Recent Happenings

Sundance Vacations spices up the Mohegan Sun’s patio deck concert series.  Sundance has teamed up with 105 The River and Mohegan Sun for their concert deck series giving away 1000 dollars in free play at their outdoor concerts.  Fans of local bands lined up for their chance at their shot of winning casino free play.  Be sure to tune in to 105 The River to hear about the great promotions that we are doing at the Casino.

$500 Winner Michael Kretschner

(Photo Coming Soon!)

$100 Winners Joanne Tenneriello and Rose Kucharski

$100 Winner Frank Galella

$100 Winner David Callarini

$100 Winner Barbara Armbruster

On Wednesday August 25, 2010, Sundance Vacations presented the latest Sundance Vacations giveaway grand prize to Gina Fish and her family of East Stroudsburg with a VIP New York Yankees Stadium tour and gift package.  Gina Fish, who was accompanied by her family, was presented with the prize on the third base line at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees PNC Field in Moosic, PA just before the Yankees took on the Rochester Red Wings.

The prize that Gina won includes the VIP New York Yankees Stadium tour to take place this Saturday, four tickets to see the New York Yankees play the Toronto Blue Jays on September 5^th in New York City, five New York Yankees hats, five New York Yankees t-shirts, two New York Yankees autographed baseballs by Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher, a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre autographed baseball bat by the entire team and other New York and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees goodies.

After the presentation, Gina and her family took to their seats right behind home plate to watch the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees beat the Rochester Red Wings 3-2.

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.

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.

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

The newest property that Sundance Vacations travelers can enjoy offers an abundance of activities and relaxation opportunities for every member of the family. Located in Escondido, in southern California, the Lawrence Welk Resort Villas is comprised of 600 acres of family vacation fun.

Your two-bedroom villa includes a full kitchen, dishwasher, coffee-maker, washer and dryer, air conditioning, cable and telephone. With 1,370 square feet of space, your villa is the perfect place to relax after experiencing all the on-site activities the resort has to offer.

Golfers will enjoy the two public courses at the resort, Oaks Golf Course and Fountains Golf Course, which was recognized by Golf Digest in their ranking of “Best Places to Play.” Between the The Fountains Course, measuring over 4,000 yards from the tournament markers, and The Oaks Course, a picturesque par three course, golfers of all ages and skill levels won’t have to go far to find the ideal golf outing. In addition to the scenic 36 holes of golf, the resort also has two practice greens and a chipping green.

A very unique feature of the resort is the 339-seat Welk Resort Theatre which features Broadway-style stage musicals. The theatre offers matinee luncheon buffet and evening dinner buffet seating, as well as performance only seating. Performances are put on 52 weeks a year, so no matter what time of year you go you’ll be able to enjoy live entertainment.

Lawrence Welk Resort Villas has a lot in store for those looking for fun in the water and poolside lounging. There are five recreation facilities on the resort. Combined they offer guests six pools (including a 7,000 sq ft lagoon-style pool), two water slides, a lap pool, a kid’s interactive splash zone and a number of hot tubs.

In addition to the water activities, there are two exercise rooms and four lighted tennis courts also on-site at the resort.

The on-site Canyon Grille offers you amazing dining for every meal of the day, with your choice of inside or outdoor seating. If you’re looking for a more casual bite to eat, there’s a Pizza Hut Express on-site, as well as a convenience market.

Of course, if you still have the energy after all the excitement and activities at the Lawrence Welk Resort, San Diego is a mere 30 miles away. With its Pacific Ocean beaches, an assortment of attractions, bustling nightlife in the Gaslamp Quarter and an abundance of dining, San Diego is only a short drive away.

Some of the attractions in or near San Diego: San Diego Zoo, Southern California Wine Country, miles of beautiful beaches, Disneyland, Sea World, Legoland, San Diego Wild Animal Park and Birch Aquarium.

Whether you’re looking for golf, sun, sights, live entertainment or a combination of all the above, the Lawrence Welk Resort Villas is the perfect get-away with something to ensure every one finds what they are looking for in a vacation.

Do you know who won the 2009 Sundance Vacations Sweepstakes? The lucky winner is Sandy Yenyo from North Benton, Ohio. Sandy decided to go with the $50,000 cash. Do you want to get your name in the drawing for next year? Just fill out the Sundance Vacations sweepstakes form at any venue where you see a Sundance Vacations representative, OR you can visit our website at  http://www.sundancevacations.com/contact-1.html

The sweepstakes video is now live on Sundance Vacations’ YouTube Channel. You can access the video at: http://www.youtube.com/sundancevacations.

Sundance Vacations also posted photos from the check presentation on Flickr. These photos can be accessed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sundancevacations/.

Enter now, and you could be the 2010 Sundance Vacations Sweepstakes winner!

Out with the old, in the new – this is our motto as spring arrives and we gear up for beach season. In the spirit of spring cleaning, we have launched a set of new social media communities designed specifically with our valued customers and supporters in mind. Our goal is to provide a place where you can swap tips with fellow travelers, get your questions answered, show-off your photos, and tell us what made your trip special.

We are excited to announce our official social media profiles and we look forward to connecting with you on a daily basis!

·         Our official Facebook Fan page is the ultimate platform to share your vacation experiences and memories. Post photos and videos from your trips, connect with other vacationers to exchange recommendations, and receive travel tips to ensure a smooth journey.  Become a fan to stay connected and be the first to receive Sundance Vacations updates. 

·         Our official Flickr page is also a great hub to share vacation photos and see all the incredible vacation destinations Sundance Vacations can take you.

·         For your viewing pleasure, Sundance has a new official YouTube channel! Check out our vacation videos and become a subscriber.  You can also watch videos of our sweepstakes winners and see what you can win by entering a Sundance Vacations’ contest.

·         You can also connect with us on Twitter @TravelSundance to receive vacation tips, travel promotions, and more. Traveling? Tweet us a picture of your trip and let us know what you are doing.

We will no longer be updating our other social media sites, so be sure to join our new official communities to keep up with the latest news and promotions. We have some exciting announcements in the works you won’t want to miss!

We encourage you to log on to our new official sites and share your own vacation memories today!

The Sundance Vacations travel community is elated! The U.S. celebrated a major victory recently when President Obama signed into law the first-ever national travel promotion and communications program to attract more international travelers to the U.S. This is a major step in addressing America’s decline in attracting overseas visitors to the U.S. during the past decade.

According to the US Travel Association, “The Act is in response to worrisome evidence that the U.S. is losing ground to other countries in the global travel market. The U.S. welcomed 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors in 2009 than in 2000, and the failure to simply keep pace with the growth in international long-haul travel since 2000 has cost the U.S. economy an estimated $509 billion in total spending and $32 billion in direct tax receipts, according to the U.S. Travel Association. The Travel Promotion Act will counteract this trend by creating a campaign to promote the United States as a premier destination and explain changing travel security policies to foreign visitors.”

“By signing the Travel Promotion Act, President Obama has acted to support the power of travel to serve as an economic stimulant, job generator and diplomatic tool,” said Roger Dow, president & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “This program will create tens of thousands of American jobs and help reverse negative perceptions about travel to the United States.” (US Travel Association Press)

Oxford Economics estimates that a successful national promotion will yield $4 billion in new spending annually, create 40,000 new jobs and generate $321 million in new tax revenue each year. The Congressional Budget Office reported that the Travel Promotion Act would reduce the federal deficit by $425 million over ten years!! For more information about the Travel Promotion Act, please visit www.poweroftravel.org or www.ustravel.org.

Sundance Vacations couldn’t be more excited! We welcome all international travelers to visit the plethora of Sundance Vacations properties located throughout the U.S, Mexico, and the Caribbean. What is your favorite Sundance Vacations property? www.sundancevacations.com