Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.’s travel agent training named “Best Customer Training” from Litmos 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (December 17, 2020) – For the second year in a row, Litmos, the world’s fastest growing enterprise learning solution, recognized the home-based travel agencies Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. for their continued excellence of their travel agent training program, as well as their quick and effective launch of a virtual training solution for their in-person training classes and virtual events. Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.’s  Training & Events Team won “Best Customer Training” at the 2020 SAP Litmos Lenny Awards, which celebrates exceptional businesses using training to create positive experiences for customers every day.

Every year the Lenny Awards seek submissions that showcase innovative and inspiring educational programs that have measurably benefited customer-facing workforces, improved sales, service and/or channel performance, and have a proven return on investment. This year, there were hundreds of entries from many different types of organizations all over the world wishing to showcase their learning and development or educational programs.

“This award means so much to us because the recognition comes from the Learning and Development field where we competed with a large number of global brands,” said Charity Santiago, director of training of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Without a doubt, our entry was made stronger by the large increase of engagement and strong embrace of virtual learning by our Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. network.”

This year, due to the impacts of COVID-19, Dream Vacations/CruiseOne could not conduct its scheduled weeklong new franchise training classes in-person, but were able to quickly pivot and host them virtually each month, without missing a single class. The virtual onboarding for new franchise owners now consists of a blended learning experience consisting of live-virtual and on-demand training with the same content and training hours. In addition, in-person events were canceled and had to be held virtually this year, which actually proved to be beneficial as many more work-from-home travel agents attended. In fact, there was a 250 percent increase in engagement at virtual events this year, with 63 percent being first-time attendees.

“People who are traveling now value travel agents even more and in these uncertain times, it is more important than ever before that our travel agents have the training and education to best serve their clients,” said Drew Daly, general manager & senior vice president of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “We believe we have the best and most successful agents in the industry because they are the most educated, and once people start traveling again, our agents will be well-positioned to take advantage of the pent-up demand and come back stronger than ever.”

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.

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.

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CruisesOnly will donate $5 to Make-A-Wish^® for every cruise vacation booked, up to $25,000

Wilmington, Mass. (November 24, 2020) – GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement, has quickly become one of the most popular days to do good by giving back. In celebration of this holiday, CruisesOnly, America’s Largest Cruise Agency, announced for its 10^th consecutive year that it will donate $5 to Make-A-Wish^® for every cruise vacation booked, up to $25,000. The chance to give back starts at 12 a.m. on GivingTuesday, December 1, through 11:59 p.m. on December 2. Customers will also have the chance to make an additional $5 donation.

“Wishes don’t happen without the support of individuals and sponsors like World Travel Holdings,” said LuAnn Bott, vice president of revenue partnerships and services for Make-A-Wish America. “For a family with a child fighting a critical illness, every day of waiting for a wish is one too many. With the help of our supporters, we will bring joy back into families lives this holiday season.”

CruisesOnly and its employees have proudly supported Make-A-Wish since July 2011 through its shared initiatives raising more than $1M since inception, with more than $230,000 coming from this particular promotion.

“A lot of non-profit organizations have struggled for donations this year due to COVID-19 so we are excited to be able to support our signature charity Make-A-Wish,” said Loren Kennedy, senior vice president of Customer Care for CruisesOnly. “Our customers are looking to the future and excited about traveling again and this allows them to easily give back to such a worthwhile cause.”

For more information or to book a cruise vacation December 1 through December 2 to benefit Make-A-Wish and help grant wishes, visit CruisesOnly.com or call 1-800-278-4737.

About Make-A-Wish^®
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child’s wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the wish that inspired the founding of the organization in 1980. Since then, Make-A-Wish has become the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in the United States and in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 34,000 volunteers across the U.S. unite to deliver hope to wish kids and their families when they need it most. In total, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 330,000 wishes to children in the U.S. and its territories; more than 15,800 wishes in 2019 alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org. 

About CruisesOnly^®
CruisesOnly^® is America’s Largest Cruise Agency and the leading cruise brand of World Travel Holdings offering huge savings on brand-name cruises. Since 1984, CruisesOnly has offered travelers the very best in value and service by carefully matching each customer with their ideal cruise vacation. The agency’s website features an extensive selection of sailings aboard the world’s top cruise lines, plus in-depth information about each ship and a wealth of both customer and expert reviews. Users can compare prices for interior, oceanview, balcony, and suite accommodations at a glance, then book online or by telephone 24/7/365 with the assistance of highly qualified agents. CruisesOnly also offers customers both a Best Price Guarantee and a Satisfaction Guarantee with every booking.

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#1 travel agency franchise for veterans has given away 51 free home-based travel businesses since 2012 to U.S. heroes valued at more than half-a-million dollars  

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (November 18, 2020) – The number one travel agency franchise for veterans Dream Vacations recently awarded nine military veterans and community heroes with free travel franchises as part of its award-winning annual business plan contest “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General.” Currently more than 35 percent of franchise owners within Dream Vacations are military veterans and in the past nine years, the travel agency franchise has awarded 51 free franchises since 2012 valued at more than $637,000 to deserving military veterans.

“While this year was filled with so much uncertainty and budget cuts, eliminating our ninth annual Operation Vetrepreneur program was non-negotiable as this is such an important program to us,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “In fact, this year we actually expanded the program beyond military veterans to include community heroes. This year’s winners have devoted their lives to helping others – whether serving in the armed forces, working on the COVID-19 front lines as a first responder or healthcare professional, or expanding the minds of future generations as an educator.”

The Dream Vacations franchise contest was 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 this past May, as well as community heroes such as first responders, educators and medical professionals who are residents of the U.S. Candidates participated in a rigorous three-part application process which included creating a business plan, video essay and phone interviews. More than 2,800 people have applied for franchise ownership through Operation Vetrepreneur since 2012.

This year’s winners are Army Veteran Alecia Kimball of North Augusta, S.C.; Air Force Veteran Darrell Klassy of Pass Christian, Miss.; Army Veteran Jackie Cox of Fowler, Ind.; Marine Corps Veteran Gamie Ollivierre of West Melbourne, Fla.; Air Force Veteran Robert Earl of McKinney, Texas; and Army Veteran Veronica Loewy of Chicago. The community heroes awarded with a free franchise include Gloretha Mackey, a nurse in Winter Haven, Fla.; Kyle Kiper, a school counselor and retired first responder in Booneville, Ark.; and Bakhtawar Ghaffer, an educator in New Rochelle, N.Y.

“I would not be able to fulfill my highest potential unless I combined my love of travel with entrepreneurship,” said Vetrepreneur winner Loewy. “As a Veteran, I risked my life going to war so others can be free. The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. To me, becoming a business owner is living the American Dream. Building my own business with the support of a highly-rated and successful franchisor such as Dream Vacations allows me to pursue my dreams.”

All military veterans, Gold Star families and community heroes who purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency business receive a 30 percent discount off the initial franchisee fee. Veterans also receive an enlistment package valued at no less than $5,000 and can select one of two perks currently being offered — either waived administrative fees valued at $1,350 or a Microsoft^® Surface Pro tablet valued at $1,000. In addition to having access to the Command Center, an internal portal with veteran-specific training and veteran-themed marketing assets, all veterans and Gold Star families receive a waived training fee for a business partner 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, travel discounts for military customers and access to veteran networking groups.

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. Since 2017 it has been ranked the top travel agency franchise for veterans by Entrepreneur magazine, always ranking either first or second out of 150 franchises nationwide, and other recent number one rankings include Military Times 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. The Operation Vetrepreneur program won gold from the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards and the IFA Franchising Gives Back Awards.

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

Military veterans and community heroes 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. 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.

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Home-based travel agency franchise ranks #2 out of 150 franchises in 2020

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 27, 2020) – Dream Vacations has once again dominated Entrepreneur magazine’s annual “Top Franchises for Veterans” list and is the top travel agency franchise on the list – ranked number two out of 150 franchises across all industries. Since 2017, Dream Vacations has been jockeying between the first and second place ranking.

As part of its annual Franchise 500 research, Entrepreneur magazine surveyed more than 500 franchises across all industries and asked questions specific to their programs for veterans. The ranking considers each company’s veteran incentive, how veteran franchisees are attracted to and supported by the company, and how each company scored in the 2020 Franchise 500.

“Veterans are such important members of our society and to be recognized year-after-year as the best travel agency franchise for veterans is one of the highest and most meaningful honors we receive,” said Debbie Fiorino, chief operating officer of Dream Vacations. “Our support goes beyond just offering a discount, but providing proven systems, tools and a camaraderie that parallels the military and positions veterans for success.” 

The only travel franchise to receive a 5 STAR ranking from VetFran, Dream Vacations proudly supports military veterans and is consistently recognized by industry publications as a veteran-friendly franchise. All military veterans and Gold Star families receive a 30 percent discount off the initial franchise fee, as well as an enlistment package valued at no less than $5,000 and ongoing support. They can select one of two perks currently being offered — waived administrative fees valued at $1,350 or a Microsoft^® Surface Pro tablet valued at $1,000. In addition to having access to the Command Center, an internal portal with veteran-specific training and veteran-themed marketing assets, all veterans and Gold Star families receive a waived training fee for a business partner 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, travel discounts for military customers and access to veteran networking groups.

In addition to its accolades from Entrepreneur, Dream Vacations has been ranked by Forbes, Military Times, USA Today, Franchise Business Review, U.S. Veterans Magazine and G.I. Jobs as a top franchise for 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. 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.

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The World’s Best Villas, Hotels, Resorts, Countries, Cities, Islands, Spas, Trains, Airlines, Airports and Cruises Ranked by Travelers

Wilmington, Mass. (October 21, 2020) – Condé Nast Traveler announced this month the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, with Villas of Distinction_® recognized in the Villas category. Villas of Distinction is the world’s premier full-service luxury villa rental company and creates one-of-a-kind getaways at the world’s top villas for its guests.

More than 715,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted an incredible number of responses rating their travel experiences across the globe.

“The results of this year’s survey, conducted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, are a testament to the lasting power of a meaningful travel experience,” said Jesse Ashlock, U.S. Editor of Condé Nast Traveler. “The winners represent the best of the best for our audience and offer plenty of trip-planning inspiration for all the adventures we can’t wait to have next.”

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. The full list of winners can be found here.

“It is a distinct honor to be named one of the best-of-the-best by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler,” said Willie Fernandez, general manager and vice president of Villas of Distinction. “We couldn’t have received this honor without the loyalty of our guests, as well as the dedication of our travel advisor partners, and our Villas Specialists and Concierges, who as a team, not only book villa stays but create truly unique vacation experiences.”

Villas of Distinction provides a better solution for consumers and agents looking for trustworthiness and effortless vacation planning. Each guest is assigned a personal Concierge to tailor the perfect travel experience down to the last detail. The luxury provider may not boast the largest number of villas, but it is known for having the highest quality because it ensures every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds expectations. Pair that with expertise, Villa Specialists average 14 years of experience, and that is how Villas of Distinction has gained its guests’ trust.

The 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at www.cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler US and UK print editions.

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 guests’ trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds expectations. Since 1989, Villas of Distinction’s team of experts have made vacation planning effortless by helping travelers find their perfect vacation home and creating one-of-a-kind getaways and lasting memories at the world’s top villas. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

About Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler is the world’s most distinguished travel title providing inspiration and advice for discerning travelers. Authoritative and influential, Condé Nast Traveler is a multi-platform, transatlantic brand. Publishing US and UK print editions under Editor-in-Chief Melinda Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler offers award-winning expertise in luxury travel from around the world. For more, visit www.cntraveler.com. For press inquiries, please contact: awards@condenasttraveler.com

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1,500 people surveyed across the United States from July to August 2020

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 21, 2020) – The recent Vacation Survey conducted by leading travel agency franchise Dream Vacations revealed that there is an incredible pent up demand for travel, as a result of COVID-19, with nearly 95 percent of those surveyed planning on taking a vacation in 2020 or 2021. Approximately 1,500 people participated in the survey which took place in July and August 2020.

Key findings of people surveyed include:

• 95% want to take a vacation in 2020 or 2021
• 60% feel confident with the enhanced health and safety protocols proposed by the cruise lines
• 70% know and trust the value a travel agent provides
• 78% realize that travel agents provide additional exclusive perks in addition to the promotions offered by cruise lines and resorts
• 50% will go on a cruise for their next vacation, 18% will stay at a resort, and the remaining 32 percent have other plans
• 37% hope to go to the Caribbean; 21% plan on staying in the U.S.; and 15% are going to Europe for their next vacation, while the remaining 27% selected different destinations.

“As a travel agency, we conducted this survey to gain a better understanding of how COVID-19 has impacted consumers plans to take vacations going forward,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “Now more than ever before people are recognizing the value and expertise that working with a travel agent affords and our agents are prepared to best serve clients when the surge of travel resumes.”

Dream Vacations travel agents serve as advocates for their clients and educate them on what the new vacation experience entails as it relates to health and safety protocols, documents needed and more. They provide their professional expertise and personalized service to match the best vacation that will meet their client’s budgets yet exceed their expectations. In addition to selling cruise, all-inclusive resorts and tour vacations, Dream Vacations agents also have access to thousands of private villas around the world through a partnership with Villas of Distinction_®.

For more information or to book  a dream vacation, please visit www.DreamVacations.com or call 800-278-4736.

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 franchise 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.DreamVacations.com and follow on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/OfficialDreamVacations. 

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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Villas of Distinction is connecting with travel advisors in a new way 

Wilmington, Mass. (October 14, 2020) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, announces its “Wine Down Wednesdays” events for travel advisors. More than 1,500 advisors have attended these events, which launched in May.

“We started these events so we could stay connected with travel advisors and let them know we care,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “The events have since morphed into an opportunity for agents to ask questions and learn more about the villa product. They have been so popular and fun that we wanted to get the word out to the larger travel advisor community.”

The events, held every other Wednesday, give travel advisors the opportunity to connect with key members of the Villas of Distinction management team over video conference where they first and foremost have fun while also getting product updates and the opportunity to ask questions. In addition, during one of the “Wine Down Wednesdays” each month, the team takes travel advisors on a live Virtual Fam Trip to one of the properties for a firsthand tour of a villa. The team has also surprised advisors with free villa stays and gift cards.

The virtual tours so far have been at villas in Orlando, Las Vegas, Jamaica and Punta Cana. Upcoming virtual tours include a villa in Split, Croatia on October 28; Casa De Campo in the Dominican Republic on November 11; and an elite home in Utah coming soon. Once Italy reopens live virtual villa tours will be announced there as well.

“Wine Down Wednesdays have become something I look forward to attending every other week, and are a fun and informative way to learn about the various villas that Villas of Distinction offers,” said Linda Kibak, independent travel advisor, FROSCH. “Sometimes we are lucky to experience an ‘in-villa’ virtual tour, which has been the best way to experience a villa, besides staying in one ourselves! Attending these virtual events has become a go-to for myself and many others to broaden our horizons on villas, and what Villas of Distinction has to offer.”In addition, Villas of Distinction will co-host events with travel advisors for their clients. These events allow the travel advisor’s clients learn more about the villa vacation experience.

To learn more about “Wine Down Wednesdays” or if travel advisors are interested in having Villas of Distinction co-host an event for clients, please Register as a Travel Advisor on VillasofDistinction.com to receive information about these opportunities.

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 guests’ trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds expectations. Since 1989, 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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Villas of Distinction_® adds more domestic options in response to the increased demand for villa rentals in the U.S. as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic 

Wilmington, Mass. (September 22, 2020) – Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, is increasing its portfolio of domestic villas as a result of incredible demand. According to Ketchum Travel, a global communications consultancy, 80 percent of Americans say they are willing to pay more for privacy and distancing.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are seeing an increase in requests from consumers who want to travel and are looking for a private villa within the U.S.,” said Willie Fernandez, vice president for Villas of Distinction. “People who are not quite comfortable coming into contact with large groups of people will opt to take a staycation or a road trip, and stay in a private villa with family and friends who they know have been cautious.”

As a result, Villas of Distinction has added more than 140 villa properties in domestic destinations with more being added:

• Beverly Hills, Malibu and Hollywood, California
• Big Sky, Montana
• Gloucester and Beverly, Massachusetts
• Great Smokey Mountains, Tennessee
• Hot Springs, Virginia
• Marco Island, Florida
• Portland, Maine (exciting new destination coming soon)
• Stonington, Connecticut
• Sea Islands, South Carolina
• Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

“We strongly advocate that consumers seek the counsel of a professional travel advisor, as they are knowledgeable and still the best resource for anyone looking to travel,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “Also, there is no additional cost when booking a villa through our travel advisor partners.”

Many of Villas of Distinction’s properties have adopted the Villa Rental Management Association’s cleaning standard for COVID-19 and its “Peace of Mind” policy provides flexible travel policies. For more information, visit VillasofDistinction.com, or call 800-289-0900. 

About Villas of Distinction_®
Villas of Distinction_®, as part of World Travel Holdings, is an award-winning, full-service premier luxury villa 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 guests’ trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds expectations. Since 1989, 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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A customized villas-specific webpage on agency website, product and sales training, and marketing assets give travel agencies the tools to add a profitable vertical to their current travel offerings 

Wilmington, Mass. (September 1, 2020) – According to Ketchum Travel, a global communications consultancy, 80 percent of Americans say they are willing to pay more for privacy and distancing. With this increase in consumers looking for private villa accommodations, Villas of Distinction_®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, is increasing its portfolio of white-label partners.

“While we already work with travel agency partners, the increase in popularity of private home rentals have many travel agencies looking to take their villa sales to the next level by having us provide a white-label solution through offering a villa-specific page on their website,” said Willie Fernandez, vice president of Villas of Distinction. “Travel agencies can feel confident when partnering with us because we offer a reputable product with villas that are vetted and following extensive health & safety guidelines from the Villa Rental Management Association.”

The white-label partnership program provides travel agencies with the support they need to sell villa vacations. It offers a custom webpage on the agency’s site; access to a Travel Agent Portal, which contains a library of marketing assets including images, videos, print pieces, social media ads and training webinars; and marketing support to assist travel advisors in crafting best-in-class and engaging marketing. In addition, travel agents will have access to Villa Specialists and Concierges who are available every step of the way through the booking and planning process.

“As a result of COVID-19, our agents are seeing increased interest from their clients who want to stay in a private villa with friends and family they trust, instead of a resort with hundreds of guests,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “The villas-specific page on our agents’ website as well as the support our agents receive from Villas of Distinction gives them the tools they need to sell villa vacations to their clients.”

In addition, through Villas of Distinction’s #WithYouToStay campaign, the company is encouraging its guests to book with a travel advisor, offering bonus commissions of up to $1,500 and rich promotions throughout the year, and is committed to making the planning process seamless for the travel advisor and their clients.

For more information on how your agency can partner with Villas of Distinction, please call 1-800-289-0900 or email VillaRental-Marketing@wth.com.

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 guests’ trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds expectations. Since 1989, 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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Exclusive summer promotions drive bookings for future cruises 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (August 26, 2020) – Staying in front of the consumer is more important than ever before and despite the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the travel industry, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® continues to make investments to support its network of home-based travel agents. As a result, the headquarters’ Marketing Team has created innovative campaigns and promotions that not only engage consumers but are also driving bookings.

“Our inspirational marketing messaging throughout the pandemic has encouraged consumers to keep dreaming about their next vacation,” said Alicia Linden, director of marketing for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Now that people have been home for nearly six months, they want something to look forward to and are thinking about joyful distractions, such as a future vacation. To capitalize on this desire, we have continued our commitment to invest in consumer promotions and launched two exclusive campaigns this summer to drive cruise bookings.”

The two distinct week-long promotions this summer offered pre-paid gratuities, onboard credits and more – and were stackable on top of the promotions the cruise lines were already offering. For both promotions, more than 60 percent of the bookings were brand new, and the remaining 40 percent were redeeming Future Cruise Credits.

When the pandemic started, the travel agencies launched their #LetsKeepDreaming campaign, creating travel-themed fun activities such as word searches and coloring books; producing a five-part Virtual Travel Guide series to provide tips on how to maximize a vacation experience and insight into working with a travel agent; creating engaging social media posts; designing and sending “thinking of you” direct mail and emails on behalf of agents; and more. In addition, the team has added more than 20 videos to its already robust video library, with the new content having a keen focus on domestic vacations, all-inclusive resorts and health & safety. Building upon the foundation, now they have implemented a three-prong approach to continue driving strong results – promoting the value of a travel agent, launching promotions and building lead generation opportunities.

“With our marketing department focused on how to speak to our clients during the pandemic, we have been able to pivot to sharing information about the ‘new normal’ in travel protocols, and destination-focused messaging,” said Karen Quinn-Panzer, Dream Vacations franchise owner and vacation specialist in Milford, Conn., who is also chair of the Sales and Marketing Committee. “It’s been challenging to help the network adapt, and marketing has been at the forefront combatting this challenge since it began back in March.”

To learn more about joining the travel agency network that cares more about its franchise owners and independent vacation specialists, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com for information about Dream Vacations/CruiseOne, 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.

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