On 12 April 2020, Squaremouth was down to 12 sales in one day due to Covid-19 and travel restrictions. Pre-pandemic, they were averaging 500 sales per day, a reference to how critical the situation was. Today, Squaremouth is seeing an estimated 1,200 sales a day as they continue to rebound from Covid, showing that travel has made a paramount comeback, and is stronger than ever.
Like most companies in the travel industry, the initial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the business was dire. Despite a 90-per-cent decrease in business, Squaremouth pledged to keep their full staff. But if it wasn’t for these 12 travellers, they would have had a day with no sales. The business of 12 April helped keep the company morale high when times were uncertain.
1. Richard from Arizona
Richard is a retired surgeon and frequent traveller with his wife – they are currently in Portugal. He generously has donated his $1,200 back to the Squaremouth customer service employees who assisted him with his policy on 12 April.
2. Fernanda from Brazil
Fernanda was in the US on a two-year exchange program from Brazil, as she loves to travel and learn about different cultures. She was unable to leave the US for another year due to the pandemic.
3. Catherine from Georgia
Catherine is a frequent traveller and was scheduled to take 4 trips throughout 2020. She was unable to leave the country due to the pandemic but is currently on vacation in Italy.
4. Ana from Washington
Ana is a high school student. Her mom, Kristin, is a teacher, and purchased a travel insurance policy for her daughter’s trip to Costa Rica in 2020. She was unable to take the trip that year, but has been able to go back since.
5. Michael from Virginia
Michael is a proud grandparent and purchased a travel insurance policy for a trip to the US Virgin Islands.
6. Patricia from Wisconsin
Patricia is a retired nurse. She and her husband, Dennis, were planning to go to Mexico with a couple they travel with. Unfortunately, they were unable to travel as planned.
7. John from Florida
John and his husband take one international trip per year with friends, and have been to Peru, Italy and Ireland, among others. In 2020 they were scheduled to go to France, but were unable to take this trip. They still plan to travel to France in the future.
8. Jayanthi from Washington
Jayanthi and her husband were travelling with their two-year-old baby.
9. Tomer from California
Tomer and his family of six wanted to take advantage of the affordable airfare and take a ‘dream’ vacation to New Zealand. Ultimately, they were unable to take their trip as the borders remained closed, but they have since been able to travel to Israel.
10. Paige from Pennsylvania
Paige was planning to travel with her family to their favourite destination, Myrtle Beach. It was a much-needed escape from the toll the pandemic was taking on her career. Since 2020, she and her husband have added two children to their family.
11. Kai Lin from Colorado
Kai Lin and her brother were adopted from China by their father, Todd. He purchased a travel insurance policy for her band competition in Orlando. Both Kai Lin and her brother are starting college in the fall. She will study psychology, and he plans to study aeronautical engineering.
12. Patricia from Georgia
Patricia is a doctor from Atlanta.
