I’ve been with Dugan’s since 2014 and happily renewed my contract last month! I had limited experience when I started out. Just a passion for travel and wanting to help people create an awesome vacation experience. I did a lot of research before choosing Dugan’s as my host agency. Dugan's agents are like a big family, there is always someone that has experience in what you need help with, and they are always willing to share their knowledge. During this past year, Jennifer and the management team have gone above and beyond my expectations from weekly zoom sessions, ongoing training, moral support, and providing tools to use to assist us in maintaining and growing our agencies through difficult times. Don’t hesitate to choose Dugan’s as your host agency!
UPDATE 4/26/2016: I’m just posting an update. My last review was thorough. I’m still with Dugan’s and can’t imagine being with any other host agency. It has been seven years. Dugan’s is really like a big family. I personally know many of the other agents and most of the management team. I highly recommend them to anyone, whether you’re just starting out or if you’ve been doing this for years!
_____________
Before I joined Dugan's in 2009, I spent weeks researching host agencies and sending emails to the owners. I researched blogs by industry experts, and checked out current status with such agencies as CLIA.I even went to a live presentation by one agency who turned out to be a "card mill" agency--very scary. I had done lots of on-line travel booking for me for years, but had never been a travel agent. Dugan's was very welcoming, and didn't cost several thousand dollars to start up, like some of the other host agencies. I faithfully read all of the teaching materials, and had help from Angela and Barb when I got stuck. I followed the good advice that Jennifer shared for new agents. Without spending too much money, I was ready to get started.
I have never regretted my choice. Dugan's has a wonderful staff of very caring people. They are regular people, many are moms raising children and working for Dugan's on the side. All of them put in long hours and are very dedicated and patient. This April, I was finally able to get time off to attend the annual Dugan's seminar. It was a fabulous week packed with learning, and I had a chance to meet many of the staff and other agents in person. There were multiple of the Dugan's managers in attendance. They organized the event and spoiled us with all kinds of goodies. We inspected ships and spent long hours into the night in our lounge. Some people needed a little help with one-on-one coaching, and others such as me just enjoyed talking and sharing a bit of wine.
One thing that's very important to me about Dugan's is the flexibility. You can work one hour a week or 10 hours a day. They don't push anyone-- you are in charge of your own travel business.
Many of us have full time jobs, and do our travel business on the side. Others do travel full time. There is no stress, and it's up to you what you do.
Dugan's has an excellent website for all of us with a library of reference materials, and a social networking site, among other things. ClientEase is the system we are currently using to track our bookings and information. It also has marketing tools, and many features. These two items make it so easy to run a business. Jennifer, who is a busy mom herself, somehow manages to find time to look out for her agents, and is constantly coming up with new helpful tools and advice for us.
I'm so glad that I picked Dugan's. I feel that I'm part of a big family, and I really enjoy my work as a travel agent.
Found the training to be very good and the personal support is more than I expected. The new ClientEase booking site is fantastic and makes record keeping a very simple task.
Dugans is always trying out new ideas to help agents. Since I have gotten active two years ago, I am impressed with their professionalism.
I have been with Dugan's Travels since November of 2007. I am very happy with Agency. I really had very little experience when I started and found the training to be wonderful. Also, the support was always there whether is was management or other agents, you always get an answer to your question. More recently I did a large destination wedding and had some problems with the supplier, Angela Brown was there to help me through the whole process. With the addition of Clientease and a private agency website things just continue to improve. I highly recommend this Agency.
Dugan's has allowed hundreds of agents to follow their passion by selling travel from home. I have been with them for nearly four years and have seen a huge improvement in the past year. Jennifer has invested in this company because she takes pride in it and wants her agents to be successful. With Angela on board(as well as other employees)I think this company is outstanding and would be hard to beat. I want to work for a company that stands for integrity, knowledgable agents and access to good products. I have found that here. The information we have access to from other agents through our chat rooms and conventions is outstanding. Training is available from many sources.
I've really appreciated my association with Dugan's Travels for several reasons. First of all, the monthly fees are very reasonable, and can be waived if you've had even a minimally productive month of bookings - and I love having E&O insurance available so economically as well. Second, I thought their training manual was great - and wish I had had something like that when I first started out. Third, their new ClientEase system is efficient and allows me to keep the details of each client in a secure and mobile location. Fourth, payments are predictably on-time. And fifth - and I may like this one the best - they leave you alone to run your own business, but are there to help (promptly) if needed.
After all, there's a reason you're called an "independent agent," and that's just the way I like it!
Jennifer runs a very classy host agency. I was able to start my agency specks ing in Disney travel with her help. All of the support people at Dugans are very knowledgeable and helpful. While my business hasn't taken off like I wanted I know it's just a matter of time. It's all possible because of Jennifer. Thanks
Dugans was fabulous with the training and support through the start up. There is alot of information out there and dugans helps filter through it all. They are always quick to answer all my questions and very helpful.
For someone who is looking to start an independent business, I would highly recommend them. This isn't an easy industry and Dugans help make sense of it all.
I am with their agency for more than 5 years now i love the support and all that Dugans agents do and help and support each other a lot this is my second job but either way i love it over here
thanks Jennifer and all the team
I have nothing bad to say about Dugans Travels and feel very lucky to have found them. I was new to the travel industry and Dugans has made it very easy for me to learn and grow my business. I feel that the $10 monthly fee is very reasonable if you don't meet quota - several other host agenices I looked into charged a lot more. I have never had a problem getting any of my questions answered or help with any thing I needed. Jennifer, Angela and Barb are all wonderful to work with and are quick at getting back to me. It helps so much to be able to ask other agents questions on destination and suppliers and I have never gotten any bad advice. The Clientease website is great - very easy to use and a great way to track commissions - I love that I can print out very professional invoices for my clients with my business logo on them. It is also a great experience to go to the yearly meetings - not only does it give you a chance to meet everyone in person but the training is amazing. I highly recommend Dugans to anyone looking at becoming a home based travel agent. Thanks to everyone at Dugans both staff and all the other agents!!
I have been with Dugan's for a little over a year. As a complete novice to the travel industry, I can say that Dugan's has been VERY helpful in helping me learn the ropes and get established as an agent. Over the past year, I have seen tremendous changes in technology and organization of the company -- all for the better. The agency staff are friendly and helpful, and I have even received assistance from Jennifer herself from time to time (how many companies with 500-600 people can say that?). Everything is very well organized and commissions are paid in a timely manner. I most definitely would recommend Dugans to other home-based agents!
I forgot to mention that the agent network set up by Dugans is EXCELLENT. She has really fostered a helping-hands kind of atmosphere with her agents and everyone is quick to help each other with tips and information on destinations, itineraries, suppliers and just growing our business in general.