Archive for December, 2007

It’s that time of year again…for some of us, it’s a time for self analysis and reflection.  Many of us have resolutions and will work hard to fulfill them.  It’s also time for gathering together and spending time with family, friends and co-workers.  For those of us who are lucky enough to work here, our co-workers are our friends and Sundance itself is like our family.

This past weekend, Sundance Vacations held their annual Christmas parties;   marketing on Saturday evening, sales and administrative on Sunday evening.  Braving snow and ice, our intrepid employees put on their party clothes and boogied the night away. The sales party this year was very special.  In the past, our Wisconsin and Illinois offices have had their own Christmas parties because of their location; but this year, for the first time ever, all of the sales offices were together when our Midwest sales teams joined the East coast sales and administrative teams for an amazing gala at the Trump Marina in Atlantic City.  We ate and we danced.  Some of us even tried our luck in the casino before retiring to our rooms.

On Monday morning, the staff was invited to attend a presentation with the motivational speaker, Chuck Reaves.  It was a great presentation and Chuck had some really innovative ideas, ideas that could be used as part of a New Year resolution for your life and your work…What did you learn from Chuck Reaves?  Is there anything you heard that you plan to implement this year?  Please send in your comments.

To All, a Very Merry Christmas, a Peaceful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!!

Kathy O’Mara

Communications Director

komara@vacmail.com

As employees, we have the benefit of using the properties Sundance Vacations has available.  Are you taking advantage of this opportunity?  If so, do you find it helps when dealing with clients? 

When I worked in the New Client Services Department, the fact that I use the program (10 vacation weeks to date) was a tremendous help when I was speaking with new clients who didn’t know what to expect.   My favorite example when speaking with clients was to tell them about the very first vacation I used, at The Myrtle Beach Resort in South Carolina. 

I was able to book the accommodations from the excess inventory list, so I got a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit for only $198.00.  When I told clients about that, they started to get excited and see the value of excess inventory.  I was doubly lucky, because since I had the extra bedroom, I invited my mother to come with me and my children. She was so excited that she paid for all of the gas for the trip and then she even bought the groceries!  It was a good feeling to walk in to the unit and hear my mother go on and on about how nice it was.  She couldn’t believe it was so inexpensive.

The resort was beautiful and we liked it so much that we’ve been back two more times.  Also, my mother is always looking at the excess list to book a vacation for herself and her husband.  It’s nice, because she was skeptical at first and now she has every confidence that she’ll stay in a nice place.

I always find it easier to answer questions about Sundance Vacations because I have first hand experience.  What do you think?   

Rick Baron submitted a question regarding the new MPLS technology that will be launched shortly. He questioned if we will be monitoring sales manager phones. All employees should understand that every phone on the system has the potential to be monitored. The purpose of monitoring calls is solely to improve customer relations and quality of message. Therefore it is most important that we spend a great deal of time listening to employees that have interaction with clients via telephone. Sales managers generally interact with customers in person so there would not be many useful opportunities for monitoring via telephone. However, employees who are concerned about their privacy should use their cell phones for non company business.

Tina Dowd

Sundance Vacations travelers will soon have another beautiful resort to visit in the Poconos, Pennsylvania, when TAN adds The Woodfield Manor to the network!  The Woodfield Manor is located in Swiftwater, PA, right in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Known for their popular ski areas and spectacular fall foliage, the Poconos are a great vacation destination whatever the season. Woodfield Manor is the name chosen by the Dowds for their newest property acquisition.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Keith and Joanne Wolfe, longtime friends of the Dowds, will manage the the twelve-acre resort.  Woodfield Manor has 22 guest units; six suites are located in the main manor and the remaining sixteen units are quaint cottages.  Currently there is a pool and kiddie pool on the property but there are plenty of acres available for additional activities.                                                   

The historic property was called the Brittania Inn before it was purchased and renovated by Jerzy and Anna Olbrys.  “Jerzy is a master craftsman,” explains Tina Dowd.  “He completely gutted every building.”  The main inn used to house twenty tiny guest rooms for weary travelers who simply needed a bed for the night.  Now, the main manor has just six cozy guest suites.  After a day of fun in the snow, guests in the main building can sip hot chocolate by one of the two stone fireplaces in the manor, while guests who stay in the cottages can enjoy their own private gas fireplace.  For the convenience of the guests, there is a seventy seat bar and restaurant on site.  The deep, dark and rich oak bar is one of the most beautiful features of Jerzy’s renovation.”                                                                                             

“In short, we’re bubbling with excitement about this property,” enthused Tina Dowd.   “We’ve already interviewed two potential hotel/restaurant managers.  My goal for the onsite manager is to deliver value to the guests not just hand out keys at the beginning of the week and collect them again at the end.  If there is a moment to spare, I’m excited about filling it with extra special personal touches.  I’m not crazy enough to think that all of my ideas will work, or be cost effective but, I am stubborn enough to try, try again.”                                                                         

The entire resort will be furnished after the closing, so travelers, look for it in early 2008.                                                                                                                                          

Kathy O’Mara

Communications Director

komara@vacmail.com

Sundance Vacations travelers will soon have another beautiful Poconos resort to choose from when TAN adds The Woodfield Manor to the network!  The Woodfield Manor is located in Swiftwater, PA, right in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Woodfield Manor is the name chosen by the Dowds for their newest property acquisition.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Keith and Joanne Wolfe, longtime friends of the Dowds, will manage the the twelve-acre resort (I’ll be blogging on them later this week).  Woodfield Manor has 22 guest units; six suites are located in the main manor and the remaining sixteen units are quaint cottages.  Currently there is a pool and kiddie pool on the property but there are plenty of acres available for additional activities.                                                   

The historic property was called the Brittania Inn before it was purchased and renovated by Jerzy and Anna Olbrys.  The main inn used to house twenty tiny guest rooms, now, the main manor has just six cozy guest suites.  Guests in the main building can sit by one of the two stone fireplaces in the manor, while guests who stay in the cottages can enjoy their own private gas fireplace.                                     

These units will not feature full size kitchens because the cottages are not as large as some of the condo units TAN clients may visit, but what these units lack in size, they make up for in charm.  "We’re adding small refrigerators, mocrowaves, coffee pots and toasters for the convenience of the guests.  Plus, there is a seventy seat bar and restaurant on site.  The deep, dark and rich oak bar is one of the most beautiful features of Jerzy’s renovation,” explained Tina.                                                                                                                                        

So, sales people and customer service:  How do you think travelers will feel about not having a full size kitchen?  Do you think clients really cook full meals in their units, or do they just use the fridge for milk, drinks and cold cuts?  We offer other Pocono inventory that does have full kitchens, so how do you, as the people who deal with our clients, feel about offering a really high-end boutique resort that doesn’t have full kitchens as opposed to offering standard type accommodations that do have full kitchens?                                                                                             

The entire resort will be furnished after the closing, so travelers can look for it in early 2008.                                                                                                                                          

Kathy O’Mara

Communications Director

komara@vacmail.com

The Rodey’s recently used Sundance Vacations to visit Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, here’s what they had to say about the vacation…

“We vacationed at the Landmark Resort in October, when the leaves were at their peak.  The view from our condo was the prettiest view we have ever had from any condo we have stayed at.   Each building has their own large jacuzzi and it was nice to relax in it each evening. We hiked in Whitefish Dunes State Park, and had a beautiful ride thru Peninsula State Park. It was interesting to stop at the roadside farmer’s markets and try their many samples.  The ferry ride to Washington Island and the Cherry Train on the island were a lot of fun.  It was very reasonably priced.  Door County has so much beauty that it makes a person feel like they are visiting Cape Cod.“                                                                         

Joan Rodey, WI