Enhanced recognition program is announced and top-producing travel agents share advice
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 23, 2018) – On the second full day at sea of its National Conference aboard Norwegian Bliss, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc. ® demonstrated how it provides its travel agents with a competitive advantage by developing innovative technology, collaborating with national lifestyle brands and creating engagement programs with the travel agent’s best interests in mind.
“We lead the travel agent franchise industry in satisfaction ratings because we not only listen to our agents and respond to their feedback, but we also make major investments that will take them into the future and ultimately assist them in driving revenue and becoming more successful,” said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “We are obsessively transforming the travel agent experience through our technology and programs that are always created with the sole intent of helping our agents run their business more seamlessly. My leadership team consists of experts who know how to drive change and innovate in order to achieve results.”
By remaining ahead of the customer, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. invested in developing a technology solution to allow its agents to book land vacations and eliminate friction in the booking process. Vice President of Information Technology Sandi Szalay unveiled this new proprietary technology that transforms how Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents book travel. Having an all-in-one booking platform to do everything from quoting to booking on any device is what agents have been asking for. Included in the enhanced booking platform that now allows agents to easily book land vacations as well, is an integrated solution with an itinerary builder. Also available is an interactive mobile app that allows agents to communicate with clients, share travel documentation for upcoming trips and track flight status real-time. Szalay commented “When designing technology it is critical to provide an end product that delivers a seamless experience. By streamlining the booking process whether it be cruise or land, we continue to provide the best booking experience in the travel franchise space from start to finish and giving agents back more time to sell.”
Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Rosemarie Reed and Director of Marketing Kimberly Faiello as always delivered the “wow” factor. They heated things up with the announcement that headquarters will be paying 100 percent of the cost for direct mail in 2019 for Dream Vacations and CruiseOne travel agent franchise owners. Then they got the audience on their feet with the announcement of national television promotional opportunities with The Rachael Ray Show and America’s Game® Wheel of Fortune. They didn’t stop there, things got even better with the announcement of strategic lifestyle partnerships with four well-known consumer brands – online wine retailer Wine.com, high-end luggage outfitter Tumi, Swarovski crystals and travel apparel line Beyond Proper. Through reciprocal marketing with these new partners, Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. will be connecting its existing customers with other desirable brands to create memorable life-affirming experiences. Plus, alliances with these major, nationally recognized brands will drive more revenue, growth and customer loyalty. Reed noted “Partnerships are essential for growth. When multiple brands come together and leverage their resources and expertise to mutually benefit each other, synergies are created that ultimately result in a better customer experience.”
Recognizing that sales engagement and recognition are important drivers of success, Vice President of Engagement Dustin Jones revealed a refreshed awards and recognition program that is specially designed with the home-based travel advisor in mind. Achievement levels will be updated in real time, featuring specific benefits that offer training and engagement opportunities catered to each level’s needs.
Top-producing travel advisors from Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc. took to the main stage in a travel agent panel moderated by Vice President of Engagement Dustin Jones. Agents David Operach, Mike Ziegenbalg, Alex Greene and Melissa Cohn shared personal success stories, advice on marketing and overcoming objections, and their travel industry predictions for 2019.
To follow the excitement this week aboard Norwegian Bliss, use the #InspireConference hashtag.
Those passionate about travel with an entrepreneurial spirit who would like to be part of a travel agency network that cares more about its agents and travelers should visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com to learn about franchising with Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, and www.SellCruises.com to learn about becoming an independent vacation specialist with business opportunity Cruises Inc.
About Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.®
Dream Vacations, CruiseOne® and Cruises Inc.® are part of World Travel Holdings, the nation’s largest cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company. The Dream Vacations and CruiseOne franchise opportunities give entrepreneurs a choice in how they want to brand their travel business, and Cruises Inc. is an independent business opportunity. Both business models provide a work-from-home opportunity to those interested in selling all types of travel experiences whether it be a cruise, resort stay or land tour. With a mission of delivering a remarkable experience, travel agents with all three brands are given premium resources to plan and create a seamless vacation experience for the customer while offering the best value. For more information on Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com, like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise or watch its videos at www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness. For more information on Cruises Inc., visit www.SellCruises.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SellCruises.
About Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Bliss is the third ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus class, featuring stand-out amenities, accommodations, dining, and entertainment. This latest and most innovative ship is home to the Observation Lounge, a 3,500-square-foot social space which boasts 180-degree views; the largest competitive race track at sea; an open-air laser tag course; and an Aqua Park, with two multi-story waterslides, one of which extends over the edge of the ship and loops to the deck below. Norwegian Bliss also offers a variety of accommodations including luxurious suites in The Haven by Norwegian®, studio staterooms for solo travelers with virtual ocean views, and connecting staterooms ideal for large groups and families. Culinary enthusiasts can savor new exclusive specialty dining and bar concepts including the Texas smokehouse, Q, and Coco’s, a chocolate and sweet treats shop. Guests seeking world-class entertainment onboard can experience the Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical, Jersey Boys; The Cavern Club where guests can enjoy their favorite songs from The Beatles; and original productions including Prohibition – The Musical and ¡Havana! To book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com. To connect via social channels, please use the following social handles: Twitter – @CruiseNorwegian, Instagram – norwegiancruiseline and Facebook – Norwegian Cruise Line.
Media Contact:
Rachel Shapiro, Public Relations Manager
Cruises Inc., CruiseOne and Dream Vacations
954-958-3664
