Dream Vacations Celebrates 11 Years of Awarding Free Travel Agency Franchises to Military Veterans

Dream Vacations Celebrates 11 Years of Awarding Free Travel Agency Franchises to Military Veterans

Top travel agency franchise for veterans has given away 58 free home-based travel businesses since 2012  

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (December 13, 2022) – One of the leading travel agency franchise for veterans, Dream Vacations, recently awarded two military veterans with free travel franchises as part of its 11th annual award-winning annual business plan contest “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General.” To celebrate the milestone, one military veteran also won the grand prize of a cabin at the Dream Vacations’ 2023 National Conference aboard the exciting Carnival Celebration. Currently more than 35 percent of franchise owners within Dream Vacations are military veterans and in the past decade, the travel agency franchise has awarded 58 free franchises valued at more than half-a-million dollars to deserving military veterans.

“Our military veterans and their families have sacrificed so much so that we can live the American Dream. Therefore, it’s a privilege to be able to support their entrepreneurial dreams,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “As I do every year, I am amazed at the quality of candidates. With the travel industry booming, I can’t wait to see what this year’s recruits accomplish.”

The Dream Vacations franchise contest was open to former members of any of the six branches of the U.S. military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard) who are retired, off active duty and/or honorably discharged prior to the contest start date this past July and 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. Nearly 4,000 people have applied for franchise ownership through Operation Vetrepreneur since 2012.

This year’s winners are Army Veteran Crystal Ureta of Kingwood, Texas, who also won a berth at the 2023 National Conference cruise and U.S. Coast Guard Veteran Lara Herrmann of Albany, Ore.

“I am ecstatic that I was chosen as one of the winners of a Dream Vacations Franchise,” said Vetrepreneur winner Herrmann. “It’s great to know that my military service is appreciated and that my years of being an entrepreneur helped get me to this point! I love travel, and I already feel so supported by the Dream Vacations staff to propel this opportunity into a huge success! I can’t wait to get started!”

All military veterans 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 more than $5,000, which includes waived administrative fees valued at $1,350. 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. It was ranked the #2 franchise for veterans by Entrepreneur magazine in 2022, 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 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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Villas of Distinction® Announces 12 Exclusive Offers

Villas of Distinction® Announces 12 Exclusive Offers

These 12 special offers are guaranteed to elevate the villa vacation experience

Wakefield, Mass. (December 6, 2022) – This holiday season, Villas of Distinction®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company, is offering 12 days of 12 ways guests can elevate their villa vacation experience. Each day there is an exclusive offer at select villas in different destinations that runs through December 16, 2022, for travel from January 8 – December 17, 2023.

“When Villas of Distinction books a villa vacation for our guests, we are offering more than just a villa stay, we provide a fully-customized destination experience,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “We can’t think of a better way to kick off the holiday season than providing exclusive offers to our guests that will add value to their vacation, making it even more extraordinary.”

  • Day 1: A warm welcome is guaranteed when guests arrive at their villa in Italy with a welcome basket filled with local Italian delicacies unique to every villa.
  • Day 2: Guests can unwind during a tropical getaway in Jamaica with a 60-minute massage in the privacy of their home-away-from-home with spectacular ocean views included.
  • Day 3: complimentary golf cart rental will elevate a Dominican Republic resort-style villa stay by making transportation to activities seamless.
  • Day 4: A one-hour Swedish massage takes relaxation to another level in St. Martin.
  • Day 5: A trip to Los Cabos, Mexico would not be complete without enjoying a complimentary in-villa Tequila Tasting experience.
  • Day 6: Guests will enjoy exploring local attractions with a Legends and Icons Tour in Palm Springs, Calif. on the house.
  • Day 7: Villas of Distinction can complete a winter trip to Utah with complimentary ski rental and delivery service.
  • Day 8: Take the guesswork out of travel with complimentary airport transfers in Anguilla.
  • Day 9: Guests will be treated like VIPs with airport fast-track services in Barbados.
  • Day 10: An activity credit allows guests to experience Grand Cayman’s offerings, like Sting Ray City.
  • Day 11: When guests want to take a break from Las Vegas, they can experience one of the seven engineering wonders of the world with a complimentary Hoover Dam Tour.
  • Day 12: A trip to France wouldn’t be the same without a chance to indulge in an immersive in-villa wine tasting or an exploratory wine tour.

For more information about the “12 Ways to Elevate Your Villas Experience” promotion and its terms and conditions, visit the Villas of Distinction website or call 1-800-289-0900.

About Villas of Distinction®
Villas of Distinction®, as part of World Travel Holdings, is an award-winning, full-service 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. Travel Advisors have named Villas of Distinction “Best Villa Rental Company Overall” in the annual Travvy Awards since 2015. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

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It’s a Wrap! Travel Industry Icons Close Dream Vacations and CruiseOne National Conference

It’s a Wrap! Travel Industry Icons Close Dream Vacations and CruiseOne National Conference

Nearly $115,000 raised for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (November 22, 2022) – A full house gathered at the Encore Theater aboard the Norwegian Encore for the final general session of the 2022 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® National Conference.  World Travel Holdings Co-CEO/Chairman Brad Tolkin shared his thoughts about the road ahead for leisure travel and Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, had inspirational words of wisdom to motivate the travel advisors about growing their businesses in the upcoming year.

Tolkin provided expert insight into what’s to come for the cruise industry in 2023 and inspired agents to keep the momentum moving forward. He shared the impressive numbers Dream Vacations and CruiseOne advisors have generated. Cruise bookings are up more than 23% and cruise pricing is 6% higher compared to 2019. Land bookings and pricing have also benefited from the demand for leisure travel. Land bookings are up more than 33%, with pricing 18% higher compared to 2019.

“We are now not talking about how we will survive, but instead speaking about how we will thrive. Every statistic for cruise and non-cruise is outpacing 2019, which was our network’s best year ever,” said Tolkin. “I hope you are buckled up because the great wave of leisure travel will not stop.”

Also during the closing general session, World Travel Holdings Senior Vice President of Product & Operations David Crooks sat down with Norwegian Cruise Line President and CEO Harry Sommer for a Q&A. Recently, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it would pay travel advisors commission on non-commissionable fares (NCFs). Sommer also revealed to the audience that Norwegian was experiencing some of the best weeks in the history of the company overall and in trade sales.

A reflective presentation by Daly on how everyone can move forward by taking life and business one step at a time closed the 2022 National Conference. He inspired and encouraged the crowd of travel advisors to focus on kindness to oneself and gratitude. Daly was then joined on stage by Debbie Fiorino, chief operating officer of owned brands for World Travel Holdings, about their favorite moments and key takeaways from this year’s conference.

More than 700 participants celebrated and walked away with a greater sense of belonging. The generosity of the Dream Vacations and CruiseOne attendees resulted in nearly $115,000 raised for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida through onboard fundraisers including a private Encore Speedway racetrack event, 50/50 raffle, private auction and Zumba® at Sea.

“The last seven days have been filled with inspiration, networking, new friendships and fun,” said Daly. “This year’s National Conference ended on a high note, and we will continue the momentum through 2023, picking up where we left off when we board Carnival Cruise’s Celebration for next year’s National Conference.”

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.

Photo Cutline: The 2022 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne National Conference Onboard Norwegian Encore. (Photo Credit: Reeves Watson Photography.) 

About Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 
A member of the International Franchise Association, the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise CruiseOne® has been in operation since 1992, and its sister brand Dream Vacations launched in April 2016, giving franchisees a choice in how they want to brand their travel business. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne 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, 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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New Marketing Tools Headline Third General Session at Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 2022 National Conference

New Marketing Tools Headline Third General Session at Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 2022 National Conference

New Agent Directory, Revamped Home Surveys, and More Revealed  

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (November 18, 2022) – On board the Norwegian Encore, the third general session of the 2022 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® National Conference was jam packed with the announcement of several innovative marketing initiatives.

“We are constantly innovating and delivering effective tools to help our network of travel advisors transform their businesses through marketing initiatives and lead generation tools that help them to increase visibility and credibly.” said Alicia Linden, director of marketing for Dream Vacations and CruiseOne.

Linden introduced exciting updates that energized the crowd: 

Agent Directory. The marketing team will soon roll out a new and improved Agent Directory. With the new platform’s SEO capabilities, this Agent Directory is guaranteed to increase advisor’s organic search results. In addition, advisors can build more robust profiles featuring a unique value proposition and post blogs to enhance search engine optimization.

Revamped Welcome Home Surveys. Historically, one of the quickest ways to find new customers is via word-of-mouth, which is an effective strategy. However, in the technologically advanced world we live in, word-of-mouth is not always face-to-face; instead, it’s now done primarily through online business reviews. That’s why these surveys that customers receive upon returning home will now be linked to a Google My Business or Facebook profile so customers can leave public reviews. And to help increase participation, customers will be offered a sweepstakes incentive of $1,000 when leaving an honest review.

Personalized Videos. These video templates will incorporate the advisor’s business contact information, providing a professionally produced video that can be promoted on YouTube, social media, blogs, etc. granting increased exposure and generating leads.

Creative Asset Redesign. From automated trigger emails and custom website banners, advisors will receive an improved design including increased diversity and representation in marketing assets as a result of the updated design, agents will also be able to brand themselves more cohesively and professionally reinforcing the advisor’s value proposition and keeping customers engaged.

In addition to these exciting announcements, the Marketing team hosted and recorded three workshops:

  • 5-Star Ratings: Capturing Customer Reviews
  • Video as a Marketing tool: Ready, Set, Edit!
  • Facebook Messenger – Get Discovered

This year’s National Conference featured a discussion moderated by World Travel Holdings Senior Vice President of Product & Operations David Crooks with Norwegian Cruise Line Senior Vice President of Sales Todd Hamilton. Recently, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will pay travel advisors commission on non-commissionable fares (NCFs).

To follow the excitement this week aboard Norwegian Encore, use the #2022ForwardConference hashtag.

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.

Photo Cutline: Reeves Watson Photography. Alicia Linden, Director of Marketing for Dream Vacations/CruiseOne unveils new marketing innovations. 

About Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 
A member of the International Franchise Association, the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise CruiseOne® has been in operation since 1992, and its sister brand Dream Vacations launched in April 2016, giving franchisees a choice in how they want to brand their travel business. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne 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, 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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Top Travel Agents Recognized During Awards Ceremony at 2022 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne National Conference

Top Travel Agents Recognized During Awards Ceremony at 2022 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne National Conference

Trapper Martin, Shane Smartt & Associates Win the Bobbye Haupt Franchise of the Year Award 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (November 17, 2022) – It was a star-studded and emotional evening filled with laughter, tears, and awe at the Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® annual awards ceremony hosted by Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager, Joelle Delva, vice president of operations, and Dawn Gillis, director of network sales and support. The interactive and engaging ceremony featured a hilarious game show with company leaders and mesmerizing performances.

Last year, the Franchise of the Year Award was re-named the Bobbye Haupt Franchise of the Year Award in memory of a beloved franchisee who passed away in September 2021. She led by example, inspired many, and left a legacy in our network. Under the leadership of franchise owners Trapper Martin and Shane Smartt, Trapper Martin, Shane Smartt & Associates were recognized as this year’s Bobbye Haupt Franchise of the Year Award honorees. Martin’s and Smartt’s engagement with headquarters and their peers within the network, as well as their commitment to the Advisory Council, community involvement, and always helping others, makes them deserving of this recognition.

Trapper Martin, Shane Smartt & Associates Martin have been featured in Entrepreneur magazine for selling more than $1 million in vacations. Martin also grabbed headlines after the pandemic of the importance of using a travel advisor WESH-TV (NBC – Orlando).  What makes Trapper and Shane’s accomplishments even more impressive is how they’re able to run a very successful business while always being on the move. They’ve been constantly traveling since October 2021, and it’s been easier to track how many days they’ve been at their home in Orlando, Fla. versus on the road, in the air or on a cruise ship. Their ability to successfully run a business from home reflects the trend of being able to work dynamically as long as they have access to the internet and cellular signals.

Once again, this year’s awards ceremony featured a virtual and in-person component so all advisors could participate in the annual extravaganza. The at-home virtual ceremony featured departmental awards where advisors were recognized for their sales, marketing, public relations, social media, IT, and more. Onboard, the ceremony honored those who served the network by participating on a committee, those with milestone anniversaries, and top-producing advisors.

To follow the excitement this week aboard Norwegian Encore, use the #2022ForwardConference hashtag.

Please visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com to learn more about owning a Dream Vacations and CruiseOne travel franchise.

About Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 
A member of the International Franchise Association, the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise CruiseOne® has been in operation since 1992, and its sister brand Dream Vacations launched in April 2016, giving franchisees a choice in how they want to brand their travel business. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne 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, 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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Cutting Edge Technology Solutions for Group Vacation Bookings Revealed at Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 2022 National Conference

Cutting Edge Technology Solutions for Group Vacation Bookings Revealed at Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 2022 National Conference

VP of IT Sandi Szalay Announces New Augmented Groups Application and COO Debbie Fiorino Delivers a Motivational Address    

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (November 15, 2022) – On the second full day at sea of the Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® National Conference aboard Norwegian Encore, the travel agency franchise  announced an innovative technology for booking group cruise and land vacations. This new application is tailored to the needs of its network of travel advisors and gives them a competitive advantage.

The crowd went wild when Vice President of Information Technology Sandi Szalay unveiled the release of Dream Vacations’ and CruiseOne’s new Groups Application. “We know that selling groups is a very profitable opportunity for our travel advisors,” said Szalay. “We worked with travel advisors on our IT Committee to get their perspective throughout the build. The streamlined and more user-friendly Groups Application is going to motivate those who are not booking groups to take that first step while helping the groups experts take this aspect of their business to the next level.”

The new application, which is designed for growing group business, is compatible with multiple devices and browsers. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchise owners, veterans, and newcomers provided video testimonials to accompany the announcement. Their testimonials describe how they sell groups successfully and what they most enjoy.

“Since I do a lot of groups, I am really looking forward to the rollout of the Groups Application,” said Stacey Harrington, a Dream Vacations Franchise Owner from Spotsylvania, Virginia. “I love it as a Mac person, it will be a lot easier to book groups. I love having my business portable and, on the go, and this will grant me the ability to use my Mac laptop, desktop, phone, and tablet to book my clients and deliver remarkable experiences.

With the theme of “Forward,” Chief Operating Officer of Owned Brands Debbie Fiorino delivered a powerful message about moving forward despite change. Debbie reminded the audience that change is inevitable and to not let the way things are ‘supposed to be’ or circumstances that can’t be controlled get in the way. As part of the presentation, Fiorino said to achieve success, you have focus on you, on your business, not the competition or what others are doing.

“I love how every year we seem to find the exact word for our conference theme that expresses where we are and where we are going,” said Fiorino, chief operating officer of owned brands for Dream Vacations and CruiseOne. “When I use the word forward, I am referring to the meaning, progressing and improving. Our agents are making the most of their learning and networking experiences onboard and I know they will hit the ground running with new ideas for their business when we return to shore.”

Earlier in the cruise, Dream Vacations and CruiseOne travel advisors learned how to focus, declutter their thoughts, and stay on task by practicing mindfulness meditation. The workshop was conducted by Jo-Annye Von Born, a certified professional coach, who helped participants learn simple yet effective techniques for empowering agents to work and live at their best. A mindfulness practice aims to improve self-management, which is the ability to manage your thoughts and emotions to make better decisions both in your personal and professional lives. A calm and focused mind allows you to manage your time and prioritize tasks more effectively.

To follow the excitement this week aboard Norwegian Encore, use the #2022ForwardConference hashtag.

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.

About Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 
A member of the International Franchise Association, the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise CruiseOne® has been in operation since 1992, and its sister brand Dream Vacations launched in April 2016, giving franchisees a choice in how they want to brand their travel business. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne 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, 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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Dream Vacations Wins Five 2022 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards

Dream Vacations Wins Five 2022 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards

Four Gold and one Silver for its one-of-a-kind initiatives, turnkey marketing tools and fully funded exclusive promotions for its franchisees 

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (October 26, 2022)Travel Weekly, a top travel industry trade publication, recognized Dream Vacations with five Magellan Awards. Many of the winning entries are programs that are industry firsts and unique to the Dream Vacations travel agency franchise.

“Our marketing team’s creativity and the new easy-to-implement marketing tools they create in support of our franchisees and associates consistently receive outstanding feedback from our network of travel advisors,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations. “Support in marketing a business is one of the most important ingredients and franchisor can provide its franchisees and to see our marketing team recognized for their innovation with these Magellan Awards is a true honor.”

Gold Winners 

The Associate Websites, a first-of-its-kind in the industry, launched in March 2022 as an innovative marketing resource. The program provides associates with their own dedicated websites so prospective and current clients are not directed to their franchise owner’s site. This gives associates more freedom to market themselves as the agent of record, while also allowing them to increase their productivity and grow their business footprint. In addition, these sites allow customers to subscribe to the associate’s emails and sweepstakes — all identifying the associate as the agent of record.

The Dream Vacations Advisor Program matches people who want to become independent travel advisors with existing, successful travel agency franchise owners. Because of the program, people with a passion for travel can become independent contractors without the responsibility of business ownership. This creates a dynamic relationship benefiting both parties and fostering growth for the Dream Vacations franchise owner.

Dream Vacations is the only travel franchise to fund exclusive offers on behalf of its franchise owners and has fully funded $4 million annually in exclusive promotions, national branding, and marketing programs to help its network of travel advisors grow their business. An example of this is the ‘Spring Ka-Ching’ promotion which launched in April 2022 and was available on cruise, resort and villa vacation bookings and it was fully funded on behalf of franchise owners. This is the first time the travel agency franchise has run a promotion this long that includes all three vacation types — cruise, resort, and villa. In addition, all fully funded promotions are combinable with travel supplier offers, creating a rich reward to the customer while giving the agent with a marketplace advantage.

Automated Marketing for Social Media, Reviews and Email help franchise owners and their associates easily market to their clients and prospective customers. In addition, advisors can make data-driven decisions when adjusting their marketing strategy and messaging to increase their customer engagement.

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, which has proven to increase organic search results and lead generation. 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.

“In marketing, we pride ourselves on being Built for Growth — which means innovation never stops,” said Alicia Linden, director of marketing for Dream Vacations. “We’re constantly looking to improve our marketing and deliver effective tools to help our agents grow their business by engaging with customers, generating leads and driving bookings.”

The email and digital marketing program is integrated with the franchise’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.

Silver Winner

The Quarterly Sweepstakes are implemented and fully funded on behalf of franchise owners where their customers can enter to win a free vacation. Through the automated and turnkey program, the franchise has given away a variety of vacations including river cruises, luxury villa stays, cruises, resort vacations and more. The sweepstakes take place once every quarter and are promoted via the franchise owners’ email, social media, websites and in-person events. The goal is to help build the franchisee’s email database as every unique email address entered for a chance to win also becomes an email subscriber.

The Magellan Awards honor outstanding design, marketing and services in a broad range of industry segments including Hospitality, Travel Destinations, Cruise Lines, Online Travel Services, Airlines and Airports, Travel Agents and Agencies, Tour Operators and Ground Transportation.

“Each year’s Magellan entries are an impressive display of innovation and creativity in the industry, and this year’s were particularly special. It’s a testament to the incredible work done over the last year, and a collective desire to not only meet today’s consumer expectations, but exceed them,” said Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “We salute all those who entered and all those who won.”

The Magellan Awards are judged and overseen by a one-of-a-kind panel of top travel professionals representing the best names and most accomplished leaders from the industry. In determining winners, entries do not compete with one another, instead they are judged against a standard of excellence based on the long experience of Travel Weekly. To uphold this high standard of excellence, a category may have multiple winners, or may have no winners at all.

For a complete list of silver and gold winners, please visit www.travelweeklyawards.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 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.

About Travel Weekly
Travel Weekly is the most influential provider of news, research, opinion, and analysis to the North American travel trade marketplace. It reaches a broad industry audience in print, online and with face-to-face events throughout the year. Travel Weekly is a division of Secaucus, New Jersey-based Northstar Travel Media, the largest travel business-to-business travel publisher in the world.

About Northstar Travel Group
Northstar Travel Group is the leading B-to-B information and marketing solutions company serving all segments of the travel industry including leisure/retail, corporate/business travel, corporate and sports meetings, incentives, hospitality, and travel technology. Northstar is the owner of leading brands serving these travel segments. The company produces more than 100 face-to-face events in 13 countries in retail travel, hospitality, corporate travel, travel technology, sports travel, and the meetings & incentive industry. In addition, Northstar owns Phocuswright, the leading research and event producer serving the travel technology industry. Northstar

Travel Group owns the BHN Group, the leading producer of hotel investment conferences.

Northstar is also the majority shareholder in Inntopia, the leading SaaS e-commerce software business serving the mountain destination, golf, activities, and hospitality markets. Based in Rutherford, NJ, the company has seven offices in the U.S., UK, and Singapore. Northstar Travel Group is owned by funds managed by EagleTree Capital.

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High Demand for Resort Vacations the Focus at 2022 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® Land Summit

High Demand for Resort Vacations the Focus at 2022 Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® Land Summit

AMResorts and Apple Leisure Group Vacations (ALG Vacations) hosted the four-day intensive training at Dreams Onyx in Punta Cana 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 13, 2022) – Land and resort vacation business is booming for work-from-home travel advisors with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne®, with land sales up more than 50 percent in 2022 compared to 2019. The need for a travel agent training in this niche is more important than ever. Apple Leisure Group and AMResorts co-hosted the annual Dream Vacations and CruiseOne Land Summit at the Dreams Onyx in Punta Cana, D.R. During the four-day training, more than 120 travel agents participated in interactive workshops, agent panels, hotel events, and site inspections.

“It’s always a pleasure to forge closer relationships with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne agents who focus on marketing and selling land vacations,” said Jim Tedesco, vice president of sales for ALG Vacations. “The travel industry is strengthened by the relationships local businesses build with the partners they choose to work with, and ALG Vacations does not take that lightly,” Tedesco said. “This Land Summit was the perfect opportunity to showcase how we can grow stronger and more successful together.”

Dream Vacations and CruiseOne resort vacations sales are surpassing pre-pandemic numbers and its land business has continued to grow each year. This is due to the marketing programs and support Dream Vacations and CruiseOne provide its travel agency franchise owners. In addition to providing a dedicated “land brochure” which promotes everything related to resorts, escorted tours, and more, agents who subscribe to the free Automated Social Media program have access to destination-themed social media posts. Land vacations are also promoted on websites, direct mail pieces, and weekly email newsletters. Also, more emphasis has been placed on land training because of preferred relationships with more than 25 suppliers.

“Our agents benefit more from small training groups so they can engage with suppliers and each other, ultimately gaining a deeper understanding of the product,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations and CruiseOne. “Small businesses need innovation, customization, and consumer insight to grow. For our travel advisors to be successful, we ensured that our Land Summit addressed relevant best practices and provided them with the latest tools, resources, and content. It will allow them to generate new leads and keep loyal customers.”

The Land Summit concluded the 2022 Immersive Education Series, which featured intimate training opportunities on niche topics such as groups, luxury, and river cruising.

“This was my third Land Summit, and I learn something new each time! I appreciated the opportunity to interact in person with existing and new land suppliers,” said Amy Madson, owner and vacation specialist, Dream Vacations Madson & Associates. “Having these supplier relationships is beneficial to growing our land business. The resort site inspections were invaluable in helping us understand what type of clients fit at each resort we visited. Looking forward to Land Summit 2023!”

The Dream Vacations and CruiseOne family was saddened to see the reports of damage and devastation that Hurricane Fiona left in its wake. “Hurricane Fiona victims are in our thoughts and prayers,” said Daly.

For more information on owning a Dream Vacations/CruiseOne travel franchise, please visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com or call 888-249-8235.

About Dream Vacations and CruiseOne® 
A member of the International Franchise Association, the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise CruiseOne® has been in operation since 1992, and its sister brand Dream Vacations launched in April 2016, giving franchisees a choice in how they want to brand their travel business. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne 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, 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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Dream Vacations Ranked #2 Franchise for Veterans According to Entrepreneur Magazine

Dream Vacations Ranked #2 Franchise for Veterans According to Entrepreneur Magazine

Travel agency franchise tops list for sixth year in a row 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 6, 2022) – Dream Vacations recently ranked #2 in Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises for Veterans list, published in the magazine’s October/November issue. Since 2017, Dream Vacations has been ranked the top travel agency franchise for veterans by Entrepreneur magazine, always ranking either first or second out of 150 franchises nationwide.

“This is one of the lists of the year that I am most excited to share with our franchisor partners and our audience,” said Entrepreneur Senior Vice President of Franchising Liane Caruso. “The 150 companies featured here represent not just wonderful opportunities for anyone to start their entrepreneurial journey but go the extra step to provide even more support and appreciation for our veterans who have proven their ability to work hard, navigate challenges, and understand the importance of teamwork in achieving success.”

To determine the annual ranking of the Top Franchises for Veterans, Entrepreneur invited companies who offer incentives for veterans to participate in a survey about their veteran programs. From there, Entrepreneur determined their ranking of the top 150 franchises for veterans, taking into account each company’s Veteran incentive, how Veteran franchisees are attracted to and supported by the company, and how each company scored in the 2022 Franchise 500 ranking.

“Over the years, we have developed new benefits and programs to guide them and their families on a journey to become successful entrepreneurs,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations. “Our support of the military community is an honor, and we are excited to receive this recognition each year.”

Military veterans interested in starting a work-from-home business can purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency business at a 30 percent discount and receive an enlistment package valued at more than $5,000, which includes waived administrative fees valued at $1,350. In addition to having access to the Command Center, an internal portal with veteran-specific training and veteran-themed marketing assets, all veterans 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.

“Strong leadership includes a clear vision of the mission, a plan for flawless execution, and a dedication to training and equipping those who will ultimately carry out the mission to completion,” said Mark Furlan, ambassador of veteran affairs and Dream Vacations franchise owner. “That is what drew my wife and me to Dream Vacations. The HQ leadership and support teams have committed to the vision and goal of the ultimate success of Dream Vacations’ franchisees. They are dedicated to supporting, training, and equipping their network of Travel Advisors to be successful,” added Furlan, a Vietnam veteran.

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. Accolades include number one rankings from Military Times and Forbes, as well as 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.

To view Dream Vacations in the full ranking, visit https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/topfranchiseveterans. Results can also be seen in the October/November issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

Military veterans with a passion for travel and entrepreneurship who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise, 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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Villas of Distinction® Reveals Bucket List Vacation Experiences

Villas of Distinction® Reveals Bucket List Vacation Experiences

Villas of Distinction offers the most unique and fully customizable dream vacation experiences beyond the villa

Wakefield, Mass. (September 21, 2022)Villas of Distinction®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company, reveals some of its most magnificent dream villas that consumers may have on their vacation bucket list. Bucket list vacations have been a trend this year, and Villas of Distinction’s requests and numbers back this up with a nearly 32 percent increase in the average selling price compared to 2019 before travel shut down because of the pandemic.

“Based on our requests, we are finding that it is true — people who were unable to use their vacation funds during the pandemic are planning more extravagant trips, and some are even checking experiences off of their bucket list,” said Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “From private islands and overwater bungalows to castles and treehouse accommodations, anyone is sure to find the most unique and high-end vacation experiences in our portfolio.”

Private Island. For those looking for a celebrity status experience, vacationing on a private island is one way to make this dream vacation a reality. Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands is Sir Richard Branson’s private island paradise. With up to 20 bedrooms, large groups can enjoy the ultimate exclusive Caribbean getaway. Guests will find the Balinese-inspired compound situated alongside crystal-clear waters and soft sand beaches, with a team of experts anticipating their every need. From spa services to organizing water sports, there’s never a dull moment on this island retreat. The dining is also unforgettable — select chef-prepared sashimi from the floating sushi bar or sail around the island and end at Turtle Beach for drinks and lunch. The island can be rented exclusively (20 bedrooms / up to 40 guests) or individually during select Celebration Weeks throughout the year.

Overwater Bungalow. This accommodation type lands on most people’s bucket lists, and Luxury Water Villas at JOALI in Raa Atoll, Maldives are what vacation dreams are made of. Perched over clear, turquoise waters, these villas offer breathtaking views in every direction – even below. Guests might spot tropical fish or marine life swimming under the villa while taking a break from the sun in the beautifully furnished, open-air interior. Just a short walk to land, there are a variety of restaurants and bars, a kid’s club, fitness center, and more luxury resort amenities. Looking for privacy? Each guest has their own butler service, so there is no need to leave the villa. Beach villas are also available.

Castle. Imagine stepping back into the 18th century and staying in a castle, yes, a castle – one with all the modern amenities. Chartreuse de St. Emilion in Bordeaux, France, is a four-bedroom chateau. The nearly 10,000-square-foot castle is surrounded by a beautiful park and is located within the world-famous St. Emilion area, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Picturesque wine towns, vineyards, and shopping are all nearby. With a chef, housekeeping, butler, historic wine cellar, and more, guests can vacation like French royalty at this elegant chateau.

Treehouse. An even more unique bucket list experience is staying in a luxurious treehouse. Secret Bay in Dominica is nestled within a clifftop rainforest, and the luxury treehouses here are unlike any other properties. The treehouses are sustainably built, with top-of-the-line finishes and open-air living; completely private, surrounded by lush vegetation, and have five-star amenities and services. In addition, the accommodations offer a private pool, deck, and unique living spaces that provide the feeling of being suspended within the rainforest. Guests will wake to the sounds of tropical birds and soft, rolling waves on the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean.

This isn’t your traditional cabin. Bison Lodge in Revelstoke, British Columbia, sets the highest standard for mountain luxury, balancing elegance with rustic elements like harvested timber and reclaimed railway. The ski-in/ski-out property is just steps above the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort and offers endless outdoor adventure, from heliski to dogsledding and mountain biking to glacier treks. For guests who still have energy after a day of adventure, the villa’s fireplace doubles as a 28-foot climbing wall for the ultimate après ski. Plus, with complimentary massages, a private chef, and more, no one will ever want to leave this retreat.

For more information on planning a bucket list vacation, call 800-289-0900 or visit VillasofDistinction.com.

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. Travel Advisors have named Villas of Distinction “Best Villa Rental Company Overall” in the annual Travvy Awards since 2015. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

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