As the travel industry continues to evolve, Dugan's Travels is investing in the people, tools, education, and relationships that help independent travel advisors build successful businesses. The host agency is strengthening its support team, refining internal processes, evaluating technology, expanding educational opportunities, and deepening supplier partnerships to better serve its advisor community.
"We've never wanted growth just for the sake of being bigger," said Jennifer Dugan, owner of Dugan's Travels. "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 reassessing how its team works together, how responsibilities are divided, and how each person's strengths can best serve advisors. Team members Christina, Shari, Tracy, Joleen, Cecily, Barb, and Jennifer contribute in various ways, and responsibilities are being refined across advisor education, new-agent support, supplier relationships, events, Five Star advisor development, webinars, peer-to-peer learning, internal processes, and everyday advisor support. The goal is to ensure the right people are focused on the right tasks.
"We have talented people with very different strengths," Dugan said. "Part of my responsibility as a leader is recognizing those strengths and figuring out where each person can make the biggest difference. Sometimes that means trying something, seeing how it works, and being willing to adjust."
Education remains a cornerstone, but the focus is shifting to creating actionable opportunities. The agency is strengthening its webinar program and continuing to develop programs for advisors at different stages. The Five Star community will offer established advisors chances to connect and learn, while newer advisors receive support to build strong foundations.
Peer-to-peer learning is becoming increasingly important. Through its Hear From Our Peers series, advisors learn directly from fellow advisors about what works in their businesses. Upcoming programming includes an advisor sharing how her love of Scotland became part of her travel business, illustrating how personal interests can develop into specialties.
Dugan's University (DU) remains central to community building, bringing together advisors, team members, and supplier partners for education and networking. The agency is planning future DU events with a focus on strengthening relationships and providing actionable ideas.
Technology is being evaluated with purpose, including CRM options, to ensure it solves problems rather than creates new ones. "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 are also a priority. Through its Inner Circle program, the agency develops deeper partnerships that create opportunities for education, marketing, events, and business development. Planning for next year's partnerships is underway.
Improvement doesn't always mean adding something new. Sometimes it means clarifying processes, giving ownership to the right people, 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 while maintaining flexibility. As the agency moves forward, it remains committed to its principles of people, relationships, education, and support. "We're going to keep trying things, learning, listening, and adjusting," Dugan said. "I don't expect every idea to be perfect the first time. 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. It's about continuing to build a stronger one, one advisor, one relationship, and one improvement at a time. More information can be found at Dugan's Travels.
