If Holly Velardo were a meme, she’d be Jamie Lee Curtis at the Golden Globes. She’s all about raising people, and particularly women, up. This is her story.
Holly kept her agency, HollyDay Travel, open during the pandemic. Mostly to do refunds. Her husband worked at the airport.
“So we went from good incomes to nothing overnight.”
They have five children.
“I did have to get another job,” she tells Karryon, because apparently kids tend to like food and other such luxuries.
Holly’s kids had to adjust pretty quickly to the family’s change in circumstances.
“But they appreciate things so much more now,” she says.
“And they are so much kinder about the world, and so grateful to now be able to travel again.”
On a recent family trip to Sri Lanka, Holly’s three teenagers had to share a room, while the young twins were in with her and her husband. It was “challenging”, she says.
“But I think because they saw how much we struggled and didn’t have things or go places through the pandemic they were just so grateful to get out there.”
Choosing positivity (and a lot of patience)
Holly was, like everyone in the travel industry at the time, at a crossroads. One path, while relatively uncertain was pretty easy going. If a bit boring. The other, the path she was already on, was dark and uncertain. It was even closed off for god knows how long.
Holly, who is also a director for the Australian Travel Agents Cooperative board based in South Australia, stayed on her path.
“I realized how much I was grateful for our industry and how much I loved it,” she says.
She doesn’t talk much about the very literal ‘down’ time of the lockdowns. About ten minutes into our conversation I understand why. Holly’s not only one of those people who sees the glass half full, she sees the empty bit as potential for growth and gratitude.
“I spent that time just focusing on the business. How could I come back bigger and better? How could I show my passion and my love for what I do? And how could I nurture my clients during this time?”
“Everyone talks about how bad the pandemic was. Yes, the in part was terrible. But I’ve had so many positives coming out of it. And it just completely motivated me to be better.”
Holly’s path is a lot brighter now, but things still aren’t what they once were. And support from suppliers isn’t great.
“Yes, there’s no reps and all of that type of thing,” she says.
“But the reality is, airlines and suppliers are also going through teething problems. They’re running a business, they’re trying to get stuff back on. They’re all learning from this pandemic, as well. And things are going to take time.”
Together in travel
When commissions drop or commitments aren’t met, Holly isn’t one to jump online and rant.
“I just don’t think there’s any point,” she says.
“We all have our moments, we all get angry. We all, have down days. I’m not positive all the time. There’s no way anybody can be.”
“But there’s no room for bitchiness. No room to put other people down.
“I learned you just need to change how you think, change your mindset and be grateful for what we have. We just need to be there for our clients and create those nurturing relationships.”
This is so Holly.
One thing Holly actually loves about the pandemic is how much it’s brought the industry together.
“Everybody’s so willing to help each other now.”
According to Holly, before covid hit, agents didn’t really have group chats recommending suppliers and giving advice. Not to their competitors.
“Everybody’s willing to just help each other in every possible way now. It’s like we realised that there’s going to be enough business for everybody. And we realised that at a time that there wasn’t any business,” she says.
“We’ve got so many positive things we can offer each other. And we can just achieve more by working together and helping each other.”
“Build everyone up and look at what we as an industry can create together.”
