As the travel industry evolves, Dugan's Travels is making strategic investments to strengthen its support for independent travel advisors. The host agency, founded in 1997 by Jennifer Dugan, is focusing on refining internal processes, expanding educational opportunities, and building deeper supplier relationships to better serve its advisor community.
"We've never wanted growth just for the sake of being bigger," said Jennifer Dugan. "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 team behind the advisors. The agency is re-evaluating how its team members—Christina, Shari, Tracy, Joleen, Cecily, Barb, and Jennifer—contribute to advisor success. Responsibilities are being refined across advisor education, new-agent support, supplier relationships, events, Five Star advisor development, webinars, peer-to-peer learning, and everyday advisor support. The goal is to align individual strengths with the agency's needs, ensuring clear communication and effective assistance for advisors.
Education remains a cornerstone of the Dugan's Travels experience. The agency is enhancing its webinar program and developing curriculum tailored to advisors at different stages. The Five Star community continues to offer established advisors opportunities for advanced learning, while newer advisors receive foundational training. Additionally, the "Hear From Our Peers" series allows advisors to learn directly from fellow advisors' experiences, with upcoming sessions including a specialist sharing how her expertise in Scotland became a business niche.
Dugan's University (DU) remains a vital gathering for advisors, team members, and supplier partners, focusing on education, networking, and relationship building. The agency is planning future DU events with more defined roles for team members, aiming to make DU a transformative experience that provides actionable insights.
Technology is being evaluated with a focus on long-term benefits. The agency is reviewing CRM options, considering functionality, usability, cost, and the practical needs of independent advisors. "We want technology to solve problems, not create new ones," Dugan emphasized.
Supplier relationships are also being strengthened through the Inner Circle program, which fosters deeper partnerships that offer education, marketing, and business development opportunities. Planning for the next year's Inner Circle partnerships is underway, with an emphasis on meaningful value for advisors.
Dugan's Travels believes that improvement doesn't always mean adding more. Sometimes it involves clarifying processes, assigning ownership based on strengths, improving team communication, or retiring tools that no longer serve the agency. "Our next chapter isn't about seeing how many more things we can add," Dugan said. "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 prioritized helping advisors build businesses with flexibility. While tools and technology have changed, the commitment to people, relationships, education, and support remains constant. As the agency moves forward, it aims to evolve while staying grounded in these principles, focusing on becoming stronger rather than simply larger. For more information, visit Dugan's Travels.
