Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc. recently celebrated Women's History Month by honoring a female vacation specialist with the OPAL Award for Women.
The company named Dream Vacations franchisee Lainey Melnick and Cruises Inc. vacation specialist Lori Foster the 2017 recipients of the award, which is meant to recognize female franchise owners and independent vacation specialists who demonstrate “Outstanding Performance and Leadership.” The honoree must be active in community and civic organizations and among the company’s top selling agents, while also exhibiting strong business skills.
Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations and Cruises Inc., says this year's nominations were the best the company has ever seen, noting that both Melnick and Foster “exemplify the spirit of the OPAL Award and Women's History Month.”
A resident of Austin, Texas, Melnick has been a Dream Vacations (previously CruiseOne) franchise owner since 2011 and is an outspoken advocate for Dream Vacations. In her personal life she volunteers with her children and also donates travel resources to a variety of organizations primarily focusing on support of education and the arts. In addition to receiving the OPAL award, Melnick has also previously been recognized by U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who presented her with the True Blue Medallion Award at the Travis County Unity Celebration for her efforts in throughout the Austin community.
Foster has been a Cruises Inc. vacation specialist in San Clemente, California, for eight years and as a result of her teaching background, has made education her mission both within the Cruises Inc. network and in her community. She is active in both of her children's schools in the classroom; library; PTA; and MAKO Foundation, which raises supplemental funds for the public elementary school. Foster also oversees Mission Trips to Mexico benefiting Rancho Sordo Mudo in Valle de Guadalupe in addition to being a cub scout den leader. She has previously received both the NOVA and Supernova Awards, which exposes Cub Scouts to science, technology, engineering and mathematics through fun activities.