Despite the economic circumstances, bookings for holiday destinations favoured by the Jewish community are booming, says Jo’burg travel agent Shelley Kovacs.

Umhlanga is chock-a-block full, says Shelley, of Executive Travel Management, “and you cannot get a seat on a plane to Mauritius.” She says most destinations are booked up and “if people haven’t planned their December holidays by now they will have to take what they can get.”

However, despite the fact that there is no apparent cutback in holiday travel, Shelly says corporate sector travel tells a completely different tale.

Executive Travel specialises in the corporate market, so Shelley knows what she is talking about when she says that “corporates are definitely cutting back significantly on both local and international travel.”

Corporate travel needs require a much higher service level, says Shelley. Her company are expected to provide a 24-hr standby service for their corporate customers who can be in any time zone around the world. “They require us to offer back-up for all travel changes, sometimes at very short notice,” she says.

Corporate customers also expect their travel agents to be able to negotiate better rates, obtain visas (often at short notice), travel insurance, car rentals and hotels. “And,” says Shelley, “you better be sure that your corporate traveller won’t be disappointed with the quality and service you have selected for them.”