The late Buddy Franklin who founded Franklin Travel once said: "We are not just travel consultants, we are dream merchants."

This philosophy has helped thousands of people enjoy their holidays or take stress-free business trips over the last 20 years, and Franklin Travel is celebrating two decades in business by thanking customers and staff.

"Travel makes all things seem possible, it brings the world together," says Mr. Franklin's wife Patti Daly Franklin, who is now president of the business.

Buddy Franklin started the business in 1981 and first operated from Mercury house on Front Street. Ms Daly Franklin says of the company: "Buddy was truly dedicated to his work and in the early days, when a customer wanted a ticket, he used to literally go to the airlines with his own money and purchase a handwritten ticket before selling it to his customer. He did this for a couple of years just to break even. Buddy has left a legacy and we run the business with exactly the same ethos - nothing is too much trouble as long as the customer is happy."

Ms Franklin Daly said that technological changes have enabled the business to stay price competitive, which is a big deal in the industry, and the office now has a highly-trained staff of 14 with a combined total of 202 years of experience. Franklin Travel's niche is the mid-to-upper market and Ms Daly Franklin said: "People have a need for good experienced knowledgeable travel consultants that can make it happen." Disney World is currently one of the hottest holiday destinations for Bermudians, and several of the Franklin Employees have attended the "Disney College of Knowledge", spending three days at Disney World and two days on the Disney cruise boat.

This has given them a unique perspective and the ability to organise a holiday specific to customer's needs.

All of the consultants have their own specialities, and for Barbara Mitchell, who has 25 years experience in the industry, with nearly six at Franklin Travel, it is chartering a plane to Jamaica to watch cricket with a group from Casey's bar and lounge.

Ms Franklin Daly says it is this type of dedication to service that keeps clients coming back.

She cited the example of a young Bermudian couple whose plans to get married on a Princess cruise were thwarted by the September 11 attacks, but consultant Toni-Lea Curtis worked non-stop organising an alternative cruise on another Princess cruise boat. Three days after the catastrophe, the couple were happily married enjoying their love boat cruise.

Ms Daly Franklin said that following September 11, business dropped off drastically, but started to pick up in October.

She pointed out that airlines are still the safest way to travel, especially since new security restrictions had been put in place and she encouraged people to travel, adding that ticket prices in North America were very inexpensive and there was still plenty of availability for Christmas, although prices for airline travel out of Bermuda were pretty much static.

The two main aims of the 20-year celebration are to thank the customers for their loyalty and to celebrate the team's everyday commitment to excellence.

For the celebrations, there will be an open house on December 1 from 11 a. m. to 2 p. m. in the Washington Lane offices where people can meet the Franklin team, have a slice of cake, and enter into a contest to win $2,000 worth of free travel. There will also be free gifts at the open house and every 20th guest will receive a special free gift.

On the Web: www.franklintravel.bm