Here’s what you will learn after reading this article:
- Dream Vacations is hosting a full schedule of educational and networking travel agent events in 2026 to provide hands-on franchise training, support and community building.
- The 2026 lineup includes Regional Trainings for localized supplier networking, alongside an Immersive Education Series featuring specialized summits focused on niche travel sectors like luxury, river cruises and land-based vacations.
- The organization’s flagship National Conference combines large-scale education with experiential learning.
From regional training events and easy virtual learning options to immersive, multi-day summits and an annual National Conference held at sea, Dream Vacations offers Franchise Owners plenty of ways to expand their expertise at every stage of developing their business.
A full schedule of travel agent events is planned this year, like every year, as Dream Vacations prioritizes franchise training and support – including hands-on education, experiential learning and networking with travel agency suppliers. In fact, many events are held in the same destinations and on the same ships that Franchise Owners are selling to travelers, providing firsthand product knowledge that can be shared with clients. Of course, these are also fun opportunities to connect with the Dream Vacations franchise community!
Franchise Resources
Among the support options provided to Franchise Owners, Dream Vacations has offered multiple Regional Trainings in 2026. These two-day events are full of training and engagement. With attendance from headquarters staff members and travel industry suppliers, these are an incredible opportunity to make connections. Regional Trainings are free to attend, and discounted hotel rates are available for those who want to stay on-site. Regional Trainings in 2026 took the Dream Vacations community to Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Austin, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Kansas City, Missouri.
Specialized Summits
In addition to Regional Trainings, Dream Vacations presents its franchise owners with several specialized summits—which range from two-day virtual events to weeklong immersive experiences—focused on high-growth travel sectors. These events allow Franchise Owners to sharpen their expertise within a focused environment. For example, in March 2026, the Dream Vacations River Summit took place aboard a Viking River Cruises sailing from Mainz, Germany, to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In May 2026, the Luxury Summit was held at The Ritz-Carlton in Lake Tahoe. This small, intimate event is designed for Franchise Owners who are serious about growing their luxury travel business. This event is an incredible experience for travel agency franchise owners who want a personalized, focused educational experience to learn more about luxury vacations.
Two virtual events are also planned this year: the MarTech Summit in June 2026, focused on the intersection of marketing and technology, and the Groups Summit in July, concentrated on the group travel niche.
MarTech Summit has, in the past, featured keynote talks on social media marketing and artificial intelligence, breakout sessions with leading travel industry technology and marketing partners, as well as Lunch & Learn sessions with the technology team on UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface) and Exchange Online (Microsoft’s cloud-based service for email, contacts and calendar). The Groups Summit has included introductory and advanced sessions (tiered by experience level) on topics like managing shared group contracts, large group opportunities and handling destination wedding groups, plus keynote addresses by industry leaders. Excitingly, this event has gotten extensive participation from travel community partners – including Sandals Resorts, Norwegian Cruise Line, Atlas Ocean Voyages, ALG Vacations, CIE Tours, Globus, and more!
Another exciting in-person event is Land Summit – an opportunity to learn more about resort, tour, rail, and other land-based vacation experiences. Held at an all-inclusive resort, this is an exciting and highly hands-on event.
Franchise Convention
When it comes to Dream Vacations’ cornerstone event, that would be an easy answer: the annual National Conference! This flagship event brings together community building with large-scale education opportunities.
This exciting event is an incredible opportunity for the Dream Vacations family to get together and network, learn, and make memories! Held each year on some of the travel industry’s newest ships, this event is one every Dream Vacations franchise owner is sure to look forward to.
How to Become a Travel Agent
Trips and travel agent events like these are great examples of the benefits of owning a travel agency. Because of these experiences, ongoing training and support, Dream Vacations is known for an unparalleled recognition – it is simply the best travel agency franchise to own. Sign up to take the next steps to becoming a Dream Vacations Franchise Owner.
FAQs
What types of travel agent events does Dream Vacations offer in 2026?
Dream Vacations provides a variety of educational and networking events tailored to different business needs. These include free two-day Regional Trainings featuring supplier trade shows, specialized virtual and in-person summits focused on high-growth sectors like luxury and group travel and a large-scale annual National Conference.
How much do the specialized summits cost, and what do they entail?
Costs and formats vary depending on the summit. For example, the upcoming in-person Luxury Summit at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe costs $399 per person (with discounted room rates available) and includes supplier presentations, a trade show, and curated luxury experiences. Other niche events, such as the MarTech and Groups Summits, are hosted virtually to offer flexible, affordable learning opportunities.
Where and when is the 2026 National Conference being held?
The flagship National Conference will take place from November 1–8, 2026. It will be hosted aboard Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas during a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops including CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
