Congratulations! You made it to the next step of your DREAM JOB!
Thank you for your interest in becoming an agent with Mickey’s Dream Vacations!
I have received your application and would like to provide you with some more information before we proceed. This will help you decide if we are a good fit for you and your business goals.
2022 - Independent Contractor Program
Company Basics:
Mickey’s Dream Vacations
Owner – Meg Kinnerk
(P) 773-484-0345
(E) meg@mdvtrips.com
(Web) www.mickeysdreamvacations.com
Philosophy & Objectives
We are a TEAM; I encourage teamwork whenever possible and do not think you should go at this alone. We are not reinventing the wheel here. We are here to help one another be successful.
To achieve these goals, we have very high expectations of the agents who work with our company.
A strong team is productive, loyal, and dedicated to customer satisfaction. An idea team makes it their mission to go above and beyond.
“Participation is the key to success” is our theme for 2022. MDV’s unique community and culture are guided by the belief in impassioned, enthusiastic participation. Eagerly embracing every opportunity and cultivating the courage to not only try new things, but to create new ways to grow and learn. Agents are expected to push their limits and get out of their comfort zones. We expect you to participate in daily discussions, monthly zoom calls, weekly training webinars, FAM trips, and so on. To not only be involved in your business but to craft yourself, in ways that reveal your passions will lead to the realization of your true capabilities.
Fully engaged agents have been shown to be 80% more profitable than those that are not. If you want to sell more travel, then participation is the key to your success.
There is a minimum amount of commitment that is required for servicing your clients. A minimum is going to be 10-15 hours a week. This is for any correspondence, follow through in client care, and continuing education.
The maximum commitment is for those who really want to make a living at this and become a top agent. These are the people who will be looking at every training as an opportunity, every marketing plan as something to be tackled until they have so many clients, they need an assistant!
While most will fall in between, if you cannot commit to the minimum amount then this may not be the time for you to become an independent contractor. We need at least the minimum to provide exceptional service to our clients and to uphold the Mickey’s Dream Vacations brand and integrity.
Company Stats
Agent Information
Are you a hobbyist just looking for travel benefits for yourself? Then this probably isn’t the situation for you!
We are looking for professional business minded, self-starters who are serious about maintaining a profitable client service-focused business and having a lot of fun along the way! Candidates must have a variety of travel experiences (various land vacations, cruises, etc.). Ideal candidates also have solid sales and service skills and if you have a passion for travel, even better! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.
How do I join, and will I be an employee of Mickey’s Dream Vacations?
The process starts here. Read the FAQs that follow regarding what the program can and cannot do for you. Working as an independent contractor is not for everyone. Independent contractors, by definition, means– one that contracts to do work or perform a service for another and that retains total and free control over the means or methods used in doing the work or performing the service.
This means you are not an employee.
As an IC you own and operate your own business from your own home office, on your own schedule. It’s completely up to you what hours and days you work. Of course, the more you dedicate yourself the more earning potential there is for you. You also will have to be available to clients while they are traveling, so it is important that if you have another full-time job that you can still help clients should an emergency arise while they are on vacation. Some of our agents use one another as backups for these times.
How will I be compensated and are there other benefits?
This is a commission-based opportunity. Your commission is based on your level of traveled sales the previous year.
Level 1 – New Agent – Traveled Sales below $75,000 – 50% of gross commission received.
Level 2 - $75,001 - $150,000 in traveled sales – 60% of gross commission received.
Level 3 - $150,001 - $300,000 in traveled sales – 70% of gross commission received.
Level 4 – $300,001 - $350, 000 in traveled sales - 75% of gross commission received.
Level 5 – $350,001 - $700, 000 in traveled sales - 80% of gross commission received.
Level 6 – $700,001-$999,999 - 85% of gross commission received.
Level 7 – $1,000,000 and above in traveled sales-90% of gross commission received.
If you do not maintain a minimum of $350,000 in sales for the previous year, there is an annual administrative and insurance fee of $250. This fee is waived if you meet the annual sales requirement. This annual fee covers the costs associated with having you as an agent, including direct deposit twice a month, licensing, E&O insurance, training, association dues, email, website, etc.
This does not cover our TESS CRM, which is $25 per month for the advanced plan. Every MDV Agent is required to have the advanced plan.
Once you reach $5,000 in paid commissions in a calendar year, you are eligible for your IATA card, which offers you benefits such as reduced room rates and special FAM offers. FAM (Familiarization) trips are offered by suppliers for onsite training of their product.
If I join Mickey’s Dream Vacations, what can I sell?
Mickey’s Dream Vacations is a Disney Destination focused agency, as the name suggests. However, we sell all other destinations. For example, Universal Studios, All-Inclusive Resorts, Cruises, Beach Vacations, any hotel, etc. You will be able to book vacation packages, hotels, car rentals, and all major cruise lines through any supplier who will pay a travel agent commission. One thing we do not provide is general airline tickets by themselves – i.e., outside of a package or cruise supplier. Unfortunately, airlines stopped paying commission for ticket only sales and the work associated with that service has made it undesirable for Travel Agents.
However, rolling air into a vacation package that includes hotels, etc., is something we do!
Is there Training?
Our Industry-leading training program is a 2-month self-paced online program that will get you trained on all our preferred suppliers. You must complete this training in the initial 2 months to continue in our program.
The initial cost for the training is $500.
Where will my clients come from?
As an Independent Contractor, you will be responsible for cultivating your own business, but we will certainly provide guidance and mentoring on ways to develop and close sales leads.
Mickey’s Dream Vacations will also give out cold leads that come directly to us via our website to agents who have experience, and we feel will represent our brand well. We promise the clients they will receive service from a top-notch travel expert and our company has a reputation for fulfilling that promise. We take it very seriously. Handling cold leads from the website is not a requirement nor is it an automatic benefit. Only qualified ICs with a proven record of client service are invited to participate.
The agency also does marketing for the entire agency to help generate new business for you.
What does it cost to start?
There is an initial fee of $500 to cover admin, training, setup expenses, insurance, licensing, a company email address, and webpage. Your initial contract includes set up in our system as well as our preferred suppliers, a Mickey’s Dream Vacations email address, extensive training, and to cover your Errors and Omissions insurance. There is a $250 renewable fee each calendar year unless you sell $350,000 in travel then it is waived. Most of our seasoned agents do not pay the fee as they are selling more than enough. TESS, our CRM database for entering bookings, direct deposit of commissions, and Marketing, is required. TESS is $25 a month and is not included in the initial $500 training and setup fee or the $250 renewal fee.
You are responsible for your TESS account, document mailing costs, and your own office operating costs. We stress the importance of ongoing education and optional training, and marketing programs are available for additional costs. Keep in mind, there are many small business benefits that can be explained by your accountant.
Residents of the state of Florida will have to apply for a Florida Seller of Travel license for $50 and renew this annually.
What will I need to conduct business from my home office?
Here are some of the items our ICs use to set up and operate a professional travel business operation:
Participation, Integrity, Trust, Respect, Patience, Honesty, Dedication, Common goals, Community Responsibility, Passion for Travel, Professional Work Ethic, Consistency, Generosity, Creativity, Very Detail Oriented, Flair for Sales, Enthusiasm for Service, and a Sense of Humor!
Is this you? Are you serious about truly dedicating yourself to starting a business?
If you feel you are ready to take the next step, please answer these interview questions.
Thank you very much and we look forward to hearing from you!
Meg Kinnerk
Owner, Mickey's Dream Vacations, INC
773-779-1978
Meg@mdvtrips.com
Thank you for your interest in becoming an agent with Mickey’s Dream Vacations!
I have received your application and would like to provide you with some more information before we proceed. This will help you decide if we are a good fit for you and your business goals.
2022 - Independent Contractor Program
Company Basics:
Mickey’s Dream Vacations
Owner – Meg Kinnerk
(P) 773-484-0345
(E) meg@mdvtrips.com
(Web) www.mickeysdreamvacations.com
Philosophy & Objectives
We are a TEAM; I encourage teamwork whenever possible and do not think you should go at this alone. We are not reinventing the wheel here. We are here to help one another be successful.
To achieve these goals, we have very high expectations of the agents who work with our company.
A strong team is productive, loyal, and dedicated to customer satisfaction. An idea team makes it their mission to go above and beyond.
“Participation is the key to success” is our theme for 2022. MDV’s unique community and culture are guided by the belief in impassioned, enthusiastic participation. Eagerly embracing every opportunity and cultivating the courage to not only try new things, but to create new ways to grow and learn. Agents are expected to push their limits and get out of their comfort zones. We expect you to participate in daily discussions, monthly zoom calls, weekly training webinars, FAM trips, and so on. To not only be involved in your business but to craft yourself, in ways that reveal your passions will lead to the realization of your true capabilities.
Fully engaged agents have been shown to be 80% more profitable than those that are not. If you want to sell more travel, then participation is the key to your success.
There is a minimum amount of commitment that is required for servicing your clients. A minimum is going to be 10-15 hours a week. This is for any correspondence, follow through in client care, and continuing education.
The maximum commitment is for those who really want to make a living at this and become a top agent. These are the people who will be looking at every training as an opportunity, every marketing plan as something to be tackled until they have so many clients, they need an assistant!
While most will fall in between, if you cannot commit to the minimum amount then this may not be the time for you to become an independent contractor. We need at least the minimum to provide exceptional service to our clients and to uphold the Mickey’s Dream Vacations brand and integrity.
Company Stats
- Mickey’s Dream Vacations has been providing vacation-planning services since its start on December 4th, 2010.
- Mickey’s Dream Vacations is a GOLD Earmarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. This is a distinction that you can only be invited to. It means we must meet certain standards in sales and service to our clients.
- We were awarded the Disney Destinations Top Sales Performer award in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. We expect to receive it again for 2021 and 2022.
- Owner, Meg Kinnerk, was a member of the exclusive the Earmarked Travel Advisory Council for 2016 - 2018. The Council serves as a liaison between Disney leadership and all Authorized Disney Vacation Planners to ensure that their voices are being heard. This is a prestigious invite that is given to only 10 new agency owners each year.
- MDV is a Universal Orlando Preferred Partner Specialists Agency. This new exclusive group of top selling Universal Orlando agencies was recently started, and we were one of the first to be asked.
- MDV is a Diamond Elite Top Producing Agency for Funjet and the ALG vacations brand. This means extra commission and perks for you.
- MDV is a Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Vacation Consultant Agency which means we are a top seller of the Karisma Resort brands, and we are at the top tier of commission with them.
- Members of several major industry associations including CLIA, IATAN, and Travel Leaders.
- Our agency takes full advantage of cost-effective technology and functions as a virtual office. Agents can access, and service general client needs anywhere with an Internet connection.
Agent Information
Are you a hobbyist just looking for travel benefits for yourself? Then this probably isn’t the situation for you!
We are looking for professional business minded, self-starters who are serious about maintaining a profitable client service-focused business and having a lot of fun along the way! Candidates must have a variety of travel experiences (various land vacations, cruises, etc.). Ideal candidates also have solid sales and service skills and if you have a passion for travel, even better! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.
How do I join, and will I be an employee of Mickey’s Dream Vacations?
The process starts here. Read the FAQs that follow regarding what the program can and cannot do for you. Working as an independent contractor is not for everyone. Independent contractors, by definition, means– one that contracts to do work or perform a service for another and that retains total and free control over the means or methods used in doing the work or performing the service.
This means you are not an employee.
As an IC you own and operate your own business from your own home office, on your own schedule. It’s completely up to you what hours and days you work. Of course, the more you dedicate yourself the more earning potential there is for you. You also will have to be available to clients while they are traveling, so it is important that if you have another full-time job that you can still help clients should an emergency arise while they are on vacation. Some of our agents use one another as backups for these times.
How will I be compensated and are there other benefits?
This is a commission-based opportunity. Your commission is based on your level of traveled sales the previous year.
Level 1 – New Agent – Traveled Sales below $75,000 – 50% of gross commission received.
Level 2 - $75,001 - $150,000 in traveled sales – 60% of gross commission received.
Level 3 - $150,001 - $300,000 in traveled sales – 70% of gross commission received.
Level 4 – $300,001 - $350, 000 in traveled sales - 75% of gross commission received.
Level 5 – $350,001 - $700, 000 in traveled sales - 80% of gross commission received.
Level 6 – $700,001-$999,999 - 85% of gross commission received.
Level 7 – $1,000,000 and above in traveled sales-90% of gross commission received.
If you do not maintain a minimum of $350,000 in sales for the previous year, there is an annual administrative and insurance fee of $250. This fee is waived if you meet the annual sales requirement. This annual fee covers the costs associated with having you as an agent, including direct deposit twice a month, licensing, E&O insurance, training, association dues, email, website, etc.
This does not cover our TESS CRM, which is $25 per month for the advanced plan. Every MDV Agent is required to have the advanced plan.
Once you reach $5,000 in paid commissions in a calendar year, you are eligible for your IATA card, which offers you benefits such as reduced room rates and special FAM offers. FAM (Familiarization) trips are offered by suppliers for onsite training of their product.
If I join Mickey’s Dream Vacations, what can I sell?
Mickey’s Dream Vacations is a Disney Destination focused agency, as the name suggests. However, we sell all other destinations. For example, Universal Studios, All-Inclusive Resorts, Cruises, Beach Vacations, any hotel, etc. You will be able to book vacation packages, hotels, car rentals, and all major cruise lines through any supplier who will pay a travel agent commission. One thing we do not provide is general airline tickets by themselves – i.e., outside of a package or cruise supplier. Unfortunately, airlines stopped paying commission for ticket only sales and the work associated with that service has made it undesirable for Travel Agents.
However, rolling air into a vacation package that includes hotels, etc., is something we do!
Is there Training?
Our Industry-leading training program is a 2-month self-paced online program that will get you trained on all our preferred suppliers. You must complete this training in the initial 2 months to continue in our program.
The initial cost for the training is $500.
Where will my clients come from?
As an Independent Contractor, you will be responsible for cultivating your own business, but we will certainly provide guidance and mentoring on ways to develop and close sales leads.
Mickey’s Dream Vacations will also give out cold leads that come directly to us via our website to agents who have experience, and we feel will represent our brand well. We promise the clients they will receive service from a top-notch travel expert and our company has a reputation for fulfilling that promise. We take it very seriously. Handling cold leads from the website is not a requirement nor is it an automatic benefit. Only qualified ICs with a proven record of client service are invited to participate.
The agency also does marketing for the entire agency to help generate new business for you.
What does it cost to start?
There is an initial fee of $500 to cover admin, training, setup expenses, insurance, licensing, a company email address, and webpage. Your initial contract includes set up in our system as well as our preferred suppliers, a Mickey’s Dream Vacations email address, extensive training, and to cover your Errors and Omissions insurance. There is a $250 renewable fee each calendar year unless you sell $350,000 in travel then it is waived. Most of our seasoned agents do not pay the fee as they are selling more than enough. TESS, our CRM database for entering bookings, direct deposit of commissions, and Marketing, is required. TESS is $25 a month and is not included in the initial $500 training and setup fee or the $250 renewal fee.
You are responsible for your TESS account, document mailing costs, and your own office operating costs. We stress the importance of ongoing education and optional training, and marketing programs are available for additional costs. Keep in mind, there are many small business benefits that can be explained by your accountant.
Residents of the state of Florida will have to apply for a Florida Seller of Travel license for $50 and renew this annually.
What will I need to conduct business from my home office?
Here are some of the items our ICs use to set up and operate a professional travel business operation:
- Laptop or Desktop computer set-up with anti-virus software
- High-speed Internet access.
- A private workspace that is free from ambient noise. There is nothing like a barking dog or children in the background to bring down the professionalism meter and distract you from your clients’ conversation.
- Phone line dedicated to your business. This phone should have a professional voice mail and should never be answered by anyone besides you. You may use your cell phone for this if your voicemail is professional and no one else is answering it.
- File system. Even in this technology age, the travel business is not without its paperwork needs. As you sell to your clients, you will create files for them. You will need to store the files in a safe place.
Participation, Integrity, Trust, Respect, Patience, Honesty, Dedication, Common goals, Community Responsibility, Passion for Travel, Professional Work Ethic, Consistency, Generosity, Creativity, Very Detail Oriented, Flair for Sales, Enthusiasm for Service, and a Sense of Humor!
Is this you? Are you serious about truly dedicating yourself to starting a business?
If you feel you are ready to take the next step, please answer these interview questions.
Thank you very much and we look forward to hearing from you!
Meg Kinnerk
Owner, Mickey's Dream Vacations, INC
773-779-1978
Meg@mdvtrips.com
