Dugan’s Travels LLC

I have been disappointed in the leadership of my host agency, Dugans Travels, specifically email correspondences to me from Agency owner-Jennifer Dugan. It is common to get short, curt email responses from Jennifer in asking questions of our help desk. But most recently this week I was highly surprised by Jennifer’s assumption and suggestion that I take a 1-year leave of absence in reaction to simply asking the question if there was a way to receive just mandatory emails from Dugan’s vs the several times daily optional training emails. I was not stating I refused to receive the emails from Dugan’s Travels, if that was my only choice. No joke, we independent agents receive 2-5 various daily emails from Dugan’s + the numerous emails we receive weekly from suppliers. It’s a lot as a new agent trying to just get the clients to survive and make decent money as a travel agent, and for me more specifically I’m handling a very difficult, recent death in my family, care of an incapacitated family member and intense various legal trust challenges from a family member. Which Jennifer seems to know I’m dealing with yet still suggested a full 12 month leave of absence vs asking me if that’s what I want, or calling me to discuss, or anything that would have been better than a blunt 1 sentence suggestion I take a one-year leave of absence. Her statement without consideration how it would be received. It was very distressing and sad to me. I felt so abandoned I cancelled my vacation plans to join Jennifer, staff and Dugan’s agents on a FAM Cruise I had planned months to attend and was to start in just 7 days from Jennifer’s email.

It was very obviously to me I was not an agent someone Jennifer cared enough about to pick up the phone to talk to me, nor ask me any questions of what specifically might be going on in my life hindering my ability to receive so many daily emails, nor a suggestion that we discuss things when we meet up on the cruise the following week. I simply asked if it was possible to receive less optional emails from Dugan’s. I have struggled, as many new Part Time and FT agents due in gaining and retaining new clients, especially in the first year. I have followed the couple general direction ideas from Dugan’s in pursuing and marketing to possible new clients. But I’ve not found any efficient training, live, hands on mentoring training that works or groups of new agents, 1 year or less, that meet regularly online with staff to brainstorm ideas in specifically how to effectively gain new clients as a Dugan agent. For those of you considering coming to Dugan’s as a new agent I thought you deserved understanding some of what I have experienced as a new independent agent with Dugan’s. I’m sad what the future holds with Dugan’s Travels for me.

I joined Dugan's Travels on June 30, 2023, new to the travel industry but have enjoyed planning trips for friends and family. Being a beginner is not an issue at Dugan's. The entire team is here for you in every way. I went to DU in September '23 to learn everything I could, and it was amazing! The team is friendly and helpful, and the suppliers are very informative. Dugan's has a help desk for questions and excellent response times. CEO Jennifer goes above and beyond in her accessibility to agents, showing her value for their success. Dugan's offers numerous resources to learn and grow at your pace. I initially joined to make extra money in my passion for travel, and have done better than expected, making the top 25 one month and almost making it another. Dugan's offers so much to learn, including the Bootcamp, which I just finished yesterday. Every day, lightbulbs would go off thanks to the tools and tips they provided! Huge thanks to Jennifer, Christina, Melissa, Shari, Lisa, and the entire Dugan's leadership for the best experience in becoming a travel agent! I couldn't have chosen a better option than to join Dugan's Travel!

I love to travel which prompt me to become a part-time travel agent. I joined Dugan's Travels in October 2015 with no travel agent experience even though I love to travel. I searched a lot of Host Agencies before I decided to go with Dugan's Travels. Jennifer and all her staff have been wonderful. They provide all the agents opportunity, support, training including online training needed to be successful in the business. There are so many options for training both in person and online. They did a zoom training with me early this year when I built my goal, and for the first time I'm one of the five-star agents. Thanks, Dugan's Travels for all your support. Flora Oladapo.

Dugan's Travels has been a wonderful host agency. There are so many to choose from and yet I kept going back to Dugan's. I am so glad I made the decision to work with them. There is so much training and everyone has been so helpful along the way. I am so glad I chose them and feel great to be a part of this wonderful host family. Thank you, Dugan's Travels, for making my dreams of becoming a travel advisor a reality.

I joined Dugan's Travels in September 2023 after finally deciding to re-start my travel career. I had orginally joined back in the early days of Dugan's and decided to look them up to see what they were currently offering. My socks were blown off by what I read. The training is 2nd to none and the staff do everything in their power to make sure their agents are well trained and well informed. While it's up to me to build my business I know that the staff at Dugan's stands by my side to make sure that I can be as successful as I want to be. I'm looking forward to a long & rewarding relationship with them.

I started with Dugan's after working briefly with a local agency to organize group cruises. Jennifer was SO patient with me as I emailed her with question after question before committing. I am SO GLAD I did! Not only did Dugan's offer training to help me get started as a home-based agent, but they have continued to upgrade and revise the training offered. The support has been phenomenal, and I really feel like Dugan's is family-oriented and supportive of their agents. Since I started in 2011, they have added an excellent CRM program, in-person and virtual training and support, and agency FAM trips. I really can't imagine working with another host agency as Dugan's has provided everything I need to be successful on my own terms. There is no pressure to meet specific sales quotas, service fees and insurance costs are low, and I retain a larger portion of my commission than most other agencies. Dugan's is simply the best.

I have been in the travel industry as an advisor since 1995. I was grateful to find Dugan’s Travels in 2013. I was drawn to the agency as Jennifer (the owner) was a busy mother wanting to work from home doing what she loved. That was me! I am still overwhelmed by the amazing resources, training, and the true “family” that the Dugan’s agency offers. I have not an ounce of anything negative to say about Dugan’s, only the utmost praise and gratitude for how they run their business, the leadership and support.

I've been with Dugan's since 7/2021. I started with no experience but have never felt out of place. With their encouragement and training, I achieved 5 Star status for 2023 and should again in 2024. My goals of retiring, working from home and lots of travel have been reached with their amazing help.

I joined Dugan's in Feb of 2012 with only personal travel experience. They have been great from the beginning and very supportive. They try very hard to keep all the agents up to date with new travel guidelines.. great offers.. etc.. and always providing training to help us be very successful. I have a full-time job and started this as a side business and this has become a whole lot more than a side job. I almost reached my million-dollar sales goal for this year!!! Excited to see what my sales will be when I can go full time after my retirement in just 3 short years!! Dugans's support and training has helped to make this happen Thank you Dugan's!! If you are looking for an agency, Dugan's is the goal mine of the industry! Thanks Dugan's!

When I decided to make the leap into the travel industry as a professional, I contacted several well known host agencies that I had researched online. Several simply replied with a online application with a payment portal to pay the hosting fees, while Dugan's actually followed up with a phone call and several follow up discussions to answer all my questions (and I had quite a few!). That impressed me, knowing that I was not going to just be a number on a spreadsheet, but a member of the Dugan's Travel family.

During my onboarding and for the first several months, the help desk was so supportive, and I really appreciated all the online training available across all types of travel - rail, cruises destinations and hotel vendors, which allowed me to be more confident as I started my new business. Likewise, the opportunity to meet with fellow Dugan's travel advisors at events around the country each year has been invaluable.

I also appreciate the fact that while competitive, the atmosphere is not cutthroat, and the Dugan's leadership team, along with fellow advisers are always ready and willing to provide any guidance and assistance if needed.

I am very pleased with my decision to select Dugan's Travel as my host agency and look forward to continuing this relationship in the future.