Over the course of my career, the travel industry has undergone extensive change. One thing that has remained consistent across the years is the fact that the travel agency community is resilient, creative and compassionate: Travel advisors always rise to the challenge.

When airline commission cuts took place in the 1990s, travel agencies had to quickly adapt their business models to find new ways to generate revenue. In the early 2000s, in the wake of 9/11, agencies navigated years of difficulties related to consolidation and a rapidly shifting air travel landscape.

Now, travel advisors find themselves contending with perhaps the greatest challenge of their careers, working tirelessly to keep their businesses afloat and ensure the continued health and well-being of their customers. The strength and resilience of the agency community is more apparent than ever, and this is something we can all celebrate!

Today marks ASTA’s National Travel Advisor Day. To all the travel advisors in our industry, I extend my gratitude for the incredible work you do. Your work is a testament to the collective strength of the global travel community.

Last year, ARC-accredited travel agencies sold a record-breaking $97.4 billion in air travel settled through ARC — just shy of $100 billion. While this year looks far different than any of us expected, I’m confident that our industry will recover and that, in time, we will emerge stronger. Human nature compels us to travel — to experience new places, meet new people and connect with our loved ones. Travel advisors play a critical role in making those travel experiences happen.

On behalf of myself and all my colleagues at ARC, Happy Travel Advisor Day to the advisors who help our industry thrive.