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CRUISE PLANNERS INCREASES AGENT CERTIFICATION BY 100 PERCENT

Coral springs, Fla. – November 29, 2010 – Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, today officially announced agent accreditation has increased 100 percent with 50,000 courses taken since introducing Cruise Planners University (CPU) nearly one year ago. The news follows the launch of the CPU senior track, which went live within the online site during the company’s annual convention last month in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Earlier this year, CPU won the coveted Gold Magellan Award for its innovative approach to training.

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CRUISE PLANNERS HONORED WITH TRAVEL AGENCY OF THE YEAR AWARD

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – November 19, 2010 – Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, was named 2010 Travel Agency of the Year by American Express at the company’s annual U.S. Representative Network Conference in Phoenix, Arizona held earlier this fall.

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CRUISE PLANNERS AGENTS GEARED UP TO TACKLE UPCOMING TRAVEL SEASON

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – November 16, 2010 – Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, closed out its three-day 2010 Convention on November 13 when more than 400 of its agents boarded the Celebrity Eclipse for a two-night sailing from Miami. The theme for this year’s convention centered on “C.H.A.N.G.E” to help agents learn how to adapt to the ever-changing travel industry. Agents attended training, educational courses and peer-to-peer breakout sessions intended to lead agents toward a successful 2011 season.

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CRUISE PLANNERS AGENTS SHOWING OFF THEIR “CRUISITUDE” AT SOLD OUT 2010 CONVENTION

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – November 12, 2010 – Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, is in the midst of hosting its sold out 2010 Convention with more than 400 home-based agents in attendance showing off their “Cruisitude” while participating in training courses, executive breakout sessions and panel discussions.

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CRUISE PLANNERS KICKS OFF 2010 ANNUAL CONVENTION FOR AGENTS

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – November 11, 2010 – Launching this year’s 2010 Convention with the theme of “C.H.A.N.G.E.,” Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, kicked off day one of its sold out annual convention with presentations by industry professionals, agent-to-agent breakout sessions and several new launches, including the announcement of an upgraded version of its exclusive eREZ^SM platform.

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Breakout with Home Office Execs

Home office executives and industry professionals hosted breakout workshops immediately following the cruise line executive panel held during day two of 2010 CP Convention. The goal was to provide agents with a slew of business and marketing advice that ultimately helps them build their client base and increase sales in today’s challenging travel market. From tricks to using Cruise Planners’ online reservation tools to learning how to sell luxury and river cruises, day two of convention kept agents learning, growing and embracing the change that’s on the horizon. &nbs...Read More...

Top Cruise Line Execs Address Changes in the Industry before Hundreds of CP Agents

Being a Cruise Planners agent has its benefits and one of the best, most valued benefits, is the company’s strong relationship with its cruise line partners. Day number two of Cruise Planners’ 2010 Convention kicked off on Friday morning with the most anticipated session so far – the cruise line executive panel.    Industry executives Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International’s SVP Sales; Dondra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity Cruises’ SVP Sales; Edie Bornstein, Azamara Club Cruises’ VP Sales & Marketing; Lynn Torrent, Carnival Cruise Lines&rsquo...Read More...

Agents Helping Agents

Rock Stars shared their secrets of success with peers at the agent-to-agent breakout workshops held during day one of 2010 CP Convention. Cruise Planners’ top selling agents gave travel selling advice and described what tools they use that help build their client base and increase sales in today’s challenging travel market.   Cruise Planners agent JJ Kuykendall told her peers that long-lasting relationships with clients are made by one simple rule: “following up, following up, following up!” Stressing the point that connections are key, Kuykendall said she rea...Read More...

Cruise Planners Kicks Off 2010 Convention

It was a beautiful day here in sunny Fort Lauderdale for the first day of our anticipated Cruise Planners/American Express annual convention. Agents awoke to the sun shining across the blue Atlantic and as Royal Caribbean’s new Allure of the Seas sailed into port, we were all reminded just how much we love what we do…Selling cruise experiences! Convention kicked off with a keynote address by Rick Sasso, president of MSC Cruises, which recognized the perfect position agents are in to embrace change and capitalize on the ever changing and ever growing cruise industry. Though the...Read More...