BREMERTON, WA – Dugan's Travels, a host agency founded in 1997, is investing in a broad range of improvements designed to strengthen its support for independent travel advisors. The agency is focusing on enhancing its team structure, educational programs, technology, and supplier relationships, according to a recent announcement.
Owner Jennifer Dugan emphasized that the goal is not growth for its own sake but to become better at serving advisors. “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 team behind the advisors. The agency is refining responsibilities among its team members—Christina, Shari, Tracy, Joleen, Cecily, Barb, and Jennifer—to better align with their strengths and cover areas like advisor education, new-agent support, supplier relationships, events, and Five Star advisor development. The goal is to ensure clear communication and effective support for advisors.
Education is another pillar of the initiative. Dugan's Travels is strengthening its webinar program and developing training tailored to advisors at different stages. The Five Star community will continue to offer advanced learning for established advisors, while newer advisors receive foundational training. Peer-to-peer learning is also expanding through the Hear From Our Peers series, where advisors share real experiences. An upcoming session will feature an advisor discussing how her passion for Scotland became a specialty in her business.
Dugan's University (DU) remains central to the community, bringing together advisors, team members, and supplier partners for education and networking. The agency is planning future DU events with more ownership by support team members to enhance the experience.
Technology is being evaluated with purpose. The agency is reviewing CRM options, focusing on functionality, usability, and cost, rather than adopting tools just for novelty. “We want technology to solve problems, not create new ones,” Dugan said.
Supplier relationships are also being strengthened through the Inner Circle program, which fosters deeper partnerships for education, marketing, and business development. Planning for the next year is underway.
Dugan emphasized that improvement doesn't always mean adding more; sometimes it's about refining existing processes. “Our next chapter isn't about seeing how many more things we can add,” she 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?”
The agency's philosophy remains rooted in helping advisors build sustainable businesses. As it moves forward, Dugan's Travels intends to continue evolving while staying true to its core values. For more information, visit https://duganstravels.com/.
