Host Agency

Travel Industry Titans Inspire with Fireside Chat Finale at Dream Vacations/CruiseOne National Conference

$127,000 raised for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida

 

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (November 26, 2024) – The grand finale of the 2024 Dream Vacations/CruiseOne National Conference aboard Celebrity Ascent was marked by an engaging fireside chat between World Travel Holdings Co-CEO/Chairman Brad Tolkin and Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations/CruiseOne. This insightful session provided travel advisors with valuable industry perspectives and strategies for success in the evolving travel landscape.

 

Tolkin shared his thoughts on the continued surge in leisure travel, highlighting that despite economic uncertainties, travel remains a top priority for consumers. 

 

” Despite economic fluctuations, the desire for travel remains unwavering,” said Tolkin. ” We’ve seen that people are willing to prioritize meaningful experiences and make memories that last a lifetime. The advisors in this room are leading the charge in capturing this demand, offering personalized travel solutions that resonate with clients. As we look ahead, it’s clear that investing in both technology and education will enable our network to continue thriving and exceeding traveler expectations.”

 

Daly echoed this optimism, inspiring attendees to focus on what truly matters in both business and life. He motivated the crowd by citing specific travel advisor success stories to paint the picture that there are many paths forward.

 

“To achieve success, it’s about being intentional with your choices, staying focused on your goals, and loving what you do,” said Daly. He urged travel advisors to carry the energy and enthusiasm from this week into 2025, encouraging them to stay dedicated to their growth and client relationships.

 

To close out the 2024 National Conference, Daly was joined on stage by Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president and chief operating officer for Dream Vacations/CruiseOne, to discuss their favorite moments and key takeaways from this year’s conference and to encourage the network to take advantage of the AI trainings and tools available to them.

 

Continuing a long-standing tradition of giving back, Dream Vacations and CruiseOne once again supported Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, raising an impressive $127,000 during the conference. Fundraising events included a lively dance-off, a 50/50 raffle, and a silent auction, allowing attendees to actively participate in supporting this meaningful cause. Over the course of a 13-year partnership, World Travel Holdings has raised more than $1.8 million to help make dreams come true for children facing critical illnesses.

 

“National Conference is an opportunity for our large family to get together in-person and it’s jam-packed with inspiration, networking, rekindling and forging new friendships and of course having fun,” said Daly. “This year’s National Conference ended on such a positive note, and we will carry that momentum through 2025, picking up where we left off when we set sail on the Star Princess for next year’s National Conference.”

 

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.

 

About Dream Vacations

 

Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received franchise partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information about Dream Vacations, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise and watch its videos at https://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.

 

Santiago Alvarado

Recent Posts

Nexion Travel Group President Jackie Friedman Announces Retirement

Friedman Has Led the Host Agency Since 2007; Will Retire in Spring 2027    …

2 hours ago

The Loneliness Problem in Travel: Why Community Is the Benefit Nobody’s Talking About

You Can Handle the Supplier Hold Queue. It's the Tuesday Afternoon With No One to…

4 hours ago

Travel Tech to award $10,000 prize to pitch competition winner at 2026 Start-Up Summit

Association also unveils full speaker and judge lineup for October 14 event in Arlington, Virginia…

4 hours ago

Nexion Travel Group Builds Next Generation of Technology Around the Advisor

New myNexion and OurNeighborhood create a more connected experience while giving advisors the freedom to…

3 days ago

Nexion Travel Group Launches Business Growth Club for High-Performing Agency Owners

New Yearlong Invite-Only Program Launches First Cohort and Combines Coaching and Peer Collaboration to Take…

4 days ago

New Phocuswright Research: European Travelers Are Using AI More, But Trusting It Less Than Friends, Family and Human Advisors

      Findings to be explored in depth at Phocuswright's Travel Marketing AI Summit London on…

4 days ago