…as the Home-Based Division of Travel Industry Powerhouse World Travel Holdings
By: Mary Antoine, Franchise Development Specialist
I began my travel career with the major tour operators in Boston, Mass. before transitioning into senior travel marketing and corporate travel sales. I was a top-producing Sales Associate with National Leisure Group specializing in cruises. After much due diligence, in March 1994 I purchased and operated a very successful CruiseOne travel franchise on the south shore of Boston, but I decided a warmer climate was for me and transferred from Boston to Florida to join the CruiseOne corporate headquarters. As Director of Marketing for CruiseOne, I successfully created off-line marketing campaigns, turn-key programs and conducted training seminars on a regular basis. I consulted and supported more than 1,000 franchisees and independent agents with their individual marketing plans, business building initiatives and selling techniques. In 2011 I joined the Recruitment Department as a Franchise Development Specialist. I have the pleasure of speaking to clients all over the country about the benefits of having a CruiseOne/Dream Vacations franchise – giving them the ability to combine their passion for travel with a home-based business.
CruiseOne started in 1992 and has grown year-after- year. We became part of a large travel holding company, Travel Services International, which was made up of the largest cruise-only agencies including South Florida Cruises, Gold Coast Cruise, CruisesOnly, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. and a few smaller travel companies. Later we were purchased by NLG (National Leisure Group), becoming an even larger company. Then, in 2006, World Travel Holdings purchased NLG and we became the largest cruise retailer in the world.
I am very lucky to have been with this organization for more than 22 years. It is because of our company’s integrity that I have chosen to stay with CruiseOne/Dream Vacations. Company-wide we have never lost sight of who we are and what our purpose is— we are here to support our franchise owners. I have been fortunate to witness and experience all the growth in our company and in the industry! I believe we are in the best financial and management position that we have ever been in.
WHY do I feel this way? Brad and Jeff Tolkin, our Co-CEOs/Chairmen, are operators, not investors and their actions speak louder than words:
- They regularly visit and manage each of our divisions
- They are always looking for synergies within divisions
- They negotiate at the highest levels with our suppliers and vendors
- They recognize that the employees are the company’s best asset
- They continue to invest in technology advancements
- They invest in programs that give our brands a huge competitive edge
- They invest in marketing and promotions that save our franchise owners hundreds of thousands of dollars
- And now, they made the decision to invest in Dream Vacations
Dream Vacations is an experiential vacation franchise. We are the only travel franchise to have a name that also reflects what we truly sell –dream vacation experiences. As a franchise owner you can sell a mix of both cruise vacations and land-based vacations. With Dream Vacations, you have the opportunity market yourself as a brand that lets your clients know that you sell all types of vacations, not just cruises, which is a common confusion with cruise franchise models. CruiseOne will continue to be a dominant force in the cruise vacation market while continuing to grow our resort vacations business. Dream Vacations is a brand that allows our franchisees access to this dominance and who want to focus on all travel experiences such as cruise, land tours, all-inclusive resorts and more – with the power of World Travel Holdings’ backing.
Dream Vacations could be your next great adventure as a home-based travel franchise owner. Let’s set up a time to talk soon, I look forward to hearing from you.
