Home » CRUISE NEWS » Dream Vacations and CruiseOne Unveil New Growth Strategies at 2025 National Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Get the Details Here

Published on
November 10, 2025

The Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Marina served as the launch location for the 2025 National Conference hosted by Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, signifying the beginning of another weeklong inspirational and empowering event tailored for travel advisors. Events focused on advisor confidence, business growth, and learning the essence of the conference will incorporate both land and sea travel for an enriching experience. For the 2025 event the conference theme is THRIVE, for the organizers aim to provide advisors the potential for success by offering advisor empowerment suites, and networking opportunities with industry partners.

The conference highlight is a fifth day Caribbean cruise with stops to Amber Cove, Grand Turk, and Turks and Caicos aboard Star Princess. This conference rearrangement offers both on land other sessions and at sea conference experiences, delivering a first class opportunity to learn, network, and implement new ideas for the conference in a spectacular setting.

Inspiring Growth and Innovation for Travel Advisors

Drew Daly, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Dream Vacations and CruiseOne, opened the conference with a motivational address centered around innovation, growth strategies, and fostering a strong sense of community among the travel advisor network. Daly highlighted the importance of creating an immersive experience that not only motivates advisors but also equips them with the tools to grow their businesses effectively.

“We’re thrilled to bring this year’s National Conference to life in a way that blends land and sea,” said Daly. “Our goal is to create an immersive experience that both inspires and empowers our network – giving them real strategies they can take home to grow their business. It’s going to be a week filled with learning, connection, and giving back – and I can’t wait to celebrate it together.”

This year’s event comes at a pivotal time for the travel industry, with many travel advisors looking to rebound after pandemic-related disruptions. The conference provides a unique platform to strengthen relationships, share best practices, and gain insight into the latest travel trends and industry innovations.

A Focus on Technology-Driven Solutions and Business Growth

Throughout the conference, franchisees and travel advisors will gain firsthand knowledge of cutting-edge technology that can enhance their operations. In four general sessions, advisors will be introduced to MarTech tools, AI-powered solutions, and new training resources designed to streamline workflow, improve sales performance, and enable better customer engagement. These technological advances are crucial for advisors seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world, where automated solutions and AI-powered platforms play a key role in managing day-to-day operations and improving client experience.

In addition to technological innovations, the conference will feature presentations from industry leaders who will discuss evolving travel trends, including shifts in customer behavior, emerging destination preferences, and market opportunities for advisors to explore. The conference aims to equip attendees with the knowledge needed to stay ahead of the curve and maximize their potential in an ever-changing travel market.

Workshops and Expert Panels for Advisor Development

The conference is packed with opportunities for professional development. Over the course of the event, attendees will have access to 22 live workshops and 30 virtual sessions, tailored to support travel advisors at every stage of their business journey. Topics covered in these sessions include everything from effective travel blog creation to closing sales in land promotion and becoming a million-dollar agent. These workshops are designed to be both practical and informative, offering attendees actionable strategies to enhance their client base, improve marketing tactics, and close deals.

One of the key highlights is the meta business suite and AI tools session, where advisors will learn how to effectively leverage these tools to manage social media, track customer data, and optimize their outreach efforts. In addition, there will be specialized workshops for different groups, including sessions focused on new-to-travel advisors and dedicated meetups for military veterans looking to transition into the travel industry.

Networking, Collaboration, and Peer-to-Peer Learning

A major component of the National Conference is the opportunity for networking and collaboration. Beyond the formal workshops and sessions, the conference provides ample opportunities for advisors to connect with peers and industry executives. Dedicated peer-to-peer meetups, C-suite presentations, and executive discussions are designed to foster collaboration, allowing advisors to share insights and learn from one another’s experiences.

These networking events will help travel advisors build lasting relationships that can provide support and inspiration long after the conference ends. By interacting with executives from leading cruise lines, tour operators, and industry influencers, attendees will gain deeper insights into the future of the travel business and identify strategies to succeed in an increasingly competitive market.

Charitable Giving and Social Impact: Supporting Make-A-Wish

As part of its commitment to giving back, Dream Vacations and CruiseOne will host several charitable events during the conference, including a silent auction and a high-energy dance-off to raise funds for Make-A-Wish, a non-profit that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. The two organizations have been long-time supporters of Make-A-Wish, contributing more than $2 million over the years. This charitable aspect of the conference reinforces the community spirit that Dream Vacations and CruiseOne aim to nurture among their network of travel advisors.

These fundraising activities not only support a great cause but also foster a sense of camaraderie and purpose within the travel advisor community, helping to align business success with meaningful social impact.

The Impact on the Travel and Tourism Industry

The Dream Vacations and CruiseOne National Conference is more than an event; it is an opportunity to define what is to come in travel advisory services and support the travel and tourism sector’s growth. Travel industry innovations and success depend on the post-pandemic education and support to travel advisors. By including all the industry leaders and travel professionals in this conference, the tourism, and travel support services industry constant and positive evolution is assured as travel advisors become more effective in meeting their clients’ needs and are able to attain their business objectives.

The travel industry’s growth, innovation, and success, as emphasized in this conference, creates positive shifts in the entire travel ecosystem. When advisors resume work with new travel advisory services, their clients will experience seamless travel bookings which will enhance their satisfaction. This will contribute to the travel industry’s success and positive upturn.