Have you ever dreamed of a business that gives you flexibility and lets you share your passion for travel? We have an answer for you: Become a Dream Vacations Franchise, and you become your own boss and adopt a work-life balance that you have dreamt of. Starting a travel agency business with Dream Vacations Franchise allows you to be your own boss, and enjoy the benefits of being part of a powerhouse in the travel industry!
How Does Dream Vacations Franchise Work?
When you become a franchise owner you become part of our Dream Vacations family and we will assist every step of the way. We provide you with all the necessary tools so you can develop your business successfully – because if you succeed, we succeed. As a franchise model, we have a proven formula for success and have been the ranked the best travel agency franchise since 1992!
Here you’ll learn about the day-to-day life of a franchise owner. And you can read more about how to create a business plan for a travel agency that will allow you to start your business and experience true Dream Vacations as part of your future business endeavor.
What Does a Franchise Owner Do at Dream Vacations?
When you become the owner of a top travel agency franchise with Dream Vacations Franchise you can count on obtaining great value for your investment and an incredibly rewarding experience. Here are six key day-to-day business practices of a successful Dream Vacations Franchise owner:
1. Help Clients Plan Their Ultimate Dream Vacations
Everyone has that one vacation of their dreams – and many people need guidance on how to create the ultimate vacation package. Helping clients fulfill that dream and embark on the ultimate vacation is at the core of everything we do; it’s the basis of every franchisee’s values, and every aspect of our travel agency business model enhances or supports this endeavor. It all starts with understanding and getting to know our clients.
Franchisees ask many questions to truly engage and understand their client’s interests and preferences. For example:
What is the one thing they are looking for in a vacation? Do they want an action-packed weekend getaway, or are they seeking an immersive two-week retreat halfway across the world? These types of questions are critical in providing each client with the hand-crafted experience that will be the most fulfilling for them.
Once our franchise owners understand the idea of what their clients want, they weigh in with their expertise. They compare the client’s preferences to their own experiences and training, making suggestions on transportation, accommodations, activities and destinations to deliver the ultimate Dream Vacations for each client.
2. Seamlessly Arrange Travel Plans for Clients
This is where the expertise and knowledge of our franchisees really shines – Dream Vacations Franchise owners are true experts who understand that a vacation is not a one-size-fits-all experience.
As a top travel agency franchise owner, Dream Vacations has the ability to offer the best value and exclusive promotions to clients, for the seamless arrangement of travel all over the world. Having preferred partner relationships with the major cruise lines and tour operators, resulting in preferred status with more than 150 travel suppliers.
You would have access to a trailblazing technology with a comprehensive booking engine, 3-in-1 system, that helps with the management of reservations, customers, and financial reporting. It also features our “cruise fare watch” (a tool that monitors bookings and watches for any price changes), as well as technology automation that sends automated communications to clients on our franchisees’ behalf.
Our travel and business tools are all web-based, this means that you can work from anywhere that has an internet connection. Get to know the day in the life of a franchise owner at Dream Vacations, and learn from Dream Vacations franchisees how they are their own boss and they can get their work done the fun way.
3. How to Create a Business Plan for a Travel Agency
You might have asked yourself by now, “How does dream vacations franchise work to help franchisees be successful?” The answer is simple – with a truly robust support system for all owners. Dream Vacations offers all owners a strong marketing and business plan with the assistance of a Business Development manager that is assigned to you since the moment you become a franchise owner. Lead generation marketing programs such as auto social posting, weekly email newsletters, direct mail and public relations assistance are just one of the many tools that can help you start your business.
You will also learn how to explore many in-person marketing opportunities such as attending trade shows (often hosting a booth) and familiarization trips, as well as other local events. You need to build a network in your local community and make a name for yourself as the go-to vacation specialist in the area.
Traditional marketing is always a great way to build those relationships and get to know personally new clients and opportunities. On the other hand, you have the possibility of effective lead generation with digital marketing products given to you from the get-go, which offer a way to engage and find new sales leads in a more effective way and in a broader spectrum.
Dream Vacations is a strong believer that marketing is a critical element to the success of our franchise owners; that’s why we offer a wealth of marketing tools to help make the life of a franchise owner a thrilling journey along the path to a fun and prosperous future.
4. Participate in On-Site Travel Agency Training Courses at Unique Destinations
The vacation industry is evolving, which makes access to training and research resources essential to the success of any travel agency business franchise owner. Another area where Dream Vacations Franchise excels starts with the introductory six-day training with headquarters. This training gives new franchisees all the tools and information they need to start their Dream Vacations Franchise.
Dream Vacations knows that training is an ongoing endeavor, and we provide more than 1,500 online courses in the learning center, host more than five regional trainings a year, design marketing summits and hold our one-week national conference at sea as a week-long cruise. These are just a few of the franchise training and support opportunities our franchisees have access to. Training topics range from how to run the business, to new ships and new resorts available, to general business skills and more. The best part of this is that your training can be conducted online and on-demand through our award-winning Learning Center.
Travel, or a “deductible vacation,” is also pivotal in keeping up with the changes in the business. As a Dream Vacations franchisee, you should know firsthand your product and service before selling it to your client. That’s where it gets fun, and its why Dream Vacations provides plenty of opportunities for franchise owners to go on ship, hotel and resort tours. As an added perk, we also offer vacation packages at a significantly reduced cost to our franchisees.
Each of these travel agency training courses is designed to equip franchisees with the expertise they need to make miracles happen for their clients. Dream Vacations, is at the forefront of the fun industry, so training never gets boring as you connect face-to-face with your peers and friends in new and engaging ways.
5. Travel and Work Remotely: Operate Your Travel Business from Anywhere
Being a franchisee is a business with one key requirement: you’re the boss. You’re in charge of the schedule of your primary employee (you). You get to decide when you come to work and when you leave. This means that owning a Dream Vacations Franchise can work for a lot of different types of people, from being one of the best jobs for stay at home moms possible, to being the ultimate globe-trotting business for avid travelers.
In addition to the training we provide, our web-based tools include customer management and financial reporting to help you stay organized and maintain control of your business. Our support staff is always on-hand to answer questions, and weekly check-ins offer an opportunity to ask questions and get help from others. Plus, as a franchise owner, you’ll have a dedicated Business Development Manager available to help you get your business up and running!
Making sure that owners have access to best-in-class franchise training and support is a major incentive in becoming a part of the Dream Vacations team. We offer a wealth of resources to assist franchisees every step of the way, so that they can build up a successful business and keep it running.
6. Become a Part of the Dream Vacations Franchise Family
Joining Dream Vacations means you are becoming part of a travel community that supports and celebrates you.
Our get-togethers feel like family reunions, and franchisees often seek each other out for advice and support. You will see there’s a true spirit of camaraderie in our tight-knit community at Dream Vacations, and we’re always looking to welcome new owners who share that same sense of positivity, fun and passion for travel.
The way we see it, being self-employed doesn’t mean you have to be all by yourself, and that’s why the Dream Vacations team does everything it can to foster this family mentality. How does Dream Vacations Franchise work? Dream Vacations Franchise works by working together; that’s what makes us strong.
Benefits and Perks of a Travel Agent Franchise Owner
Owning and running your own business is one of the biggest perks in being part of the Dream Vacations team, but there are other benefits come with that, too! Here are just a few of the benefits franchise owners get to experience and realize Dream Vacations Franchise is the Best Travel Agency Franchise to Own:
- Be Your Own Boss – A Day in the life of a franchise owner is a day in the life of being your own boss. That means you get to work the hours that work for you. If you’re just looking for a secondary source of income, or if you’re wanting to make your franchise your primary job, you get to decide what hours you work.
- Flexibility– If you have a connection to the internet, you can get your work done. The world is your office, which makes it possible to do your job at home or even while you’re traveling – in fact, doing your job while traveling to see the sights is highly encouraged!
- Best Value – Looking for the right investment, and wondering “What are the most affordable franchises?” You’re looking at one right now. Our home-based business opportunities greatly reduce the cost and expenses that you’re likely to encounter in other business ventures—meaning you also retain a higher profit.
Do Travel Agents Get to Travel for Free? You will often be offered free or significantly reduced rates for travel agents or owners of a top travel agency franchise. The purpose of this is to share your positive travel experience with your own clients – making it a win-win situation for all parties involved. These rates are typically offered during the off-seasons, so be on the lookout as you can enjoy a day off work somewhere in the world.
The Mindset for a Successful Travel Agency Business Franchise Owner
Dream Vacations Franchise, has a wide variety of entrepreneurs who join the family. In general, these individuals tend to have a few things in common that make them fit so well into our family of franchise owners.
1. A Passion for Travel
This one is really essential. Our franchisees don’t just have a passion for travel, they love visiting new countries and cities. For some, it’s tropical destinations with sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. For others, it’s the snow that serves as the focal point of their adventures. Then, there are the destination travelers who love walking the streets of Paris or visiting the pyramids in Egypt.
When it comes to travel, there’s something for everyone, and our franchisees love seeing and doing it all. Becoming a travel agent gives them the freedom—the imperative even—to travel and see the world. Ask yourself: What are your Dream Vacations?
2. A Need to Be Free
Most of our franchisees have spent much of their time in the trenches, working traditional 9-to-5 jobs. Many have struggled work-life balance. Nearly all of them have wanted upgrade to something exciting where they can chase after their dreams.
What does a franchise owner do after they join us? Joining the Dream Vacations Franchise family opens a world of possibilities. Franchisees are their own boss, and they organize their own time and determine their own deadlines. These individuals have a desire for making their dreams come true and being successful in their business.
3. A People-Focused Mentality
You join Dream Vacations if you love working with people. This is because helping others find their Dream Vacations is at the heart of everything you will do. Every day our franchisees help their clients plan the ultimate vacation of their dreams, allowing them to get away from the everyday life, and spend time with the people who matter most to them.
For those who love helping people and who love knowing that their work has made a difference in the lives of those they work with, Dream Vacations Franchise is a perfect fit.
How Much Do Travel Agency Owners Make?
Travel agents make money based on their bookings. Depending on the success and work ethic of the franchise owner, the rates can vary. For example, a franchise owner who books only a handful of trips annually makes less than an owner who is booking trips every week, which is why it’s essential for franchisees to have a passion for their work so they reach the full potential of the Dream Vacations Franchise travel agency business model.
How does Dream Vacations Franchise work? Together. Join the Dream Vacations Family Today!
Dream Vacations Franchise has been in the industry since 1992, which translates to more than 25 years of industry experience, and is a low-risk and low-cost investment to obtain the best value for your money. We’ll help you find the right balance between a flexible and thrilling career within the travel industry. For as little as $3,500 down, you can take the next step to your dream life – a future where you are your own boss — where you can work and see the world at the same time. Sign up today for a FREE 45-minute franchise webinar to discover how you can be the proud owner of a top travel agency franchise with your own Dream Vacations Franchise!
Further Reading
This article is part of our How to Become a Travel Agent: The Complete Guide series:
Benefits of Being a Travel Agent
Sharpening Your Travel Agent Skills
- Travel Agent Requirements: Education & Licensing
- Travel Agent Skills
- Travel Agent Training
- What Tools Do Travel Agents Use?
- How to Find Clients As A Home-Based Travel Agent
The Travel Agent Experience
Travel Agency & Franchise