Travel Agent Professional June 2017 by Travel Agent Professional

Travel Agent Professional June 2017 Issue 51

Being the Architect of Your Business By Cindy Bertram

Auto Europe Renews Maine Seafood Rewards Program for 17th Year Earn Live Maine Lobsters for Business Class Package or Prestige Car Rental Auto Europe, the industry’s ﬁrst global car rental aggregator, has renewed the Maine Seafood Rewards program for Travel Agents for the 17th year. Qualiﬁed bookings include a 7-day luxury or prestige car rental or a business class airfare travel package to Europe that includes hotel and/or car. For each booking, travel agents may choose to enjoy three Maine lobsters or two pounds of salmon shipped fresh to their door. “We’ve renewed this unique incentive for the 17th year at the request of our Agent partners. We’re proud to continue this one-of-a-kind program that not only supports our Agents but our local Maine businesses as well,” said Robert Ardino, Auto Europe’s Vice President of Sales. Maine Seafood Rewards can be redeemed by the booking agent or by their client at the agent’s choice. In accordance with ASTA, Agency owners/managers may choose to exclude their agency or individual agents. The program is valid until December 31, 2017, for travel anytime in 2017 and is open to US residents only due to shipping requirements. For more information or to claim your rewards call 800-223-5555 or email tasales@autoeurope.com.

About Auto Europe With over 60 years of experience in the rental car industry, Auto Europe specializes in helping travelers ﬁnd the best car rental rates in Europe and other popular destinations around the world. Auto Europe’s deep understanding of the complexities of renting cars abroad paired with their knowledgeable team of rental specialists (available 24/7) allows Auto Europe to provide travelers with the highest quality service in the industry before, during and after their rental. To ﬁnd the best rate on a car rental for your next trip abroad or to learn more about renting a car in Europe visit www.autoeurope.com.

June 2017

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MJS Consultants

England In the FALL

http://issuu.com/action/page?page=15 By Paull Tickner

Being the Architect of Your Business

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By Cindy Bertram Cindy's Inside Cruise & Travel Track, LLC

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Cover Photo: AmaWaterwaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Auto Europe .................................IFC Britain Greatdays.............................3

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Host Travel Agency.com ...............11 RCI...................................BC

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Following World Events & Industry Trends + Referrals = Increased Sales

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Travel Agent Professional June 2017 Issue 51

Travel Agent Professional Staten Island, NY 10312 E-mail: Ann@travelagentprofessional.com Phone: 718.360.3153

Joel M. Abels

Legend In the Travel Industry April 1927 to January 2007

Ann M. Hoek Publisher/Creative Design ann@travelagentprofessional.com Bonnie Walling Editor Bonnie@travelagentprofessional.com Alan Cohen Vice President Marketing Alan@travelagentprofessional.com

Meet Our Editorial Board Paull Tickner, Creator of Special Interest Britain ptickner@customgb.co.uk www.customgb.co.uk Cindy Bertram, Cindy’s Inside Cruise & Travel Track, LLC cindybert@att.net Mitchell J. Schlesinger President, MJS Consultants mjschlesinger@bellsouth.net Les-Lee Roland Owner of The Package Deal Sue Shapiro, President Shapiro Travel Resources sue.shapiro@gmail.com www.shapirotravelresources.com Rusty Pickett, ECC Shellback Cruises www.shellbackcruises.com Sherry Laskin, ACC Travel Writer/NACTA Webinar Moderator www.cruisemaven.com This online magazine is dedicated to the memory of Joel Abels, Travel Trade's editor and publisher. Joel and his life's work may be gone, but with your help it can live on.

Travel Agent Professional has its roots in Home Based Trade, the first magazine of its kind, started by Joel Abels in 2004. Joel and Lenore Abels ran Travel Trade for nearly half a century – it was started by her grandfather, John S. Lewis, and her father, Sidney Lewis, in 1929, and they took the publication over after her grandfather’s passing. Under Joel’s direction, the company grew to be one of the travel agent industry’s leading publications, reaching more than 45,000 agents throughout North America. It spawned a famous series of trade shows and three monthly magazines – Cruise Trade, Tour Trade and Home Based Trade. The Abels also garnered enormous respect – Joel received the Neal Award, called “the Pulitzer Prize of the business press,” for his hard-hitting editorials. On a personal note, after working with Joel for over a decade and staying with him until the end, I grew to truly care for and respect the man. He was like a second father to me. Joel was old school, he stood by his word and believed in his work. There will never be another. While nobody can replace this industry legend, we’re hoping that this new publication, which reunites the original Home Based Trade editorial board, will be able to carry on his passion for travel and those who sell it.

Ann M. Hoek The opinions expressed in these columns are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Travel Agent Professional.

June 2017

Travel Agent Professional

Following World Events &

M i t c h e l l J . S c h l e s i n g e r

By Mitchell J. Schlesinger Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, MJS Consultants, mjschlesinger@bellsouth.net

The truest axioms about sales are that you don’t really SELL something to someone and referrals from satisfied customers are more valuable than advertising. The highest sales achievers know that the key is making a customer comfortable with a purchase decision they make for a product or service that the customer needs or wants. And referrals to business associates, family and friends creates an invaluable “purchasing multiplier”. This is why “sales consultancy” applies to a multitude of industries, products, and services, especially travel. Following world events and hot industry trends can be effective in enhancing customer purchase. When gas jumped to $4.00 there was a definitive reaction from consumers to shop for smaller cars with significantly higher MPG ratings. This negatively affected some manufactures of larger gas guzzlers like Hummers, or oversized SUVs. But, smart car manufacturers and sales consultants reacted appropriately when customers expressed interest in cars that are more fuel efficient. In travel, both cruise lines and tour companies can recognize trends and react to meet new destination interests and/or world events simply by redirecting assets, something a stationary hotel obviously cannot do. Here are some current trends that travel sales consultants should make note of and redirect marketing and promotion to enhance customer comfort and purchase:

June 2017

Industry Trends + Referrals =

Increased Sales Photo By: NCL Alaska

GEO POLITICS/ TRAVEL CLOSER TO HOME

There are cruises to the Caribbean and Bermuda

The world has become more volatile going back to

many of which feature the newest ships with the

2011 when governments were overthrown through-

newest features and amenities.

leaving from more than a dozen U.S. homeports,

out northern Africa and the Middle East. In more recent years there has been violent activity in more

There will be a vibrant Alaska cruise and cruise-tour

mainstream destinations throughout Europe and the

season this summer and fall with new ships and

Mediterranean. Consumers, however, still want and

brands.

need to take vacations and travel. There is a significant increase in ships and itineraries There are many who will still travel to overseas des-

on rivers throughout the United States for guests to

tinations, which is why cruising is so popular, since

experience “Americana”.

the ship provides a comforting home base. Additionally, in today’s environment it is smart to

Older travelers with concerns will be very receptive

also promote travel closer to home for those not

to options for interesting travel opportunities that,

comfortable traveling to particular regions around

in their own perception, they regard as both desir-

the world. For instance:

able and safe. The same philosophy will apply to

Travel Agent Professional

6 family travel, with parents wanting to find fun and enriching experiences for their children, but one that is worry free. And as mentioned above, when things get turbulent abroad, travel to American destinations like Alaska, Hawaii, and cities along various U.S. rivers become excellent alternatives.

ADVENTURE TRAVEL Although small in overall market size, adventure travel is experiencing a significant increase in new ships and brands resulting in a wave of interest and purchase. There are a wide variety of ships carrying a range of 30-300 guests on itineraries to the Arctic, Antarctica and Galapagos. These cruises provide guests with an opportunity to see extraordinary vistas and wildlife on a very up close and personal basis, learn from interesting lecturers and destination experts and come home with stories of great exploration, trips in zodiacs and sailing to some of the most remote areas of the world. There are several very valuable approaches for adventure

• • •

travel marketing:

• •

Present the romance of the adventure and exploration aspects of the itineraries, the landings/port calls and environment. Show visuals of the wildlife, flora and fauna that guests will encounter to entice purchase motivation. Detail the environmental impact of these areas, and related travel restrictions. This will make guests feel like they are joining an exclusive group and widens the potential audience from younger “eco-concerned” travelers to those with more travel experience. Describe the ship features, cuisine, guest lectures, etc. There are numerous new ships and luxury brands undertaking adventure travel itineraries so it is important that guests understand that they are getting the best of all worlds. Invite clients to post photos, videos and notes during and after their trips for others to read and see the experience from their own perspective.

June 2017

7 REFERRALS I use the term “multiplier effect” about referrals to describe the

• • •

opportunity to generate multiple new clients from existing clients:

• •

During trips and after returning, clients will naturally post photos and tell stories on Facebook, Instagram, etc., sharing their experience in real time with hundreds of friends and family. Satisfied clients will want to share their experiences and provide the details of the booking process, and all aspects of the trip. Having them share their photos and experiences on your website is more valuable than any advertising you implement. Angie’s List and all of the other new help websites are so successful because people prefer to rely on referrals they trust. Be creative in promoting your agency. Here is a fun idea; Give clients shopping bags to use at the supermarket. More and more communities are going non-plastic and a bag with your agency name and a destination photo can start a conversation. Reward your clients when someone they refer books a trip with you. Discounts on future trips can turn clients into a pseudo-sales team. Remember, customers take vacations at timed intervals, and in between you want to provide them with all the future discounts they can generate if it means they are generating new clients for you!

The bottom line for your sales success, is to offer alternatives to clients based on their psychographics, and desire and tolerance for destinations and experiences. It is very easy to be agreeable with clients who contact you and say either; I’m OK to travel to Europe or I would prefer a trip closer to home. There are multiple alternatives for all of your clients, and it is critical that you be an excellent listener so that you can suggest experiences that meet their interest level and travel desires. Photo By: NCL Hawaii

Travel Agent Professional

8 England In the FALL P a u l l T i c k n e r

With the kids back at school, students back at college and caravans no longer clogging up the highways and byways, September and October are two very good months for UKbound travel. It’s also the time of the year for some very good and diverse festivals which can become the focus for a high yield, customised tour. Take a look at this collection of bright ideas and then use them to start a conversation with the anglophile clients you’ve just jotted down on a piece of paper. It’s not a very scientific process but you have the clients, the UK has the products and between us, we have the skills that can

By Paull Tickner

bring them both together.

Paull Tickner & Associates Ltd. I’ve been customising UK tours for over 35 years and if you need help in putting these showcase items into a wellconstructed and sensibly priced itinerary, email me at ptickner@customgb.co.uk For more bright ideas, check out my website at www.customgb.co.uk • Phone: 011 44 161 434 9324

June 2017

Jane Austen’s 200th Anniversary Year 2017 is a banner year for Jane Austen fans as they celebrate the 200th anniversary of her death and Bath’s annual Jane Austen Festival will be bigger and better than ever before. As many of your clients will have read her novels or watched them on Masterpiece Theatre, talk to them about a customised tour that includes 2-3 nights at the festival.

Gourmet Ireland This Gourmet Tour of Ireland will tickle the taste buds and fire the imagination of your foodie loving clients as it brings together some of the best locations for food lovers in Ireland. Generate interest over the next 6 months and use the Galway Oyster Festival (22nd-24th September) as bait for a small group of 12-15. Email me for the full of flavour itinerary.

The Inspiration of William Morris The Cotswolds became an important centre for the Arts and Crafts Movement in the early 20th century when craftsmen and women followed in William Morris’ footsteps and settled in villages throughout the region. This is a great theme for a Girls Getaway, timed to coincide with the Made in The Cotswolds Festival in Chipping Campden, the region’s hidden gem.

Travel Agent Professional

10 British Ceramics Biennial The fifth British Ceramics Biennial will happen between Saturday 23 September and Sunday 5 November 2017. The six-week long festival will present work from the UK’s leading contemporary artists in a series of new exhibitions and special events in established venues and non-traditional spaces across the city, embracing the heritage of Stoke-on-Trent as the World Capital of Ceramics.

Newark Antiques and Collectors Fair Holding the crown as the largest antique fair in Europe, these antiques and collectors fairs in October and December are the ultimate in treasure hunting grounds as they become the centre piece in a short tour that includes a visit to the treasure filled Chatsworth House, shop ‘n’ ship bargains at Wedgwood and hands on opportunities in Stoke on Trent, the World Capital of Ceramics.

Guildford Jazz Festival Guildford’s first Jazz Festival takes place this October in venues across the town. There will be free events in the High Street, and internationally renowned names including Herbie Hancock and Gregory Porter. Venues include the 1000 seater G Live to more intimate venues of pubs and bars. Enjoy contemporary jazz artists, traditional jazz bands, choirs and more. More information: www.visitguildford.com

Chocolate Delights in London and Paris Chocolate lovers will really enjoy these London and Paris tours which visit local patisseries and chocolate shops in the 2 capital cities. Every October, London’s Chocolate Week and the Salon du Chocolat in Paris have become the must-attend events for Europe’s chocoholics with an array of workshops, receptions and tasting experiences and a gathering of Europe’s finest chocolatiers. Ask me for details.

June 2017

12 C i n d y B e r t r a m

By Cindy Bertram Cindy's Inside Cruise & Travel Track, LLC

If you’ve ever seen a building in the process of being constructed, from the foundation up, it is amazing. Being one who loves ships, I find it so equally amazing to see photos of a ship when it’s being built. It all begins with the skills and expertise of a phenomenal architect, as well as designers. Then taking the designs from paper and turning it into a physical ship is next step. Along with that, it’s also promoting and marketing so when the ship enters service, it sails out full. If I think about, we do the same when building our own businesses, don’t we?

June 2017

The Planning Process and Building Today there are many different options available when starting a travel business. Having a plan together to build it, get the “doors open,” so to speak and then grow clients and ongoing sales is at the core. We need to think of ourselves as builders, but with plans in hand to use and follow. It’s also good to find a good model, gain insights from other successful people who have built good businesses, their insights and use their tactics. Over the years, I’ve seen businesses fail while others succeed. In the travel agency arena, it really goes back to keeping a pulse on what our clients want, keeping up with trends, and adapting as needed.

Travel Agent Professional

14 When I first went to work in my family’s full service retail travel agency back in the 1990’s, we had a good retail location and this helped immensely. I came in to focus on building and growing our cruise sales area, and that became the core of my plan. I went through all of our clients to see who might be a good fit for cruise vacations, and also later found some good “pied pipers” (group leaders) to help build our group cruise bookings. I also built good partnerships with suppliers, made sure we had presence in our community, and the cruise business soared. I then went through another transition after the agency business model changed giving up the retail location and moving into to a home based agency. We were able to adapt.

AmaWaterways’ Success and Core of It The river cruise industry has continued to successfully grow, and one of the wonderful success stories is AmaWaterways. Founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, President and co-owner of AmaWaterways whose diverse background includes architectural training, along with Kristin Karst, Executive Vice-President and coowner, and the late Jimmy Murphy of Brendan Tours, AmaWaterways has been at the forefront of river cruising.

Rudi Schreiner’s Insights on Dreaming Up the Perfect River Cruise Company I asked Rudi Schreiner on how he came up with ideas for AmaWaterways, and he explained, “When Kristin, Jimmy Murphy and I sat down to dream up the perfect river cruise company, we shared a vision of inviting guests to discover the spectacular scenery and enchanting towns along the world’s most iconic rivers in a style that was luxurious yet warm and friendly. AmaWaterways encompasses everything we love about the rivers around the world and we want to share that passion with our guests. We believe that our love for river cruising shows in our innovation, service, amenities and accommodations and it’s been a true blessing to spend the last 15 years building what has become one of the most successful cruise companies in the world. “

Continuing to be a Leading Edge As AmaWaterways has grown over the years, they have taken river cruising to a new level, and I asked Rudi more about this. He said, “We always need to remain at the leading edge of industry innovation. Our guests deserve the very best vacation every time they step onboard one of our ships and we will always continue to think of new and exciting features for our guests to enjoy. One example is our new wellness program, which we recently launched onboard AmaLyra on the Paris & Normandy itinerary. The program includes a wellness instructor teaching yoga, running and taichi classes and wellness lectures. We’re also adding a ‘sip and sail’ cocktail hour in 2018, which will provide guests with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages before dinner. We recently changed our Chef’s Table restaurant, so it now serves a true-tasting menu paired with hand-selected regional wines – once again at no additional cost to our

June 2017

guests. We understand the importance of growing as the river cruising market matures and we’ll continue to do so as we move forward.”

The River Cruise Line Introducing New Firsts Rudi and I then discussed more about AmaWaterways’ introducing new “firsts” in the river cruise industry. One was the introduction of providing complimentary bicycles for guests to use. Rudi explained, “We were the first river cruise line to carry a fleet of 25 bicycles onboard our ships. We wanted to provide guests with an alternative to the walking shore excursions and felt that many would enjoy bicycling through the city or countryside. Today, we are certainly seeing an enormous amount of growth in the active travel area –not just biking but also hiking tours. It’s a major reason that we partnered with Backroads and that we are testing a new wellness program this year on AmaLyra. Many guests want to continue their

Travel Agent Professional

healthy, active lifestyle while onboard and it’s our pleasure

to AmaViola and AmaStella, AmaKristina features con-

to provide them with a range of options to do that. In

necting cabins and triple occupancy staterooms that are

addition, we offer guests healthy food options onboard

tailored specifically for the multigenerational market.

with our ‘healthy corner,’ gem-waters and gluten-free,

Guests will enjoy the unique signature twin-balcony –

low-sodium and vegan options.”

consisting of a French and outside balcony – and an array

More on the new AmaKristina Recently Christened in May

of communal spaces with warm decor for socializing. Additionally, our Chef’s Table provides an intimate dining experience with an exquisite, multi-course tasting menu

AmaWaterways has continued to grow and with that,

paired with hand-selected regional wines at no additional

new river cruise ships. Their newest is their AmaKristina,

cost.”

just recently christened in May. Rudi then went on and said, “One feature unique to I asked Rudi more on the concept for this ship, and he

AmaKristina is that our guests may now venture to the

mentioned, “The idea for AmaKristina developed a long

lower deck with enhanced elevator access and experience

time ago – I wanted my wife, Kristin Karst, to have a

our expanded fitness center and spa. We are thrilled to

namesake vessel. The ship represents 15 years of inspired

have AmaKristina join the family and it was a blessing to

design and innovation and our guests will enjoy the spa-

share this special christening with family, friends, previous

ciousness of the public areas and staterooms. Sister ship

godmothers and our industry partners.”

June 2017

AmaWaterways Success Stories – Partnership with Adventures by Disney AmaWaterways has had success when it comes to building successful partnerships. This includes working with the Disney Corporation and Adventures by Disney. I asked Rudi a bit more about this and he mentioned, “We first launched our partnership with Adventures by Disney in 2015 with sailings on the Danube. The relationship did result in the building of AmaViola, which is constructed with connecting cabins, perfect for the family travel market. Starting in 2016, we had five weeklong itineraries on the Danube that sailed through Hungary, Germany, Slovakia and Austria. The partnership has been incredibly successful and we have now expanded our relationship with Adventures by Disney to include sailings on the Rhine, which are held onboard AmaKristina. The trips run seven-night northbound voyages from Basel to Amsterdam during the summer, with the ships primarily sailing at night to allow maximum time for daytime and early evening activities in port. There will be one Christmas Market cruise later this year that will be southbound. In 2018 Adventure by Disney will also add special themed sailings geared towards Beauty and the Beast.”

Travel Agent Professional

Suggestions for Travel Agents to be “architects” of their own Businesses AmaWaterways’ growth from fine tuning their product, creating great partnerships and growing while still having that human touch is a wonderful part of their success story over the past 15 years. I then asked Rudi what suggestions he might have for travel agents as they work to become “architects” of their own businesses, to successfully grow and flourish. Rudi explained, “Successful agents have built their businesses on becoming experts in their fields and developing close personal relationships with their clients. It takes time and effort to develop trust which is essential to any long-term business relationship. Being a travel agent is all about providing your guest with the knowledge needed for them to have their very best cruise experience. Travel agents are the experts and their clients are looking to them to provide detailed pertinent information and advice that can really make the most out of their vacation time and budget. Most important of all for agents, is the ability to cultivate relationships.” He then went on and mentioned, “Kristin and I understand how impactful it is when clients feel a personal connection with their travel agent. Building that relationship with a client and understanding their interests will help in determining what the best river cruise experience is for them, but you need to understand each cruise niche to perfect the craft. Our travel agent portal helps agents to really stay on top of the business – they can view current promotions, download and personalize our marketing collateral with their agency information and even book online themselves 24/7. We also provide customized materials for agents booking groups or charters. We try to keep the lines of communication open as much as possible with the agents, through FAMs, face-to-face meetings and pulling together a presence at national trade shows. We truly appreciate their support in helping us provide our product to travelers around the world.”

Leading the Way AmaWaterways’ dynamic trio, Rudi Schreiner, President and co-owner, along with Kristin Karst, co-owner and Executive Vice President, and Gary Murphy, Vice-President, Sales and co-owner, continue to lead the way with their passion for river cruising. And it shows, giving us all more to think about as we become “architects” as well.

June 2017

Showcase

Up to $3,000 for Travel Agents and Their Clients on Holiday Bookings with Villas of Distinction® Travel agents can earn up to a $3,000 bonus commission and their clients will receive up to $3,000 to spend on extras when they book a villa vacation for the holidays Wilmington, Mass. (May 15, 2017) – Villas of Distinction®, the world’s premier luxury villa rental company as part of World Travel Holdings, is offering its most robust deal on holiday bookings. Travel agents who book their clients in a Villas of Distinction villa from now until June 30, 2017, for travel between December 16, 2017 and January 1, 2018, can earn a bonus commission of up to $3,000. What’s even better is that travel agent’s clients will also receive up to $3,000 to spend on any amenities booked through a Villas of Distinction concierge. This includes a private chef or a masseuse so guests can just kick back and relax, or local excursions such as a private zipline adventure in Mexico, snorkeling tour in St. Martin, yacht sail in Turks and Caicos and many more activities that bring families together to create unforgettable memories. “We’re so excited to be able to increase our travel agent partners’ earning potential with the highest bonus commission we have ever offered,” said Steve Lassman, vice president villa product & agency relations for Villas of Distinction. “Also, giving up to $3,000 for the client to spend on amenities creates the perfect value add for agents to attract new villa clients or reach out to those who have been considering a villa vacation.” Travelers wanting to escape the cold weather during the holiday months should check out The Dunes by Grace Bay

Club in Turks & Caicos. This ﬁve-bedroom beachfront oasis sleeps 10 so it is perfect for a large family holiday gathering. Enjoy a complimentary airport transfer, welcome drink, daily housekeeping and more while taking in the watersports or lounging poolside. Some travelers seek out cold weather and snow for the holidays and Black Bear Chalet in Steamboat Springs, Colo., offers cozy accommodations for 12 guests. This luxury ski chalet is in close proximity to the Thunderhead Express lift and when it is time to come in from a day on the ski slopes, families will enjoy spending time together in the combined media and game room with a 50-inch, bigscreen TV with surround sound, Sony PS2 video games and a pool table. Exclusive, private and sleeps 14, Villa Penasco in Mexico is located in the elite community of The Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas. Families can exchange gifts by the pool while overlooking "Lands End" where the Sea of Cortez meets the Paciﬁc Ocean. This villa is perched high on a cliff making the breathtaking views of the vast ocean even that much more amazing. The amount of the concierge credit received by the client is based on the value of the booking excluding the security deposit. In addition to the consumer value-add, individual travel agents can earn up to $3,000 in bonus commissions based on the value of the booking. For further information, visit the Holiday Availability page 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 premier luxury villa provider with an extensive portfolio of thousands of privately-owned villas in more than 50 luxurious destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, Central America, the Continental United States and many private islands. Most villas feature private pools, butlers, maids and chefs. The luxury provider has gained its clients’ trust by ensuring every villa meets strict standards so that each home exceeds the guest’s expectations. For more than 25 years, Villas of Distinction’s team of experts have made vacation planning effortless by helping travelers ﬁnd their perfect vacation home, and creating one-of-a-kind getaways and lasting memories at the world’s top villas. www.VillasofDistinction.com.

Travel Agent Professional

Five Military Veterans Can Win Free Travel Franchise Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company launches sixth annual “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” contest on May 22, 2017 Since 2012 Dream Vacations A CruiseOne Company has given 25 military veterans the dream business opportunity of owning a travel agency franchise, at no cost, as part of its annual “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” contest. The home-based travel franchise announces that the annual contest will begin on Monday, May 22, 2017, giving five more deserving military veterans the chance to join the ranks as Dream Vacations franchise owners. “Those who serve in the armed forces are the backbone of our country, and upon retirement are finding new beginnings in business ownership,” said Tim Courtney, CFE, vice president of franchise development and ambassador of veteran affairs. “The International Franchise Association reports that one in seven franchises are owned by military veterans, and that is no surprise since many military skills translate well into franchise ownership. We’re honored that more than 30 percent of our franchise owners are military veterans and active-duty spouses, and we are proud to offer a home-based travel franchise that provides flexibility in their lifestyle to maximize time spent with family.” 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. To participate, candidates must complete an online entry form by Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. After conducting an introductory phone interview with a franchise development specialist, candidates will be required to submit a candidate profile, business plan, video and resume. Finalists will be invited to participate in followup 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 September 2017. Each grand prize is valued at $12,700 and includes a complimentary Dream Vacations franchise with a waived $9,800 initial start-up fee and monthly service fees. The new recruits will report for active duty in October, when they

participate in a weeklong franchise training boot camp at the Dream Vacations state-of-the-art world headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Winners will be reimbursed up to $500 for their travel and provided with complimentary accommodations during the training program. Once training is completed, winners will be armed with all the tools and knowledge they need to begin their dream business creating dream vacations. All military veterans who purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency franchise receive an enlistment package valued at no less than $5,000. This includes a complimentary cabin for two at Dream Vacations’ award-winning annual National Conference, limited availability, aboard a cruise ship; 20 percent discount off the initial fee; waived training fee for a business partner; veteran-themed marketing assets; 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, LeisureCare Travel Insurance discounts for veterans, travel discounts for military customers and access to veteran networking groups. Dream Vacations has a “5-Star Ranking” as a member of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) VetFran initiative and has received many national accolades as a franchise opportunity for veterans. It’s military-friendly awards include a number one ranking the past three years in a row by Military Times in its “Best for Vets: Franchises” list, inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual “Hot Franchises for Veterans” the past six years and recognition by MSC Cruises in its ﬁrst-ever Seaside Salute Award. Additional accolades include being named “Top 10 Military Friendly Franchise” by Forbes, “Top Veteran-Friendly Franchise” by Entrepreneur and U.S. Veterans magazines and inclusion on USA Today’s “50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans.” Military veterans who have a passion for travel and entrepreneurism who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise and want to be considered as a candidate for Operation Vetrepreneur, please visit www.OperationVetrepreneur.com or call 888-249-8235.

June 2017

Showcase

Immersive Education Series Offers Comprehensive Niche Training Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents invited to intimate summits for luxury, groups and land vacations Home-based travel franchises Dream Vacations and CruiseOne and host agency Cruises Inc. is launching in 2017 an Immersive Educational Series, which focuses on three unique training opportunities where agents can engage in niche content in an intimate setting. The three summits offered in 2017 focus on luxury, groups and land vacations. They are designed for seasoned agents who want to hone their skills and build relationships, as well as for those newbies who want to increase their business in a specific niche. “Our network of agents requested more specialized training; we listened to their feedback and as a result we added the Immersive Educational Series to our curriculum,” said Drew Daly, general manager of network engagement and performance for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “We are excited to launch this Series with three diverse summits that provide a more personal and hands-on approach to education. These trainings will be sure to have a profound impact on individual sales as luxury, groups and resort vacations have the highest earnings potential.” The three-day Luxury Summit kicks off the Immersive Educational Series in Miami. Sixty agents will have the opportunity to attend this event which includes interactive workshops, engaging panels and educational presentations from top luxury vendors such as Oceania Cruises, Silversea Cruises, AmaWaterways, Villas of Distinction, Azamara Club Cruises, Windstar, SeaDream Yacht Club and Cunard. In addition, Dondra Ritzenthaler, Senior Vice President of Sales at Celebrity Cruises, will give attendees a tour of the Celebrity Cruises Virtual Lab; they will hear from Edie Rodriguez, CEO of Crystal Cruises; and participate in a ship tour and luncheon aboard the Regent Seven Seas Navigator hosted by Jason Montague, President and CEO of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The Immersive Educational Series continues in Fort Lauderdale in July with the Groups Summit. Seventy-five attendees will learn the secret to securing and selling groups from Chief Motivation Officer Stuart Cohen, who will lead his Group Boot Camp, as well as from groups

Travel Agent Professional

representatives of various suppliers. Attendees will also hear from Groups Reconciliation Manager Troy McCoy on how to best utilize the new Groups Concierge service that Dream Vacations/CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. offer as a resource to its travel agents. Held in Mexico in August and co-hosted by Playa Resorts and Mark Travel, the Land Summit concludes the Immersive Educational Series. Approximately 100 attendees will get an in-depth look at how to expand their resort and tour business through site inspections, workshops hosted by suppliers and more. The Immersive Educational Series is just one facet of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.’s extensive award-winning training program. Agents can attend weekly live webinars with subject matter experts from the headquarters team as well as cruise, resort and tour suppliers; and view roughly 800 on-demand courses through The Learning Center, an online learning management system. Or, they can learn in-person at one of ﬁve Regional Trainings nationwide, at one-on-one meetings with an assigned Business Development Manager; or at the annual National Conference which is always a weeklong and held entirely onboard a cruise ship. “We recognize the need to provide rich educational content that meets the needs of a diverse audience who prefer to learn in a variety of ways,” noted Daly. “Adding these multiple layers of training has ultimately increased the engagement level of our agents, which is so important when working from home, and directly correlates with our overall sales growth and their individual growth each year.” Existing travel agents and those who are passionate about travel, helping others and are eager to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves are ideal candidates to become travel agents. For more information on joining these award-winning agencies, please visit www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com to learn about owning a CruiseOne/Dream Vacations travel franchise, and visit www.sellcruises.com to learn about the Cruises Inc. business opportunity.

THIS IS A DOUBLE DARING THRILL A MINUTE F A M I L Y A D V E N T U R E.

This is not a cruise. This is an all new way for your clients to adventure with the best and biggest ships in the world. Discover Allure of the Seas ® and Oasis of the Seas ® in the Caribbean, delivering a double dose of family thrills at an unbeatable value. Or experience Europe on a massive scale onboard the new Harmony of the Seas SM, debuting this May with all new activities, restaurants and gravity-defying slides like nothing ever seen at sea. Plus spacious accommodations ideal for big family adventures. No matter where your clients choose to go, there’s no better way to jumpstart a summer vacation than with our Oasis Class ships.

OASIS OF THE SEAS ®

ALLURE OF THE SEAS ®

HARMONY OF THE SEAS SM

Fort Lauderdale | Through Fall 2016

Fort Lauderdale | Year Round

Barcelona | Spring & Summer 2016 Fort Lauderdale | Fall 2016

Port Canaveral | Winter 2016

For more information visit www.LoyalToYouAlways.com/Oasis

Features vary by ship. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas. 16050747 • 5/4/16

June 2017