Dream Vacations’/CruiseOne®’s Leading Travel Professionals Celebrate In Style Aboard Seabourn Odyssey

Dream Vacations’/CruiseOne®’s Leading Travel Professionals Celebrate In Style Aboard Seabourn Odyssey

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 14, 2022) – Dream Vacations/CruiseOne® recently recognized its top-producing travel agency franchise owners, who are members of the home-based network’s prestigious “Circle of Excellence,” with a luxury experience aboard the Seabourn Odyssey which traveled from Bridgetown, Barbados to Oranjestad, Aruba.

“Due to the pandemic, the Circle of Excellence members have been waiting two long years to celebrate their success which made it an extra special trip,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations/CruiseOne. “I am beyond proud of their perseverance and dedication during one of the most difficult times in the travel industry. Despite these challenges, they never stopped taking on leadership roles within our organization as mentors and engaged community members.”

The cruise also visited the Southern Caribbean islands, including St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Dominica, Bonaire and Curacao. Throughout the week, the attendees spent time with each other reconnecting after being apart for two years and were treated to several “Seabourn Moments” throughout the week, including the signature Beach Bash where they enjoyed champagne and caviar in the surf.

The Circle of Excellence reward trip provides top-selling agents not only with unique vacation experiences, but also the opportunity to network in an intimate environment with key suppliers from the travel industry, as well as members of the Dream Vacations/CruiseOne leadership team, including Chief Operating Officer Debbie Fiorino, Senior Vice President and General Manager Drew Daly, Senior Vice President of Product and Operations David Crooks, Senior Vice President of Human Resources Loren Kennedy, Vice President of Operations Joelle Delva and Network Sales and Support Director Dawn Gillis. Other VIP guests and trip sponsors included:

  • Erin Douglas, senior director, strategic partnerships at Carnival Cruise Line
  • Barbara Julian, strategic market manager at Celebrity Cruises
  • Brennan Quesnele, vice president, sales at GOGO Vacations
  • Kayla Corbett, senior manager, key accounts at Norwegian Cruise Line
  • Glen Rothe, vice president of sales, key and national accounts at Norwegian Cruise Line
  • Joseph Eastep, senior director, strategic accounts at Oceania
  • Shanel Knight, strategic accounts director at Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  • Mary Lynch, director of sales, southeast region at Royal Caribbean
  • Galen Mathews, director of sales at Royal Caribbean
  • Steve Smotrys, vice president, global sales at Seabourn
  • Pierre van Breda, deputy director, global charter, incentive and group sales at Seabourn
  • Wendy Whitener, director, North America sales at Seabourn

“The Circle of Excellence trip this year was amazing,” said Trapper Martin, franchise owner of Trapper Martin, Shane Smartt & Associates – Dream Vacations. “We had several new members join us making the peer-to-peer interaction even more valuable while also enjoying time with old friends and longtime members of the group. This was our first time sailing on Seabourn and we loved it! The Seabourn experience was valuable to us because we were able to get a more intimate feeling of the product. The best part of Circle of Excellence trips is really getting to know or get reacquainted with suppliers, many of whom have become friends. This trip is all about relationship building and celebrating our successes with very little shop talk, which may surprise many. It is just one of the many elements of the trip that make it extra special.”

Dream Vacations also recently held their second River Summit which was a huge success aboard AmaWaterways AmaMagna. On the full ship charter, roughly 150 attendees came together to learn more about what the river cruise experience is like while sailing the Danube River. Other upcoming in-person learning events include Regional Trainings in San Diego, Calif., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Cleveland, Ohio; Land, Marketing and Luxury Summits; the annual National Conference onboard Norwegian Encore.

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

About Dream Vacations / 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 / CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations / 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 / CruiseOne 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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CruiseOne®/Dream Vacations Celebrates 30 Years as a Franchise with Longest Promotion Ever

CruiseOne®/Dream Vacations Celebrates 30 Years as a Franchise with Longest Promotion Ever

The exclusive ‘Spring Ka-Ching’ anniversary promotion is good for cruise, resort and villa vacations 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 1, 2022) – Travel agency franchise CruiseOne® along with its sister brand Dream Vacations, is celebrating 30 years as a travel agency franchise with is longest-running promotion ever. The ‘Spring Ka-Ching’ anniversary promotion is available on all cruise, resort and villa vacation bookings from April 1 – 18, 2022, for travel June 1 – December 31, 2022. Consumers who book during this time will receive up to a $200 onboard credit for a cruise and up to a $150 credit on resort and villa vacation bookings.

“We are so proud of the success our CruiseOne/Dream Vacations franchisees and our corporate headquarters team has had over the last 30 years,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for CruiseOne and Dream Vacations. “What better way to celebrate than to provide travelers with one of our richest and longest-running promotions ever on three vacation types – cruise, resort and villa vacations.”

The ‘Spring Ka-Ching’ anniversary promotion is combinable with current cruise line and resort offers. Consumers can take advantage of exclusive offers including Royal Caribbean up to $200 onboard spending, plus free pre-paid gratuities as well as Mexico Resorts offer of up to $150 resort credits, plus up to $600 resort credits.

CruiseOne/Dream Vacations has been creating seamless vacation experiences for its customers while offering the best value. Travel advisors with CruiseOne/Dream Vacations offer exquisite one-on-one personal attention walking travelers through the entire vacation planning process while offering exceptional low prices that are at times lower than “cruise line direct prices” or “online agencies.” The travel agency franchise 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.

To take advantage of the ‘Spring Ka-Ching’ promotion, visit DreamVacations.com or call 1-800-278-4736.

About CruiseOne® / Dream Vacations
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 / CruiseOne franchisees have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. Dream Vacations / 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 / CruiseOne 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 Franchise Owners Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Franchising

Dream Vacations Franchise Owners Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Franchising

Captain Mark and Kathy Furlan of Laguna Woods, Calif. Honored by the International Franchise Association

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (March 9, 2022) – Dream Vacations franchisees Captain Mark and Kathy Furlan were recently honored by the International Franchise Association with its annual Franchisee of the Year Award.

“After more than 17 years as a travel advisor with Dream Vacations, being nominated and then chosen to receive this award is a humbling experience,” said Captain Mark Furlan, Dream Vacations franchise owner and corporate ambassador of veteran affairs. “With the support and encouragement of our Dream Vacations headquarters staff in Florida I was able to grow my niche travel business by focusing on custom groups for Military Veterans and Faith-Based Pilgrimages, while still assisting families and individuals in planning their River Cruises and ‘dream vacations’.”

The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchisees who exemplify at least one of IFA’s “Open for Opportunity” core pillars: Community, Workforce, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Veterans.

“Mark and Kathy are engaged franchise owners who have grown their franchise by focusing on niche travel opportunities and we are thrilled to have them represent Dream Vacations,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations. “They exemplify what it takes to be a successful franchise owner – active in their community, mentors and supporters of veterans everywhere, as well as other travel advisors within the network.”

“Franchisee of the Year Awards are the highest honors presented to individual franchisees,” said Matthew Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. “These local business owners, like the Furlans, represent some of the best entrepreneurs in the country, and we are proud to recognize their contributions to their communities, their employees, and all those they serve.”

A recent IFA study showed that franchising helped lead U.S. economic recovery in 2021, with exceptional job and business growth across all franchising sectors. The industry on average provides higher wages, better benefits, and more leave than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater opportunities to underserved communities and aspiring entrepreneurs, according to Oxford Economics research.

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

Photo Cutline (From L to R): Captain Mark Furlan, Dream Vacations Franchise Owner; Joelle Delva, Vice President of Operations, Dream Vacations; Kathy Furlan, Dream Vacations Franchise Owner; and Catherine Monson, Exiting Chair of the IFA board and CEO & President of Propelled Brands.

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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Travel Advisor Wins National Business Award In Celebration of Women’s History Month

Travel Advisor Wins National Business Award In Celebration of Women’s History Month

Dream Vacations honors female travel advisor with OPAL Award for leadership and community service 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (March 8, 2021) – Leading home-based travel agency Dream Vacations celebrates Women’s History Month in March by honoring a female vacation specialist with the OPAL Award for Women. The company has named Dream Vacations Franchisee Ellen Overcast the 2022 recipient of this prestigious award.

The OPAL Award recognizes a female franchise owner who exemplifies Outstanding Performance And Leadership. The honorees are active in community and civic organizations and demonstrate leadership within Dream Vacations. This year’s award also celebrates women who not only survived but thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic by reinventing themselves and their businesses.

“Ellen not only created new ways to do business during the pandemic, but she continued to devote time to serving her community through volunteering and fundraising,” said Debbie Fiorino, chief operating officer for Dream Vacations. “She epitomizes what it means to be an OPAL winner, and I am honored to present Ellen with the 2022 OPAL Award.”

A resident of Kutztown, Pa., Overcast has been a travel franchise owner since June 2010, starting her franchise as CruiseOne and transitioning to its sister brand Dream Vacations in 2016. Overcast sponsored the annual dinner for the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in converting it from a live event to a virtual one. She created “The Chamber Gang” and produced videos at each of the participating restaurants to promote the event. During the pandemic, she also reached out to several fellow franchise owners to participate in a virtual Murder Mystery so that they could stay connected. Overcast also serves on the Board of Friend Inc., volunteers at the local food pantry and will be the President of the Kutztown Rotary Club starting this July. These are just a few examples of how she found creative ways to stay connected to her community so that, as the pent-up demand for travel returns, she is top of mind.

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

For more information on joining this award-winning agency, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com to learn more about owning a Dream Vacations travel franchise.

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 Launches Revolutionary Independent Travel Advisor Program

Dream Vacations Launches Revolutionary Independent Travel Advisor Program

Independent contractors are matched with established travel agency franchises to be become associates 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (March 3, 2022) – Travel agency franchise Dream Vacations is expanding its business opportunity offerings with the launch of its one-of-a-kind Dream Vacations Advisor program, which matches people who want to become independent travel advisors with existing, successful travel agency franchise owners. For $39 a month, people with a passion for travel who want to work at home, have a flexible lifestyle and score travel perks can become independent contractors without the responsibility of business ownership.

“We have been creating business opportunities for independent contractors in the travel industry for 40 years and know what it takes to give them the tools they need to succeed,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. “We have the infrastructure in place and industry connections through our affiliation with World Travel Holdings to make becoming a Dream Vacations independent travel advisor a lucrative side hustle, part-time job or career.”

Becoming an independent Dream Vacations travel advisor is a three-step process.

  1. Talk to Our Team. A member of the Dream Vacations team will reach out to prospective travel advisors to educate them about the opportunity and learn what is on their travel agency wish list.
  1. Meet Your Mentor. Based on discussions, Dream Vacations will match the prospective travel advisor with an established Dream Vacations travel agency franchise owner.
  1. Sign-Up for $39. This monthly fee will give independent travel advisors access to virtual training, their own consumer-facing website, marketing tools such as emails and social media, and a mentor who will be there as support and guide the independent advisor along the way. 

Like the host agency business model, Dream Vacations independent travel advisors earn a commission split on every vacation sold, and in exchange, receive access to award-winning support, training, marketing and technology resources. Independent travel advisors also have access to a plethora of free or discounted travel opportunities.

This is a new program for people interested in becoming an independent travel advisor with a current franchise owner. For more information on becoming a Dream Vacations Advisor, please visit DreamVacationsAdvisor.com or call 888-400-9827.

Those interested in owning a Dream Vacations travel franchise can still do so by visiting DreamVacationsFranchise.com.

About Dream Vacations Advisor
Independent travel advisors with top-ranked Dream Vacations travel agency franchises 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 the Dream Vacations independent travel advisor opportunity, visit DreamVacationsAdvisor.com. Like Dream Vacations Advisor on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsAdvisor/, follow on Instagram at dreamvacationsadvisor and watch its videos at http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsAdvisorOpportunity.

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Dream Vacations Ranked Best Travel Agency Franchise In Entrepreneur’s Highly Competitive Franchise 500®

Dream Vacations Ranked Best Travel Agency Franchise In Entrepreneur’s Highly Competitive Franchise 500®

The home-based travel agency ranks in the top 100 and is #1 in the travel franchise category 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (January 11, 2022) – Dream Vacations was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. An invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the 2022 Franchise 500® ranks Dream Vacations as number one in the travel category, 82 across all industries, and in the top 16 percent of all franchise opportunities for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

“The past year has been one of the most challenging for businesses in recent memory, which made putting together our 43rd annual Franchise 500 list more enlightening than ever,” says Entrepreneur Editor in Chief Jason Feifer. “The companies named to this year’s list showed us how being resilient, supportive, and nimble can help navigate extraordinary challenges and also underscore the grit and innovation that define entrepreneurship.”

In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 43-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors that go into the evaluation, including:

  • Costs and fees
  • Size and growth
  • Support
  • Brand strength
  • Financial strength and stability.

Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.

“It is always an honor to be included on the Franchise 500® list, but this year’s ranking is extra special not only because we were named the best in our category, but because the metrics speak to the power of the Dream Vacations brand, the success of our franchise owners and the financial stability of our parent company World Travel Holdings,” said Drew Daly, general manager and senior vice president of Dream Vacations. “While many organizations have shrunk in size, we continue to expand our team as the network continues to grow each year. In fact, 2021 was one of our best years in recruitment, which shows that people are ready to join the fun travel industry, and they want to be associated with a brand that speaks to all vacation experiences. With consumers recognizing the value of a travel advisor and the incredible pent-up demand for travel, now is the time to affiliate with a trusted travel agency franchise that helps advisors grow their business.”

Dream Vacations has always prided itself on the support it provides to its travel agency franchise owners, and during the past two years of the pandemic the franchisor has doubled down on its efforts. From investing millions in funding commercial loans and hosting industry-wide training events to creating new technology tools and marketing assets, Dream Vacations is committed to the success of its network and has proven to be a business opportunity that can withstand the test of time.

Over its 43 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Dream Vacations’ position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

To view Dream Vacations in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. 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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