Dream Vacations Travel Agency Franchise Booked 20 Millionth Cruiser For MSC Cruises

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (July 1, 2019) — MSC Cruises — the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line — celebrated this past weekend a key global milestone in the company’s history, welcoming its 20 millionth cruiser on board the Miami-based MSC Seaside. Myrna Reyes, a travel agent with a Dream Vacations franchise in Miami, booked the passenger.

“MSC Cruises is one of our valued partners and we couldn’t be more pleased to learn that our Dream Vacations Travel Agent Myrna Reyes was the booking agent who sold the 20 millionth MSC Cruises’ customer,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “We are excited to be part of the celebrations of this historic milestone.”

This significant achievement is a testament to MSC Cruises’ expansion since its establishment only in 2003, quickly becoming a global player with one of the highest growth rates in the industry and the introduction of 16 cruise ships over the span of 16 years. In 2019 alone, the company will have launched two new ships — MSC Bellissima in March and MSC Grandiosa in November — and will introduce its new island destination, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, debuting in November.

“As MSC Cruises expands its presence in the North American market, the support of and collaboration with our travel advisors is paramount to our success,” said Ken Muskat, EVP and Chief Operating Officer of MSC Cruises USA. “We were extremely pleased to learn that Mr. Bonachea and his family were booked by one of the largest travel agency networks in the U.S., Dream Vacations, a long time dedicated partner of MSC Cruises. We look forward to celebrating this occasion with them.”

Raul Bonachea, MSC Cruises’ 20 millionth cruiser, his wife and daughter, from Winter Haven, Fla., are currently sailing on board MSC Seaside for a 7-night cruise that departed from Miami on June 29, booked by Dream Vacations. To honor Raul and celebrate this exciting milestone, MSC Cruises upgraded the family to a luxurious MSC Yacht Club suite, offering the family an elevated ship-within-a-ship experience complete with a private restaurant, pool and lounge as well as 24-hour butler and concierge service. And, to toast the occasion with all of the guests on board, MSC Seaside hosted a 20 Millionth Guest Party on Sunday, June 30 in the ship’s atrium, the social hub of the ship. The celebration was bubbling with complimentary champagne for all guests, a special officers’ parade, an artisan cake and a special performance from one of the ship’s most popular shows. The Captain joined the celebrations and toast, offering congratulations and a special gift for MSC Cruises’ 20 millionth cruiser.

“We are thrilled to have sold the cruise voyage to MSC Cruises’ 20 millionth customer,” said Myrna Reyes, travel agent with Dream Vacations – Santisteban and Associates in Miami. “Our agency has long been a believer in the MSC Cruises’ product. We remain convinced that the MSC Cruises’ brand is a spectacular vacation product which offers consumers the most modern and beautiful ships at sea. Our Dream Vacations travel advisors are delighted to be part of this celebration. We remain loyal to the MSC Cruises’ brand and look forward to being part of the MSC Cruises’ story for the next 20 million consumers and beyond.”

Dream Vacations franchisees are part of the World Travel Holdings’ family of brands, one of the top travel retail networks in the world with incredible buying power with every major cruise line and many tour operators, resulting in exceptional low prices and exclusive offers such as upgrades, discounts and more.

Those 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.

About MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and the number one cruise line in Europe, South America, South Africa and the Gulf. A game-changer in the world of cruises, the Company has achieved 800% growth in its first ten years, building a global reputation in the industry and one of the youngest cruise fleets at sea. MSC Cruises is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

The MSC Cruises fleet currently comprises 16 ultra-modern, highly innovative and elegantly designed ships, offering an unparalleled holiday experience with always delicious and authentic food, award-winning entertainment, plenty of relaxation, comfortable accommodation, as well as impeccable service and expertise.

Under its ambitious industry-unprecedented €13.6 billion (≈15.6 billion USD) investment plan, the fleet is set to expand to 29 cruise ships by 2027. To date, MSC Cruises has designed six new large ship classes, all prototypes that push the boundaries of marine architecture and design, and an ultra-luxury class with ground-breaking options for guest comfort.

MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility towards the physical and human environments in which it operates. The Company operates with the greatest respect for the world’s oceans and is on an ongoing journey to further develop innovative ways of lowering the environmental impact of its cruise passages.

MSC Cruises’ vacation experiences are sold across the globe through a distribution network in 70 countries. The Company employs over 23,500 people worldwide, both ashore and on board its ships. MSC Cruises is part of MSC Group which is comprised of leading transport and logistics companies.

More information at http://www.mscpressarea.com/en_US.

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Travel Agency’s Groups Technology Wins Franchise Innovation Award From Franchise Update Magazine

Dream Vacations’ award-winning Groups Registration and Payment Tool has resulted in double-digit sales growth and exponential adoption rates

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (June 25, 2019) – Selling group travel is a lucrative way for travel agents to grow their business and travel agency franchise Dream Vacations has made it easy for its home-based travel agents to capitalize on this trend through its Groups Registration and Payment Tool, which was recently recognized by Franchise Update magazine with the Franchise Innovation Award. In fact, since launching the enhanced payment function this year, there were 70 percent more group registrations in the first quarter of 2019, when compared to same time last year, and double-digit growth in terms of sales from groups.

Nearly 100 franchise organizations in different industries submitted nominations across four categories – Marketing & Branding, Operations, Products & Services and Human Resources describing their unique innovation, the problem it solved for and its success metrics. Dream Vacations won in the Operations category for most innovative use of technology.

“A collaboration between our IT and Operations teams, the Groups Registration and Payment Tool has been a game-changer in both customer satisfaction and growing our groups business,” said Joelle Delva, CFE, vice president of operations for Dream Vacations. “Groups is an important part of our business and we recognize its complexities. We are constantly developing new ways to support our agents in how they can efficiently build their groups business.”

The Groups Registration and Payment Tool empowers travel agents with Dream Vacations to create and customize professional group event websites that showcase amenity options, highlight itineraries, outline payment schedules and accept secure payments during the initial registration process. This tool complements the Groups Concierge program, which is available at no additional cost and is a turn-key service that 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.

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Villas of Distinction® Launches New Website, Enhancing the Villa Vacation Planning Experience

The improved design and features make it even easier for guests to research and explore villa vacation destinations around the world

Wilmington, Mass. (June 13, 2019) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, announces that it launched a complete redesign of its website — www.VillasofDistinction.com.

The fully-redesigned site has even more vibrant images of breathtaking destinations and beautiful villa properties that help guests get in the vacation state-of-mind. The enhanced search functionality makes it easier for guests to leisurely or quickly search by destination; travel dates; number of guests; number of bedrooms; by price per night; or even by villa features or collections like sports, lifestyle, events and more. The interior villa pages now offer real-time calendar availability for most villas and more robust information about the villa’s features and exclusive offers. If guests are having trouble deciding, the site will display recommendations of villas the guest may like.

“Our new website offers both our guests and valued travel advisors with an enhanced villa planning experience,” said Willie Fernandez, vice president of Villas of Distinction. “We want to ensure that visitors to our site have the best experience possible which is why when redesigning the website we gathered insight from our guests and travel advisors, taking every detail into consideration. Thank you to those who worked closely with our development and marketing team. It was truly a team effort.”

Many travelers have a bucket list of destinations and will first search for the destination of choice. The new site’s destination pages now offer expert tips and the most popular concierge services in that area. This gives guests the opportunity to fully explore and learn about a destination, its culture and the top regional attractions. In addition guests will see exclusive offers and featured villas within that destination.

It is fun for guests to explore and dream about vacationing, however, when the guest is ready to book, Villas of Distinction offers an expert Villas Specialist and a personal Concierge to book, plan and customize the villa vacation destination experience from start to finish.

To learn more about Villas of Distinction or to book your next dream vacation, visit VillasofDistinction.com or call 1-800-289-0900.

About Villas of Distinction_®Villas of Distinction_®, as part of World Travel Holdings, is an award-winning, full-service premier luxury villa experience creator with an extensive portfolio of thousands of privately-owned villas in more than 50 luxurious destinations worldwide including the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, Central America, the United States and many private islands. Many villas feature private pools, butlers, maids and chefs. The luxury villa 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.

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Charleston Cruise & Travel Show Presented by Dream Vacations Brings Fun for the Whole Family

Charleston

First-ever event takes place Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Charleston Marriott

Charleston, S.C. (May 9, 2019) – Local residents will be ready to pack their bags and go on an adventure after attending the first-ever Charleston Cruise & Travel Show presented by Dream Vacations. The travel show will take place on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Charleston Marriott, located at 170 Lockwood Blvd.

Continue reading “Charleston Cruise & Travel Show Presented by Dream Vacations Brings Fun for the Whole Family”

Up To $400 Transportation Credit When Booking With Villas of Distinction®

Guests can use the credit on any type of transportation mode such as car rental, ferry, airfare, golf cart, bike, or beyond

Wilmington, Mass. (April 25, 2019) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, announced that it is offering up to $400 Transportation Credit on bookings at select villas between now and May 15, 2019.

The Transportation Credit is offered at more than 275 select villas and is combinable with offers provided by the villa. For example, guests booking Casa La Laguna in Los Cabos, Mexico will receive a free night (valid for new bookings made now to 9/23/19 for travel 6/1/19 to 9/30/19) and up to $400 Transportation Credit.

“We pride ourselves on being able to tailor any villa getaway experience to our guests’ vacation desires. Offering a transportation credit to use how the guest wants allows for even more customization,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “It also provides our guests with even more opportunity to explore a destination and immerse themselves in the culture.”

For more information about this offer, visit the Transportation Credit Luxury Villas page on Villas of Distinction, visit VillasofDistinction.com or call 1-800-289-0900.

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.

National Travel Agency Franchise Dream Vacations Expanding into South Carolina Lowcountry

Charleston, S.C. (April 24, 2019) – Nationally recognized and leading travel agency franchise Dream Vacations is expanding its footprint in South Carolina and is seeking potential new franchise owners. To introduce itself to the region, the agency has sponsored several community events through membership with the Summerville YMCA including the Shamrock Shuffle and Flowertown. In addition, the travel agency will be hosting the first ever Charleston Cruise & Travel Show on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Charleston Marriott, and representatives will be onsite to discuss franchising.

“As booking vacations becomes more complex with all of the vacation options which can be found on the internet, travel agents are making a comeback and there is no time like the present to get started in this industry,” said Janet Harris, director of recruitment for Dream Vacations. “We like to say that people have a dream list, rather than bucket list, of where they want to travel, and since travel is no longer considered a luxury, Americans are looking to make these dream vacations become reality. South Carolina is perfect for travel franchisees because not only do they live in a popular tourist destination, but they have easy access to the Port of Charleston making it possible for locals to visit exotic destinations without having to fly.”

Tourism is booming in Charleston, S.C. due to a cruise terminal that is growing in popularity as a home port and the city’s frequent ranking as one of the best places to visit in the U.S. According to the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, 7 million visitors made a $7 billion economic impact on the Charleston economy. This coupled with the fact that South Carolina is considered a “Top 10 State for Franchise Growth” by the International Franchise Association (IFA) in its annual Franchise Business Economic Outlook for 2018, makes it an opportune time for Dream Vacations to focus on expanding to this region.

Franchisees with Dream Vacations have the flexibility to work from home, set their own hours and travel the world while earning an income as a travel advisor creating dream vacations for clients. They have access to a plethora of programs that not only provide them with a competitive advantage, but also enables them to maximize their individual profits. The headquarters team funds 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, while award-winning technology makes it easy for consumers to understand complex promotions and book online with the comfort of knowing they have a travel advisor serving as their advocate. Dream Vacations has been ranked the number one franchise for veterans by Entrepreneur, Forbes and Military Times and it has the highest franchisee satisfaction ranking among all franchises in the travel and hospitality industry according to Franchise Business Review.

Dream Vacations is looking for franchisees who are passionate about travel, helping others and are eager to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves. No experience selling travel is necessary because all new franchise owners attend an award-winning six-day training at Dream Vacations’ world headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, where they learn how to use Dream Vacations’ industry-leading booking systems and get an introduction to the cruise and resort vacation industry. New franchisees can open their home-based business for less than $10,000 and work anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

To learn more about how to join a travel agency franchise that cares more about its agents and travelers, please visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com or call 888-249-8235. To learn more about the Charleston Cruise & Travel Show, visit www.CruiseAndTravelShow.com.

Villas of Distinction® Announces its Annual President’s Circle Award Winners

These awards were established as a way to recognize the hard work and dedication of the villa rental company’s travel agency and supplier partnerships

Wilmington, Mass. (April 23, 2019) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, announces its annual 2018 President’s Circle Award winners.

The Villas of Distinction President’s Circle Award honors top-producing travel advisors and agencies based on revenue, and outstanding destination management partners based on the overall partnership including customer reviews, marketing support and travel advisor feedback. This award also honors the top three Favorite Guest Villas as a result of 2018 reviews.

“It is truly the support of our travel advisor partners, destination management partners and luxury villas that makes Villas of Distinction a leader in the luxury villa rental space,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “What better way to show our appreciation than recognizing their commitment, enthusiasm and loyalty to our brand.”

And the 2018 Villas of Distinction President’s Circle winners are …

Top Travel Agency Network – Virtuoso
Top Producing Travel Agency – Travel Experts and Protravel International
$2 Million Dollar Club – Signature Travel Network & American Express Travel
Favorite Destination Partner – Volalto Group
Tourism Partner of the Year – Barbados Tourism Marketing
Most Supportive Tourism Partner – Jamaica Tourist Board
Top Producing Travel Advisor – Leslie Horn, Nashville Luxury Travel, affiliated with Travel Experts
Favorite Guest Villas – Casa Fabbri (Italy), Serenity on the Beach (Jamaica) and Noble House on the Beach (Jamaica)
Favorite Guest Destination – Kissimmee, Florida

“To win Tourism Partner of the Year for 2018 for the 2^nd year in a row from Villas of Distinction is such an honor. We absolutely love working with the team who we consider part of our extended family,” said Petra Roach, director USA, Barbados Tourism Marketing. “They are not content to sit on their laurels, and they continue to push the needle with creative and unique initiatives aimed at growing the business. Not only are our passenger numbers to Barbados up by 12 percent, but the length of stay has also increased by 16 percent. The team continues to offer several immersive experiences to their clients which benefits our local communities and ensures that there is a trickledown effect.”

To learn more about Villas of Distinction, visit VillasofDistinction.com or call 1-800-289-0900.

Inaugural River Cruise Summit Hosted by Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.® Educates Agents on Fast-Growing Niche

AmaWaterways hosted the weeklong Danube River Cruise

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 17, 2019) – River cruising is taking the nation by storm and increasing in popularity each year with sales up 82 percent over the last five years for home-based travel agents with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® Recognizing that the best way to sell a river cruise is to experience it, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. chartered AmaWaterways’ AmaLea to host its first-ever River Cruise Summit. Approximately 150 travel agents attended the weeklong travel agent training, which cruised from Budapest, Hungary to Vilshofen, Germany.

“We pride ourselves on providing our network of agents with the most engaging, interactive and educational training opportunities – whether they are online or in person,” said Drew Daly, general manager of network engagement and performance for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Our River Cruise Summit is just one innovative way we blend fun, learning and relationship building. Whether they were newbies or seasoned agents, everybody walked away from the Summit not only with a deeper understanding of river cruising, but also with a new extended family.”

From guided biking and city tours to wine tastings and local entertainment, attendees experienced all the highlights of a river cruise. What’s more, they also sat in on presentations from Scenic Cruises and Avalon Waterways, received a sneak preview tour of the AmaMagna prior to its deployment, and they had the opportunity for a dinner and tour aboard a Crystal River Cruise. Attendees also raised $2,100 for Make-A-Wish^®, which grants wishes of children with critical illnesses, by participating in a sightseeing fundraising walk through Bratislava.

“We were so honored to have been chosen to host the first ever River Cruise Summit onboard the beautiful AmaLea,” said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. “There was such a remarkable level of energy, enthusiasm and eagerness to learn as well as a true sense of camaraderie among all the advisors. We can’t wait to welcome everyone for the next River Cruise Summit in November 2020 aboard AmaMagna.”

In 2018, river cruise sales were up double-digits as a result of the increased marketing efforts of travel agents with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. In addition to providing them with dedicated river cruise-themed direct mail pieces and emails, it is also featured in the luxury brochure, on websites and in the free Automated Social Media Program.

“Attending this Summit gave me the confidence to sell more river cruises,” said Dream Vacations franchise owner Bill Schneider of Tampa, Fla. “This was my first river cruise and I paid close attention to the details many of my clients often ask about such as the embarking and disembarking process, quality and organization of the excursions and luggage delivery to name a few. Now that I have experienced river cruising, I can discuss and answer questions from clients with firsthand knowledge.”

The River Summit kicked off the 2019 Immersive Educational Series, which will feature intimate training opportunities on niche topics such as luxury in April 2019, groups in June 2019, and land in August 2019.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Designed to Boost Land Vacation Sales, New Technology Package Launches for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. Travel Agents

Travel Planner creates interactive experience for home-based travel agents and their clients

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 3, 2019) – As land vacation sales continue to experience double-digit growth year-after-year for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., the home-based travel agency franchise and business opportunity has made multi-million dollar technology investments used in part to develop technology solutions that simplify the land booking process for travel agents while also enriching every dimension of their customer’s travel experience. Launching today, travel agents will have access to new Land Booking technology, and Travel Planner, an interactive mobile app that enables customers to easily access their custom itinerary while communicating directly with their agent on the go.

“Providing great, flashy technology these days is table stakes. Our mission is to provide solutions for travel agents who are often burdened by having to use multiple systems to book different products such as cruise and land vacations,” said Sandi Szalay, vice president of information technology. “To accomplish this, we worked closely with our agents to develop land technology within our current reservation system which not only provides a consistent agent booking experience whether booking a cruise or land package, but also creates a very consistent customer experience through the customizable itinerary builder. We are extremely proud to help our agents increase their productivity with this new land technology and embrace personalization to better serve today’s connected traveler through the mobile app. That is what makes our agents stand out from the competition.”

The multi-browser, multi-device compatible Land Booking technology creates flexible reminders and payment schedules, and is fully customizable to add robust details to invoices and transactional emails. In addition, agents can increase their book of business when their clients can share details about their dream vacation to invite others to join them, without sharing price and other personal details.

“The invoice looks awesome – it is easy to read and understand. You can tell it was created with the customer in mind. The next payment reminder is one indicator of that and is my favorite feature,” said Chad Greer, Dream Vacations franchise owner in Winter Haven, Fla. and member of the company’s IT committee.

Travel Planner, a fully customizable itinerary builder is also integrated into the new land technology package, allowing Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents to auto-generate detailed itineraries that their customers can view on any browser and device, including an interactive mobile app. Clients can view their vacation itinerary by-the-minute, complete with background information on the destination, as well as personal recommendations from their travel advisor of excursions, restaurants and shopping. What’s more, when downloading the mobile app, clients can view their itinerary offline and take advantage of a convenient chat feature that provides them direct access to their travel agent.

Dream Vacations Franchise Owner and Circle of Excellence member Wendi Cartwright said this of the new Travel Planner App, “If you’ve been searching for a way to look professional and stand out from the crowd, this is it. Impressive presentations, printed and electronic, are now within reach.”

Those 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.

Year: 2019

Dream Vacations Travel Agency Franchise Booked 20 Millionth Cruiser For MSC Cruises