Seven Military Veterans Can Win Free Travel Franchise

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past six years, business dreams have become a reality for 30 military veterans thanks to Dream Vacations' award-winning annual contest "Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General" contest. Each year five veterans are awarded a travel agency franchise, and in 2018, the best franchise opportunity for veterans is expanding its contest to award seven veterans with a free franchise, as a result of a grant from the International Franchise Association (IFA) for winning the Gold Franchising Gives Back award in the "Supporting our Veterans" category. The contest will begin on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018 and lasts through Monday, August 27, 2018.

"Military veterans are vital to the strength of our nation and to our Dream Vacations organization; words cannot express how grateful we are to all those who serve our country," said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations. "So to honor and thank those in the armed forces for making the American Dream possible, we are proud to provide a civilian career opportunity that they can embark on upon after retirement that will provide supplemental income while helping them create a legacy for their family."

The Dream Vacations franchise contest is open to former members of any of the five branches of the U.S. military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) who are retired, off active duty and/or honorably discharged prior to the contest start date. To participate, candidates must complete an online entry form and an introductory phone interview with a franchise development specialist. Candidates will be required to submit a candidate profile, business plan, video and resume. Finalists will be invited to participate in follow-up phone interviews before winners are selected. The entry form and all contest details can be found at www.OperationVetrepreneur.com.

Five winners will be notified in September 2018. Each grand prize is valued at $12,700 and includes a complimentary Dream Vacations franchise with a waived $9,800 initial start-up fee and monthly service fees. The new recruits will report for active duty in October, when they participate in a weeklong franchise training boot camp at the Dream Vacations state-of-the-art world headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Winners will be reimbursed up to $500 for their travel and provided with complimentary accommodations during the training program. Once training is completed, winners will be armed with all the tools and knowledge they need to begin their dream business creating dream vacations.

All military veterans and Gold Star families who purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency business receive an enlistment package valued at no less than $5,000 and ongoing support. They can select one of four perks currently being offered — receive up to $7,000 back based on initial fee through the Earn Back promotion; waived administrative fees valued at $1,350; free weeklong cruise valued at $1,280; or a surface pro tablet valued at $1,000. They also receive a waived training fee for a business partner; veteran-themed marketing assets; and the ability to hire active-duty military spouses and veterans as associates at a discount. Additional veteran incentives include the ability to move residences and stay in business, LeisureCare Travel Insurance discounts for veterans, travel discounts for military customers and access to veteran networking groups.

Dream Vacations is the only travel franchise to receive a "5-Star Ranking" from the IFA's VetFran initiative, and veterans and active duty spouses make up more than 30 percent of its network. Dream Vacations has received many national accolades including a number one rankings as a veteran-friendly franchise by Military Times four years in a row, as well as by Entrepreneur and Forbes. Other accolades include inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual "Hot Franchises for Veterans" list, Franchise Business Review's "Top 100 Franchises for Veterans" and USA Today's "50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans."

Military veterans who have a passion for travel and entrepreneurism who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise and want to be considered as a candidate for Operation Vetrepreneur, please visit www.OperationVetrepreneur.com or call 888-249-8235.

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 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.

Begins May 28, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends August 27, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 or older at the start of the Contest, have a computer and internet connection, be a legal resident of the US or DC and a former member in good standing of one of the five branches of the U.S. military who is retired, off active duty and/or was honorably discharged prior to the start date of the Contest. If selected as winners, Contestants must commit to a 5-year CruiseOne/Dream Vacations home-based franchise, which requires attendance at a 6-day New Franchisee Training Class in Ft Lauderdale, FL and a starting investment capital (for more information, go to www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com or call 888-441-2542). Only one (1) submission per contestant. To enter, complete the online entry form on our website (www.operationvetrepreneur.com). If qualified and selected to move to the next round after a phone interview, Semi-Finalists must submit a résumé, video, CruiseOne/Dream Vacations candidate profile and minimum 1,200 word business plan. Submissions must comply with the Submission Guidelines in the Official Rules. Only complete, valid submissions will be accepted. Sponsored by CruiseOne/Dream Vacations, 1201 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Ste. 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. See [www.OperationVetrepreneur.com] for complete Rules and details. 

Media Contact:
Rachel Shapiro, Public Relations Manager
Dream Vacations
954-958-3664
RShapiro@wth.com

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SOURCE Dream Vacations