storm temporarily knock out an air transportation system but the storm’s impact can be felt thousands of miles away due to air traffic delays, the inability to move supplies or the fact that travelers may be forced to stay in a location (even a warm one) for much longer than expected. Smart travel and tourism professionals develop a winter travel plan no matter where they may be located or what their own local weather conditions may be. Bad weather winter planning then is as important in warm climates (where travelers may not be able to return home) as it is in colder climates where the winters may be harsh. Remember that time or loss of time especially during the winter months leads to frustrated travelers and visitors and often results not only in higher levels of stress but even may result in physical violence.

To help you develop a winter-related risk plan, Tourism & More offers the following suggestions. Also please note that a winter travel risk plan is not that different from multiple other emergency situations and can be applied to many other situations.

Some Basic principles:

Unlike other forms of risk management travel and visitor industry professionals often do not differentiate between safety and security risks. Both risks, if poorly managed, will destroy a tourism, travel or visitor industry. Thus in preparing for a weather emergency think in terms of both of safety and security.

• Do a full risk assessment. Where are you most exposed to loss? What techniques are you using to minimize this (these) loss(es)? How often do you actually implement these techniques and can you demonstrate that you have monitored the results and compare these results with previous monitoring of results?
• Make a list of every peril to which your side of the tourism industry is exposed and then rank these perils. Then divide these perils by season. What special risks exist during the winter months? How are winter risks different from other season risks? There is no way that you can eliminate every risk, thus there is a need to rank risks. First rank which risks are most likely to occur, then rank which risks would be most devastating to your office, business, or community. You might divide these risks into four categories. These being:
• Low probability of occurring and low impact should the risk occur
• Low probability of occurring and high impact should the risk occur
• High probability of occurring and low impact should the risk occur
• High probability of occurring and high impact should the risk occur.
• Deal with those risks that have a high probability of occurring and a high-risk impact first. Those with a low probability of occurring and low impact should be deal with last. Rank each risk mentioned in the introduction found above.
• When doing risk-evaluations determine not only the recovery strategies but also your avoidance strategies. We often forget that the best way to recover from a risk is to avoid the risk’s occurrence. Evaluations should always include how much you can afford to self assure, a listing of the what software and hardware you need, what technical support is needed, what political preparations needed to be made, and how your budget would withstand the risk. For example, if you had to lay off employees, would you be able to rehire them? What is the cost of seeking out new employees, or low employee morale and of retraining?
• If you live in a cold climate
• Start planning for winter before it occurs. If you have not done so already, make a checklist of winter challenges. For example, how will your business operate if personnel cannot get there due to bad weather? Develop a clean-up plan and make sure that you have plenty of provisions and fuel. If you do not have a plan, dust off your risk management plan and see how you can adapt this plan to your special winter needs.
• Review your plans with a number of professionals. It is a good idea to review winter plans with everyone from medical services to the police. Often insurance agents can provide helpful information regarding potential problems and solutions.
• Winter is the time to make sure that nothing goes wrong on your premises. Call in specialists to check the roof, make sure that snow. Remember that travelers need extra care and compassion during the winter months. Not only do you need own premises in perfect order and you need to be prepared for travelers who may be stranded, upset, or even have cold weather medical emergencies.
• What plans do you have during the storm? For example can you monitor snowstorms if your electricity goes out? If you live in a warmer climate but are dependent on air traffic based in locations with potential winter storms, can you get information quickly to visitors providing them with alternate routes, methods of transportation or hotel occupancy? All tourism destinations should review winter weather plans with local rental car agencies, hoteliers, hospitals, and restaurants. Winter is especially an important time to review strategy with your staff, develop a structure that works for you and working to make sure that everyone is on the same page and shares the same values regarding visitor risk management.
• Make sure that you include local law enforcement in your planning. A good risk management plan has an integrated task force of law enforcement working with food services, internet offices (IT Personnel) legal and medical services. During a snowstorm or other weather emergency police officers should not be learning site layouts and floor plans for the first time. Remember that police officers are also human beings and get cold and sick just like everyone else.
• Make sure to flaunt your planning. Like all forms of safety and security, winter risk management will result in better sales, happier customers and a high probability of positive word of mouth advertising. Your customers will appreciate the fact that you cared enough to care for them.