CHORLEY, LANCASHIRE, March 2019 – WTH UK Ltd today announce their partnership programme with British Airways’ Executive Club to award Executive Club Members Avios when booking cruise holidays with WTH UK Ltd.

Avios is the reward currency of the British Airways’ Executive Club and can be collected on hotels, shopping and car rental with one of British Airways’ many partners, now including WTH UK Ltd for cruise holidays. Avios can be used as travel rewards, redeemable on flights and cabin upgrades.

Adam Daniels, CCO of Avios, advises; “With a collection rate of 3 Avios per £1 spent, British Airways’ Executive Club customers booking cruises can quickly and easily obtain enough Avios to book Club Europe or Club World reward flights.”

WTH UK Ltd’s concierge team will be available to tailor-make cruise holidays to include flights with British Airways. With British Airways flying to more than 200 destinations, customers can easily access a number of cruise ports. WTH UK Ltd’s relationship with the world’s leading cruise lines and unique service will ensure holidays meet Members’ specific requirements.

Alison Earnshaw, Managing Director of WTH UK Ltd, said of the move; “We’re delighted to be partnering with the British Airways’ Executive Club to bring our cruise expertise and specialism to a new customer base.”

CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc. ^® honor female agents with OPAL Award for leadership and community service

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (March 7, 2019) – Leading home-based travel agencies CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc. ^® celebrate Women’s History Month in March by honoring female vacation specialists with the OPAL Award for Women. The company has named CruiseOne Franchisee Suzanne Klasen and Cruises Inc. Vacation Specialist Denise Valente the 2019 recipients of this prestigious award.

The OPAL Award recognizes a female franchise owner and an independent vacation specialist who demonstrate Outstanding Performance And Leadership. The honorees are active in community and civic organizations, and demonstrate leadership within CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.

“Empowering women and small business owners is my passion and the OPAL Award is one of my favorite recognition programs that we have because it celebrates our female entrepreneurs who are making a difference not only in our network, but also in the world and their local communities,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Suzanne and Denise embody the meaning behind International Woman’s Day and Women’s History Month and we are honored to recognize them for their accomplishments and contributions.”

A resident of Simi Valley, Calif., Klasen has been a CruiseOne franchise owner since 2012. Klasen works tirelessly in her community to improve the lives of others through her volunteer and charitable efforts, and to build positive brand recognition for her CruiseOne franchise. Klasen represented CruiseOne at the International Franchise Association’s Franchise Expo West opening ceremony, and also speaks to potential new travel agents. Locally, Klasen is active with the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors’ Team welcoming new members, as well as with the Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley where she is on the Hospitality Committee donating autographed children’s books to school libraries, sponsoring events and supported a scholarship fund for a fellow member. What’s more, she is a board member of the Daughters of the British Empire California Inc. State Board, whose primary purpose is to provide charitable funding to support their senior assisted living homes across the country. Throughout Simi Valley, Klasen is known for her Liza Minnelli Tribute Show and performs at local fundraisers.

Prior to becoming an independent vacation specialist in Fort Pierce, Fla., Valente dedicated her life to being a full-time volunteer in education and has traveled both nationally and abroad to help others in this regard. She has also been extensively involved in disaster relief efforts and volunteer construction projects locally and across the country. Her goals are to continue in her education work and to be available to volunteer for international disaster relief and construction projects as the need arises. In addition, in her community she has coordinated fundraisers for a childhood cancer survivor and is committed to supporting animal shelters and heart disease-related organizations.

CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. is committed to being “Rich in Diversity” and empowers all owners, agents and employees to reach their highest potential by leveraging their broad range of talent, experiences, personalities, viewpoints and ideas to generate business growth.

For more information on joining these award-winning agencies, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com to learn more about owning a Dream Vacations travel franchise, and visit www.sellcruises.com to learn more about the Cruises Inc. host agency.

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.

Janet Harris, CFE, to Serve Three-Year Term

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (March 20, 2019) – Dream Vacations, the nation’s leading home-based travel agent franchise, announces that its Director of Recruitment Janet Harris, CFE, has been appointed to the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) VetFran Committee, which is the flagship initiative of the IFA Foundation. Harris will serve a three-year term.

“We are thrilled to have Janet join the leadership committee of VetFran, as Dream Vacations has been a clear leader in this space for years, including running one of the best veteran franchise giveaways in the country (Operation Vetrepreneur) and being recognized for its contributions to veterans by the IFA’s Franchising Gives Back program,” said Radim Dragomaca, director of VetFran and strategic communications at the IFA. “Janet brings that expertise and clear passion for our mission to the committee, and we are lucky to have her.”

Founded in 1991, VetFran educates veterans and franchisors about why the franchise business model is advantageous for entrepreneurial military veterans, as well as eases the transition for veterans into the civilian workforce and franchise ownership. The VetFran Committee is comprised of franchise executives who provide leadership, strategic planning and oversight of the VetFran program. They are passionate about the opportunities that exist for veterans through franchise ownership.

“As a Certified Franchise Executive, I am passionate about increasing opportunities for women and military veterans in franchising,” said Harris. “I am honored to represent Dream Vacations on the VetFran Committee and create change that provides veterans with access to even more opportunities in franchising.”

As the only travel franchise to receive a 5 STAR ranking from VetFran, Dream Vacations proudly supports military veterans and is consistently recognized by leading industry publications as a veteran-friendly franchise. Other national accolades include number one rankings by Military Times, Entrepreneur and Forbes. Additional recognitions include inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual “Hot Franchises for Veterans,” US Veterans magazine’s “Top Veteran-Friendly Companies”, USA Today’s “50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans” and recognition by MSC Cruises in its Seaside Salute Award. In May, the travel agency franchise will launch its eighth annual award-winning Operation Vetrepreneur program, which grants five free franchises to military veterans.

Military veterans 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, travelers and military veterans, 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.

Travel agency franchise Dream Vacations participating in 2019 Power Up: Women’s Leadership Conference hosted by New Orleans Chamber  

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (February 27, 2019) – Nationally recognized and leading travel agency franchise Dream Vacations is expanding its footprint in the Gulf Coast and is seeking potential new franchise owners. To introduce itself to the region and goal-oriented entrepreneurs who may be looking for a side hustle or encore career, representatives from Dream Vacations will be attending the New Orleans Chamber’s 2019 Power Up: Women’s Leadership Conference on Friday, March 22, 2019. In addition, a local Louisiana-based travel agent franchisee will be onsite educating attendees about the value of using a travel agent and the importance of using vacation days.

“We are encouraging locals to dream big in the Big Easy and are eager to expand Dream Vacations into New Orleans and beyond,” said Janet Harris, director of recruitment for Dream Vacations. “This region 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 New Orleans making it possible for locals to visit exotic destinations without having to fly.”

The fact that Americans are placing a greater value on experiences rather than tangible items and that taking vacations is no longer considered a luxury, coupled with the economic impact that franchising and tourism has on Louisiana makes it an opportune time for Dream Vacations to focus on expanding to this region. According to the International Franchise Association, there were 11,532 franchises adding 119,048 jobs to the Louisiana economy and accounting for $10.3 billion of the state’s economic output and nearly $3.9 billion of private sector payroll. The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation report that 47.1 million visitors accounted for $17.5 billion in visitor spending in 2017.

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 6-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.

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.

Joelle Delva completes intensive multi-year program to earn recognition from International Franchise Association 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (February 27, 2019) – Dream Vacations’ Vice President of Operations Joelle Delva has completed a rigorous multi-year continuing education program powered by the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Institute for Certified Franchise Executives (ICFE) to earn the esteemed designation of a Certified Franchise Executive^TM (CFE). Delva joins Director of Recruitment Janet Harris, CFE in earning this prestigious distinction, and Dream Vacations is the only home-based travel agency franchise to have CFE representation on its leadership team. 

“As a leader in the franchise industry, it is important that we stay informed on franchising best practices so we can better serve our owners in guiding them to owning a successful franchise,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations. “We are honored to have not one, but two Certified Franchise Executives on our team and I am proud that my team invests in themselves so they can be the best and most qualified in the industry.”

As the premiere certification program in franchising, the CFE program’s mission is to enhance the professionalism of franchising by certifying the highest standards of quality training and education. To complete the certification program, prospects must earn 3,500 CFE credits which can be accumulated by having tenure in the franchise industry, completing continuing education programs, actively participating in IFA events and successfully passing a final exam. This distinction can be renewed every three years and after accumulating 1,200 credits.

“Becoming a Certified Franchise Executive has been one of the most rewarding accomplishments in my franchising career and I am honored to join the ranks of these distinguished professionals,” said Delva.

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

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

A unique collection of luxury villas hand-picked by our Chairman as the best of the best – worldwide

Wilmington, Mass. (February 27, 2019) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company, announced its new Chairman’s Collection, an expertly curated list of the finest villas worldwide.

This incredible collection of 45 world-class escapes within Villas of Distinction’s vast villa portfolio exceeds an impressive selection criteria including, but not limited to:

• Premier locations
• Superior architecture
• Pinnacle of privacy and exclusivity
• Exquisite design both indoors and out

“We wanted to create a program that was the best of our best for our travel partner’s discerning clientele, not only the best villa in a destination, but the best experience as well,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “Many of our travel advisors have asked us over the past few years to create a small collection of the best villas we offer so with this in mind, we created the Chairman’s Collection.”

Here are just a few villas from the Chairman’s Collection. View the full list here.

Ani Dominican Republic has a private chef and 24-hour butler service, and boasts 14 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms and sleeps 28. An aerial view of this villa property is absolutely breathtaking. This fully-staffed, private estate resort is located on its own peninsula with 270 degree ocean views that include dramatic coves, beaches and mountains in the distance. Complimentary activities include cooking classes, tennis lessons, personal training, cycling tours, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkel equipment, mountain bikes for adults and kids, and a children’s activity program. Luxury inclusions are also included with this villa such as gourmet menus featuring full breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as daily snacks; unlimited beverages; and daily traditional treatments at the spa. One roundtrip transfer from airport, laundry (wash & fold), international calling, high-speed Wi-Fi, unlimited TV/movies on Netflix, rentals on Apple TV and music streaming on iTunes.

The Deerhaven Gardens estate in Asheville, N.C., is one of this city’s newest and most exquisite treasures. With more than one mile of walking trails winding around the grounds beside beautiful views of rushing streams, this villa possesses the charm and grandeur one expects from a private country home, but is just five miles south of downtown. Some of the reasons this villa is part of the Chairman’s Collection is its three fully-equipped kitchens (main house, guest house and outdoor entertainment kitchen); a 300′ waterfall and three other private waterfalls; tennis court with spectator area; and more. The Spa facilities are equipped with all the latest facial equipment and feature a sound proof room, gym, morning bar, walk-in steam bath for eight, manicure/pedicure station, one of the most beautiful massage rooms, TV, Sonos music system, hardwood floors and silk carpeting. There are two sets of Weiland doors which open to the 77’ curved infinity edged pool, bar and summer kitchen.

Situated on approximately two acres of pristine coastline property, La Vida in Punta Mita, Mexico, provides direct access to the beach where guests can use the villa’s kayaks to explore the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. With private terraces or ocean views from every room; an outdoor living area with fireplace; a dining room with 180-degree views of the infinity pool and ocean; and a cozy palapa area for outdoor dining, the breathtaking views can be enjoyed during the guests’ entire stay. What’s more, true relaxation awaits as a concierge, private chef, waiters, housekeeping and laundress take care of guests and are included in the cost of the villa stay. For adventurers, multiple extreme adventure options are close by including Mexico’s longest and fastest zip line; water slides through the jungle; two hanging bridges and tree top rappels and more. When it’s time to relax, this villa also features a state-of-the-art movie theater movie and a game room.

To learn more about the villas in the Chairman’s Collection, visit the Chairman’s Collection Luxury Villas page on VillasofDistinction.com or call 1-800-289-0900 to speak to a Villa Specialist.

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 travel advisors and guests trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds the guest’s expectations. For more than 30 years, Villas of Distinction’s team of experts have made vacation planning effortless by helping travelers find their perfect vacation home, creating one-of-a-kind getaways and lasting memories at the world’s top villas. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

Franchise Business Review ranks Dream Vacations nearly 10 percent higher than its peers in travel and hospitality

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (February 20, 2019) – For the second year in a row, Dream Vacations has raised the bar in franchise satisfaction and leads not only the travel agency franchise industry, but also all travel and hospitality franchises by nearly 10 percent. As a result, Franchise Business Review named Dream Vacations “Best in Category.” 

“Our business model is about empowering entrepreneurs who are passionate about travel by providing them the tools they need to own and operate a successful travel agency business,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations. “We accomplish this by investing in our franchisee’s future by listening to their feedback and caring more about them. Our franchisee satisfaction results are off the charts because our network is not only experiencing financial success, but they feel valued.”

The travel industry is fun and being part of a franchise system provides everything needed to run a successful home-based business opportunity – from training and support to technology and marketing. Support begins with the franchise development team and continues through franchise ownership, with the amount of training and engagement opportunities available more than doubling in recent years with a variety of in-person, virtual and on-demand trainings provided. These engagement opportunities attribute to 98 percent of those surveyed agreeing that they enjoy operating their franchise. 

Joining a franchise is akin to joining a family and 98 percent surveyed agreed that one instantly feels part of a supportive family with Dream Vacations. Franchisees at Dream Vacations do not view each other as competitors, but rather as colleagues. Isaac Ingram, a franchise owner in Waldorf, Md. said, “I love the support, as a military retiree Dream Vacations has the best teamwork I have seen since leaving the military 21 years ago.”

Survey results also revealed that 95 percent of participants would recommend the Dream Vacations travel agency franchise because not only does it provide franchisees with the flexibility to set their own hours and create an optimal work/life balance, but innovative marketing and technology enhancements, and upgrades and partnerships are continuously being launched so franchisees can better service their customers.

Franchisee Chris Caulfield of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. says, “I believe corporate support is excellent. You always hear a company say it supports people and has your best interest at heart; but our headquarters team says it, shows it and does it. They work with us to give us tools to succeed. Opinions are valued and listened to by the staff.”

In addition to its industry-leading statistics with Franchise Business Review, in 2019 Dream Vacations was included on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500^® list for the 22nd consecutive year. With more than 1,000 applications this year, inclusion on this list is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry, and one of the most competitive and comprehensive rankings ever. 

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

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

In appreciation of its travel advisor partners, Villas of Distinction is giving up to $750 in bonus commission

Wilmington, Mass. (February 5, 2019) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company, is thanking its travel advisor partners with a robust bonus commission. Travel advisors who book their clients with Villas of Distinction from now until February 28, 2019, for travel between now and December 31, 2019, can earn a bonus commission of up to $750.

“We love and appreciate our travel advisor partners, and are excited to devote the month of February to thanking them for their continued support by helping them earn extra commission for themselves,” said Steve Lassman, vice president villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “We are proud to be the only luxury villa provider for more than 30 years to consistently provide our travel agency affiliates with invaluable bonus commissions.”

Villas of Distinction’s Villa Specialists and Concierges are there for its travel advisor partners and their guests every step of the way in personalizing their dream villa vacation. Advisors can also trust that the villa property they reserve for their guests is top-notch as Villas of Distinction personally inspects and approves all villas in its portfolio.

For more information and terms and conditions about the travel advisor bonus, visit the Travel Advisor Incentives and Special Offers page on VillasofDistinction.com or call 1-800-289-0900 to speak to a Villa Specialist.

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 travel advisors and guests trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds the guest’s expectations. For more than 30 years, Villas of Distinction’s team of experts have made vacation planning effortless by helping travelers find their perfect vacation home, creating one-of-a-kind getaways and lasting memories at the world’s top villas. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

Cutting-edge technology, unique strategic marketing partnerships and enhanced engagement efforts encourage travel advisors with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. to live their dream 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (January 17, 2019) – While mainstream cruise lines are experiencing single digit capacity U.S. growth in aggregate in 2019, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. are outpacing the industry average with high double-digit capacity growth as a result of numerous advancements, increased engagement and technology investments in 2018 by home-based travel agency franchises Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, and host agency Cruises Inc.

“We beat our goals and hit record sales numbers in 2018 as a result of our employees caring more about our network of agents,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Caring more means listening to and connecting in-person with our network so that we can deliver technologies and programs that meet their business needs and foster their growth. This success wouldn’t be possible without the creativity and dedication of our headquarters team who aren’t afraid to take risks.”

Pioneering Technology
Ensuring that work-from-home travel agents can work more efficiently so they can spend more time focusing on their existing clients and building their business is a top priority. Having one of the largest information technology teams in the home-based travel agency industry, means that new programs can be launched and enhancements to existing programs can happen concurrently.

• Upgrades to the consumer website in 2018 have made it more intuitive than ever to navigate complex promotions, and has resulted in three times the amount of online bookings than same time last year. Consumers appreciate both the simplicity of booking online on any device and having the peace of mind knowing that they booked with a travel agent who can serve as their advocate.
• In addition, significant enhancements were made to the Groups Registration tool to not only accept credit card payments, but also provide increased flexibility in how group payments are made.
• What’s more, the IT team completed 18 technology releases based on evolving feedback and popular demand from Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents.
• In addition, land is on the horizon with a technology solution arriving in the first quarter that will streamline and simplify booking land vacations, and which also includes an integrated itinerary builder and app. This will be beneficial for agents and consumers, as agents will have more time to deliver a remarkable experience to their clients, while consumers can have a stress-free vacation knowing that all details have been taken care of.

Inventive Marketing
In 2018, the innovative marketing team pursued creative ways to expand Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.’s footprint across the U.S. and they are hyper focused on communicating with consumers via their preferred communication channels.

• Creating synergies and using reciprocal marketing between Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. with well-known lifestyle brands such as Tumi, Swarovski, Wine.com and Beyond Proper has exposed the three brands to new potential, qualified clients. Moving into 2019, these partnerships will be leveraged through consumer promotions to offer more value and perks to enhance client’s vacations and lifestyle.
• The Virtual Cruise Event program expanded in 2018 to include a luxury-specific event with special promotions such as up to $250 onboard credit with Oceania Cruises and a gift of Tumi products valued up to $500 when booking a Regent cruise.
• With direct mail increasing in popularity and an agency participation record of 40 percent of franchise owners using it as a way to communicate with their clients, the corporate office of Dream Vacations/CruiseOne will be covering the cost of direct mail pieces for franchisees starting in 2019.
• Furthermore, recognizing that consumers have a penchant for emails that share news and information, not only deals, is driving a change to create more sophisticated emails that are sleeker in look with more enlightening and inspirational content. 

Connecting and Culture
Engaging with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents and taking a vested interest in their success has driven positive financial results in 2018 and created a culture of caring.

• From hiring a Vice President of Engagement who leads open-forum weekly engagement calls to hosting approximately 1,500 agents at more than 50 in-person events throughout the year, engaging and connecting with the network of home-based travel agents is at the core of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.’s culture and will always be a focus. In addition, agents who attended a regional training, National Conference or Summit experienced on average a 35 percent increase in sales.
• In an expression of gratitude, in 2018 the first annual “Travel Agents Are Our World” Customer Appreciation Week was launched to honor and thank the network of travel agents. “It is the unexpected thank you or reward that shows our agents that they are valued and that we care more about them,” said Dustin Jones, vice president of engagement.

Giving Back
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, feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving, or making vacation and business dreams become reality for military veterans.

• In 2018, agents, franchise owners and the corporate Headquarters team donated nearly $120,000 or the equivalent of granting 24 wishes for children with critical illnesses.
• Dream Vacations expanded its Veteran Enlistment Program to include Gold Star Families and also awarded seven veterans with free franchises as part of the award-winning Operation Vetrepreneur program, which has given away a total of 37 free franchises since the program’s inception in 2012.

Significant Network Growth
While the Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. network has experienced double-digit percentage growth this year, the home-based travel agencies are focused on developing the most successful agents in the industry.

• A recruitment team with more than 186 combined years of combined experience, coupled with their hyper focus on prospect engagement means more qualified people are joining Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. than ever before. That is why in an effort to keep new training classes small in size and provide more personalized attention, the number of new franchise training classes increased in 2018.
• What’s more, innovative incentives such as an earn-back promotion where franchisees can earn back a portion of their initial investment, training credits to redeem for National Conference cabins and more are directly tied to a new franchise owner successfully launching their business.
• In addition, Dream Vacations/CruiseOne has maintained its status as the number one travel agency franchise opportunity for veterans.

Industry Powerhouse
In 2018, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. continued to receive prestigious accolades beyond the travel and franchise industries, confirming its dominance as a supporter of veterans, small businesses and as a top private company in the Southeast.

• Military Times ranked Dream Vacations as the number one franchise for veterans for the fourth year in a row, while Entrepreneur ranked Dream Vacations in the top two.
• For the seventh and fifth 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 International Franchise Association recognized Dream Vacations as the best in the franchise industry for its digital marketing and online engagement at the annual Marketing Innovation & Technology Conference.

The companies are looking for individuals 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. 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 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.