Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. Kick Off In-Person Events with Advisory Council Meeting in Mexico

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (June 30, 2021) – With travel returning, leading home-based travel agencies Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. partnered with GOGO Vacations to host both organization’s first in-person event since March 2020. Members of the travel agency’s leadership team met with their network’s Advisory Council, a coalition of travel advisors who serve as liaisons for the entire network, providing advice and guidance on matters relating to operational procedures, systems analysis, marketing and more. The meeting, which was held at LIVE Aqua in Cancun, provided everyone with firsthand knowledge of the safety protocols in an airport, at a resort and in a destination, as well as the opportunity to brainstorm ideas and strategies for the return of cruising and travel.

“The Advisory Council meeting felt like a mini family reunion, and we are excited to continue seeing more members of our network throughout the year at upcoming in-person events,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “We are so grateful to GOGO Vacations for their hospitality in creating a safe environment where we could reunite and discuss the future of travel.”

Mexico was the perfect place to discuss not only strategies for 2022, but also plans for upcoming in-person training events such as a Regional Training in Fort Lauderdale, the annual National Conference aboard Celebrity Apex in November and more. In addition, an Emmy-winning videographer was on hand to capture the reunion.

“Throughout the pandemic, our partnership and friendship with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne, Cruises Inc. and GOGO Vacations have remained strong in spite of missing a key ingredient —togetherness,” said Brennan Quesnele, vice president, sales for GOGO Vacations. “It’s our nature, especially as travel professionals, for in-person interaction. We couldn’t have been more excited to partner together with LIVE Aqua Cancun/Posadas Group and World Travel Holdings to rollout a mutual first in-person, in-destination event in 2021. Great conversations, planning for the tremendous leisure travel demand that is upon us, and much needed in-person reunions were had while we were together. COVID-19 has kept us apart far too long, but travel will reunite us and the world once again.”

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 give entrepreneurs the opportunity to become a small business owner, as well as a choice in how they brand their travel business. Cruises Inc. is an independent business opportunity providing individuals a fun way to earn extra money. Both business models provide a work-from-home opportunity to those passionate about selling travel, 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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Learn New Sales & Marketing Techniques from Travel Industry Experts at First-Ever Travel Advisor Learning Summit

One-day summit with Growth Masterclass workshops hosted by Dream Vacations takes place Wednesday, June 23, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (June 3, 2021) – A surge of travel bookings is on the horizon and travel advisors need to be prepared to respond to this demand. Dream Vacations is hosting its first-ever, industry-wide virtual Travel Advisor Learning Summit on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST. The free event will be broadcast live and is open to all travel advisors in the U.S., regardless of their affiliation.

“We believe a healthy distribution system is vital to the recovery of the cruise and travel industry, and as a powerhouse in the travel agency sector, we want to give back and support the entire industry which is why we are hosting this event for all travel advisors, not only those in our family of brands,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “Our goal is to share ideas and strengthen the travel advisor community and we are excited to play a pivotal role in the rebuilding of our industry.”

The highlight of the conference for many will be seeing travel industry executives take the virtual stage and share their insights on the state of the travel industry and where it is headed. Brad Tolkin, Co-CEO/Chairman of World Travel Holdings, the nation’s largest cruise agency and an award-winning leisure travel company, will deliver the keynote address. In addition, Charlie Sylvia, ECC, vice president of industry and trade relations for Cruise Lines International Association; Bob Duglin, vice president of international membership & host agencies for American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA); and Patricia Noonan, CTC, director of sales for The Travel Institute will share the stage in a lively roundtable discussion. Executives from AmaWaterways, Celebrity Cruises, GOGO Vacations, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line and Royal Caribbean International will participate in a panel discussion.

Attendees will have the option to attend six interactive workshops during the Growth Masterclass portion of the summit which is divided into two tracks – sales and marketing. There will be three marketing-focused courses and three sales-focused courses, which will provide information that attendees can easily implement. All sessions will be recorded and available within 72 hours for anyone who registers, even those unable to attend the live sessions.

“After pivoting to a virtual training landscape earlier this year and hosting a wildly successful Virtual National Conference and multiple Virtual Regional Trainings, we have learned how to keep attendees engaged and are excited to share our world-class events with others in the industry,” said Charity Santiago, director of training for Dream Vacations.

There is no cost to attend and advisors who are enrolled with The Travel Institute can earn three Continuing Education Units. For more information and to register for the Travel Advisor Learning Summit, please visit www.TravelAdvisorLearningSummit.com. To learn more about joining the travel agency franchise that cares more about its franchise owners, 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 www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.

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Military Veterans Can Become Vacation Heroes and Win a Travel Agency Franchise and European River Cruise from Dream Vacations

10^th annual Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General contest begins Memorial Day

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (May 28, 2021) – The top-awarded travel agency franchise for veterans Dream Vacations announces that military veterans can start their next career in the civilian sector by entering-to-win a free travel agency franchise in the “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Owner General” business plan contest. Five winners will be awarded a travel agency business, and in celebration of the contest’s 10^th anniversary, one grand prize winner will also receive a berth on a European River Cruise on the Danube River. Since 2012, Dream Vacations has awarded 51 free franchises valued at $637,800 to military veterans. This year’s contest begins on Monday, May 31, 2021, and runs through August 6, 2021.

“The United States is the greatest country in the world because of the sacrifices made by military heroes and their families,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “Supporting military families is important to Dream Vacations and it is hard to believe we have been giving away franchise business opportunities for 10 years to military veterans as a small token of our appreciation. We honor, respect and salute those in the Armed Forces and we invite you to live the American Dream of business ownership that you made possible for so many.”

The Dream Vacations franchise contest is open to former members of any of the five branches of the U.S. military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) who are retired, off active duty and/or honorably discharged prior to the contest start date and are residents of the U.S. To participate, candidates must complete an online entry form and an introductory phone interview with a Franchise Development Manager. Candidates will be required to submit a candidate profile, business plan, and video. Finalists will be invited to participate in follow-up phone interviews before winners are selected. The entry form and all contest details can be found at www.operationvetrepreneur.com.

Five winners will be notified in August 2021. Each grand prize is valued at $12,300 and includes a complimentary Dream Vacations franchise with a waived $10,500 initial start-up fee and monthly service fees. After completing virtual franchisee training, the winners will be armed with all the tools and knowledge they need to begin their next journey as small business owners creating dream vacations.

“Winning a Dream Vacation franchise reminds me of being part of a military unit during wartime operations in the Middle East. Starting a business is stressful and can be financially risky especially if you do it alone without a support network,” said Veronica Loewy, Army Veteran and 2020 Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General winner from Chicago. “Dream Vacations provides the tools needed to survive, just like the military. This includes top-notch leadership in an organization where they have your back, a dedicated Business Development Manager, proven business model, training and customer support in order to complete a successful mission.”

According to the Department of Defense, more than 200,000 military veterans are entering the civilian workforce each day and Dream Vacations recognizes that franchising provides a unique opportunity to leverage the traits gained in the military and translate them to entrepreneurship. This includes teamwork, decisive thinking, leadership and self-discipline to name a few. Those who have served in the Armed Forces also have an innate desire to serve others and see the world, which are important aspects of being a successful travel franchise owner. When military veterans join a home-based opportunity such as Dream Vacations, they have the flexibility to set their own hours so they can enjoy valuable time with family and make up for missed moments due to deployments.

Military veterans and Gold Star families interested in starting a work-from-home business immediately can purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency business now at a 30 percent discount, receive an enlistment package valued 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.

The only travel franchise to receive a 5 STAR ranking from the International Franchise Association’s VetFran initiative, 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: Become Your Own General” program won gold from the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards and the IFA Franchising Gives Back Awards.

Military veterans with a passion for travel and entrepreneurship who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise and want to be considered as a candidate for the “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” contest, please visit www.OperationVetrepreneur.com or call 888-249-8235.

Begins May 31, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends August 6, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 or older at the start of the Contest, have a computer and internet connection, be a legal resident of the US or DC and a former member in good standing of one of the five branches of the U.S. military who is retired, off active duty and/or was honorably discharged prior to the start date of the Contest. If selected as winners, Contestants must commit to a 5-year Dream Vacations home-based franchise, which requires attendance at a New Franchisee Training Class and a starting investment capital (for more information, go to www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com or call 888-441-2542). Only one (1) submission per contestant. To enter, complete the online entry form on our website (www.operationvetrepreneur.com). If qualified and selected to move to the next round after a phone interview, Semi-Finalists must submit a video, Dream Vacations candidate profile, and a minimum 300 – 1,200-word business plan. Submissions must comply with the Submission Guidelines in the Official Rules. Only complete, valid submissions will be accepted. Sponsored by Dream Vacations, 1201 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Ste. 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. See [www.OperationVetrepreneur.com] for complete Rules and details.

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College-Style Curriculum Advances Education Options for Travel Advisors with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.®

Training Team launches 101-, 201-, and 301-level courses with new Learning Plan

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (May 11, 2021) – School is in session for travel advisors with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne^® and Cruises Inc.^® with the launch of a new tiered learning path that provides a personalized approach to supporting advisors’ ongoing education and professional development. A highlight of the program is a brand-new sales and business administration curriculum which will fuel their success as small business owners.

“Continuing education is table stakes for travel advisors, and our Training Team is always developing new content that takes our advisors skills and competencies to the next level,” said Charity Santiago, director of training. “This year we analyzed the existing training content and identified several areas where more curriculum was needed. Not only did we enhance existing trainings, but we added entirely new learning tracks in two subject areas.”

Incorporating feedback from the Training & Events Committee comprised of travel advisors within the network, this new learning structure groups content into learning tracks that enables advisors to focus on their area of need. There is a training review and 101-, 201- and 301-level courses in subject areas for Product; Marketing; Sales; Business Administration; Groups; and My Cruise Control, the three brand’s proprietary Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. The new learning plan is designed with flexibility in mind so advisors can either become an expert in one area by completing all the training modules horizontally within a category or gain knowledge across all categories by completing the modules vertically. Plus, these new levels make it easier for advisors to find the appropriate training courses to match their skill levels.

“The new learning path is like a one-stop-shop for the hottest training topics that we need to know – not only what is popular, but more importantly what is the most useful and best for meeting current informational needs,” said Dream Vacations Franchise Owner and Vacation Specialist Shane Gray. “The program allows advisors to enter into a cache of lessons without spending extra time searching for what they are looking for in a library. It truly is an illustration of efficiency in learning.”

The Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. overall training program and online learning platform, The Learning Center, have won national awards in the travel industry, as well as the learning and development field. Travel advisors have access to more than 1,000 training modules that provide them with travel industry expertise, as well as hard and soft sales skills. Innovative, interactive and engaging trainings that feature real-life examples and a variety of levels offered based on where an advisor is on their business journey, gives Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agencies a competitive edge.

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In Celebration of National Travel & Tourism Week, Villas of Distinction® Is Offering Travel Advisors Up to $1,500 In Bonus Commission

National Travel & Tourism Week is May 2-8, 2021, and in appreciation of its Travel Advisor partners this special promotion will run for bookings through May 16

Wilmington, Mass. (May 3, 2021) – 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 today until May 16, 2021, for travel between now and December 31, 2021, can earn a bonus commission of up to $1,500.

“More than ever, this past year we have enhanced our devotion to our travel advisor partners with the launch of our #WithYouToStay campaign in April 2020,” said Steve Lassman, vice president villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “We know the significant value travel advisors provide their clients and we want to reward that with added bonus commissions, rich promotions, heightened support, additional special events catered to them and more.”

As part of its #WithYouToStay campaign, Villas of Distinction launched “Wine Down Wednesdays” one year ago this month. In celebration of the one-year anniversary, there will be a special Cinco de Mayo “Wine Down Wednesday” on May 5 at 5 p.m. EST with Villas of Distinction live from a luxury villa in Los Cabos. Travel advisors should grab a glass of wine (or margarita) and join for this virtual FAM trip and the opportunity to chat with Vice President and General Manager Willie Fernandez and Lassman. Agents can register here.

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 Marketing Resource Portal 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 villa experience creator with an extensive portfolio of thousands of privately-owned villas in more than 52 destinations worldwide including the United States, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Central America, and beyond. Many villas feature excellent staff and top-of-the-line amenities – like private pools, home theaters, in-villa game rooms, and fitness centers. 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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Vaccinations Inspire Marketing Campaign for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.

Advisors given marketing assets promoting the hashtags #HaveVaccineWillTravel and #HaveVaccineWillCruise

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 30, 2021) – With cruise lines announcing vaccination requirements and governments worldwide reducing travel restrictions on people who are vaccinated, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) reports that 44 percent of Americans are getting vaccinated so that they can travel. To capitalize on this trend, the marketing team at Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. has created promotional items and graphics showcasing the hashtags #HaveVaccineWillTravel and #HaveVaccineWillCruise.

“We are seeing our cruise and land vacation bookings increasing every day, sometimes even surpassing 2019 numbers, as a result of a pent-up demand for travel coupled with increased confidence that vaccinated Americans are experiencing,” said Alicia Linden, director marketing for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “This marketing and social media campaign celebrates the significant opportunities that vaccines are creating to aid in the return of cruising and traveling.”

Travel advisors with the three brands have access to stickers, magnets, t-shirts, flyers, and social media posts. Those who choose to take advantage of these materials are encouraging their friends, family, and clients to post photos on social media promoting their post-vaccination vacation using the #HaveVaccineWillTravel or #HaveVaccineWillCruise hashtags. What makes this promotion different than others is that while the corporate headquarters team created the assets, the social media campaign is being entirely driven by agent engagement on a voluntary basis.

Linden adds, “Our marketing team has their fingers on the pulse of what is trending, and they are always at the forefront — creating inspiring and engaging marketing programs. Throughout the pandemic they have created innovative campaigns that promote vacation inspiration, and this is no different.”

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Enhanced Automated Marketing Tools Give Travel Advisors with Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. New Ways to Increase Customer Engagement

Home-based travel agencies launch new social media and email marketing platforms

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 14, 2021) – The COVID-19 pandemic did not slow down Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.’s marketing investments for its network of franchisees and independent vacation specialists, with the company continuing to invest more than $4 million annually in marketing programs, exclusive promotions and national branding. The home-based travel agencies announce the enhancement of its automated marketing resources for social media, email and digital marketing.

“We are always seeking new ways to support our network of travel advisors as they acquire new customers and build loyalty with existing customers,” said Alicia Linden, director of marketing. “We recognize that we are in a relationship-based industry, so it was important for us to provide turnkey, innovative marketing solutions with personalized customer outreach solutions. Our new marketing tools provide a solution to connect with customers like never before. Plus, with easy-to-understand insights and the ability to make adjustments using a mobile app, our advisors can make data-driven decisions when adjusting their marketing strategy and messaging to increase their customer engagement from anywhere in the world with an internet connection and on any device.”

The social media and reviews management tool provides advisors with an automated social media program with pre-scheduled social media posts in three categories, contemporary, luxury and engagement. As an added bonus, the program also posts content and curates reviews on Google My Business. Posts are personalized with dynamic content, unique for each agency, such as the advisor’s email, phone number or individual website, and are tailored to suit each social media platform’s user experience for increased engagement. The email and digital marketing program is integrated with the three brand’s award-winning proprietary Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This means advisors can seamlessly send extremely targeted on-demand emails to their database based on segmentation data such as location, past travel preferences, repeat customers, etc., as well as automated emails for drip campaigns or milestone events such as birthdays and anniversaries which helps develop customer loyalty. In addition to customizable ready-to-send branded email templates that complement the existing emails sent by headquarters on advisors’ behalf, the program gives them the freedom to create custom landing pages, sign-up forms, and build their database with list growth tools.

“As an independent travel agency franchise owner with Dream Vacations, I must wear many hats — I am the CFO, the CEO, the salesperson and trainer, office manager, social media manager and more,” said Carol Nunnery of Cape Girardeau, Mo. “These new programs work together in building brand awareness for my agency and have helped me create a marketing plan that is easy to implement. I love how for my social media I can not only ‘set it and forget it,’ but I can manage my reviews and respond quickly. The email marketing allows me to target a specific client base when I want that extra exposure. Implementing these two programs into daily operations is definitely a winning combination!”

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 give entrepreneurs the opportunity to become a small business owner, as well as a choice in how they brand their travel business. Cruises Inc. is an independent business opportunity providing individuals a fun way to earn extra money. Both business models provide a work-from-home opportunity to those passionate about selling travel, 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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Dream Vacations Ranked Fastest-Growing Travel Agency Franchise by Entrepreneur magazine

The home-based travel agency ranks in the top 20 worldwide, and top 15 in North America

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 8, 2021) – Leading home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations recently ranked 20^th globally and 14^th in North America in Entrepreneur’s list of the Fastest-Growing Franchises, published in the March issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

“Nothing can stop the smartest franchises from growing—not even a pandemic!” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur’s editor-in-chief. “We’ve been impressed with how innovative franchises have pivoted and adapted this past year and are happy to celebrate the ones who keep pushing forward and growing.”

Franchises on this list are ranked based on the net total of units (both franchised and company-owned) added globally from July 2019 to July 2020, with ties broken based on percentage growth. (In previous years, only US and Canadian unit growth was considered—2021 marks the first year that the ranking is based on systemwide growth, in recognition of the increasingly global nature of franchising.) Dream Vacations’ position in the Fastest-Growing Franchises ranking is evidence of the strength and appeal of its concept, even during challenging times.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started more than a year ago, Dream Vacations led the way in providing financial assistance and enhanced support for new and existing franchisees. From reducing the initial franchise investment and deferring up to six months of fees to offering up to $1 Million in commercial loans, Dream Vacations aided franchisees in sustaining their businesses during this difficult time. In addition, the Training & Events Team quickly pivoted to hosting a completely virtual travel agent training program for new franchises, and they launched a virtual engagement plan to ensure the network of travel agent franchisees always felt connected. In addition, to prepare for the travel industry rebound Dream Vacations doubled down on training opportunities and launched an acclaimed Travel Safety program covering everything from health and safety best practices while traveling and travel protection health policies to sales and marketing tips in this current environment.

“We always say that the success of our franchisees is our only business, and while we are thrilled about this ranking, our top priority is helping our network of travel agents grow their businesses,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “In a year when travel came to a standstill, we invested in our franchisees’ growth by launching new and innovative marketing programs that engaged and inspired.”

The Marketing Team pivoted to meet the demands of its franchisees by providing inspirational messaging encouraging consumers to dream about their next vacation, promoting the value of a travel agent and building lead-generation opportunities, and eventually shifting focus to promoting land-based vacations that people can take immediately. Doing so resulted in record-breaking land vacation sales that rivaled pre-pandemic numbers.

Daly adds, “The pandemic has inspired people to pursue their passions and seek business opportunities that provide flexibility and remote work options. Owning a travel agency franchise such as Dream Vacations is the perfect fit because we are seeing not only an incredible pent-up demand for travel, but for people who want to own their own travel business.”

To view Dream Vacations in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/fastestgrowing. To learn more about joining the travel agency franchise that cares more about its franchise owners, 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 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.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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Dream Vacations Celebrates Five Years as an Experiential Travel Agency Franchise

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 5, 2021) – April 2021 marks the fifth anniversary of leading travel agency franchise Dream Vacations, which launched as the sister brand to CruiseOne^® in response to the need for an all-encompassing brand name that speaks to all types of vacation experiences.

“The equity of a powerful brand name such as Dream Vacations was never so apparent as it was this year when cruises stopped sailing as a result of COVID-19,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “We were able to capitalize on the name this year as our travel advisors refocused their efforts on selling land vacations, since this was the first vacation-type to return, all while inspiring their customers to dream about their next cruise vacation. Plus, we were able to quickly and seamlessly pivot our initial training to be entirely virtual so we could continue onboarding new Dream Vacations franchisees. In fact, we are experiencing growth of new agencies because travel advisors see the value in having a brand name that speaks to more than cruise, but one that also inspires, especially in this current environment.”

Since launching Dream Vacations, land-based vacation sales have increased by double-digits each year as a result of the innovative marketing programs, training resources and technology tools created for its network of travel advisors. Engaging videos and virtual events such as the recently rebranded “Take Me Away” series; enticing consumer promotions; and social media and direct mail assets, have kept consumers connected with Dream Vacations travel advisors. Consumer websites that have a strong land presence, including a partnership with Villas of Distinction to create a dedicated luxury villas landing page, also contributed to this growth. Other programs launched over the past five years that enhance the Dream Vacations agent experience include but are not limited to the creation of the Travel Planner app and the development of land booking technology, which consists of a collaboration with GOGO Vacations for reservation pull functionality, both of which simplify the process of booking resort vacations and sharing vacation itineraries.

“When I purchased my Dream Vacations franchise five years ago, I knew I had made the right decision. Not only was I attracted to the name Dream Vacations and what it represents, but I was looking for a good business investment with a company that would offer innovative strategies for marketing our travel products, and I wanted to build on my sales and marketing expertise with a solid brand,” said Julie Vowell, Dream Vacations franchise owner and vacation specialist in Missouri City, Texas. “Dream Vacations fit the bill, and continues to support my efforts, even through the most challenging year in the history of the travel industry. From weekly engagement calls offering support and motivation, to new and fun additions to our marketing strategy, I am confident that with the professional assistance Dream Vacations provides, my business will thrive and grow exponentially in 2022 and beyond.”

Today, more than 85 percent of its travel agent franchise owners operate under the Dream Vacations brand and nearly 100 percent join as Dream Vacations. To learn more about joining the travel agency franchise that cares more about its franchise owners, 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 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.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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This Is No April Fool’s Joke — Cheap Cruises is Giving Away a Trip to Mexico

A cruise company giving away a resort vacation … yes, and the site is selling resort vacations now too

Wilmington, Mass. (April 1, 2021) – The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped Cheap Cruises in its tracks. In addition to launching a redesigned website, Cheap Cruises’ customers can now book select resort vacations in Mexico and the Caribbean. To celebrate, it’s giving a Grand Prize winner a free vacation to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico and a Runner-Up will win a Carnival cruise.

“What’s cheaper than a cheap vacation – a free vacation! At this point, we’re seeing more people hopping on flights to some of our top destinations throughout the Caribbean and Mexico and we want to build on that excitement by giving away free vacations. And even if you’re not a winner, you still win because through our industry connections we’ve negotiated some amazing low rates at several all-inclusive resorts and bonus cruise perks just for our customers,” said Rosemarie Reed, senior vice president of Cheap Cruises. “Don’t let the name Cheap Cruises fool you. Our newly designed website includes both resort and cruise options and is a great resource to stay on top of the new travel safety guidelines, countries and cruise lines opening up.”

The new site speaks to the Cheap Cruises customer who is a younger, more budget-conscious traveler with less time to spend on vacations. They are mobile warriors, price sensitive, youthful, social media experts and are looking for cool, new experiences or adventures.

In addition to a new logo and tagline, Cheap Cruises’ redesigned website is clean, bright, fun, and has an edgy vibe. The new cheeky messaging plays into the brand’s personality. One of the most impactful features is the new and improved search functionality that is fully dynamic allowing customers to get quick results by typing in where they would like to go, departure city or port of call, including private islands. It also offers suggested search results so, for example, if someone starts typing the letter “M” it suggests Mexico, Miami, Monte Carlo and so on. This will be very familiar to customers because it works very similar to major search engines. Other features include offering the ability to specify a date range of when they want to vacation, quickly filtering results by destination, cruise lines, and ships.

The sweepstakes runs from now to May 21, 2021. To enter, customers can enter basic contact information on the Cheap Cruises Vacay Giveaway sweepstakes page.

To book your next cruise, or resort vacation in Mexico or the Caribbean, visit CheapCruises.com or call 1-800-972-7447.

About Cheap Cruises
Cheap Cruises is always on deck to help cruisers get away for way less, offering exclusive deals only found here. With its laidback, super-fun vibe, customers can easily find the vacation of their dreams that’s also easy on their wallets. www.CheapCruises.com

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