The Absolute Best in Travel As Awarded By Travel Agents

Wilmington, Mass. (January 30, 2018) – Full-service premier luxury villa provider Villas of Distinction_® as part of World Travel Holdings, has won a second consecutive year Gold and a Silver Travvy in the Best Villa Rental Company Overall and Best Vacation Packager, Luxury categories, respectively, at the 2018 Travvy Awards hosted by travAlliancemedia. This is the third year in a row that Villas of Distinction has been recognized in the Travvys.

“We wouldn’t have received one, much less two Travvy awards without the support of our travel partners. I can’t thank them enough for their ongoing commitment to our brand,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “Although I had the privilege of accepting the award in person, this recognition is truly the result of an entire team, their expertise and being there for our guest’s to make their vacation planning effortless.”

Villas of Distinction was recognized for its commitment to providing its guests with more than just a villa stay, but planning a completely customized destination vacation experience. Each guest is provide with a personal concierge to arrange every aspect of a vacation, Villas of Distinction has created countless, truly unique experiences for birthdays, wedding proposals, weddings, anniversaries, family reunions and more.

The annual Travvy Awards—known as the Academy Awards of the travel industry—were held Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Gotham Hall in New York City to recognize the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry by honoring travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, and destinations for their outstanding achievement.

Suppliers, destinations and individuals from across the world of travel are eligible to submit their nominations to be considered annually for the honor of being recognized as an innovator in the industry. This year, over 100,000 votes—the largest voting block of agents in history—were cast to determine the 2018 Travvy Awards winners.

Travelers looking for a customized vacation experience planned by a full-service agency where a Villa Specialist finds the perfect destination to fit a guest’s vacation desires, and a personal Concierge customizes a guest’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.

For more information, a breakdown of categories and to view the full list of winners, please visit www.TravvyAwards.com.

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.

About The Travvy Awards
The annual Travvy Awards, presented by travAlliancemedia, recognize the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry and honor travel companies, travel products, travel agencies and destinations for their outstanding achievement with a prize considered to be the Academy Awards of the travel industry. More than 100,000 votes—cast by the agents who sell the vast majority of these trips to tens of millions of consumers yearly—determined the very best in the travel industry. This represents the largest database of the nation’s foremost leisure-selling, independent travel agents in the country. The selections by agents reflect suppliers and destinations they believe provide the best overall service to their clients. For more information, please visit www.TravvyAwards.com

World Travel Holdings moves up two spots and ranks in the top 50 companies hiring remote workers

Wilmington, Mass. (January 25, 2018) — World Travel Holdings is proud to announce that for the fourth year in a row it has been named to FlexJobs’ annual list of the 100 Top Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2018. This list is based on an analysis of more than 49,000 companies and their remote job posting histories in the FlexJobs database. World Travel Holdings is one of 100 companies that had the highest number of remote job openings on the FlexJobs site in 2017. To be considered, the jobs offered by these companies had to be remote-friendly, either allowing for candidates to telecommute entirely or part of the time.

“For more than a decade, we have been recruiting, hiring and training for work-at-home positions and we are honored to be recognized as a leader in the remote jobs industry,” said Loren Kennedy, vice president of Human Resources for World Travel Holdings. “Because more than 80 percent of our employee base works from home, we are focused on providing telecommuting and scheduling options to create a healthy work/life balance that work for our employees and keep them engaged.”

World Travel Holdings hires for jobs with remote work options such as Travel Professional, Customer Care Representative and Franchise Sales Specialist, and has been recognized as a leader in the industry. In 2017, the company virtually recruited, hired and trained just under 400 employees.

“As leaders in the remote job industry, FlexJobs has once again taken a dedicated look at which companies job seekers should pay close attention to as they search for a better, more flexible job –one that allows them to lead fulfilling professional lives and also enjoy the other commitments, like family, health, volunteering, and travel, that are important to having fulfilling personal lives,” said Sara Sutton Fell, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “In reviewing this data annually for five years and in working with hundreds of companies across different industries, we’ve seen remote work transform into a much more mainstream mode of working. Now, as more companies accept and integrate telecommuters into their business models, 2018 is an ideal time for job seekers to pursue their search for a better, more flexible job.”

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 and Southampton, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.

About FlexJobs
FlexJobs is committed to helping people find a better way to work. As the leading online service for professionals seeking remote, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs, FlexJobs offers opportunities in over 50 career categories, ranging from entry-level to executive and freelance to full-time. FlexJobs also sets itself apart by providing job seekers with a better, safer, and more efficient way to find professional and legitimate flexible jobs. Having helped nearly three million people in their job searches, FlexJobs has appeared in CNN, CNBC, TIME, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and hundreds of other trusted media outlets. To further assist people in bettering their lives through flexible and remote work, FlexJobs’ Founder & CEO Sara Sutton Fell has also launched two additional partner sites, Remote.co and 1 Million for Work Flexibility, to help provide education and awareness about the viability and benefits of remote working and work flexibility. Sutton Fell is also the creator of The TRaD* Works Forum (*Telecommuting, Remote, & Distributed), dedicated to helping companies leverage the benefits of telecommuting, remote and distributed teams.

Cutting-edge technology solutions, fully-funded marketing programs and enhanced training & support are just a few initiatives that sparked a banner 2017  

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (January 11, 2018) – 2017 was a year of change and innovation at home-based travel agency franchises Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, and host agency Cruises Inc. that resulted in double-digit sales growth in cruise and land at years end. With the momentum of these new initiatives picking up speed, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. are on pace for a record-breaking 2018.

“Because we care more about the success of our independent agents and travel franchise owners, we make every decision and investment with their best interests in mind and how it will positively impact their bottom line,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.

Technology
To be the technology leader in the travel agency business industry, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. made a multi-million dollar investment in its IT team, resulting in the largest technology team and best support staff to agent ratio in travel franchising. The team nearly doubled in size within six months and the impact was felt immediately – with the development of tools which created time-saving efficiencies when dealing with bookings made directly with the cruise lines, while simultaneously developing cutting-edge solutions and best-in-class technology such as the Vacation Superhero Referral © program in collaboration with marketing. On the horizon are enhancements in booking resort vacations and upgrades to the group booking process, as well as a reimagined online vacation shopping experience unlike any other in the home-based travel agent franchise and host agency industries that will simplify promotions and improve the overall experience for consumers.

Marketing
Programs such as Loyalty Cruise Perks and the Vacation Superhero Referral program which are fully-funded by corporate headquarters enable agents to work smarter not harder in building their business. Since launching August 1, 2017, more than 3,000 existing customers returned from a cruise and re-booked as a result of Loyalty Cruise Perks, which rewards consumers for booking their next vacation while onboard or within 30 days of returning home. The first-of-its-kind in the travel agent industry, the Vacation Superhero Referral program makes it easy for a consumer to recommend their travel agent, and is revolutionizing how agents can leverage their friends and family to gain new customers. Referrals from this program have access to exclusive promotions, and when they book, their referring “Vacation Superhero” is rewarded with a gift card. Since launching less than 30 days ago, this program has experienced more than 300 referrals.

Business Development
In 2017 cruise industry veteran Saul Fonseca joined as Director of Sales to lead the Business Development team and propel the network of agents to reach new heights in their sales. As inspiration, they adopted a team mission statement – “Dedicated to the growth and success of our customers.” To keep the momentum going and enhance the support provided, the Business Development team’s geographic territories were simplified. In addition, a new Business Development Manager was hired to solely work with new agents giving them more focused attention and putting them on the fast track to success. 

Training
Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents are never alone and are highly engaged with each other and the headquarters team. More than 50 percent of agents traveled to an offsite learning experience in 2017. The first-of-its-kind Immersive Educational Series launched in 2017 and provided intimate in-person training summits on niche topics including groups, luxury and land. Sales increased across all three categories in 2017. 

Operations
Groups business increased by nearly 15 percent in 2017, in large part due to the Groups Concierge program. The only one of its kind in travel franchising, this turn-key service complements Dream Vacations and CruiseOne’s group registration websites and has Groups Specialists handle all of the complexities that go into servicing and executing a group, like contract negotiation, data entry and closing sales. Survey results reveal a 100% Satisfaction with regard to Response Time, Issue Resolution & Overall Satisfaction.  

Philanthropy
Giving back is a keystone of World Travel Holdings and its brands, whether it is raising money and granting wishes for signature charity Make-A-Wish^®, building houses with Habitat for Humanity or making vacation and business dreams become reality for military veterans. In 2017, agents, franchise owners and the corporate Headquarters team donated nearly $115,000 or the equivalent of granting 11 wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Dream Vacations gave away two dream vacations to military veterans and awarded five veterans with free franchises as part of the award-winning Operation Vetrepreneur program, which has given away a total of 30 free franchises since the program’s inception in 2012.

2017 was a banner year with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. being recognized across the board in the cruise, franchise and business communities. Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises awarded the three brands with highest honors as best franchise/host partner, and the International Franchise Association awarded Dream Vacations as the only travel franchise with a five-star ranking and the gold Franchising Gives Back award for Operation Vetrepreneur. Military Times and Entrepreneur magazines also ranked Dream Vacations as the number one franchise for veterans. For the sixth and fourth consecutive years respectively, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. were recognized as a Top Private Company by South Florida Business Journal and Florida Trend, as well as a Top Workplace by Workplace Dynamics and Sun Sentinel. In addition, the Southern Florida chapter of Make-A-Wish recognized Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. as the 2017 Corporation of the Year.

“2017 was truly a year of collaboration, innovation and firsts, and the recognitions we received are testament to the fact that we care more about our agents and franchisees and their success,” added Fiorino. “It will be tough to top 2017, but I am confident in my team and know that 2018 will be a phenomenal year.”

The companies are 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 on joining these award-winning agencies, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com to learn more about owning a CruiseOne / Dream Vacations travel franchise, and visit www.sellcruises.com to learn more about the Cruises Inc. business opportunity.

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 https://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.

7-night cruise aboard Celebrity Silhouette to visit Eastern Caribbean 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (January 4, 2018) – With the LGBT community making up six to eight percent of the U.S. travel market according to Cruise Lines International Association, national travel agency franchise Dream Vacations is hosting its first annual LGBT Getaways Group Cruise. This lifestyle cruise will join together an intimate group of like-minded individuals aboard the Celebrity Silhouette, which departs Fort Lauderdale on April 8, 2018, for a 7-night voyage to the Eastern Caribbean.

“We decided to launch the LGBT Getaways Cruise to respond to the demand from consumers and our travel agents for this niche group that wants a lifestyle vacation experience in a more traditional and sophisticated atmosphere,” said Drew Daly, General Manager of Dream Vacations. “Celebrity Cruises has always been an advocate for the LGBT community so it was a no-brainer to partner with them on this group cruise, which has already been met with a positive response.”

The LGBT Getaways Cruise will visit San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Members of the group will experience an exclusive shore excursion with Resort for a Day, and participate in a wine tasting and themed cocktail parties throughout the week.

“My husband and business partner Shane and I are very excited for the launch of the first LGBT-focused cruise for Dream Vacations,” said Trapper Martin, Dream Vacations franchise owner and vacation specialist based in Belle Isle, Fla. “We plan on escorting this inaugural cruise and are excited to be part of the first edition of this annual cruise, which we are confident will grow each year.”

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

Fares start at $1,149 and are based on double occupancy. Space is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. For more information on the LGBT Getaways Cruise, please visit http://www.dreamvacations.com/LGBTgetaways or call 888-410-8358.

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, visit www.DreamVacations.com.