World Travel Holdings’ Brands Take Home 10 Statuettes at the 2020 Travvy Awards

World Travel Holdings’ Brands Take Home 10 Statuettes at the 2020 Travvy Awards

Best in Travel Winners Based on Travel Agent Votes 

Wilmington, Mass. (March 11, 2020)World Travel Holdings and its brands including CruiseOne®, Dream Vacations, Cruises Inc. ®, Villas of Distinction® and Resort for a Day have earned six Gold and four Silver prestigious statuettes at the Travvy Awards, for every category in which they were nominated.

The annual Travvy Awards — known as the Academy Awards of the travel industry — were held Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at Gotham Hall in New York City to recognize the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry by honoring travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, and destinations for their outstanding achievement.

Suppliers, destinations and individuals from across the world of travel are eligible to submit their nominations to be considered annually for the honor of being recognized as an innovator in the industry. This year, more than 100,000 votes — the largest voting block of agents in history — were cast to determine the 2020 Travvy Awards winners.

With a portfolio of more than 40 diverse brands and as one of the nation’s largest online and offline leisure travel companies, World Travel Holdings took home the Gold in the Large Retail Travel Agency category for the third time. World Travel Holdings caters to every kind of traveler and its extensive product offerings give customers the freedom to choose how they want to vacation — from luxurious villa and resort getaways to top-brand cruises visiting the world’s most popular destinations.

A member of the International Franchise Association and the number one franchise for military veterans, Dream Vacations/CruiseOne won Gold in the Best Travel Agency, Consortium, Cooperative or Franchise Group category. Dream Vacations/CruiseOne, along with its sister brand Cruises Inc., which is the original host agency in the U.S., were also recognized with three technology awards — Gold for Best Travel Technology Planner and Silvers for Best Travel Planning Technology (Travel Planner) and Best Travel Agent Reservations System (My Cruise Control) — for the resources they provide which enable agents to work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. In addition, Cruises Inc. won Gold for Best Host Agency Website (CruisesInc.com) and Silver for Best Host Agency. The Dream Vacations/CruiseOne franchise opportunity gives 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.

Full-service premier luxury villa provider Villas of Distinction, which has an extensive portfolio of thousands of privately-owned villas in more than 50 luxurious destinations was recognized with two Golds for the Best Villa Rental Company Overall and the Best Vacation Packagers-Luxury categories. 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.

The largest distributor of resort day passes, Resort for a Day, which gives cruise customers the unique opportunity to spend their day at some of the best resorts, won Silver in the Best Shore Excursions category. Resort for a Day’s resort partners are all conveniently located in more than 20 of the most popular cruise ports throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera and more. Resort for a Day works with travel agents and agencies nationwide, offering commission on all Resort for a Day passes.

“Winning any award is always an honor, but being recognized by travel agents and their clients make these recognitions even more meaningful,” said Brad Tolkin, co-chairman and CEO of World Travel Holdings. “I am thrilled that we won in every category in which we were nominated. This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our Dream Vacations/CruiseOne Franchisees, Cruises Inc. Independent Agents as well as the hard work of our employees who are continuously finding ways to take our brands to the next level through their innovation and dedication to delivering our customers remarkable experiences.”

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

For more information on World Travel Holdings and any of its brands please visit www.WorldTravelHoldings.com. World Travel Holdings is currently hiring virtual travel agents. For more information on joining this award-winning team, please visit the World Travel Holdings careers page. 

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

About World Travel Holdings
World Travel Holdings is the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company with a portfolio of more than 40 diverse brands. In addition to owning some of the largest brands distributing cruises, villas, resort vacations, car rentals, resort day passes and luxury travel services, World Travel Holdings has a vast portfolio of licensed private-label partnerships comprised of top leisure travel providers, including almost every U.S. airline, leading hotel brands and prominent corporations. The company also operates a top-rated travel agency franchise and the country’s original host agency, and is consistently recognized as an industry leader in work-at-home employment. Its global presence includes operating multiple cruise brands in the United Kingdom. World Travel Holdings has offices in Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; New York, NY; and Chorley, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.

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Travel Agents Win National Business Award In Celebration of Women’s History Month

Travel Agents Win National Business Award In Celebration of Women’s History Month

Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc.® honor female agents with OPAL Award for leadership and community service 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (March 6, 2020) – Leading home-based travel agencies Dream Vacations 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 Dream Vacations Franchisee Karen Quinn-Panzer and Cruises Inc. Independent Vacation Specialist Melissa Cohn the 2020 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 Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc.

“I am honored to lead an organization that empowers entrepreneurial women to become business owners and champions in their community,” said Debbie Fiorino, chief operating officer of Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc. “The OPAL Award is about people making a difference in the lives of others. Karen and Melissa not only lead by example within our organization, but their business success and dedication to helping others in the community is an inspiration to all.”

A resident of Milford, Conn., Quinn-Panzer has been a Dream Vacations franchise owner since 2013. Giving back is in Quinn-Panzer’s DNA, whether supporting other local businesses through her involvement with the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she supports new members and mentors them and membership in the Network of Executive Women, for which she hosted a fundraising cruise. In addition, Quinn-Panzer is a supporter of local Rotary Clubs, as a sponsor of the Devon Rotary Oktoberfest to raise money for BethEl Food Bank, the Literacy Foundation and Rape Crisis Center; and with the Rotary Club of Orange, where she volunteers at their annual Thanksgiving food drive, LobsterFest and reads to elementary school students. With Dream Vacations, Quinn-Panzer is very engaged as a member of the Advisory Council and Certified Spokesperson team, and has represented the travel agency franchise by participating on a panel at the International Franchise Expo in New York City.

Cohn of Dix Hills, N.Y. is a former Deputy County Attorney who pursued becoming a stay-at-home-travel agent so she could have a flexible career while her son was in pre-school. She is actively involved with the Dix Hills Jewish Center Sisterhood and the Dix Hills Jewish Center Early Childhood Academy; an avid supporter of Make-A-Wish®; Sunrise Day Camp, a camp for children with cancer; Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research; and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In addition, she created a group for incoming Kindergarten students so they can become better adjusted in their new school environment. In addition to her community involvement, Cohn is consistently the top-selling Cruises Inc. travel agent nationwide.

Dream Vacations 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.

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

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

Second annual event takes place Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Charleston Marriott 

Charleston, S.C. (February 20, 2020) – Local residents will get to bring vacation experiences to life at the second annual Charleston Cruise & Travel Show presented by Dream Vacations. The experiential travel show takes place on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Charleston Marriott, located at 170 Lockwood Dr.

“With Charleston recently ranked as the #1 city people are moving to, coupled with the growing cruise terminal, we are excited to return to the Lowcountry and see familiar faces while introducing new guests to the world of travel,” said Rosemarie Reed, senior vice president of marketing for Dream Vacations. “Attendees will escape reality as they learn about and experience different vacation options. Plus, live music, exclusive promotional offers and the opportunity to win exciting prizes make this the must-attend travel event of 2020.”

Many different cruise, resort and escorted tour suppliers will be exhibiting at the show including Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Windstar Cruises, AmaWaterways, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Sandals, Star Clippers, Virgin Voyages and more. From inspirational Ted-style talks discussing the importance of travel, exciting new trends in the industry and popular destinations, to food and beverage tastings and a silent disco, guests will be ready to pack their bags and go on their next dream vacation. There is fun for all ages including the Kid’s Corner which will boast arts and crafts, character appearances by The Clemson Tiger and Charlie T. Riverdog, as well as balloon characters with Eric the Pirate and his parrot Captain Bob. What’s more, attendees can win Tumi luggage, a free 4-night cruise and more.

Dream Vacations travel agents will be on-site with exclusive offers available. Attendees can also learn more about becoming a travel agent and owning a home-based Dream Vacations travel agency franchise. For free tickets, use promo code EVENT when visiting www.CruiseAndTravelShow.com.

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.DreamVacations.com www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com

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World Travel Holdings Named a Top 100 Company to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2020

World Travel Holdings Named a Top 100 Company to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2020

World Travel Holdings ranks in the top 50 among companies hiring remote workers

Wilmington, Mass. (January 28, 2020) — World Travel Holdings is proud to announce that it has been named to FlexJobs’ annual list of the Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2020. This list is based on an analysis of more than 54,000 companies and their remote job posting histories in the FlexJobs database between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.

World Travel Holdings is one of 100 companies that had the highest number of remote job openings on the FlexJobs site in 2019. A “remote job” is defined as a professional-level job that allows the worker to work from home either entirely or part of the time. Remote jobs are also known as telecommuting jobs, virtual jobs, and work-from-home jobs. Overall, the number of people telecommuting in the U.S. has increased 159 percent since 2005.

“It is a true honor to continually be recognized as a leader in the remote jobs industry,” said Loren Kennedy, senior vice president of Human Resources for World Travel Holdings. “We have been recruiting, hiring and training for work-at-home positions for more than a decade and we continue to make improvements in these areas. We also have a keen focus on telecommuting and scheduling options that promote a healthy work/life balance as well as a variety of programs that are important to ensuring our employees stay engaged in a virtual work environment.”

World Travel Holdings was ranked #42 on the list. In the past, World Travel Holdings has hired for jobs with remote work options such as Travel Professional, Customer Care Representative and Franchise Sales Specialist.

Remote work brings very real benefits to both employers and workers. While the average person can save about $4,000 a year by working from home, employers experience a wide range of benefits from remote work as well. Cost savings, access to a greater talent pool, stronger retention rates, and higher productivity are a few of the compelling reasons companies are strategically integrating remote workers into their workforce.

Based on this list, the top six career fields hiring for remote jobs are:

  1. Medical & Health
  2. Computer & IT
  3. Customer Service
  4. Education & Training
  5. Sales
  6. Accounting & Finance

“The most notable change we’ve seen over the past year is not so much the growth in the sheer volume of remote job listings, but the growth in the variety of remote job titles these companies are seeking to hire,” said Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “Companies are expanding the range of professional positions they’re allowing to work from home. It’s important to keep in mind that this list represents the jobs that are only formally reported and advertised as remote. I believe the true scope of remote work is much larger, with informal and ad hoc work-from-home arrangements increasingly common. Of course, all of this is ultimately fantastic news for remote job seekers across all career fields and levels,” Sutton concluded.

Some of the fastest-growing remote career categories are Art & Creative, Bookkeeping, Internet & Ecommerce, K-12, Graphic Design, Translation, and Math & Economics.

To view the entire 2020 Top 100 Companies for Remote Jobs list, please visit https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/100-top-companies-with-remote-jobs-2020/

To search remote job opportunities at World Travel Holdings, please visit www.WorldTravelHoldings.com. 

About World Travel Holdings
World Travel Holdings is the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company with a portfolio of more than 40 diverse brands. In addition to owning some of the largest brands distributing cruises, villas, resort vacations, car rentals, resort day passes and luxury travel services, World Travel Holdings has a vast portfolio of licensed private-label partnerships comprised of top leisure travel providers, including almost every U.S. airline, leading hotel brands and prominent corporations. The company also operates a top-rated travel agency franchise and the country’s original host agency, and is consistently recognized as an industry leader in work-at-home employment. Its global presence includes operating multiple cruise brands in the United Kingdom. World Travel Holdings has offices in Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; New York, NY; and Chorley, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com. 

About FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a premium online job service for professionals seeking flexible work, specializing in full-time and part-time remote jobs, employee and freelance jobs, and on-site jobs with flexible, part-time, and alternative schedules. Since its start in 2007, FlexJobs has helped more than 4 million people in their job searches and has created the largest vetted database of legitimate flexible job opportunities in over 50 career categories. In addition, FlexJobs provides robust career support, including curated expert resources and career coaching services, to partner with job seekers in all phases of their journey. A trusted source in the media, FlexJobs has been cited in top national outlets such as CNN, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNBC, Forbes, and many others. FlexJobs’ Founder & CEO Sara Sutton has also launched two additional partner sites, Remote.co and 1 Million for Work Flexibility, to help provide education and awareness about the viability and benefits of flexible work. Sutton is the creator of The TRaD* Works Forum (*Telecommuting, Remote, & Distributed), dedicated to helping companies leverage the benefits of telecommuting, remote and distributed teams.

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Travel Industry Veteran Dawn Gillis Joins Dream Vacations/CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.® in Newly Created Role, Director of Network Sales & Support

Travel Industry Veteran Dawn Gillis Joins Dream Vacations/CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.® in Newly Created Role, Director of Network Sales & Support

New role oversees sales and support services 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (January 23, 2020) – Dream Vacations/CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc. ® has 20/20 vision going into the New Year with a laser focus on increasing agent profitability through enhanced support of its home-based travel agents. The leading travel agency businesses announce that travel industry veteran Dawn Gillis has been announced as Director of Network Sales & Support.

Gillis will oversee business development, group sales and support services. Aligning these teams under one leader will allow for increased collaboration and create an even greater focus on the success and development of the Dream Vacations/CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. network.

“Dawn is an amazing individual who has a wealth of knowledge not only about the travel business, but in leadership, sales and entrepreneurship,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations/CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Her diverse background makes her an incredible asset to the team and our network.”

Gillis began her career at parent company World Travel Holdings in 1993 as a frontline agent before transitioning over to management. For the past 10 years as Land Product Manager, Gillis has been responsible for growing the company’s land business, which has experienced double-digit growth each of the last four years. Within her career at World Travel Holdings, she also has held positions in training, sales and marketing.

“Getting to know and spending time with the Dream Vacations/CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents has been so rewarding during my long career with World Travel Holdings, said Gillis. “I’m so excited to kick off 2020 in my new role and for what the New Year will bring — sharing even more experiences together, and working on the best ways to help our network of agents innovate, resolve challenges, and grow their businesses. There’s no better team in the industry and it’s an honor to be part of it.”

Those who are passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to start a travel agency as part of a network with a proven track record, should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, and www.SellCruises.com to learn about becoming an independent vacation specialist with business opportunity Cruises Inc.

About Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.®
Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.® are part of World Travel Holdings, the 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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Villas of Distinction® Reveals Top Five Up and Coming Villa Vacation Destinations for 2020

Villas of Distinction® Reveals Top Five Up and Coming Villa Vacation Destinations for 2020

Villas of Distinction sees increased bookings in these destinations

Wilmington, Mass. (January 16, 2020) – The top five up and coming villa vacation destinations for 2020 have been announced by Villas of Distinction®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings. Based on increased bookings in these destinations, the list includes — Grand Cayman, Sicily, St. Martin, Orlando and Jamaica.

  1. Grand Cayman – Villas of Distinction is not the only company seeing Grand Cayman as an up and coming destination. Based on booking data from American Express cardholders, Grand Cayman is also one of their trending destinations to watch for in 2020, up 33 percent year-over-year*. View villas in Grand Cayman.
  1. Sicily – “We are seeing a trend of travelers, especially ones who have already visited Italy, moving away from traveling to the more traditional regions,” Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product & agency relations. “With Sicily being the largest Italian island, it offers travelers an array of activities from archaeological sites, popular beaches, and mild climate to history, good cuisine and a vibrant nightlife.’” View villas in Sicily.
  1. Martin –There is a resurgence in travel to St. Martin after it was impacted by Hurricane Irma. It had a setback and now it is a comeback destination. The Dutch side of the island even has new attractions like the Rainforest Adventures Rockland Estate and Topper’s Rhum Distillery, and stayover arrivals are up 144 percent over 2018 year to date.** View villas in St. Martin.
  1. Jamaica – “While Jamaica is always a popular destination for us, the trend we are seeing here is increased interest in the south coast of the island, and as a result of this, we are adding more villas here this year,” said Lassman. “The south coast of Jamaica’s appeal is its relative isolation. Travelers to this area will find nature, wildlife and tranquil beaches. The most popular area is Treasure Beach, home to a string of Jamaican fishing villages resting on black sand.” View villas in Jamaica.
  1. Orlando – Orlando continues to be an up and coming destination in the villa arena. So many families travel in large groups when visiting Orlando whether it be multi-generational travel or family reunions, and villas offer the space, privacy, amenities and value families are looking for. This has become such a popular option that new villas are continuously coming into the Orlando market, and the offerings and amenities are truly top notch.  View Villas in Orlando.

Last year’s leading villa vacation destinations were:

  1. Italy
  2. Barbados
  3. Turks & Caicos
  4. Jamaica
  5. Orlando, Fla.

Travelers looking for a truly customized vacation experience planned by a full-service agency where a Villa Specialist finds the perfect destination to fit a client’s vacation desires, and a personal Concierge tailors a client’s vacation from start to finish will want to book with Villas of Distinction. For more information, visit VillasofDistinction.com or call 800-289-0900.

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.

*One On One: 2020 Trending Destinations From American Express

** Returning to St. Maarten/Martin, 20 months after Hurricane Irma

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Double-Digit Growth in 2019 Punctuates Year of Evolution and Lays Foundation for Continued Success in 2020

Double-Digit Growth in 2019 Punctuates Year of Evolution and Lays Foundation for Continued Success in 2020

Home-based travel agencies Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. experience significant advances in technology, marketing and training 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (January 14, 2020) – In addition to receiving top accolades confirming its powerhouse status in the travel franchise space, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. also experienced another year of double-digit growth because their work-from-home travel agents maximize state-of-the-art tools and resources that are continuously launched by the company, enabling increased efficiencies and value to their clients resulting in increased sales.

“From technology that drove results and boots-on-the-ground marketing to interactive training and more, making personal connections was the key to our record-breaking year,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “2019 set us up for even greater success so as we go into Wave Season, the momentum is strong and I’m excited to see what the team has in store for 2020.”    

Efficient Land Vacation Technology
2019 resulted in a nearly 25 percent increase in land bookings over 2018 due to the creation and launch of robust land technologies, which simplify the land booking process. Also as a result of this, exponential growth in this sector is anticipated in 2020.

  • Land Booking technology makes it easier to create flexible reminders and payment schedules, and is fully customizable to add robust details to invoices and transactional emails.
  • Travel Planner now provides clients a vacation itinerary complete with background information on the destination; shopping, dining and excursion recommendations; and the option to chat with their travel agent in real time.
  • There was a 92 percent increase in bookings with GOGO Vacations in comparison to the same time period before the launch of a technology that allows travel agents who book with GOGO Vacations to effortlessly capture the reservation details with a click of a button, automatically dropping the booking information directly into the company’s proprietary booking system, My Cruise Control.

Targeted Marketing
In 2019, the marketing team took a targeted approach in spreading brand awareness about Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.

  • As a result of hosting its first-ever Cruise & Travel Show in Charleston, S.C., and partnerships with local organizations in New Orleans, La., Dream Vacations saw a 160 percent return on investment. In Charleston, more than 800 people attended the event with more than 9.4 million impressions during the two-month campaign blitz promoting the event and the Dream Vacations brand. In 2020, Dream Vacations plans to return to Charleston and New Orleans, and expand to other markets.
  • Niche marketing is a focus for 2020 and to close out 2019, the Command Center launched, kicking off this initiative. The Command Center provides a plethora of marketing and training resources so agents can more effectively market to the military community. 

Immersive Training
Studies show the best way to learn and sell a product is to experience it, and in 2019 the Immersive Educational Series expanded with the inaugural river cruise summit aboard the AmaLea in March 2019, with 150 travel agents in attendance. Attendees are already seeing a double-digit spike in river cruise sales. On the horizon in 2020, the series expands with a Marketing Summit that will expose attendees to innovative techniques, as well as traditional and non-traditional methods in how they can promote their business. 

Philanthropy
Giving back is a cornerstone of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. and making a difference in the lives of others is always top of mind.

  • In 2019, agents, franchise owners and the corporate Headquarters team donated more than $131,000 to its signature charity Make-A-Wish®, or the equivalent of granting 13 wishes for children with critical illnesses.
  • Dream Vacations awarded five veterans with free franchises as part of the award-winning Operation Vetrepreneur program, which has given away a total of 42 free franchises since the program’s inception in 2012.
  • After Hurricane Dorian, the travel agency made monetary donations to the funds that Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International created, as well as sponsored an in-office supply drive which delivered items to a Carnival Cruise Line Hurricane Dorian donation location. 

Prestigious Accolades
2019 was a banner year for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., with the travel agency businesses winning prominent awards re-affirming its dominance in franchising, and as a supporter of veterans and small business owners.

  • Franchise satisfaction is at an all-time high as evident by the “Best in Category” distinction awarded to Dream Vacations/CruiseOne for the second year in a row by Franchise Business Review, as a result of exceeding the travel and hospitality standards in a satisfaction survey.
  • Entrepreneur ranked Dream Vacations as number one for veterans, and the veteran-friendly franchise has secured the top two spots for three years in a row.
  • For the eighth consecutive year, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. were recognized as a Top Private Company by South Florida Business Journal, a finalist in the publication’s Business of the Year awards, as well as securing the title of Top Workplace in South Florida by Energage and Sun Sentinel.
  • Renowned for its forward-thinking, Dream Vacations won the Franchise Innovation Award from Franchise Update magazine and was named a Top 100 Game Changer by Franchise Dictionary 

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.

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World Travel Holdings Named One of the Best Places to Work in Wilmington, Mass. by Zippia

World Travel Holdings Named One of the Best Places to Work in Wilmington, Mass. by Zippia

Recognized in three categories: Biggest, Best and Hospitality 

Wilmington, Mass. (January 9, 2020) World Travel Holdings announces being named one of the Best Places to Work in Wilmington in 2019 by Zippia, an expert career site. This hand-curated list of the best companies to work for headquartered in and around Wilmington is based on salary data, company financial health and employee diversity.

“We are thrilled to be named as one of the best places to work in Wilmington,” said Loren Kennedy, senior vice president of human resources. “With our worldwide headquarters based in Wilmington, we are a significant player offering a variety of opportunities to work in the exciting travel industry.”

Zippia analyzed employer data from all 50 states to determine the best of the best. It assigned each company a “Zippia Score” based on such factors as pay and diversity as well as a company’s financial health. Here are World Travel Holdings’ rankings – #5 in Biggest Companies in Wilmington; #6 in Best Companies to Work For in Wilmington; and #16 in Best Hospitality Companies to Work For in Massachusetts.

To learn more about job opportunities with World Travel Holdings, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com or its Search Jobs page. 

About Zippia, Inc.
Zippia’s goal is to empower people with the information and tools to achieve their career aspirations. By providing an intelligent and personalized resource for job seekers, we can help answer career questions, help people make better-informed career decisions, and help people achieve their career plans. Learn more at https://www.zippia.com/about-us.

About World Travel Holdings

World Travel Holdings is the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company with a portfolio of more than 40 diverse brands. In addition to owning some of the largest brands distributing cruises, villas, resort vacations, car rentals, resort day passes and luxury travel services, World Travel Holdings has a vast portfolio of licensed private-label partnerships comprised of top leisure travel providers, including almost every U.S. airline, leading hotel brands and prominent corporations. The company also operates a top-rated travel agency franchise and the country’s original host agency, and is consistently recognized as an industry leader in work-at-home employment. Its global presence includes operating multiple cruise brands in the United Kingdom. World Travel Holdings has offices in Wilmington, Mass.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; New York, NY; and Chorley, England. For more information, visit WorldTravelHoldings.com.

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