Humans in the Hot Seat: Why Karen Coleman-Ostrov Decided to Be a Franchise Owner

Hello everyone, and welcome to Season 5 of Humans of Travel. We are kicking off our fifth season with an episode of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series of Humans of Travel. Today’s episode features Karen Coleman-Ostrov, a franchise owner with Dreams Vacations. Coleman-Ostrov took her first cruise more than 30 years ago, and now specializes in cruising and owns a franchise with Dreams Vacations. Here, she’ll explain why she chose to become a franchisee (rather than an agency employee or an independent contractor), and what advisors should know when considering this business model. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Dreams Vacations From TravelAge West: Which Travel Advisor Model Is the Best Fit for You?   ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.