Selling travel and being an entrepreneur as a travel franchise owner is way more fun than selling advertising space, according to Rhonda Day.
Name: Rhonda Day
Year Joined Franchise: 2013
Prior Occupation: Advertising Sales Manager
How did you transition from your prior occupation to starting a travel business…and what did that transition look like? I purchased my franchise while I was working full time. My goal was to transition to owning a full-time travel business within five years. After one year, I left my full time job. I realized quickly that if I worked very hard and put 110% into the business, I could make it a full time career. I was fortunate to have health insurance through my husband and was able to take the plunge without that worry. Everyone’s situation is different, but with hard work and dedication, it can be done!
Did any of your previous skills carry over? Absolutely! I believe my career skills are what helped me quickly transition. My former career called for multiple skills: sales, collections, persuasiveness, dedication, time management, people management and most importantly, handling the objections that come up all the time.
What do you like best about owning a Dream Vacations travel agency franchise? The travel business is so fun! And working for myself is a dream. In addition, World Travel Holdings and Dream Vacations is such a supportive organization. You can see and feel it from the CEO to support services. There’s a culture in the organization that carries over to the franchise owners.
Advice for somebody purchasing a franchise: Do your due diligence. Call lots of franchise owners to ask their opinions. Have a plan. Don’t expect a get rich quick (or ever) model. Expect to put in a lot of hard work, long hours, frustrations and challenges. But if you are resilient, it will be a wonderful future.
What is the best part about the support you get from Dream Vacations: Regional Trainings and National Conferences really stand out because they are your opportunity to connect and learn. I am very energized by being together with the staff and other franchise owners. I missed National Conference in 2017 and I don’t plan on missing another National Conference!!
What do you wish you knew before you started? I wish I knew how much fun it would be so I would have done it sooner. I work harder than I’ve ever worked before, but it doesn’t feel like work.
What’s Your Dream Vacation: That’s a tough one. By being in this business, I have been fortunate enough to experience places I never would have even known existed before being in the travel business. But for now I’d have to say a Holy Land tour.
