Dream Vacations and CruiseOne River Summit: Educational experience along the Rhone River

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.  – The recently concluded Dream Vacations and CruiseOne River Summit aboard AmaWaterways‘ AmaKristina provided travel advisors with an immersive educational experience along the Rhone River in France. Dream Vacations and CruiseOne travel advisors expanded their expertise in the river cruise sector with supplier-led workshops, exclusive excursions, and strategic business discussions.

“River cruising is one of the fastest-growing sectors in travel, and our River Summit is designed to give our advisors an edge in this evolving landscape,” said Drew Daly, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Dream Vacations and CruiseOne. “Beyond gaining firsthand product knowledge, events like these strengthen the relationships between suppliers, our headquarters team, and fellow franchise owners – creating a network of support and collaboration that fuels long-term business success.”

The 2025 River Summit is part of Dream Vacations/CruiseOne’s Immersive Education Series with the content focused solely on river cruising. The Immersive Education Series engages travel advisors to empower themselves through hands-on education, supplier relationships, and innovative business strategies. On top of the cultural immersion of the AmaKristina itinerary, advisors interacted directly with leading river cruise experts who presented updates on key developments, including AmaWaterways’ expansion into the Amazon River in Colombia and Scenic’s fleet growth plans through 2030. For the first time, land tour operators participated in the summit, offering insights into pre- and post-cruise package extensions that enhance the overall client experience.

Advisors also engaged in experiential learning through exclusive on-the-ground excursions, including a ghost reenactment performance in Viviers, a visit to the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard in Avignon, and an immersive Carrieres des Lumières art show in a limestone quarry, featuring works by Monet and Rousseau set to classical music.

Beyond professional development, the summit underscored the growing opportunities in the charter market, with several advisors leveraging supplier partnerships to expand their businesses. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in the charter market as more travelers seek unique and personalized experiences,” said Jessica Slater, a Dream Vacations franchise owner. “Participating in the River Summit gave me the in-depth knowledge and supplier connections needed to confidently step into this space. With the continued support and collaboration across the industry, this has become an exciting area of opportunity, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next.”

Slater and several other Dream Vacations and CruiseOne travel advisors have already established successful river charters, including Mara Hargarther, Jennifer Swanson, Mike Ziegenbalg, Trapper Martin, and Denise Valente are just a few notable examples of advisors leading the charge in this arena.

The article Dream Vacations and CruiseOne River Summit: Educational experience along the Rhone River first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.