BREMERTON, WA – Dugan's Travels is making strategic investments in its support infrastructure, education programs, technology, and supplier relationships to better serve its independent travel advisors as the agency prepares for its next chapter of growth.
Owner Jennifer Dugan emphasized that the goal is not simply to expand but to improve the quality of support provided. “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.”
The agency is refining the roles of its support team members—Christina, Shari, Tracy, Joleen, Cecily, Barb, and Jennifer—to ensure that each person’s strengths are utilized effectively. Responsibilities are being reorganized across areas such as advisor education, new-agent support, supplier relationships, events, Five Star advisor development, webinars, peer-to-peer learning, and internal processes. The aim is to enhance communication and provide clearer pathways for advisors to get the help they need.
Education remains a cornerstone of the Dugan's Travels experience, but the focus is shifting toward practical, actionable learning. The agency is strengthening its webinar program and continuing to develop targeted education for advisors at different stages. The Five Star community will offer established advisors opportunities to connect and explore advanced topics, while newer advisors receive foundational training to build confidence and skills.
Peer-to-peer learning is gaining prominence through the Hear From Our Peers series, where advisors share real-world experiences and strategies. An upcoming session will feature an advisor discussing how her passion for Scotland evolved into a specialty, illustrating how personal interests can become business assets. The agency plans to expand these peer-led opportunities.
Dugan's University (DU) remains a key community event, bringing together advisors, team members, and supplier partners for education and networking. Future DU events will see more support team involvement in planning, from new-agent activities to advisor gatherings, with the goal of making DU a transformative experience that strengthens relationships and provides actionable insights.
Technology evaluation is another priority. The agency is assessing CRM options with a focus on functionality, usability, cost, and practical benefits for independent advisors. “We want technology to solve problems, not create new ones,” Dugan said. “The question for us is whether they actually make things better for our advisors and our team.”
Supplier relationships continue to be vital, with the Inner Circle program fostering deeper partnerships that offer education, marketing, and product knowledge benefits. Planning for the next year of Inner Circle partnerships is underway, emphasizing value for advisors.
Dugan's Travels recognizes that improvement doesn't always mean adding new programs; sometimes it means refining existing ones. This could involve clarifying processes, assigning ownership based on strengths, improving internal communication, or eliminating inefficiencies.
The agency's philosophy, rooted in its founding in 1997, centers on helping people build successful travel businesses while maintaining flexibility. As the industry evolves, Dugan's Travels remains committed to its core values 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 more information about Dugan's Travels, visit https://duganstravels.com/.
