Cruise Planners Launches Special Agent Training to Leverage Most Lucrative Travel Segments
Continuing its commitment to and reinvestment in its nationwide network of more than 2,000 franchisees, Cruise Planners announced a new specialist training programs and updates to current in-person and virtual trainings at its annual Convention.
“Our business-in-a-box franchise model is designed to coach people with a passion for travel and turn them into travel advisors,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “We know providing the best training in the industry is what accelerates our travel advisors’ sales growth.”
A comprehensive list of Cruise Planners’ latest training developments includes:
Specialist Training Programs: To provide travel advisors with the best training resources in the most lucrative travel segments, Cruise Planners is launching Specialist Training Programs that will feature guided, virtual trainings designed by Cruise Planners Home Office expert team members and travel partners from leading brands in each segment. The programs include:
- All-Inclusive Resorts Specialist
- Escorted Tours Specialist
- Group Travel Specialist
- Luxury Travel Specialist
- River Cruise Specialist
- Travel Insurance Specialist
The new specialist training programs are designed to help Cruise Planners travel advisors stand out among the competition while offering an elevated level of service to clients.
2019 Events and Trainings:
- Boot Camps: These three-day trainings take place in the cities most accessible to Cruise Planners travel advisors and provide hands-on learning from both Cruise Planners executive team members and travel partners. The 2019 Boot Camp locations include Orlando, Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Dallas.
- Luxury Travel Forum: Cruise Planners has seen strong year-over-year growth in the luxury segment after a commitment to niche trainings such as the luxury forum, which has been a sold-out event since it launched.
- Land Symposium: Cruise Planners was just honored as the #1 US and worldwide host agency for Sandals and Beaches Resorts and ranks high with other major land operators and all-inclusive resorts. Cruise Planners has concentrated training efforts and strategic marketing to focus on continuing to grow its land-based business and will once again hold its Land Symposium at an all-inclusive resort in the new year.
- Agent-Organized Trainings: Cruise Planners is encouraging agents to organize their own regional trainings, agreeing to send Scott Koepf, VP of Strategic Development, to any U.S. city where a group of 50 or more Cruise Planners travel advisors will attend.
Weekly Sales Skills: This weekly series provides easy-to-digest three-to-five-minute videos with Scott Koepf, VP of Strategic Development, on some actionable tips for selling travel and improving sales skills. The content is designed to be relatable and enjoyable, with musical theater, sports and Cruise Planners references throughout.
Walk-Me Training: Walk-Me is an automated, training system that guides Cruise Planners travel advisors through CP Maxx, Cruise Planners’ proprietary booking tool and CRM. Step-by-step guidance will be available on several tools and features throughout the system to provide on-demand instruction while using the tool. This will allow for faster adoption and ease of use.
“Cruise Planners knows the value of prioritizing travel advisor training and continues to provide a variety of opportunities – including online, in-person and many product and destination experiences – so Cruise Planners agents are able to best service their clients and grow their businesses,” Fee said. “We are invested in each of our travel advisors reaching their sales goals and our training is the best in the business.”
