Dawn Perreault’s Dream Vacations opens Placitas storefront, ribbon cutting Feb. 5

New Dawn Travels, a Dream Vacations franchise operated by Dawn Perreault, opened a 270-square-foot storefront in the Homesteads Plaza in Placitas and held a public ribbon cutting on Feb. 5. The free event ran from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., included food and drinks, featured promotional offers, and invited attendees to enter a raffle for a dream vacation valued at $10,000.

The shop is listed at 3 Homestead Road, Suite E, in Homesteads Plaza, with some listings using the variant 3 Homesteads Road. Residents seeking to confirm location or services can call 941-786-0223. Store hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with appointments available outside those times.

Perreault opened the physical storefront after operating a vacation service from her home for a decade. She bought the service in 2015 and described a long background in the travel industry: “I was managing an air department for a luxury tour company, which was worldwide. I sent people to Italy, I sent people to Machu Picchu, I sent people to the Galapagos, and they went to Thailand ... so I have a very, very big background in travel.” The owner of a neighboring business, Placitas Del Salon, offered space next door, leading Perreault to establish an in-person office. “And here I am. It's a great spot,” she said.

Perreault positioned the storefront to serve an older, affluent traveling market that prefers one-on-one service. “My demographics are the older age from 55-plus with a higher income and a lot of time available on their hands,” she said. She also emphasized the value of face-to-face planning: “Travel is personal, and I believe planning it should be too, which is why I opened a storefront where clients can walk in, ask questions, and know exactly who they’re working with.”

New Dawn Travels lists river cruises, luxury ocean cruises, land tours, and expedition travel among its specialties. The physical location and visible presence in Homesteads Plaza aim to capture local residents who value concierge-style planning and trusted relationships when booking higher-end travel.

For the Placitas economy, the opening is a modest but meaningful example of small-format retail focused on services rather than product sales. The 270-square-foot footprint reflects a low-overhead model that can sustain personalized advising for a demographic with discretionary spending and time to travel. The storefront also creates potential spillover traffic for neighboring businesses in Homesteads Plaza and underscores a neighborhood dynamic in which local proprietors support each other by offering space and referrals.

For residents, the storefront means an accessible option for planning cruises and escorted tours with a local contact person. Continued local promotions, community events, or partnerships with nearby businesses could follow as New Dawn Travels builds a client base in Placitas.