Second Year in a Row A Dream Vacations Franchise Owner Wins Most Prestigious Travel Agent Award in Industry

Lucinda Belden, ECC, of Carrollton, Texas named 2019 Elite Cruise Counsellor of the Year by Cruise Lines International Association

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 10, 2019) – Lucinda Belden, ECC, vacation specialist and franchise owner of Dream Vacations – Stingray Travel, was recently named 2019 Elite Cruise Counsellor of the Year by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) at its annual Hall of Fame Awards reception during the Cruise360 conference in Fort Lauderdale. The Elite Cruise Counsellor of the Year award is the highest accolade a travel agent can receive in the U.S.

“Lucinda is the epitome of what we had visualized when we created the ECC award,” said Stephani McDow, Senior Director, Professional Development & Membership, CLIA. “Her commitment to not only her own, but her peer’s professional development has set an impressive example in our industry and her accomplishments as a top selling travel professional speak for themselves. We are honored to welcome Lucinda into our Hall of Fame.”

This prestigious recognition is awarded to one individual out of CLIA’s Individual Agent Members, of which more than 600 were eligible CLIA-certified travel agents who have achieved Elite Cruise Counsellor or Elite Cruise Counsellor Scholar status — the pinnacle of CLIA certification. The winner has demonstrated commitment to professional development, is recognized as a leader in the industry, mentors other agents and has significantly impacted the travel agent landscape through contributions to their agency. CLIA Members and leaders from the CLIA STARBoard and Trade Relations Committee nominated and voted for the 2019 winners.

Belden has owned her Dream Vacations travel franchise for nine years and has dedicated her personal life and professional business to educating others about travel and the industry. In 2018 she authored the book “60 Ways to Make Your Vacation Last All Year,” which provides concrete examples of how consumers can get in the vacation-state-of-mind year round from the comfort of their home. In addition, she is the co-founder and board member of the international organization Adventure Angels, where she mentors travel professionals in third-world countries, and is nationally recognized for hosting creatively-themed cruise nights that educate consumers about cruising and the value of using a travel agent. Belden’s success as a one-person operated, home-based travel agency can be attributed to her marketing ingenuity and innate passion for travel.

“The core of everything I do in the travel industry is based on my desire to deliver something authentic, memorable and creative for my clients,” said Lucinda Belden. “Thank you so much Dream Vacations for nominating me and to CLIA for selecting me for this award. This is a world-size step in recognizing what I’m trying to do for my clients – I can’t wait to share it with them.”

As part of World Travel Holdings, one of the nation’s top travel retail networks, Dream Vacations offers consumers the lowest possible pricing and highest levels of service on cruise and land vacations through its relationships with every major cruise line and many tour operators.

Dream Vacations is looking for individuals who are passionate about travel, helping others and are eager to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves. For more information, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com or call 888-249-8235. 

About Dream Vacations
Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information about Dream Vacations, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise and watch its videos at www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.

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