Dugan's Travels is continuing to invest in the people, tools, education, and relationships that help independent travel advisors build successful businesses. As the travel industry evolves, the host agency is strengthening its support team, refining internal processes, evaluating technology, expanding educational opportunities, and deepening supplier partnerships.
Owner Jennifer Dugan emphasized that the focus is on improvement, not just growth. "We've never wanted growth just for the sake of being bigger," she said. "We want to be better. That means continually looking at what our advisors need, what our team does well, and where we can make improvements that provide meaningful support."
A key area of focus is the support structure behind the scenes. The agency is refining how its team works together, ensuring that each member's strengths are utilized effectively. Team members Christina, Shari, Tracy, Joleen, Cecily, Barb, and Jennifer contribute to advisor education, new-agent support, supplier relationships, events, Five Star advisor development, webinars, peer-to-peer learning, and everyday support. The goal is to ensure the right people are focused on the right things, leading to clearer communication and stronger support for advisors.
Education remains a cornerstone of the Dugan's Travels experience. The agency is enhancing its webinar program and developing initiatives tailored to advisors at different stages. The Five Star community continues to offer opportunities for established advisors to connect and learn, while newer advisors receive the knowledge and confidence needed to build strong foundations. Peer-to-peer learning is also expanding through the Hear From Our Peers series, where advisors share real experiences and strategies. Upcoming programming includes an advisor discussing how her passion for Scotland became a specialty, demonstrating how personal interests can develop into expertise.
Dugan's University (DU) remains a vital part of the community, bringing together advisors, team members, and supplier partners for education and networking. Future DU events will see more team members taking ownership of specific aspects, from new-agent activities to supplier involvement, making DU a more enriching experience.
Technology is being evaluated with purpose. The agency is reviewing CRM options, focusing on functionality, usability, cost, and practical needs. "We want technology to solve problems, not create new ones," Dugan said. "There are always new platforms and tools available, but the question for us is whether they actually make things better for our advisors and our team."
Supplier relationships continue to be important, especially through the Inner Circle program, which fosters deeper partnerships that create opportunities for education, marketing, and business development. Planning is underway for the next year of Inner Circle partnerships, emphasizing meaningful value for advisors.
Dugan's Travels believes improvement doesn't always mean adding more. Sometimes it means refining existing processes, improving communication, or eliminating unnecessary steps. "We already do a lot," Dugan said. "Our next chapter isn't about seeing how many more things we can add. It's about looking at everything we're doing and asking: Is this useful? Is it working? Is the right person handling it? And does it ultimately help our advisors?"
Founded in 1997, Dugan's Travels has always focused on helping people build travel businesses with flexibility. As the agency moves into its next chapter, it remains committed to the principles of people, relationships, education, and support. "We're going to keep trying things, learning, listening, and adjusting," Dugan said. "What matters is that we're willing to keep looking at ourselves and asking how we can do a better job for our advisors and for the people who support them."
For Dugan's Travels, the next chapter isn't about becoming the biggest host agency but about building a stronger one, one advisor, one relationship, and one improvement at a time.
