Sundance Vacations Blog

As entrepreneurs we realize that great ideas can come from anywhere. This particular idea is copied from a company we admire greatly. At the conclusion of a recent call to American Express, the credit card giant played a pre-recorded “disclosure type” message. The pre-recorded message allows American Express to control the specific content being delivered by its agents and therefore guarantees a consistent, high quality message is being delivered to every customer. It’s brilliant and we’ve set the wheels in motion to emulate this process at Sundance Vacations.

All of the important disclosures regarding the terms and conditions for our promotional offer can be pre-recorded. This additional method will help Sundance Vacations insure that all customers understand our promotion. For example, “This is not a prize that you have won,” is one of our important disclosures and will certainly be included in the disclosure message. The proposed message is less than 60 seconds long and will give our customers absolute confidence regarding our cruise offer. We have found that customers who thoroughly understand that they have NOT WON a cruise and understand that it is not FREE have a very good experience.

This pre-recorded message is in addition to many other quality checks we have put in place to guarantee a high level of confidence in the company’s message.

The terms and conditions surrounding our travel offer are disclosed verbally and in writing several times. We also hold our staff to the highest standards. Each staff member is required to sign a “Business Integrity Statement” which requires each of us to represent the company and our product in an honest and truthful manner. All TSR’s receive job specific training specifically prohibiting the use of the words “win, won or free” when describing the promotional cruise.

We’re thrilled about adding the “pre-recorded disclosure” to our business process. We’re now in business for over 20 years and one thing that remains the same is our commitment to constant improvement.

Sundance Vacations has earned the distinction of being named one of the 2012 Best Places to Work in New Jersey!

The official ranking will be released on April 25. Whether we ultimately rank #1 or #50 we’re incredibly proud of our employees and the jobs they perform for the company each day. Our New Jersey colleagues are the epitome of what it means to be a Sundance Vacations employee. They are professional, honest, fun loving people who all share the common goal of enriching the lives of our customers (and each other) by helping people to experience quality vacations through caring, professional service. In this way, they actually live the Sundance Vacations mission. We thank our New Jersey colleagues for placing their careers in our hands and for the loud, vote of confidence they have cast for the company through the Best Places to Work in New Jersey program.

The Best Places to Work program provides a very valuable service; they administer an anonymous survey to our employees to collect data about Sundance Vacations as an employer. We receive amazing feedback about our leadership, culture, and areas where we need to improve. One of the obvious trends in the section about what makes Sundance an organization where people want to work is the repetition that our staff feels like one family.

We’ve participated in the Best Places to Work process in several states and over several years. We’re honored to have made the list in Illinois, New Jersey and many times in Pennsylvania. Sundance Vacations also won an American Business Award for the “Best Overall Company” in 2007 and “Employer of the Year” in 2010 for Women in Business. Read about all of the accolades and awards at our website.

A key core value among Sundance Vacations employees is to respond to charity. The Sundance Vacations founders lead by example regarding philanthropy. The Dowd family presented a $50,000 donation to the St. Vincent DePaul Kitchen located in Wilkes Barre, Pa. The recession has put pressure on the soup kitchen to feed even more people. They feed 400 hungry individuals and families every day. The kitchen is a favorite local charity among the Sundance Vacations employees who also volunteer some of their time to serve meals to the hungry. The full story can be found at the Citizens Voice or the Times Leader.

According to Inc. magazine Sundance Vacations is the fastest growing travel company in Pennsylvania for 2011.  Sundance Vacations official ranking on the Inc. 500/5000 fastest growing company list was released last week.  The company improved its national rank to 2,917.  This is the third consecutive year that Sundance Vacations has earned a spot on the list which is quite an achievement for any company notwithstanding the current market conditions.  The company’s three year average growth rate was 72%. 

Sundance Vacations President calls the award “bittersweet” citing the economy for what he considers “mediocre” performance. Even though the company is not completely satisfied with its three year growth rate employees are extremely optimistic about the positioning of the company as the recession lifts.

The full news release has been published on the Sundance Vacations Newsroom.

On September 1^st, Valerie white was selected to receive a $100 in Free Play at Party on the Patio. Sundance Vacations has been trying to reach out to her by leaving messages on her cell phone to pick up her prize ever since. After a reasonable time of no response from Valerie, we became very worried and decided to send her a letter. She received our letter and returned our call immediately upon receipt! Apparently, something happened to Valerie’s cell phone and she was not receiving any of her messages. Then she was affected by the recent flooding and left without power for several days. As she just so happened to be headed back to the Mohegan Sun @ Pocono Downs today she was able to swing by the Sundance Vacations office located in Wilkes-Barre PA directly across from the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Valerie was very excited when she picked up her prize. She mentioned that the funny part was that she had to leave the Party on the Patio earlier than planned, and while walking to her car as she left the casino, she exclaimed, “I just filled out that entry form with Sundance Vacations and watch me be the winner! I won’t be here to hear them announce my name!” Well, Valerie, you were correct……. you were the winner! Congratulations and Enjoy!

September 1st was the last Thursday night to hang out at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs with your friends from Sundance Vacations at the Party on the Patio.  The tribute band honoring Garth Brooks -“Fresh Horses” had everyone singing and dancing under the stars. At the commencement of the show, Sundance Vacations randomly selected and announced the evening’s $100 Free Play winner.

Congratulations to Valerie White from Nicholson, PA !  We are still waiting to hear back to see when Valerie can pick up her generous prize!

Then the Party on the Patio’s grand finale was held on Sunday 9/4 to wrap up the summer show series with the spectacular and energetic Michael Jackson Tribute Band, “Who’s Bad”. Many people MOON WALKED over to the Sundance Vacations booth to register for $100 in free play for the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs before the show. Following “Who’s Bad”, Sundance Vacations proudly announced on stage the last lucky Party on the Patio winner for the season.

Congratulations to Dorothy Sikora from Larksville, Pa! Dorothy received her prize immediately following the last set, just before the spectacular firework display!

We hope everyone had a fantastic summer! Remember it “Pays to be Friends with Sundance Vacations”, just ask any one of this Summer’s Party on the Patio Winners! You can always stay in touch with Sundance Vacations for many other giveaways and contest by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter!

Sundance Vacations was able to excite the crowd once again at the Party on the Patio at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Thursday August 25th with another Sundance Vacations fabulous giveaway.  The talented tribute band honoring Fleetwood Mac – “Fleetwood Macked”, entertained everyone throughout the evening. And at the end of the concert, Sundance Vacations randomly selected a $100 Free Play winner.

Congratulations to Lynda Cartier from Nescopeck, PA! Lynda picked up her wonderful prize at Sundance Vacations in Wilkes-Barre, Pa on Highland Park Blvd, across from the Mohegan Sun Arena just in time to kick off the long Labor Day weekend. When contacted, Lynda Cartier was surprised and exclaimed, “You have made me so happy!” She was all smiles as she posed for a quick photo waving her $100 free play voucher in her hand. Sundance Vacations is very happy to have put a few extra bucks in Lynda’s pocket for the holiday!

Are you looking for some fun and some free play? Come out to join Sundance Vacations and 105 the River at Party on the Patio at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs before the summer ends! See you there!

Everyone’s spirits were flying high during the Party on the Patio at the Mohegan Sun Casino at Pocono Downs, as the fans of “7 Bridges – A Tribute to the Eagles” gathered around to sit back to enjoy the great music and to just simply “Take It Easy” with their friends on a beautiful Thursday night.
Adding to the evening’s excitement, Sundance Vacations gave every person who stopped by a chance to enter their spectacular giveaway and the opportunity to win a $100 free play voucher!

Congratulations, Brittny Baynes from Wilkes-Barre, PA.

At first when we tried to contact Brittney by phone we were told we had the wrong number! We were shocked and knew we might have to do some detective work to let Brittny know that she was the winner. Luckily, Brittny also included her email address on her enter to win registration slip. Vice President of Business Development, Candy Bednar, emailed Brittny and asked if she could contact her directly regarding her registration. Brittny received the email and called back right away to claim her prize.

“Brittny is originally from Arizona and the area code on her cell phone is 520. The 2 looked like a 7 so I had dialed 570 since she had a Wilkes-Barre address. I was getting ready to put out a FaceBook search to track down Brittney,” claims Candy, ” I was happy to hear back from her so quickly!
And, she was thrilled to hear the great news!”

When Brittny came to pick up her prize at the Sundance Vacations office she posed for a photo with Candy who stated, “Thanks for the additional email information Brittny or we might have had to send the Sundance Vacations Prize Patrol to your house!”

Join Sundance Vacations and 105 the River for another enchanted evening on August 25th as “Fleetwood Macked – A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac” takes the stage. “Don’t Stop” believing that you too can walk away with $100 in free play next Thursday night!

As the temperature changed to the 70′s on Thursday night so did the hit tunes coming from the Party on the Patio at the Mohegan Sun @ Pocono Downs. The popular Bee Gee cover band, “Stayin’ Alive” had the crowd at the casino disco dancing all night long. As the fun-loving guests strutted into the party John Travolta style, many took the wonderful opportunity to meet with Sundance Vacations and registered to win $100 in free play.

After the band wrapped up and everyone took off their boogie shoes, Sundance Vacations took the stage and randomly selected one big winner from the evening’s entries.

Congratulations, Debra Orner from Duryea, Pa!

Debra headed straight for the casino when the band had ended and missed the exciting announcement of her name being called from the stage. Then she quickly headed out of town for a few days. But, we were able to track her down at work on Monday morning to relay the great news! Debra was thrilled! She stopped by the Sundance Vacations office located directly across from the Mohegan Sun Arena, and posed for a quick photo shoot with Sales Manager, Shae Ferst as she received her $100 prize from Sundance Vacations.

So come on out and “Live Life in Fast Lane” next week as you join Sundance Vacations, 105 the River, and the Mohegan Sun @ Pocono Downs for another enchanted evening under the stars. If you haven’t had the chance to make it to the Party on the Patio all summer, this is your chance to be “The New Kid in Town”. So come on over, hang out with friends, and “Take it Easy” on a Thursday night. And if you are “Desperado” for some quick cash…..don’t forget to enter to win $100 at the Sundance Vacations table located in the downstairs lobby!

“Back in Black ” the well known AC/DC cover band really shook things up despite the rain Thursday night at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Party on the Patio attendees who entered to win the evening giveaway waited anxiously to hear who would be announced as the next Sundance Vacations’ $100 Free Play winner. Congratulations, Kelly Horan from Mount Carmel, PA!

Kelly was handed her prize from Sundance Vacations Human Resource Manager, Crystal Bove, at the Sundance Vacations office located at 264 Highland Park Blvd, directly across from the Mohegan Sun Arena. She was very excited and told us that last night was her very first visit to the casino! Kelly said she almost passed up the opportunity to enter because she felt from past experiences that she “never wins anything!” Well, Kelly, you are a lucky winner! We are glad you stopped by to meet us and we’re thrilled that we have made your first visit to the casino a memorable one! Enjoy your $100 in free play from Sundance Vacations!

Sundance Vacations is going to keep this fabulous $100 giveaway promotion Stayin’ Alive. So stop all that Jive Talkin’, and be sure to come on out to join us at the Party on the Patio next Thursday night where You Should Be Dancin’ to your all-time favorite Bee-Gee tunes. Don’t miss out on your chance to take away $100 in casino cash courtesy of your friends at Sundance Vacations.