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 http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.