Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company launches sixth annual “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” contest on May 22, 2017

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (May 18, 2017) – Since 2012 Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company has given 25 military veterans the dream business opportunity of owning a travel agency franchise, at no cost, as part of its annual “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” contest. The home-based travel franchise announces that the annual contest will begin on Monday, May 22, 2017, giving five more deserving military veterans the chance to join the ranks as Dream Vacations franchise owners. 

“Those who serve in the armed forces are the backbone of our country, and upon retirement are finding new beginnings in business ownership,” said Tim Courtney, CFE, vice president of franchise development and ambassador of veteran affairs. “The International Franchise Association reports that one in seven franchises are owned by military veterans, and that is no surprise since many military skills translate well into franchise ownership. We’re honored that more than 30 percent of our franchise owners are military veterans and active-duty spouses, and we are proud to offer a home-based travel franchise that provides flexibility in their lifestyle to maximize time spent with 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 by Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. After conducting 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.

Five winners will be notified in September 2017. 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 who purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency franchise receive an enlistment package valued at no less than $5,000. This includes a complimentary cabin for two at Dream Vacations’ award-winning annual National Conference, limited availability, aboard a cruise ship; 20 percent discount off the initial fee; 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 has a “5-Star Ranking” as a member of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) VetFran initiative and has received many national accolades as a franchise opportunity for veterans. It’s military-friendly awards include a number one ranking the past three years in a row by Military Times in its “Best for Vets: Franchises” list, inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual “Hot Franchises for Veterans” the past six years and recognition by MSC Cruises in its first-ever Seaside Salute Award. Additional accolades include being named “Top 10 Military Friendly Franchise” by Forbes, “Top Veteran-Friendly Franchise” by Entrepreneur and U.S. Veterans magazines and inclusion on 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.comor call 888-249-8235.

About Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company
Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company is part of World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. As an experiential brand, Dream Vacations is the only travel franchise opportunity to have a name that speaks to the variety of vacation experiences its franchisees sell. With unrivaled buying power, franchisees can provide competitive prices and exclusive offers when selling memorable vacation experiences such as cruises, resort stays and land tours. For more information on Dream Vacations, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, and follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise.

Begins May 22, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends September 1, 2017 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, CruiseOne/Dream Vacations candidate profile and 1,200 words-2,200 words 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. 

Clients can add extras to their villa rental stay on Villas of Distinction’s dime

Wilmington, Mass. (May 15, 2017) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, is offering an exclusive deal that adds even more value to a villa vacation. Clients who book any Villas of Distinction villa from now until June 30, 2017, for travel from December 16, 2017 to January 1, 2018, will receive up to $3,000 to spend on any amenities booked through our villa concierges.

Guests can use the concierge credit on amenities and activities that bring families together to create unforgettable memories. For example, they can hire a private chef or a masseuse so they can just kick back and relax, or partake in local excursions such as a private zipline adventure in Mexico, snorkeling tour in St. Martin, yacht sail in Turks and Caicos and many more activities.

“Our gift to our clients who decide to spend their holidays with us is providing them with additional services and amenities at no extra cost,” said Steve Lassman, vice president villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “Villas are truly the best way to celebrate the holidays. The space is perfect for large family gatherings and the privacy allows for quality time to be spent with only the guests in your party.”

Travelers wanting to escape the cold weather during the holiday months should check out The Dunes by Grace Bay Club in Turks & Caicos. This five-bedroom beachfront oasis sleeps 10 so it is perfect for a large family holiday gathering. Enjoy a complimentary airport transfer, welcome drink, daily housekeeping and more while taking in the watersports or lounging poolside.

Some travelers seek out cold weather and snow for the holidays and Black Bear Chalet in Steamboat Springs, Colo., offers cozy accommodations for 12 guests. This luxury ski chalet is in close proximity to the Thunderhead Express lift and when it is time to come in from a day on the ski slopes, families will enjoy spending time together in the combined media and game room with a 50-inch, big-screen TV with surround sound, Sony PS2 video games and a pool table.

Exclusive, private and sleeps 14, Villa Penasco in Mexico is located in the elite community of The Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas. Families can exchange gifts by the pool while overlooking “Lands End” where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. This villa is perched high on a cliff making the breathtaking views of the vast ocean even that much more amazing.

Most villas will make special arrangements to decorate the villa to your liking making it feel like a holiday home-away-from-home.

The amount received is based on the value of the booking excluding the security deposit. For further information, visit the Holiday Availability pageon VillasofDistinction.com or call 1-800-289-0900 to speak to a Villa Specialist. Use the code HOLIDAY300017 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.

Contest part of million dollar marketing campaign

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (May 15, 2017) – Jennifer Cron, franchise owner of Dream Vacations – Wanderlist Vacations in Charlotte, N.C., recently awarded a free $10,000 vacation to Rachel Gilmore. The contest is part of a larger nationwide quarterly online contest funded by travel agency franchise Dream Vacations. The Charlotte resident was randomly selected as the winner out of more than 17,000 entries, and she can choose anywhere in the world she wants to go on vacation. She learned she won the contest while hosting the weekly Business Mind, Body Spirit Networking meeting, a passionate group of like-minded/hearted local business owners and entrepreneurs who come together to build relationships, learn and grow, which is where she met Cron.

“I am happy that the winner of the free vacation was one of my clients who signed up on my website, but I am ecstatic that it was Rachel who won the grand prize,” said Cron. “Rachel lives her life in a state of gratitude and is the most appreciative woman I know. And as a single mother who invests so much into our networking group, her business and her girls, she is so very deserving of a dream vacation.”

Gilmore can use the $10,000 to fully fund any type of vacation travel of her choice and she can split the winnings to go on more than one vacation. She has always wanted to travel to Bali and Paris; however, her daughters are encouraging a cruise vacation.

“This is the first year our headquarters team is fully funding more than one million dollars in marketing promotions, and it has already proven successful midway through the second quarter of 2017 as we are on track to have a record-breaking year,” said Rosemarie Reed, vice president of sales and marketing for Dream Vacations. “We are committed to creating marketing promotions for our franchisees that not only entice their prospective consumers to purchase a dream vacation now, but which also encourage them to join the franchisee’s mailing list so they can learn about future promotions and book when they are ready.”

For the second quarter online contest, the travel agency franchise is giving away a seven-night cruise for two with Azamara Club Cruises. Earlier this year, the marketing team fully funded “It’s Snow Secret,” a campaign that led to record-breaking sales in January.

Existing travel agents and those who are passionate about travel, helping others and are eager to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves are ideal candidates to become travel franchise owners. For more information on joining Dream Vacations, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.comor call 888-249-8235.

About Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company
Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company is part of World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. As an experiential brand, Dream Vacations is the only travel franchise opportunity to have a name that speaks to the variety of vacation experiences its franchisees sell. With unrivaled buying power, franchisees can provide competitive prices and exclusive offers when selling memorable vacation experiences such as cruises, resort stays and land tours. For more information on Dream Vacations, visit DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, and follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise.

Military Spouse Stacy Evans wins Dream Vacations travel franchise

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (May 11, 2017) – According to the 2016 Department of Defense Survey of Active Duty Spouses, there is approximately a 23 percent unemployment rate among active duty spouses, and on average they spend five months looking for a new job.* Recognizing that military spouses who are in the job market crave flexibility to create their own hours and need a virtual office as a result of frequent military Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company partnered with Military Spouse magazine to host a contest for military spouses who want to enter the travel industry. This Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Fredericksburg, Va. resident and Army wife Stacy Evans has been awarded a free Dream Vacations franchise.

“Being a military spouse is one of the hardest jobs there is. As a result of having spouses who serve in the military and spend extended periods of time away from home as well as require frequent career moves, military spouses are extremely resilient, well-traveled and have to be organized,” said Tim Courtney, CFE, vice president of franchise development and ambassador of veteran affairs. “These traits are the glue which keeps families together and also makes a successful franchise owner. We believe owning a travel franchise is one way military spouses can earn extra income, while having the flexibility of working from home.”

Evans has an entrepreneurial background and in 2002 launched an internet company providing updated BIOS (Basic Input Output System) chips for desktop computers and sold it in 2009. That job afforded her the time to be a stay-at-home mom and in 2014 she decided she wanted to go back to work. In 2015 she graduated from the 61^st Basic Police Academy and started working with the Animal Protection Unit shortly after. Due to the long hours and commute resulting in many hours away from home, she decided to find a home-based business opportunity that gives her the flexibility to be there for her kids.

“When my friend shared the link to the Dream Vacations Franchise contest on Facebook, I thought, that would be a perfect fit for me,” said Evans. “I truly believe everyone should have a hobby or activity just for them that brings them happiness. I’d want a business that would be portable if we were to move again. A business doing something that I enjoy.”

Candidates participated in a phone interview and wrote a brief essay describing why owning a home-based travel franchise would be a valuable opportunity for their family. Twenty finalists were identified, with one final winner. The grand prize is valued at $12,700 and includes a complimentary Dream Vacations franchise and weeklong franchise training at the Dream Vacations’ state-of-the-art world headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In addition to the waived $9,800 initial start-up fee and monthly service fees, Evans will be reimbursed up to $500 for travel and receive complimentary accommodations during the weeklong training. Following training, Evans will be able to take the business on the road if her husband is relocated.

Dream Vacations has a “5-Star Ranking” as a member of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) VetFran initiative. Committed to giving back to the military community, Dream Vacations hosts “Operation Vetrepreneur,” an annual contest which awards five franchises to veterans; gives a 20 percent discount off the franchise fee; and offers additional discounts for hiring former members of the U.S. military or active-duty military spouses as associates.

Dream Vacations has received many national accolades as a franchise opportunity for veterans.  It’s military-friendly awards include a number one ranking the past three years in a row by Military Times in its “Best for Vets: Franchises” list, inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual “Hot Franchises for Veterans” the past six years and recognition by MSC Cruises in its first-ever Seaside Salute Award. Additional accolades include being named “Top 10 Military Friendly Franchise” by Forbes, “Top Veteran-Friendly Franchise” by Entrepreneur and U.S. Veterans magazines and inclusion on USA Today’s “50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans.”

Military spouses and others who have a passion for travel and entrepreneurism who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise, please visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.comor call 888-249-8235.

* http://www.militaryonesource.mil/footer?content_id=293017

About Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company
Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company is part of World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. As an experiential brand, Dream Vacations is the only travel franchise opportunity to have a name that speaks to the variety of vacation experiences its franchisees sell. With unrivaled buying power, franchisees can provide competitive prices and exclusive offers when selling memorable vacation experiences such as cruises, resort stays and land tours. For more information on Dream Vacations, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, and follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise.

Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents invited to intimate summits for luxury, groups and land vacations

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (May 3, 2017) – Home-based travel franchises Dream Vacations and CruiseOne and host agency Cruises Inc. is launching in 2017 an Immersive Educational Series, which focuses on three unique training opportunities where agents can engage in niche content in an intimate setting. The three summits offered in 2017 focus on luxury, groups and land vacations. They are designed for seasoned agents who want to hone their skills and build relationships, as well as for those newbies who want to increase their business in a specific niche.

“Our network of agents requested more specialized training; we listened to their feedback and as a result we added the Immersive Educational Series to our curriculum,” said Drew Daly, general manager of network engagement and performance for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “We are excited to launch this Series with three diverse summits that provide a more personal and hands-on approach to education. These trainings will be sure to have a profound impact on individual sales as luxury, groups and resort vacations have the highest earnings potential.”

The three-day Luxury Summit kicks off the Immersive Educational Series in Miami. Sixty agents will have the opportunity to attend this event which includes interactive workshops, engaging panels and educational presentations from top luxury vendors such as Oceania Cruises, Silversea Cruises, AmaWaterways, Villas of Distinction, Azamara Club Cruises, Windstar, SeaDream Yacht Club and Cunard. In addition, Dondra Ritzenthaler, Senior Vice President of Sales at Celebrity Cruises, will give attendees a tour of the Celebrity Cruises Virtual Lab; they will hear from Edie Rodriguez, CEO of Crystal Cruises; and participate in a ship tour and luncheon aboard the Regent Seven Seas Navigator hosted by Jason Montague, President and CEO of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

The Immersive Educational Series continues in Fort Lauderdale in July with the Groups Summit. Seventy-five attendees will learn the secret to securing and selling groups from Chief Motivation Officer Stuart Cohen, who will lead his Group Boot Camp, as well as from groups representatives of various suppliers. Attendees will also hear from Groups Reconciliation Manager Troy McCoy on how to best utilize the new Groups Concierge service that Dream Vacations/CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. offer as a resource to its travel agents.

Held in Mexico in August and co-hosted by Playa Resorts and Mark Travel, the Land Summit concludes the Immersive Educational Series. Approximately 100 attendees will get an in-depth look at how to expand their resort and tour business through site inspections, workshops hosted by suppliers and more.

The Immersive Educational Series is just one facet of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.’s extensive award-winning training program. Agents can attend weekly live webinars with subject matter experts from the headquarters team as well as cruise, resort and tour suppliers; and view roughly 800 on-demand courses through The Learning Center, an online learning management system. Or, they can learn in-person at one of five Regional Trainings nationwide, at one-on-one meetings with an assigned Business Development Manager; or at the annual National Conference which is always a weeklong and held entirely onboard a cruise ship.

“We recognize the need to provide rich educational content that meets the needs of a diverse audience who prefer to learn in a variety of ways,” noted Daly. “Adding these multiple layers of training has ultimately increased the engagement level of our agents, which is so important when working from home, and directly correlates with our overall sales growth and their individual growth each year.”

Existing travel agents and those who are passionate about travel, helping others and are eager to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves are ideal candidates to become travel agents. For more information on joining these award-winning agencies, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com to learn about owning a CruiseOne/Dream Vacations travel franchise, and visit www.sellcruises.com to learn 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 world’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 and follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise. For more information on Cruises Inc., visit www.SellCruises.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SellCruises.

New role will focus on increasing individual agent profitability

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 27, 2017) – Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® announce that industry sales veteran Saul will join the team as Director of Sales. In this newly created role, Fonseca will work closely with the Marketing and Business Development teams to strategically grow and maximize revenue opportunities.

Fonseca will report to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing Rosemarie Reed. Regarded as an industry marketing pioneer herself, Reed is confident Fonseca’s efforts will quickly yield results as she notes, “With Saul’s history of strong relationship-building skills combined with his sales experience and tenacity, I know we will continue to propel the Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. brands forward and break even more sales records.”

A resident of Miami, Fonseca brings extensive sales experience including his most recent role where he held the position of Director of Sales at Regent and Oceania. With more than 14 years in the hospitality and travel industries, Fonseca’s strengths include strong analytical skills, contract negotiation and creating strategic plans to achieve designated sales targets. He has extensive experience motivating a team of business development managers whom together were able to maximize revenue within specific markets. In addition, he oversaw a pilot program as a part of a consultancy relationship with Bain & Company which became the sales model for the entire U.S.

“I am eager and excited to be joining what is known as the most business-focused and growth-oriented travel agencies in the industry,” said Fonseca. “It is exhilarating to know our agents have the highest sales on average already, and paired with the team and my expertise I am confident we will be able to set the bar even higher.”

In his role, Fonseca will oversee a team of regional business development managers who provide on-the-ground sales and marketing support to agents nationwide. Fonseca has achieved many accolades and is active in industry organizations, including serving as the Officer of Membership for Millennials in Travel.

Those who are passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to start a travel agency as part of a network with a proven track record, 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 world’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 and follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise. For more information on Cruises Inc., visit www.SellCruises.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SellCruises.

Veteran cruise industry travel professional David Crooks receives CLIA’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Wilmington, Mass. (April 25, 2017) – Wilmington-based World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company, is honored to announce that its Senior Vice President of Product & Operations, David Crooks has been inducted into the Cruise Lines International’s (CLIA) prestigious Hall of Fame.

Crooks received CLIA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which is awarded to an individual or individuals from any aspect of the cruise industry that is an advocate for cruise travel and has made remarkable positive contributions to the industry.

“We couldn’t be more proud or think of a more deserving person than David to receive such an outstanding honor,” said Co-Chairman and CEO of World Travel Holdings Brad Tolkin. “David’s passion paired with the fact that he genuinely cares about the success of the cruise industry shines through every day in his position. Not only is he an enormous asset to our company, he is well respected in the industry as an expert and leader, among his peers and our suppliers.”

Crooks has served as Senior Vice President of Product & Operations for eight years and is responsible for overseeing the growth and profitability of all cruise and land sales through various distribution channels as well as for overseeing all supplier relationships. He has been with World Travel Holdings/NLG since NLG’s inception in 1986 and has held a variety of positions including Director of Sales and Training. Crooks began his career in the travel industry as a tour director for Paragon Tours and Travel and then served as its director of tour escorts. He also worked for the St. Moritz-on-the-Park, New York, NY, and for Cunard Line as a member of the onboard cruise staff. Crooks is a graduate of Niagara University.

“The nominees for Hall of Fame represent the best and brightest individuals in the cruise industry and David Crooks, along with our other winners this year are some of the most talented and dedicated members we’ve inducted yet,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. “We are proud to host the Hall of Fame Awards to highlight the ongoing dedication and passion for advancing the cruise industry forward.”

The awards recognize individuals and organizations whose efforts and accomplishments represent a significant contribution to the cruise industry. The 2017 Award Winners were honored at the Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Awards dinner during the CLIA Cruise360 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Saturday, April 22, 2017.

For more information about World Travel Holdings and its brands, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.

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 Long Island, NY; Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; and Chorley and Southampton, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.

About Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) – One Industry, One Voice
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice and leading authority of the global cruise community. The association has 15 offices globally with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA supports policies and practices that foster a safe, secure, healthy and sustainable cruise ship environment for the more than 24 million passengers who cruise annually and is dedicated to promote the cruise travel experience. Members are comprised of the world’s most prestigious ocean, river and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and cruise line suppliers and partners, including ports & destinations, ship development, suppliers and business services. The organization’s mission is to be the unified global organization that helps its members succeed by advocating, educating and promoting for the common interests of the cruise community. For more information, visit www.cruising.org or follow Cruise Lines International Association on CLIA Facebook and Twitter pages.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 20, 2017) – CruiseOne^®/Dream Vacations recently recognized its top-producing travel franchise owners who are members of the home-based network’s prestigious “Circle of Excellence,” with an Enchanting Danube River Cruise aboard Uniworld’s SS Maria Theresa from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary.

“Our Circle of Excellence is comprised of an elite group of agents who have not only achieved an impressive level of sales success year-after-year, but are engaged owners within our network who are role models for our new and seasoned agents,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of CruiseOne/Dream Vacations. “This celebratory trip is just one way we show our appreciation for all they do, and it is possible because of the support of our travel partners.”

Escorted by John Restuccia, director of national accounts at Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the members of the Circle of Excellence attended a weeklong cruise as well as executives from the CruiseOne/Dream Vacations leadership team including Co-CEO/Chairman of World Travel Holdings, CruiseOne/Dream Vacations’ parent company, Brad Tolkin; Jennifer Gasser, vice president of supplier relations and product for parent company World Travel Holdings; Senior Vice President Debbie Fiorino; General Manager of Network Engagement and Performance Drew Daly; and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Rosemarie Reed.

The attendees were immersed in the boutique luxury that Uniworld provides and were culturally enriched with tours around the quaint cities along the Danube.  Additional highlights included the “Be Our Guest” luncheon experience hosted by Trafalgar at an organic bee farm outside Salzburg, as well as Edie Rodriguez, CEO of Crystal Cruises, hosting the Circle of Excellence for a day aboard the new Crystal Mozart river cruise ship and treating them to a “Crystal Moment” — a private tour of Budapest in vintage Trabant cars where they experienced the local culture, wine and arts.

Other VIP guests and trip sponsors included

• Pura Fritzius, manager, national accounts & marketing at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
• Janet Wygert, vice president, strategic partnerships at Carnival Cruise Line
• Cory Wallace, national account manager at Celebrity Cruises
• Walter Littlejohn III, ‎vice president & managing director at Crystal River Cruises
• Shanel Knight-Tarver, senior manager of key accounts at Norwegian Cruise Line
• Ashley Vaughan, senior development manager, Host Accounts at ‎Trafalgar Travel

“The Circle of Excellence to me is more appropriately the ‘Circle of Experience’. Being a part of this group and having the opportunity to network with other members affords me the opportunity to continue learning from others who have reached similar levels of success in our organization,” said Gary Smith, Dream Vacations franchise owner and vacation specialist in Eugene, Ore. “It is this giving of ideas and learning from others that has helped fuel my personal and organizational growth. The annual Circle of Excellence trip is the single greatest opportunity for this learning as we have several days devoted to being together as a group.”

The Circle of Excellence is an elite program that recognizes agents for top sales achievement and is an honor that many agents strive to attain. Members receive benefits such as priority-access to corporate support phone lines and training programs, complimentary agent site visits and business planning sessions, select free marketing collateral, one complimentary cabin at the annual award-winning National Conference, invitations to select inaugural cruises, a “Circle of Excellence” logo for use in marketing materials and more.

For more information on owning a CruiseOne/Dream Vacations travel franchise, please visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com or call 888-249-8235.

About CruiseOne^® / Dream Vacations
Ranked in the top three percent of all franchises worldwide and a member of the International Franchise Association, the home-based travel franchise CruiseOne^® has been in operation since 1992, and its sister brand Dream Vacations launched in April 2016, giving franchisees a choice in how they want to brand their travel business. As part of World Travel Holdings, CruiseOne / Dream Vacations franchisees are given premium resources to plan and create a seamless vacation experience for the customer while offering the best value. CruiseOne has received partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines. For more information on CruiseOne / Dream Vacations, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, and follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise.

Experienced cruise industry expert Jennifer Gasser will head the company’s portfolio of private label partnerships and veteran Human Resources professional Loren Kennedy will advocate for employees 

Wilmington, Mass. (April 19, 2017) – World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company today announced the appointment of two new members to its executive team.

Effective April 10, 2017, travel industry veteran Jennifer Gasser was promoted to senior vice president of Partner Brands and has joined the executive team along with Loren Kennedy, vice president of Human Resources.

Gasser will direct the management and growth of the World Travel Holdings’ Partner Brand program, ensuring the organization’s place as the dominant force in private label partnerships. In this highly visible and influential position, Gasser will oversee the cruise programs for nationally-known airline, hotel, retail and online travel agency brands.

“We are thrilled to have Jennifer lead our private-label partnership portfolio,” shared Co-Chairman and CEO of World Travel Holdings Jeff Tolkin. “She has proven herself as an expert at building successful relationships and negotiating mutually beneficial partnerships with our travel affiliates, and we look forward to her bringing this knowledge and expertise to the partner brands segment of our business.”

Prior to her promotion, Gasser was vice president of Supplier Relations and Product where she earned the utmost respect of suppliers and vendors throughout the travel industry. Since Gasser joined World Travel Holdings in 2005, she has been a strong and influential leader as well as a consummate team player, often bringing people from different departments together to achieve shared goals and objectives. In her new role, Gasser will lead both the partner brand marketing and partner brand account management teams.

Kennedy, vice president of Human Resources was also appointed to the executive team. Her vast leadership in this role has been a key factor in World Travel Holdings’ success as a top employer and trailblazer in the remote jobs industry. Kennedy is fearless in pushing the envelope by providing her insights and direction not only from a Human Resources, Talent Development and Corporate Communications perspective, but as a business partner who understands that aligning employee needs with the company’s goals is essential to company-wide engagement and continuous success.

“I am honored to have two strong female leaders, Jennifer and Loren, join me on the executive team,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Human Resources for World Travel Holdings. “Developing a diverse team of executives with experience that spans across all facets of our business has always been an important part of managing our company for long-term success.”

Gasser and Kennedy will continue to be based out of the company’s corporate location of Wilmington, Mass.

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 Long Island, NY; Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; Chorley, United Kingdom and Southampton, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.

Use tax refund to invest in owning a home-based travel franchise with Dream Vacations for zero down and zero interest 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 18, 2017) – Aspiring entrepreneurs who want to turn their passion for travel into profits should consider using their tax refund to finance a new career as a home-based travel franchise owner with Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average refund in Tax Year 2014 was $2,854. Experienced travel agents with a book of business can re-launch their career with Dream Vacations for as little as $495, and those with no prior travel agent experience can start a new journey and open a travel agency franchise for *zero down and zero interest for a limited time.

“More and more people are following their passion when changing careers, and opening a travel agency is the perfect career move for those who are passionate about travel,” said Tim Courtney, CFE, vice president of Franchise Development for Dream Vacations. “Re-investing a tax refund in a business opportunity is a lucrative way for entrepreneurs to simultaneously create a better work/life balance, earn more income and experience additional growth on their returns.”

As part of a special promotion celebrating Dream Vacations’ anniversary and CruiseOne’s 25th, the leading home-based vacation franchise is making it possible for entrepreneurs to open a travel agencyand have unlimited access to training for zero down and zero interest for the first two years of business ownership. To sweeten the deal, new franchise owners will also receive one free year of waived administrative fees valued at $1,350.

“We understand that starting a new career with a travel franchise business is an investment of time and money,” added Courtney. “This promotion is our way of removing some barriers to entry that new franchise owners face without compromising our integrity, plus they can use their tax refund to ramp up their new business’s operating costs.”

Dream Vacations is a low-cost vacation franchise opportunity with the initial fee being less than $10,000, and financing available to qualified applicants. In addition, U.S. veterans and first responders receive a 20 percent discount, and through our DiversityFran initiative we offer 10 percent off the initial fee. In addition, travel agency franchise owners with Dream Vacations receive 100 percent of the travel industry’s highest paid commissions.

Turning a tax refund into a small business opportunity can also lead to additional tax deductions in the future. Benefits include the potential ability to expense the cost of equipment purchases, business travel, certain educational expenses and claiming a home office deduction for a home-based business franchise.

Consumers interested in turning their tax refund into a travel franchise opportunity can learn more information by calling 888-249-8235 or visiting www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com.

About Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company
Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company is part of World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. As an experiential brand, Dream Vacations is the only travel franchise opportunity to have a name that speaks to the variety of vacation experiences its franchisees sell. With unrivaled buying power, franchisees can provide competitive prices and exclusive offers when selling memorable vacation experiences such as cruises, resort stays and land tours. For more information on Dream Vacations, visit DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, and follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise.

*Contact a tax professional to see how small business ownership affects tax returns.

** $500 application fee required for applicants requesting $0 down, $0 interest.