Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (November 20, 2018) – The forward-thinking marketing department of leading travel agency franchise Dream Vacations was the only travel franchise recognized at the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) annual Marketing Innovation & Technology Conference (MITcon) in Austin, Texas. Dream Vacations won first place in the Franchise Development category.

“It was an honor to share the stage and be recognized for our innovative marketing campaign alongside other leading national franchise brands Little Caesars Pizza and Kiddie Academy^®Educational Child Care,” said Alicia Linden, marketing manager for Dream Vacations. “It is our mission to be at the forefront of innovation and be the best within the travel agency franchise sector; this award solidifies that.”

The Franchise Marketing & Technology Awards celebrates best-in-class marketing campaigns that leverage technology platforms which assist franchise companies in increasing sales and enhancing their brands. Dream Vacations was recognized for its use of best practices within digital marketing and online engagement.

Seasoned marketing experts provide Dream Vacations travel agency franchise owners with the resources they need to stay ahead of the competition and remain the best travel agency franchise. This includes the headquarters team funding more than $4 million in marketing programs such as a mobile-friendly booking website, lead generation, exclusive promotions, fully automated referral program, video library and more.

Those who are passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to be part of a travel agency network that cares more about its agents and travelers, should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com or call 888-249-8235 to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations.

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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 http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.

Villas of Distinction’s booking trends reveal the most popular destinations

Wilmington, Mass. (December 19, 2018) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, announces 2019’s most sought after villa vacation destinations based on industry insights — Italy, Barbados, Turks & Caicos, Jamaica and Orlando, Fla.

1. Italy – “Traditionally, Italy has been a strong destination for Villas of Distinction, said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product & agency relations. “Guests want to visit the legendary vineyards of Tuscany or indulge in the Amalfi Coast nightlife. A must if visiting the Amalfi Coast is Cantina del Vesuvio, a culinary food and wine experience in a wonderful Italian setting. Italy truly offers something for everyone.” View villas in Italy.

2. Barbados – “From seaside games of cricket to afternoons at the beach, Barbados has an irresistible island charm that attracts visitors,” Lassman said. “Whether sipping on tropical libations made from the destination’s world-famous rum and taking in the sounds of the local reggae bands or basking in the sun on the legendary pink sand beaches and enjoying the buzzing nightlife, guests will get a feel for the destination’s laidback culture. One of the best ways to experience Barbados’ stunning sunsets is with food and drink aboard the private charter, ‘Seaduced.’” View villas in Barbados.

3. Turks & Caicos – “Turks & Caicos continues to be one of the most popular destinations because of its world renowned beaches,” stated Lassman. “Guests like the array of activities this destination offers such as snorkeling at the third largest barrier reef, whale-watching and hiking though a limestone cave created more than 600 years ago. There are also some wonderful fine dining options such as Coco Bistro or a customized meal prepared by the villa’s private chef.” View villas in Turks & Caicos.

4. Jamaica – “People fall in love with Jamaica because of its world-class amenities, stunning locations and unparalleled hospitality,” said Lassman. “Another reason that Jamaica is a popular choice for our guests is because most of our villas here offer a private staff included in the price of the villa stay. This allows guests to truly sit back and relax while the villa staff caters to their needs.” View villas in Jamaica.

5. Orlando – “Why Orlando? Because no city offers more magic and adventure than Orlando,” Lassman stated. “We offer so many homes with amazing features such as ice skating rinks, bowling alleys, Turkish Spas and themed bedrooms to wow the child in all of us. With all of these amenities, guests never want to leave the villa, however, if they do, our villas are within close proximity to the country’s top theme parks, incredible theater and live performances, top-notch restaurants, nature excursions and more. It’s no wonder Orlando remains on everyone’s bucket list.”  View Villas in Orlando.

Last year’s leading villa vacation destinations were:

1. Italy
2. Orlando
3. Turks & Caicos
4. Jamaica
5. Hawaii

Travelers looking for a truly customized vacation experience planned by a full-service agency where a Villa Specialist finds the perfect destination to fit a client’s vacation desires, and a personal Concierge tailors a client’s vacation from start to finish will want to book with Villas of Distinction. For more information, visit VillasofDistinction.com or call 800-289-0900.

About Villas of Distinction_®
Villas of Distinction_®, as part of World Travel Holdings, is an award-winning, full-service premier luxury villa provider with an extensive portfolio of thousands of privately-owned villas in more than 50 luxurious destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, Central America, the Continental United States and many private islands. Most villas feature private pools, butlers, maids and chefs. The luxury provider has gained its clients’ trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds the guest’s expectations. For more than 25 years, Villas of Distinction’s team of experts have made vacation planning effortless by helping travelers find their perfect vacation home, and creating one-of-a-kind getaways and lasting memories at the world’s top villas. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

All Villas of Distinction Bookings Departing in 2018 and 2019 Qualify

 

Wilmington, Mass. (October 16, 2018) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, reveals its newest offer. Starting today, all Villas of Distinction bookings departing this year will qualify for an Amazon Gift Card valued at up to $2,000.

“We are so excited about this new promotion because we want to give our guests choices when booking with us,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “This offer not only sweetens the deal for our guests, but they also have the option to spend the gift card how they want.”

In addition, the Amazon Gift Card is combinable with other Villas of Distinction offers that run throughout the year like free night stays, up to 40 percent off or free car rental promotions. Currently both St. Martin and Barbados are offering free car rentals on every booking allowing guests to explore and immerse themselves in the destination, see more sights, do more activities, and come and go as they please.

In St. Martin, guests who book a villa between now and December 10, 2018, for travel now until December 16, 2018, will receive a free Kia Picanto car so they can explore both sides of this island’s breathtaking beaches which offer excellent snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, horseback riding and more.

Guests who stay in a Barbados villa will receive a free rental car for bookings made between now and December 1, 2018, for travel now until December 14, 2018. When the guest arrives in Barbados, the rental car will be delivered to the villa, meaning no long waits at the rental counter.

The Amazon Gift Card amount received is based on the cost of the villa rental. For further information, visit the Amazon Gift Card page on VillasofDistinction.com or call 1-800-289-0900 to speak to a Villa Specialist. Use the code AMAZON-GC-2018 when booking.

About Villas of Distinction_®
Villas of Distinction_®, as part of World Travel Holdings, is an award-winning, full-service premier luxury villa provider with an extensive portfolio of thousands of privately-owned villas in more than 50 luxurious destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, Central America, the Continental United States and many private islands. Most villas feature private pools, butlers, maids and chefs. The luxury provider has gained its clients’ trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds the guest’s expectations. For more than 25 years, Villas of Distinction’s team of experts have made vacation planning effortless by helping travelers find their perfect vacation home, and creating one-of-a-kind getaways and lasting memories at the world’s top villas. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

Dream Vacations travel agency franchise launches seventh annual “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” contest on May 28, 2018

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (May 24, 2018) – Over the past six years, business dreams have become a reality for 30 military veterans thanks to Dream Vacations’ award-winning annual contest “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” contest. Each year five veterans are awarded a travel agency franchise, and in 2018, the best franchise opportunity for veterans is expanding its contest to award seven veterans with a free franchise, as a result of a grant from the International Franchise Association (IFA) for winning the Gold Franchising Gives Back award in the “Supporting our Veterans” category. The contest will begin on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018 and lasts through Monday, August 27, 2018. 

“Military veterans are vital to the strength of our nation and to our Dream Vacations organization; words cannot express how grateful we are to all those who serve our country,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations. “So to honor and thank those in the armed forces for making the American Dream possible, we are proud to provide a civilian career opportunity that they can embark on upon after retirement that will provide supplemental income while helping them create a legacy for their family.” 

The Dream Vacations franchise contest is open to former members of any of the five branches of the U.S. military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) who are retired, off active duty and/or honorably discharged prior to the contest start date. To participate, candidates must complete an online entry form and an introductory phone interview with a franchise development specialist. Candidates will be required to submit a candidate profile, business plan, video and resume. Finalists will be invited to participate in follow-up phone interviews before winners are selected. The entry form and all contest details can be found at www.OperationVetrepreneur.com.

Seven winners will be notified in September 2018. Each grand prize is valued at $12,700 and includes a complimentary Dream Vacations franchise with a waived $9,800 initial start-up fee and monthly service fees. The new recruits will report for active duty in October, when they participate in a weeklong franchise training boot camp at the Dream Vacations state-of-the-art world headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Winners will be reimbursed up to $500 for their travel and provided with complimentary accommodations during the training program. Once training is completed, winners will be armed with all the tools and knowledge they need to begin their dream business creating dream vacations. 

All military veterans and Gold Star families who purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency businessreceive an enlistment package valued at no less than $5,000 and ongoing support. They can select one of four perks currently being offered — receive up to $7,000 back based on initial fee through the Earn Back promotion; waived administrative fees valued at $1,350; free weeklong cruise valued at $1,280; or a surface pro tablet valued at $1,000. They also receive a waived training fee for a business partner; veteran-themed marketing assets; and the ability to hire active-duty military spouses and veterans as associates at a discount. Additional veteran incentives include the ability to move residences and stay in business, LeisureCare Travel Insurance discounts for veterans, travel discounts for military customers and access to veteran networking groups.

Dream Vacations is the only travel franchise to receive a “5-Star Ranking” from the IFA’s VetFran initiative, and veterans and active duty spouses make up more than 30 percent of its network. Dream Vacations has received many national accolades including a number one rankings as a veteran-friendly franchise by Military Times four years in a row, as well as by Entrepreneur and Forbes. Other accolades include inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual “Hot Franchises for Veterans” list, Franchise Business Review’s “Top 100 Franchises for Veterans” and USA Today’s “50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans.”

Military veterans who have a passion for travel and entrepreneurism who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise and want to be considered as a candidate for Operation Vetrepreneur, please visit www.OperationVetrepreneur.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 http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.

Begins May 28, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends August 27, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET.  Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 or older at the start of the Contest, have a computer and internet connection, be a legal resident of the US or DC and a former member in good standing of one of the five branches of the U.S. military who is retired, off active duty and/or was honorably discharged prior to the start date of the Contest.  If selected as winners, Contestants must commit to a 5-year CruiseOne/Dream Vacations home-based franchise, which requires attendance at a 6-day New Franchisee Training Class in Ft Lauderdale, FL and a starting investment capital (for more information, go to www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com or call 888-441-2542).  Only one (1) submission per contestant. To enter, complete the online entry form on our website (www.operationvetrepreneur.com).  If qualified and selected to move to the next round after a phone interview, Semi-Finalists must submit a résumé, video, CruiseOne/Dream Vacations candidate profile and minimum 1,200 word business plan. Submissions must comply with the Submission Guidelines in the Official Rules. Only complete, valid submissions will be accepted. Sponsored by CruiseOne/Dream Vacations, 1201 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Ste. 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.  See [www.OperationVetrepreneur.com] for complete Rules and details.

Week-long celebration complements Cruise Line’s International Association #ChooseCruise initiative 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 8, 2018) – The Fort Lauderdale headquarters of home-based travel agencies Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.® celebrates its network of travel agents this week, Oct. 8 – 12, 2018, with a “Travel Agents Are Our World”-themed Customer Appreciation Week. The network of agents received a surprise video message last week announcing the initiative.

“It is important for our headquarters team to create new and innovative ways to engage with our home-based travel agents so they feel like they are in business for themselves, but not by themselves,” said Dustin Jones, vice president of engagement. “Because our National Conference is one week away and provides such a valuable in-person platform for recognition, we felt it was vital to launch this initiative now so we can demonstrate our thanks and appreciation to our entire network at once.”

Throughout the year, the headquarters team at Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. demonstrate that they care more about their network of agents and their success by investing in them and launching new programs to help them better run their business, such as corporate headquarters fully funding more than $4 million in marketing and exclusive promotions, Groups Concierge and more. Customer Appreciation Week is designed to celebrate travel agent achievements and their customers, while driving sales growth for their business.

• “Customers Are Our World” Exclusive Consumer Promotion – Offering up to a $300 onboard credit on select cruise lines, that is combinable with #ChooseCruise promotions.
• Recognition – Unique individual travel agent milestones and accomplishments will be celebrated throughout the week.
• Special Delivery – A custom direct mail piece sent to the more than 2,000 franchise owners, associates and independent agents in the network with a special message from the Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. Leadership Team.

“Our hope is that we inspire our network of travel agents to use their own creativity and thank their clients by hosting their own individual Customer Appreciation Week,” added Jones. “It is the perfect opportunity for them to not only show their thanks, but also demonstrate the value that using a travel agent provides such as combining our exclusive promotion with Cruise Line International Association’s #ChooseCruise offerings.”

Those who are passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to be part of a travel agency network that cares more about its agents and travelers, should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, and www.SellCruises.com to learn about becoming an independent vacation specialist with business opportunity Cruises Inc.

About Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^®
Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® are part of World Travel Holdings, the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. The Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchise opportunities give entrepreneurs a choice in how they want to brand their travel business, and Cruises Inc. is an independent business opportunity. Both business models provide a work-from-home opportunity to those interested in selling all types of travel experiences whether it be a cruise, resort stay or land tour. With a mission of delivering a remarkable experience, travel agents with all three brands are given premium resources to plan and create a seamless vacation experience for the customer while offering the best value. For more information on Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com, like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise or watch its videos at www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness. For more information on Cruises Inc., visit www.SellCruises.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SellCruises.

F

Enhanced tool creates even more flexibility for both franchisees and their clients 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 3, 2018) – A game-changer for Dream Vacations travel agency franchise owners, the award-winning Dream Vacations Groups Registration tool has been enhanced to accept credit card payments within an online groups registration platform, adding flexibility for both the franchisee and the consumer. This tool empowers franchisees to create and customize professional group event websites that showcase amenity options, highlight itineraries, accept secure payments during the initial registration process and more.

“We are committed to providing our franchise owners with the most user-friendly and innovative technologies they need to operate their business, which in turn lets them provide the best service possible to their clients,” said Sandi Szalay, vice president of information technology. “Having a tool that captures the basic booking information not only increases accuracy, but enables our franchise owners to devote more time to cultivating relationships and enhancing their groups’ overall experience.”

The Groups Registration payment function makes it seamless to book into a group and provides flexibility for franchise owners and their clients. From the ability for franchisees to capture initial booking information any time of day to a consumer choosing how much they want their initial payment to be and each passenger in a cabin having the option of paying together or individually.

“Providing our group clients the option to make their initial payment online is sensational. I’m certain that this will benefit me tremendously because it eliminates some of the initial apprehension that I receive when servicing my larger groups,” said Dream Vacations Franchise Owner Ron Beverly, Sr. of North Wales, Pa. “Many clients feel a greater sense of security putting their payments directly into the database which is a win-win. Also, it is one less thing that I have to do leaving me with more time to assist other customers. It’s a wonderful tool for me personally because I have clients across the country and abroad, and they can make the payment at their leisure.”

Dream Vacations has made it easy for its home-based travel agency franchise owners to efficiently and effectively grow their group business with the Groups Concierge program. Available at no additional cost, this turn-key service handles all of the complex details that go into servicing and executing a successful group, including but not limited to contract negotiation, data entry, building groups, closing sales and more.

Those who are passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to be part of a travel agency network that cares more about its agents and travelers, should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com or call 888-249-8235 to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations.

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 http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.

The newly redesigned site improves the user experience and assists visitors in their initial research for high-end and river cruise vacations 

Wilmington, Mass. (October xx, 2018) – LuxuryOnly, a full-service luxury cruise provider, as part of World Travel Holdings, celebrates 10 years with a redesigned website that features a modernized search functionality and user-friendly navigation making it easier than ever for visitors to research and find the most exclusive and rich cruise offers. The site also highlights the sailings and destinations of 12 luxury cruise lines and six river lines.

“Our customers are our number one priority and we are continuously looking for ways to improve their experience with us both online and offline,” said Jeff Sherota, senior vice president of LuxuryOnly. “This website redesign is just another way that we are making it easier for consumers to learn more about a particular ship, sailing and destination, and find exclusive deals.”

Once a consumer is ready to book, LuxuryOnly’s team of expert concierges provide firsthand knowledge and insider advice to help guests choose the perfect luxury cruise experience based on their unique vacation desires. They are extremely knowledgeable about every high-end cruise ship, sailing and destination offered. This team makes planning a vacation seamless by researching and booking the cruise; assisting with the pre-registration process; arranging spa services, specialty dining, private car/transfers; helping with shore excursion selections; assisting with cruise line air/hotel bookings; special reminders about important dates; and more.

To learn more about the luxury cruises offered through LuxuryOnly, visit LuxuryOnly.com or to book, call 1-800-711-4230.

About LuxuryOnly
LuxuryOnly is the premier luxury-cruise brand of World Travel Holdings, offering only the finest ultra-luxury, river, and expedition cruises. By combining its own exclusive offers with existing cruise-line promotions, LuxuryOnly is able to deliver the absolute best value in the market. For more than 10 years, LuxuryOnly’s expert Cruise Concierges have used their extensive knowledge of ships, sailings, and destinations to help connect each customer to their ideal vacation experience; over 600,000 guests choose to set sail with LuxuryOnly each and every year.

Home-based travel franchise Dream Vacations and CruiseOne and independent business opportunity Cruises Inc. win six awards

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (September 18, 2018) – The home-based division of award-winning leisure travel company and world’s largest cruise agency World Travel Holdings has been recognized again this year by Travel Weekly. Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® received top honors for its industry leadership, winning six total Magellan Awards ranging from free marketing programs and an inspirational advice book for travel agents authored by industry leader and the travel network’s General Manager Drew Daly, to an individual franchise winning for their innovative business model.

“We care more about our franchise owners and independent vacation specialists and supporting them is our number one priority and winning these awards speaks volumes to the superiority of our programs as compared to others in the industry,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of CruiseOne/Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc. “These would not be possible without our forward-thinking headquarters team who every year raise the bar in creating and implementing programs that have a positive impact on the way we do business and support our customers – the network of CruiseOne/Dream Vacations franchise owners and Cruises Inc. independent vacation specialists.”

Gold Winners

Vacation Superhero Referral Program is the first of its kind in the travel agent industry. Proprietary technology created in-house makes it easy for a consumer to recommend their travel agent online and get rewarded with a Visa gift card when their referral books a dream vacation.

Selling Fun!, authored by General Manager of Network Engagement and Performance Drew Daly and available on Amazon, this book provides an overview of making a living selling travel. Travel agents can use it as a guide and learn tips on how to be more successful with their business. Topics included are sales, marketing, networking and the importance of having fun working. 

Loyalty Cruise Perks gives consumers an option to select an amenity as a reward for booking their next cruise vacation onboard or within 30 days of returning home. Options include credit toward a shore excursion, Resort for a Day experience or onboard credit.

Silver Winners

The Wanderful Promotion was the first marketing campaign of 2018 and included an exclusive consumer offer that was fully funded by corporate headquarters. The rich promotion offered up to $300 onboard credit on preferred supplier ocean and river cruise bookings or up to $150 in resort credits. The Wanderful promotion led to record-breaking sales and was instrumental in kicking off 2018. 

Travel agents with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. have the ability to create free Company Member Pages, branded travel websites for an organization which has ideally 20 or more members. Member pages are customizable and can speak to this audience alone by offering a specific “value add” that is only visible to those who visit the website.

Dream Vacations – Ignite U Franchise Owners Kieran and Sherri Murry of Spanaway, Wash. also were recognized for their innovation in launching their travel agency as a subsidiary of their professional networking membership group.

“While all of these awards are truly noteworthy, I am especially proud of Drew, Kieran and Sherri for being recognized and winning Magellan Awards for their individual efforts in promoting the value of the travel agent,” added Fiorino. 

Travel Weekly’s annual Magellan Awards recognize the travel industry’s leaders and are judged on a 100-point performance scale by a prestigious panel of top travel professionals representing the best names and most accomplished leaders from the industry. It honors outstanding design, marketing and services in a broad range of industry segments including Hospitality, Travel Destinations, Cruise Lines, Online Travel Services, Airlines and Airports, Travel Agents and Agencies, Tour Operators and Ground Transportation.

Those who are passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to be part of a travel agency network that cares more about its agents and travelers, should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, and www.SellCruises.com to learn about becoming an independent vacation specialist with business opportunity Cruises Inc.

About Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^®
Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® are part of World Travel Holdings, the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. The Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchise opportunities give entrepreneurs a choice in how they want to brand their travel business, and Cruises Inc. is an independent business opportunity. Both business models provide a work-from-home opportunity to those interested in selling all types of travel experiences whether it be a cruise, resort stay or land tour. With a mission of delivering a remarkable experience, travel agents with all three brands are given premium resources to plan and create a seamless vacation experience for the customer while offering the best value. For more information on Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com, like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise or watch its videos at www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness. For more information on Cruises Inc., visit www.SellCruises.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SellCruises.

GOGO Vacations hosted the four-day intensive training at Majestic Mirage in Punta Cana 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (September 12, 2018) – Land and resort vacation business is booming for work-from-home travel agents with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc. ^®, with land sales up 25 percent year-to-date compared to last year. With non-cruise bookings making up more than 20 percent of the business, the need for travel agent training in this niche is more important than ever which is why Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. hosted the second annual Land Summit at the Majestic Mirage in Punta Cana, D.R. Approximately 100 travel agents attended the four-day training, which consisted of interactive workshops, agent panels, exclusive hotel events, 10 site inspections and networking opportunities.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. on their annual Land Summit,” said Brennan Quesnele, vice president of sales for GOGO Vacations. “The opportunity to collaborate as the host wholesaler while partnering with Majestic Mirage, Olympus Tours and many others was the perfect alignment to educate, highlight the destination and provide useful insights on selling land package vacations. We had an action-packed Land Summit agenda that informed, inspired and engaged while providing a whole lot of fun and long-lasting memories, as well as the experience and confidence needed to sell land vacation packages and groups.”

Land business has continued to grow each year as a result of the increased marketing efforts of travel agents with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. In addition to providing them with a dedicated “land brochure” which promotes everything related to resorts, escorted tours and more, agents who subscribe to the free Automated Social Media program have access to destination-themed social media posts. Land vacations are also promoted on websites, direct mail pieces and within weekly email newsletters. In addition, more emphasis has been placed on land trainings as a result of preferred relationships with more than 25 suppliers.

“We find it more beneficial for our agents to have smaller training groups so they can really engage with the suppliers and each other, gaining a deeper understanding of the product which ultimately results in increased sales,” said Drew Daly, general manager of network engagement and performance for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “In fact, travel agents who attended the 2017 Land Summit experienced more than $1 million in sales over the past year. We anticipate this number to increase after this year’s Summit.”

The Land Summit concluded the 2018 Immersive Education Series, which featured intimate training opportunities on niche topics such groups, luxury and river cruising, which is launching in 2019.

“I was able to achieve everything for which I had hoped at this year’s Land Summit,” said Jeff Leach, Dream Vacations franchise owner and vacation specialist in Omaha, Neb. “The sessions were insightful and the variety of resorts we inspected was perfect. But, the most important accomplishment was the new relationships we were able to build with our vendor partners.”

Those who are passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to be part of a travel agency network that cares more about its agents and travelers, should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, and www.SellCruises.com to learn about becoming an independent vacation specialist with business opportunity Cruises Inc.

About Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^®
Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® are part of World Travel Holdings, the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. The Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchise opportunities give entrepreneurs a choice in how they want to brand their travel business, and Cruises Inc. is an independent business opportunity. Both business models provide a work-from-home opportunity to those interested in selling all types of travel experiences whether it be a cruise, resort stay or land tour. With a mission of delivering a remarkable experience, travel agents with all three brands are given premium resources to plan and create a seamless vacation experience for the customer while offering the best value. For more information on Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com, like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise or watch its videos at www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness. For more information on Cruises Inc., visit www.SellCruises.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SellCruises.

Seventh consecutive time recognized for innovative employee engagement programs

Wilmington, Mass. (September 6, 2018) – World Travel Holdings announces being named as one of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in North America. This annual award recognizes top employers that display leadership and innovation in engaging their workplaces.

“The companies we honor as the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ have made the employee experience, engagement and recognition the highest priority. They understand how critical employee engagement is to company performance, and what a competitive advantage it provides,” said Aris Zakinthinos, Achievers General Manager. “The companies on this list serve as role models for other businesses by creating an engagement strategy that cultivates a high-performing workplace.”

Engagement has always been and always will be a cornerstone of World Travel Holdings’ employee outreach. However, this year in particular, the company saw its commitment to engagement pay off right before its eyes. In the fall of 2017 hurricanes Harvey and Irma wreaked havoc on the Southeastern U.S., personally impacting more than 40 percent of its workforce. Employees from around the country stepped in to help affected colleagues through the company’s Employee Emergency Assistance Fund. Our employees came together and raised $20,000, which included a $10,000 corporate donation match and helped 30 employees rebuild their homes and lives.

“It was truly heartwarming to see our engaged workforce come together and show such support and reassurance for coworkers whom they had never even met before,” said Loren Kennedy, vice president of human resources. “This year, we named our Achievers entry ‘Engaging the Remarkable Way’ because we want to engage our employees the way that they engage our customers and each other — by standing by and embracing our mission to ‘Deliver a Remarkable Experience.’”

The winners were selected by a panel of esteemed judges comprised of employee engagement academics, industry analysts, thought leaders, journalists and influencers. Applicants were evaluated based on the Eight Elements of Employee Engagement™: Communication, Leadership, Culture, Rewards and Recognition, Professional and Personal Growth, Accountability and Performance, Vision and Values and Corporate Social Responsibility.

World Travel Holdings will be honored alongside other recipients of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ Award at the awards gala on October 22, 2018, at The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, Canada before the opening of this year’s Achievers Customer Experience (ACE) Conference. 

About Achievers
The Achievers Employee Engagement Platform combines an award-winning employee recognition and rewards solution with an active listening interface to accelerate employee engagement. Designed for today’s workplace, Achievers’ innovative cloud-based platform can increase and align employee engagement to business objectives and success. It empowers employees to recognize and reward each other in real time and aligns employees with company values and goals. Achievers connects with employees directly. It’s an always-on, open channel to hear and understand what matters to the individual, and then it closes the loop, delivering bite-sized, personalized actions for both employees and managers, so everyone is empowered to impact engagement right away. The Achievers platform inspires employee loyalty, engagement, and performance. To learn more about Achievers, visit us at www.achievers.com. Achievers is a subsidiary of Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.

About World Travel Holdings
World Travel Holdings is the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company with a portfolio of more than 40 diverse brands. In addition to owning some of the largest brands distributing cruises, villas, hotels, resort vacations, cars and luxury travel services, World Travel Holdings has a vast portfolio of licensed private label partnerships comprised of top leisure travel providers, including almost every U.S. airline, leading hotel brands and prominent corporations. The company also operates a top-rated travel agency franchise and the country’s original host agency, and is consistently recognized as an industry leader in work-at-home employment. Its global presence includes operating multiple cruise and vacation brands in the United Kingdom. World Travel Holdings has offices in Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; New York, NY; and Chorley, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.