Archive for 2010

On the weekend of July 23rd through the 25th Scott Brunnenmeyer, Director of Operations, joined the nation in honoring the fallen and wounded soldiers at the Families United National Weekend of  Remembrance as Sundance Vacations sponsored the Weekend event.

The event kicked off on Friday night with the Gold Star Family dinner in Washington DC. Families United invited all families that had lost a soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan, which brought over 500 families throughout the country. They bring these families through various events throughout the year; this being the largest event. This was a formal event that seated families together by state for an evening honoring their Heroes and allowing them to share their stories with each other. Among the families at the dinner were top ranking officials, 3 star Generals, Admirals and a keynote by Vice Joint Chief Of Staff General James E. Cartwright.  Wayne Newton, with the USO, also performed at the dinner for the Fallen Soldiers’ families. The honorable Scooter Libby was also present for the dinner.

Scott, who is also a Captain in the Army, said that, “It is amazing to see such great family oriented organizations like Families United that will continue to support the fallen soldiers’ families. It gives great reassurance that if something ever happened that my family would have great support.” On Saturday, they had a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which Scott said was “the most emotional part of the whole weekend.”

Following the event in the Arlington Cemetery, there was a  “Hero’s Festival” and concert by country singer Aaron Tippin  at Six Flags America. At the festival the families were able spend time with Armed Service members and enjoy a hot and fun-filled day at the amusement park. Throughout the day there were moments of silence and a lunch/picnic for the families.

On Sunday there was a final service at Washington National Cathedral. Many families stayed to attend the nations largest most respected cathedral for a religious service. Throughout the whole weekend across the country many businesses and news stations were taking time to remember our fallen heroes as well. Scott said that “ I am greatly moved that Sundance Vacations decided to sponsor the event and that I was able to be there for it all.”

For more information on Families United check out the website FamiliesUnitedMission.com. The website lists events and ways to get involved. The next event being held is the Pennsylvania Gold Star Family Luncheon, which will be held in Philadelphia on August 14th.

Surrounded by lush, green golf courses, the beautiful GreenLinks property lies within Lely Resort Golf and Country Club, and is conveniently close to the beaches of Naples, shopping, and exquisite dining.

Perfect for an avid golfer, Naples is a wonderful setting for a vacation. Named after the illustrious Italian city, Naples offers 17 miles of beach along the Gulf of Mexico and beautiful blue water, making it the perfect for water sports, sunbathing, and playing in the sand. Naples Municipal Pier gives way to 10 miles of charming white sand beaches. While in Naples, you may also want to take a trip to the Everglades National Park, or the Naples Botanical Garden.

As for amenities onsite, GreenLinks Resort has a conference center, heated pool, jacuzzi, two golf courses, two tennis courts, a fitness room, a clubhouse with a pro shop, fishing, chartered tours, the Flamingo Island Restaurant, barbecue grills, shelling, water sports, and a spa.

GreenLinks Resort condos feature a full kitchen including microwave, living room, dining area, two cable televisions with free HBO, DVD, high speed internet, telephone, a washer & dryer, iron & ironing board, a hair dryer in the bathroom, and a private screened balcony. Both the bedrooms and the balcony have ceiling fans. The condos are approximately 10 miles from the beach with taxi service.

Eagle’s Nest at Indian Point

Eagle’s Nest Resort is located in beautiful Branson, Missouri, on Lake of the Ozarks. Lake of the Ozarks is a part of Lake of the Ozarks State Park, the largest state park in Missouri. Located right on the lake, the resort provides many fun outdoor activities, and of course, picturesque views of the lake and surrounding area.

Known as the “Live Music Show Capital of the World,” Branson will always keep you occupied during your stay. There are plenty of outdoor activities such as golf, horseback riding, boat rides, hunting, and fishing. Branson’s Dinosaur Museum, Splash Country Indoor Water Park, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum, and Silver Dollar City are also places that you will want to visit during your stay. To enjoy all of the natural wonders that Branson has to offer, make sure to visit the caves and caverns in the area. You may also want to visit the numerous theatres and entertainment venues that have made Branson famous.

As for activities at Eagle’s Nest Resort, you can go tubing, golfing, fishing, swimming (in the lake or the pool), boating, waterskiing, caving, go karting, and parasailing. Your accommodations at Eagle’s Nest Resort feature a full kitchen with a dishwasher, a microwave, TV, VCR, telephone, decks with barbecue grills, and air conditioning. Also, laundry facilities are provided onsite for your convenience.

Branson is a beautiful and fun-filled city, with something to offer everyone.

Since we had such a good time giving away six free cruises with the Facebook Cruise Giveaway Contest, we thought it would be a lot of fun to continue the contests and giving. So, we are asking you – our customers, fans and friends – to submit your favorite vacation photo for a chance to win a vacation aboard a fun-filled cruise.

In order to enter the contest, you have to submit a photo along with a brief essay explaining the fun being had in your photo and why should win. You can do this on our “Photo Contest” tab.

The submission period is now open until August 31. We will then open up the voting for a two week period, which will end on September 14th. At that time we will pick the photo with the most votes as the winner. The winner will then have a year to claim their cruise vacation!

The winner will receive the following:

• Sundance Vacations voucher for a four-day, three-night cruise for two;
• Cruise leaves from ports in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, or Los Angeles;
• Round-trip airfare for two (not to exceed $800 total) to port city;
• And one night’s stay in the port city.

So, grab your photo albums and pick your best vacation photo for a chance to win!

Winners must be at least 21 years of age. You can read the full Contest Rules eligibility requirements here.

Festa Italiana takes off this week on July 15th with three days of a fun filled celebration. The event is the largest Italian-American festival in America hosting many different concerts on 8 stages, 40 different food vendors and 18 amusement rides throughout Milwaukee’s Lakefront Festival Grounds.  To top it off famous jazz trumpeter Chris Botti as well as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons headline the festival.

Along with the festivities, Sundance Vacations will also be there sponsoring a raffle with two chances to win. The winning tickets for three great prizes will be drawn after the fireworks on closing night at the Miller Lite Stage. If that wasn’t good enough, everyone who enters the raffle will be re-entered into a second drawing occurring at the end of the year, in which the winner will receive a 2011 Mercedes Benz automobile or $50,000 cash.

The three prizes people can win on the closing night include:

1st:  An Italian-manufactured Vespa S50 Sport scooter. This prize is courtesy of Reina International Auto/Vespa Milwaukee (Joe, Ignazio and Lorenzo Reina).

2nd: A man’s 14-karat yellow gold ring, set with a 1.00-carat champagne round diamond provided by Ted Glorioso of Glorioso’s Gold Imports & Diamond Center.

3rd: Roundtrip airfare for two to any destination where Frontier Airlines travels courtesy of Frontier Airlines.

Good Luck!

For more information please check out http://www.festaitaliana.com

Festa Italiana

Located in the beautiful mountains of western Maryland, Deep Creek is the ultimate destination for vacationing on a lake. As the largest freshwater lake in Maryland, Deep Creek is comprised of 3,900 acres and is at a mountain elevation of almost half a mile high. With twenty-six different species of fish, the lake is perfect for fishing. Additional fun activities include kayaking, canoeing, camping, hiking, and in the winter, skiing and snowboarding.

Inn at Deep Creek is one of  Sundance Vacations’ newest properties since the Inn is brand new itself. Formerly Alpine Village Inn, the renovated respite includes twenty-nine updated and beautiful rooms that are perfect for any type of vacation, whether it be a family getaway or a couples retreat.

When staying at the Inn at Deep Creek, you can enjoy suites complete with fireplaces, full kitchens or kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, new beds and bedding, coffee and tea in each room, free Wi-Fi and much more.  The hotel has a large outdoor heated pool, stunning lakeside grilling area complete with picnic tables, a private beach with a boat dock, and a second floor balcony to provide guests with fabulous views of the lake.

Inn at Deep Creek

Travel to the heart of the scenic Canaan Valley and enjoy a relaxing and nature-filled vacation at the Canaan Village Inn. The Canaan Valley offers year-round activities. During the winter, popular nearby activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. In the warmer months, explore the natural beauty of the area and go hiking, biking, or canoeing. You can also experience the thrill of whitewater rafting or take a chair lift ride to admire the beautiful surroundings.

The resort offers many onsite activities such as mini-golf, horseshoes, and basketball. Enjoy delicious meals at the onsite restaurant, or grill your own meals on the resort’s complementary grills. The unit has two bedrooms with one bathroom and may sleep up to six people. There is a double size bed in each bedroom, and a sofa sleeper in the living room. The unit features a full kitchen with a microwave, television, VCR, heating, fan and a lovely patio.

The Canaan Valley offers many activities including golf, skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, tubing, sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, mountain hiking, biking, picnics, scenic chair lift rides, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking; so no matter what you prefer, there is something for everyone.

Looking for a day trip? Be sure to visit Blackwater Falls State Park which is nine miles south of the resort. The eight-mile gorge with beautiful waterfalls and scenic hiking and walking trails, offers numerous points to observe the valley. There are also stairways and boardwalks that lead you to the base of the gorgeous falls. “The Gentle Trail” provides easy access for visitors in wheelchairs. During the winter months, the park offers over 35km of cross-country ski trails, alongside untouched alpine scenery, that range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate. If you are not a skilled skier, the Blackwater Nordic Center offers cross-country ski instruction, along with rental equipment.

With so many fun activities onsite and offsite, there will never be a boring moment at the Canaan Village Inn. Whether you are looking for an adventurous family vacation, soothing couples retreat, or just a getaway with friends, this is the perfect place to stay!

Canaan Village Inn

Yesterday, the Times Leader published an article that claimed “The region’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.3 percent in May, stretching the local streak of monthly increases to four and inching close to a level reached 18 years ago.”

Despite the increase stated in the article, it went on to say that “The jobs created in the region during the month were mostly within the service-providing sector. The leisure and hospitality category added 1,000 jobs as local restaurants and outdoor recreational businesses hired for the summer.” You can bet Sundance Vacations was a part of the companies that hired.

That’s right! June has been a busy month for the Human Resources department at Sundance Vacations. Busy because Sundance Vacations hired more than 60 people in several different offices throughout the company. On June 15th the company had a job fair at the company headquarters in Wilkes-Barre, PA, in which 57 people were interviewed for positions ranging from outbound marketers to a brand new permission marketing administrative assistant.

Bill Watkins was one of the 57 people to attend the job fair on June 15. Bill was laid off last June and has been searching for a job ever since. “I made it my ‘job’ looking for a new job. I looked in the newspaper, online, career link and anything I could think of to find work. It was a really hard time,” Bill reflected on the past year. “When I finally got hired by Sundance Vacations, it felt like I hit the Powerball. As soon as I found out, I went home to tell my family, fiancee and friends,” Bill exclaimed about being hired.   After two weeks of working at Sundance Vacations Bill said, “I felt like a member of the team on day one.”  Katelynn Warmen was also one of the 57 that came in for the job fair. She experienced much of the same struggle Bill experienced in finding a job as well. She had previous experience in telemarketing but said, “It doesn’t feel like your average telemarketing position. This is so much better. I love the friendly and fun atmosphere.”

Tina Dowd, founder, said that “We hope that the economy will keep recovering and we can steamroll straight through fall as well.” Despite being in a recession Tina added that “We did not see a reduction in desire to travel.  People still want to preserve some semblance of normalcy to their lives.  We did see an increase in the desire to save money on travel, which has been good for Sundance Vacations. As a result of that desire, we’ve been able to grow through the recession.”

Being able to have the amount of job openings in the current economy is also a testament to the hard work of all the employees. Sundance Vacations would not be able to grow and hire more people without the hard work and dedication of its employees. Alan Horro, who was hired with Bill and Katelynn, said that he “feels great talking on the phones. The support here at Sundance Vacations is incredible. I couldn’t ask for anything better.” Katie Fox, who previously worked here in 2004 and just recently came back, can agree with Alan’s statement. She said “The core values are still the same as before but the training keeps getting better. It is outstanding. I feel confident and better about my work when I have the tools to do my job.” When hiring, Sundance Vacations looks for the same type of people that have helped this company grow – hard working, passionate and dedicated.

Sundance University - Orientation/training program

Because of the major gulf oil leak, some travelers may be leery of traveling these days down near the gulf coast. For fear that the beaches are covered in oil, tourism has been down. Along with the tourism being down, a lot of the fishing businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are currently not in operation as well.  How can they fish in oil? Obviously this is effecting the economy in certain spots, but is it all over the gulf like some think?

In an article published on June 14 on ABCNews.com,  Miami Beach Rep. Richard Steinberg is quoted saying “People outside of the U.S. look at Florida as one (beach) and don’t understand if there’s a little bit of oil in the Panhandle, they think it’s all over the state.” Despite fears, Sundance Vacations contacted a few of our customers who have been traveling near the Panhandle during this oil leak crisis. Pat Gerdeman, who traveled to one of our locations in Destin, FL ( located on the Panhandle just east of Pensacola, FL) during June 6-10, said that she ran into no problems while vacationing, the beaches were beautiful and tourism didn’t seem to be down. Asked if people were fearful in Destin, Pat felt that the media makes it out to be worse than it really is. Another customer who traveled near the coast said they also experienced a great time without being effected by the oil spill.

Here is a video update from last week about the beaches from Destin, FL:

Even though the Panhandle has had some oil creep onto the beaches, most of the beaches are still clear and clean. In the same article, we learn that “South Florida tourism officials are pushing for [a] campaign to clarify that the vast majority of Florida’s 825 miles of beaches are oil-free.” The article concludes with Steinberg worrying that all the media attention and recent presidential visit will put the wrong image in the heads of tourists. For now most of the beaches in Florida are clear, even in the Panhandle. Pensacola has been the only area to close portions of the beach.

As Florida battles the bad perception the oil spill may be giving it’s beaches and tourist areas, other areas such as Mississippi beaches remain open despite seeing oil on some of their beaches. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Official Website states that “With large amounts of oil and tar balls washing up on South Mississippi beaches Monday, state officials have issued advisories for two areas along the beach in Harrison and Jackson Counties.  These beaches are not closed and beach goers may continue to use these beaches, but the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi State Department of Health advise people to be aware of their surroundings while recreating.” Many other areas can not say the same such as in Louisiana, whose beaches have been devastated by the oil.

As the gulf oil leak crisis continues to leak oil without an end in site, gulf officials are doing everything they can to contain the spill and keep our beaches clean. Tourists can also help out by volunteering. Check out the following sites for more information on volunteering for the four northern gulf states:

http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/- Louisiana

http://www.volunteerflorida.org/ – Florida

http://211connectsalabama.org/ – Alabama

http://www.mcvs.org/ – Mississippi

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=10914401

Now through the end of the summer or August 13, you can enjoy movies on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland. Instead of spending your nights inside watching movies while on vacation, take it to the beach and enjoy a variety of movies all summer long. Games and activities will also take place on the beach prior to the start of the movies. The games and activities are set to start at 7:30pm est and the movies are set to go on around 8:30 on a 16 foot projector.

Movies on the beach are presented free of charge, so get there early to get a good spot on the beach.

The movies will be shown at  the beach at 27th Street in Ocean City, Maryland.

Here are a list of movies and dates:

June 28th- Monsters vs. Aliens
July 2nd- Kung Fu Panda
July 5th – Astro Boy
July 9th – The Spy Next Door
July 12th – Hotel For Dogs
July 16th – Surf’s Up
July 19- Shorts
July 23rd- Shrek the Third
July 26th- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
July 30th – Madagascar 2
August 2nd- Planet 51
August 6th  – The Bee Movie
August 9th – Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove
August 13th- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

For more information and a list of events go to http://ococean.com/events/family-movies-on-the-beach or call 800-626-2326