The coronavirus crisis and accompanying government-mandated shutdown has wreaked havoc on the travel industry. Canceled flights, delayed cruises and resorts that have completely shut down have ruined the plans of many would-be travelers. And their travel agents are left to deal with the mess. Let’s learn why a Los Angeles travel agent should consider advanced dispute resolution to handle legal problems.
It Is Cheaper
There has been a sixty percent decline in international tourism due to the coronavirus that could hit eighty percent if the government-mandated shutdown extends too long. Domestic tourism has crashed, though not as badly. This is leaving many travel agents and the service providers they hire short on cash. That’s why you should attempt advanced dispute resolution instead of taking things to court. The costs are far lower than what you’d pay if you went to court.
You Have More Control
The courts may not have any solution for the customer except to order you to pay what you can. Or they may demand that you pay money you don’t have. If you go to mediation, you have far more options. You could offer a rain check on a cruise, helping them book their dream trip to be taken next year instead of returning the money for this year’s canceled cruise. You could turn their beach vacation into a luxury stay at a lakeside resort that is open. Or you could help them find a remote working venue in the area they’d love to visit. Now they could stay in an upscale hotel or short-term rental for several weeks while enjoying hiking, biking or beaches. You can’t control airlines going bankrupt or resorts closing due to a Wuhan virus case. But you could use ADR to push clients into accepting a new travel itinerary with destinations and travel options that are open, so you don’t have to pay out for canceled tickets. A side benefit of booking a Los Angeles advanced dispute resolution service is that you don’t have to travel to the courthouse.
It Is Faster
The travel agency has been hammered on all sides. You may be faced with hundreds of angry clients and dozens of lawsuits. Alternative dispute resolution is much faster in every regard. You may settle an individual case in an afternoon. You can book mediators in your area who are available when you are, allowing you to deal with cases as soon as possible. This eliminates the looming threat of future court dates with uncertain outcomes months from now.
It Is Confidential
A Los Angeles advanced dispute resolution case is confidential. You don’t have to worry about lawsuits against you becoming public knowledge. Furthermore, you can require them to maintain confidentiality as a condition of the settlement. Now you don’t have to worry about a former team member’s false promises becoming news fodder.
It Is More Likely to Preserve Goodwill
There are people who will want to fight tooth and nail. However, the adversarial nature of the court system leads to many cases becoming combative that do not have to be so. Going to arbitration and involving your client in a settlement improves the odds that you’ll preserve the relationship. And this means they may book a future vacation with you, while they’re much less likely to seek vengeance by posting very negative reviews online.