Cruise Planners Franchise Sails into 2020 After Year of Record-Breaking Numbers

Convention highlights

Themed “Mission Possible,” the 2019 Convention highlighted notable achievements for the brand, new proprietary tools to advance franchisees marketing and technology operations, informative panels with experienced travel executives and presentations with key travel industry partners.

Multiple achievements were celebrated during the convention, including Cruise Planners sales increasing by 19% in 2019, and the company is projecting to see a 25% sales increase in 2020, based on already confirmed bookings. With more than 2,500 travel advisors throughout the 50 U.S. states, Cruise Planners is the nation's largest and most-awarded network of home-based travel agents celebrating 26 years in business.

The company is committed to innovating new tools and processes to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to supporting its advisors in assisting clients to plan and book all forms of travel. During the convention, Cruise Planners introduced 14 updated or new proprietary technology programs that will continue giving its travel advisors the upper hand when it comes to booking individual and large group travel.

These advancements have propelled Cruise Planners to earn notable top-producer awards from major cruise line partners including:

• Chairman’s Awards from Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International

• World’s Leading Cruise Lines Excellence Awards from Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn

• Platinum Circle Plus from Viking Cruises

• Host Agency of the Year from Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Sales and awards

Cruise Planners also continues to dominate in sales for all-inclusive resorts, land travel and packaged flights and hotels earning:

• Top Host Agency – U.S., Top Host Agency – Worldwide, and Best of the Best for Sandals Resorts International

• Host Agency of the Year from Brendan Vacations, Insight Vacations and Trafalgar

• Diamond Elite status with Delta Vacations

Franchise growth and recognition

“Our franchise owners are the ones who continuously inspire the updates we implement,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and founder of Cruise Planners. “We listen to our travel advisors’ feedback, closely monitor the travel industry and have an amazing Home Office Team who take new marketing and technology ideas and turn them into a reality. We continuously develop new programs, so our advisors are equipped with the best resources and advanced tools needed to effectively and efficiently serve their clients’ vacation needs time and time again.”

More than 100 Cruise Planners travel advisors were recognized for their outstanding sales for the year and joining the Millionaires Club by selling more than a million dollars in travel.

As independent travel advisors, Cruise Planners® franchisees earn the highest commission in the industry helping their clients plan amazing travel experiences from cruises and land tours to all-inclusive resorts and more. The home-based model provides franchise owners flexibility to run their own travel agency business from anywhere, even while traveling due to the company’s investment in mobile technology. Cruise Planners provides its travel advisors with access to award-winning, innovative marketing; cutting-edge mobile technology; dynamic, hands-on training; lead-generating tools, as well as professional coaching and development.

Cruise Planners has been ranked the No. 1 travel franchise since 2002 by Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking.

Entrepreneurial-spirited individuals with a passion for travel, who are interested in owning a Cruise Planners® franchise, can invest in their own business for a low-cost, one-time franchise fee of only $10,995. Special incentives are available for active and retired military, first responders and travel industry professionals. Franchise owners are encouraged to attend the annual convention, which often is tied to a new cruise or amazing resort for on-site learning.

Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry. Cruise Planners operates a network of more than 2,500 franchise owners who independently book vacation and travel experiences for their clients. Headquartered in?

Coral Springs, Fla. since 1994, Cruise Planners supports its network of franchise owners with innovative marketing, booking and technology tools, professional development and training with the industry's top executives. Cruise Planners has been named the No.

1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 16 consecutive years and was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology. Consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, Cruise Planners is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, has been ranked as the No.

1 travel franchise by Franchise Business Review for 6 years and is recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.