As TAITAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving situation across Canada and globally, we want to encourage everyone in our Membership, staff, friends, and family to follow the public health guidelines, taking all necessary precautions to remain safe & healthy at this time. We continue to reach out to TAITAM Members whose 2020 vacation plans are being affected over the coming months. We also send our thoughts and prayers to everyone across the hospitality community, as well as the countless, hard-working, frontline professionals sacrificing so much, selflessly providing needed care, to help us all get through this difficult time. Stay Safe, & Stay Healthy.
An Unprecedented Global Crisis
The thoughts and prayers of TAITAM Staff & Personnel go out to those across Canada and the globe who have lost family and friends as a result of Coronavirus, and the first responders and medical professionals on the front line of this fight to bring it under control. The wellbeing of our members and staff remains our highest priority. We are daily monitoring this pandemic, as you do and are consulting trusted sources for continued information updates on the crisis. As the need arises we will continue to update this page, as details relevant to our members and industry emerge.
Government of Canada | Official Global Travel Advisory
On March 19, 2020, the Government of Canada has issued an Official Global Travel Advisory which states in part:
“Avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice. To limit the spread of COVID-19, many countries have put in place travel or border restrictions and other measures such as movement restrictions and quarantines. Many airlines are suspending flights. Many airports are closing, preventing flights from leaving. Exit bans are becoming more frequent. New restrictions may be imposed with little warning. Your travel plans may be severely disrupted and you may be forced to remain outside of Canada longer than expected. Canadian travellers should return to Canada as soon as possible.
Feature Paused: Personal Concierge Appointments
To all our Valued Members,
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have temporarily paused the Personal Concierge Appointments feature so that we can focus all available resources on better assisting members who have been impacted by travel restrictions.
At this time, we do not have a date for when this feature will resume, but we are working hard to bring this back for your members, even if that is in a limited capacity. We will continue to provide you with updates as we have them and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
PLEASE NOTE: we are experiencing extremely high call volume so please be patient for call answering times.
Member Cancellation Requests
Understandably, we are currently experiencing a high volume of calls, chats, and messages regarding cancellation requests surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. We are assisting everyone as quickly as possible, prioritizing arrivals within 72 hours ahead of travel further in the future.
For All TAITAM Members, please use one of the below methods to quickly submit this information, so that we can continue to focus on providing the best possible service to you, our valued members.
- Please cancel the reservation(s) directly through your membership dashboard (click here) via the section below.
My Account > View Reservations
Once you have cancelled your reservation(s), you can submit a message using the Message Center to request a refund for the reservation.
- Use the Live Chat feature (where available) to reach an agent and request the cancellation and/or waiver of fees.
- Call the Reservations Hotline to request the cancellation and/or waiver of fees.
PLEASE NOTE: we are experiencing extremely high call volume so please be patient for call answering times.
What steps can travelers take to protect themselves from COVID-19?
Leading health authorities are urging the same personal best practices that are standard for a typical flu season, such as the following:
- Avoid close contact with people who show signs of illness, including coughing or sneezing
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; World Health Organization
Cruise Reservations
Due to unforeseen recent events impacting some cruise lines, many operators have temporarily suspended itineraries and have cancelled sailings. For a list of cruise lines that have postponed sailings and their cancellation policies, please click here.
We are proactively trying to reach our members to provide options.
We are experiencing high call volume and it may be difficult to get your questions answered quickly. We are offering chat services online for our customers and members with cruise reservations and you can always email us at: faq@help.premiummemberservices.com. You may also complete this form to start the cancellation process
Please note: all refunds are taking approximately 90 days from the time we receive your request.
What comes next now that I need to Cancel my cruise?
With your sailing cancelled due to Canadian travel advisory and official recommendations, we will notify you and work with you to make any cancellations or changes.
Some itineraries are adjusted by the cruise line with a simple port change within the itinerary. If the cruise line cancels your itinerary entirely, they may give you credit for a future cruise, or perhaps a full refund. For more information, you can visit the cruise line website for the most up-to-date policies.
If you need to cancel a cruise reservation that is not scheduled to sail within the next 14 days, we ask that you please wait until closer to your embarkation date to contact us so we can focus on customers with immediate needs. If you are scheduled to embark within 14 days, please complete this form
What is the risk of getting COVID-19 on an airplane?
Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily. Although the risk of infection on an airplane is low, try to avoid contact with sick passengers and wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Should I cancel my reservation?
While the decision to cancel your reservation is a personal one, most providers are doing everything they can to offering flexible rescheduling and cancellation terms to allow customers more time to make decisions about travel. In many cases, rescheduling your trip to a later date may be an alternative.
Please be assured that all travel providers are working diligently to ensure your health and safety is the number one priority, including increased customer communications and onboard sanitation measures.
As updates on travel restrictions due to COVID-19 are quickly changing and evolving, we recommend checking the following website.
How can I cancel my reservation?
We recommend cancelling your reservation through your online membership account, by clicking “My Account”, “View Reservations” and then selecting the “cancel” link next to the reservation you wish to cancel or click here. Please be sure to thoroughly review the terms and conditions of the reservation prior to proceeding with cancellation.
If you booked a refundable reservation (according to the terms and conditions), rest assured, our team has received the cancellation and is working on the refund. Please note, due to the high volume of cancellation requests, the refund may take up to 90 days to process.
If you booked a non-refundable reservation which is impacted by COVID-19 and you would like request a refund, please contact us via the message center, live chat or for cruises, please email faq@help.premiummemberservices.com . Due to the high volume of cancellation requests, if your trip is not within the next 7 days, please hold off calling customer service so we can help those traveling immediately.
Useful Resources
We encourage our customers to stay informed about the facts surrounding COVID-19 and recommend the following links to qualified authorities:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sharing background information about COVID-19 and news about cases in the United States. Read more.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Has the latest updates and a Q&A about COVID-19. Read more.
The Government of Canada Providing outbreak updates within Canada and around the world. Read more.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Publishing the latest travel restrictions. Read more.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) COVID-19 FAQ’s:
https://cruising.org/-/media/Media-Kit/CV/Cruise-Industry-COVID-19-Policy-FAQs__LATEST-VERSION
CLIA Statement on COVID-19:
https://cruising.org/news-and-research/press-room/2020/march/clia-covid-19-toolkit
Ongoing Information
The COVID-19 global pandemic is a truly extraordinary wide-reaching situation, impacting all of us, our families and our extended communities. It’s important to all of us at TAITAM Technology Vacations that you feel confident in the value of your membership. Ultimately, our intent is to be fair and as flexible as we can. We will continue to monitor local, regional and international developments and provide updates here as regularly as we can. To learn more about COVID-19, we recommend visiting the Government of Canada’s dedicated page.
https://www.canada.ca/coronavirus
Thank you for your confidence and continued support and trusting us with your future vacation plans. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us.
The TAITAM Team
