Cruise Planners Supports Agent Giving Through CP Cares at Annual Convention

Cruise Planners’ CP Cares charity supports local causes and travel agent-supported charities

At Cruise Planners’ annual convention, we continued our annual tradition of giving back to CP Cares in a variety of ways. Read on to find the many ways Cruise Planners gave back at the 2018 Convention. 

"Giving back through CP Cares is such a huge part of our Cruisitude," said Vicky Garcia, Cruise Planners COO and the Queen of Cruisitude, "Especially at our 25th Anniversary Celebration Convention where we reflected on how far we've come as a company, its so important to take time to celebrate how much the CP Family does to support our communities and how we'll never stop giving back!"

CP Cares Charity Contest

To give back to the causes and organizations that Cruise Planners travel advisors support across the country, Cruise Planners annually selects five charities to receive a $1,000 donation, with an additional $100 donation being made to all charities nominated. This year’s CP Cares Charity Contest winners included:

• Safe Schools for Alex, nominated by Cruise Planners franchise owner Jill Goldblatt
• Citrus County Harvest, Inc., nominated by Cruise Planners franchise owner Lori Rieser
• Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation, nominated by Cruise Planners franchise Leslie Cantillo
• ABC Basset Hound Rescue, nominated by Cruise Planners franchise owner Joan Quigley
• Pay Forward, Inc., nominated by Cruise Planners travel agent Lynn Verrengia

Charity Drive

Each year, Cruise Planners selects a charity in the local community to support. This year, Cruise Planners travel advisors brought donations to benefit the Urban League of Broward County’s Veterans and Maternal Health initiatives. In addition to the goods and supplies, Cruise Planners presented the Urban League with a $5,000 check during the Convention closing ceremony.

Carnival Cruise Line Toy Donations

Carnival Cruise Line decorated more than 70 tables with books, board games and stuffed animals during the Carnival Corporation’s sponsored breakfast, all of which were generously donated to the Urban League. 

“Carnival is a big supporter of Cruise Planners’ commitment to giving back. Creating these centerpieces of toys and games to be donated to local children was the perfect way to bring together the fun spirit Carnival, Cruise Planners’ Cruisitude and our combined passion for giving,” said Adolfo Perez of Carnival Cruise Line.

CP Store

The CP Store is many agents’ first stop upon arriving at Convention where they can stock up on the latest Cruise Planners logo clothing and accessories. All proceeds from items purchased in the CP Store during Convention and year-round go directly to CP Cares. In addition to CP gear, travel advisors can also purchase raffle tickets and bid on trips and other swag, generously donated by our travel partners.

LLS Woman of the Year

Cruise Planners once again nominated a travel industry executive for the LLS Man and Woman of the Year campaign, passing the “crown” to Camille Olivere Senior Vice President, Sales at Norwegian Cruise Line. The campaign brings together the Cruise Planners family, members of the travel community and other movers and shakers in the South Florida community as they raise money to eradicate blood cancers. With this nomination, Camille will follow in the footsteps of Cruise Planners CEO, Michelle Fee, and COO, Vicky Garcia, who both have been crowned LLS Woman of the Year, in addition to the other travel leaders Cruise Planners has nominated in the past who have also taken home the crown:

• Michelle Homoky, 2018 - Director of Market Sales East Region at Celebrity Cruises
• Adolfo Perez, 2017 – Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Marketing at Carnival Cruise Line
• Alex Pinelo, 2016 – Vice President of National Accounts at AmaWaterways
• Ellen Bettridge, 2013 – CEO and President at Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Read more about Cruise Planners 2018 Convention here.