We are pleased that, after three months, we have been able to open our office again, with appropriate safety measures in place. While things are not yet back to how they were before, it is a big step forward for us as things slowly return to a new normal.

For the last thirteen weeks, the Partners at Janet Redler Travel and Tourism have been managing the business from their home office. While this has been incredibly valuable in terms of keeping the business going, it has of course had its limitations, not only in terms of access to files and information, but in terms of avoiding the inevitable distractions of home life, whether that’s attention-seeking dogs, those pesky garden weeds which regularly seem to need attention or (latterly) grandchildren!

We are relieved that our landlord has been very understanding at this difficult time, and this has enabled us to keep on our office during lockdown. While we haven’t yet returned to our full suite of offices, we have reopened part of it in order that one or two of us at a time can return to work there.

We are of course taking the appropriate safety measures, whether that is social distancing, more regular cleaning of the office, appropriate signage, access to sanitizer for hand washing and, for the time being, limiting the number of people in the office. We will still be working from home for at least some of the time.

We have studied the latest health and safety guidance and carried out a risk assessment, including nominating one of our team as the person responsible for health and safety. As a team, we have discussed and agreed the steps we need to take and everyone who is returning to the office has been instructed in the new measures.

Sadly, we have not yet been able to return to a full strength team, and like most businesses in the UK, it will be some time no doubt before that happens, but reopening our office is a positive sign for the future and gives us hope that, eventually, our business will start to return to its pre-lockdown levels.

We are looking to the future and we are already busily planning a number of tours for 2021, not only those that have been rearranged from this year, but some new ones too. We very much appreciate the support and encouragement we have received from our clients, service providers and friends during these challenging times – and our thoughts are with all of you too. We’re hoping that things will continue to improve and that we can all start travelling again while staying safe!

If you would like to talk to us about our tailor-made tours and how we can help you plan your ideal vacation, study tour or business trip for when things get back to normal, please do contact us.