Our Story

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Michelle Fee, Co-Founder and CEO of Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, has been named one of the “top 25 most extraordinary minds” in sales and marketing for 2009 by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Fee will be honored Feb.1 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by such a well-respected organization as the HSMAI,” said Fee. “I have always loved working in the travel business and to be recognized as an innovator because of that passion and dedication is a humbling experience.”

Cruise Planners recently celebrated their 15th year anniversary. What began as a small business with only five students in the first training class has grown into the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry. Recently Cruise Planners ranked No. 62 in Entrepreneur’s 31st Annual Franchise 500 Issue and for the seventh year in a row, the company is ranked No. 1 in the cruise travel franchise category.

Fee is also responsible for the launch of the company’s two innovative, turn-key programs: CPpod, a Print-on-Demand portal with a 1:1 Marketing element that matches the clients to psycho/demographic data and truly ‘talks directly’ to the customer with a targeted message, and a Website program that allows the franchisees to completely customize their own sites with special group departures. The Website program also features a proprietary registration tool for the participants to sign up to the group departures, as well as create custom landing pages – all with an easy editor tool for the least technical user to understand.

Fee sits on the advisory boards of Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and the Cruise Line International Association, as well as the Executive Forum for Carnival Cruise Lines. In 2003, she was named one of Travel Agent Magazine’s Most Powerful Women in Travel, and in 2006, was named Travel Agent of the Year by Travel Trade Magazine.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, today announced the launch of its new franchise website designed exclusively for budding entrepreneurs seeking flexibility and personal career investments. At www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com, entrepreneurs interested in franchise ownership can easily locate the information they need to become their own boss.

Cruise Planners welcomed 200 new franchise owners last year, which is a true testament to just how many people are “firing their boss” and becoming home-based cruise travel agents. The increase in new franchise ownership is due to the low-cost investment purchase of $9,995, revealing how new owners have taken the economy in hand with a creditable brand. With so much interest in franchise ownership, Cruise Planners created the website as a quick-start guide to inform, engage and impress prospective franchise owners interested in becoming a part of the travel industry.

“Our new website is an innovative tool that’s ideal for people interested in starting their own business, taking back control over their paycheck and investing in themselves,” said Jason Mattes, director of franchise development, also known as “The Franchise Guy” who completed his mission to get 200 people to “fire their boss” in 2009 and turn to entrepreneurship. “Cruise Planners’ franchise website was not only created to highlight what we can do for entrepreneurs, but to feature what our owners have built for themselves.”

Created as a research guide for soon-to-be franchise owners, the website is interactive, easy to navigate and fun too. It features “Fun Facts” centered around frequently asked questions regarding training and franchising, an integrated social media network option where followers can keep up with the latest news and notes from the executive team and testimonials from current franchise owners.

Recently, Cruise Planners ranked No. 62 in Entrepreneur’s 31st Annual Franchise 500 Issue and for the seventh year in a row, the company is ranked No. 1 in the cruise industry. With more than 4,000 franchise companies and business opportunities in operation today, Cruise Planners is part of the top two percent and ranks well above many household names recognized by Entrepreneur.

“The main reason we decided to create this website was to illustrate how appealing it is to be a Cruise Planner franchise owner,” continued Mattes. “As our business franchise opportunity is low-cost and high-fun, we simply wanted a website that exemplifies this exciting business endeavor. Overall, we see it is a useful launching pad for anyone interested in franchise ownership.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, is ranked No. 62 in Entrepreneur’s 31st Annual Franchise 500 Issue. For the seventh year in a row, the company is ranked No. 1 in the industry.

“While other industries struggled this past year, Cruise Planners saw a significant increase in new franchise owners,” said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners. “We believe that it’s our mix of innovative tools and technology, owner resources and corporate support that puts us above competitors and attracts new franchise owners.” With more than 4,000 registered franchise companies in operation today, Cruise Planners is part of the top two percent of all franchise systems and ranks well above many household names recognized by Entrepreneur. “We are all very proud of the advancements we have made and the new marketing tools we are able to offer our agents,” continued Michelle Fee. “The dedication, enthusiasm and innovation our entire team has demonstrated this year are the reasons we are part of this elite Entrepreneur list.” Staff members at Entrepreneur spend several months calling, e-mailing, researching and analyzing hundreds of franchise companies in order to determine the rankings. For the past three decades they have been perfecting the ranking procedure and proprietary formula to present the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, today announced the availability of a “GroupScoop Video” program for its agents that offers customizable marketing videos at affordable prices through a partnership with Digital Design Video, a production company based in Ohio. The new program allows Cruise Planners agents to produce a professional, personalized promotional video that can be posted on their websites as well as top social networking sites.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure our agents are as competitive as possible in this market,” said Vicky Garcia, senior vice president, sales and marketing. “Our new GroupScoop program allows our agents to have a professionally produced, high-impact video on their websites, and we provide the training to show them how to maximize exposure on their Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube sites as well showcase their specific group cruises. We realize that people are ‘buying differently’ now and we are continually striving to provide our agents with those tools to stay connected with their customers as well as reach new ones.”

Videos are created in two parts, the core video provided by Cruise Planners and the customizable “group details” section for agent personalization. Cruise Planners’ Home Office has already created and paid for the professional production of the first core video for agents to customize with their contact information, group specialty and a call to action. The rollout of GroupScoop is just the first of many new products introduced at the company’s annual convention in November.

“GroupScoop is a high-quality video that allows agents to supplement what they are already doing to market themselves online,” said Adam Lapsevich, co-founder and president of Digital Design Video. “The program’s unique format is user-friendly, so I’m confident this will be a widely used promotional tool for the company’s agents.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — During today’s opening ceremony of the Cruise Planners/American Express annual convention, company leaders unveiled a new virtual educational platform that integrates Cruise Planners University (CPU) with Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) certification process and cruise line training programs. The online university, accessible at www.MyCPU.com, will allow Cruise Planners’ agents to graduate as Certified Cruise Planner Experts (CCPE,) the gold standard in the industry. “Higher learning leads to higher earning,” said Terri Burke, senior vice president of relationship marketing for Cruise Planners/American Express. “This online university will give our agents unmatched access to information that will put them at the forefront of the industry as top sales achievers. We’re in a competitive industry, so we’re ensuring our agents have the tools necessary to grow their home-based business by providing them with a one-stop shop where they can obtain the certifications vital to becoming top earners.” In its new virtual form, CPU integrates all of the industry’s educational resources so agents can receive the training necessary to reach all levels of accreditation in one place. Although it takes only two years for Cruise Planners agents to graduate as a CCPE, the highest certification currently attainable, agents are allowed the convenience to continue their education at their own pace. “At Cruise Planners we pride ourselves on having the highest percentage of CLIA accredited agents in our franchise category,” continued Burke. “We knew we needed to raise the bar and create a career learning path for all of our agents that will set us apart as the most highly-trained in the industry, which was the genesis of the virtual CPU concept.” The online platform, which was mirrored after user-friendly social networking sites such as Facebook, keeps track of the courses taken, videos watched and industry accreditation so agents can network, share ideas and ultimately graduate. There are six levels through the program along with online incentives and contests to keep agents motivated throughout the process until they earn their CCPE designation. “The CCPE certification will be a strong indicator to consumers that they can book through Cruise Planners with extreme confidence,” said Joel M. Wilder, Cruise Planners/American Express advisory board member and master cruise counselor. “The skills taught are invaluable tools, and I plan on being one of the first agents to become CCPE certified.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, will host its annual convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, November 17-22, 2009 with the last two days taking place aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas during its inaugural sailing. The “Cruisitude” theme will set the tone for the high-energy convention, which will provide more than 300 franchise owners with new measurable sales and marketing tactics to implement for the upcoming high season. “Cabin count is increasing, so the tides are definitely shifting and we’re starting to come to the surface,” said Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee. “It’s critical our agents have the tools necessary to capitalize on this shift. We are going to use this year’s convention to present new practical applications for our agents and provide direct access to industry leaders.” Highlights of the convention will include an important announcement about Cruise Planners University (CPU) and industry updates and forecasts from top executives at Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Lines. This year, for the first time, Cruise Planners’ convention will feature three tiers of education led by three levels of industry professionals: cruise line executives, Cruise Planners Home Office executives and member agents. “The times are changing and we need to think differently,” continued Fee. “Our mission is to empower our agents with the resources and know-how to reach new markets by utilizing the right mix of our advanced technology and marketing programs as well as a few tricks we have up our sleeve.” Convention workshops will showcase tactics on targeting niche groups, utilizing industry software, navigating social networking sites and breaking down loyalty programs, just to name a few.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, is offering a limited-time discount for U.S. veterans looking to start a new career in the cruise industry. To celebrate Veterans Day, Cruise Planners will provide veterans with an added 25 percent discount on a Cruise Planners franchise, nearly a $2,700 savings. The offer is available November 9 – 13, 2009. “Cruise Planners is seeking motivated, entrepreneurial-minded veterans looking to control their destiny,” said Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee. “We offer a strong training program and provide all the tools necessary to build a successful home-based business. We’re confident it’s the best franchise opportunity currently available with the added bonus of travel.” Cruise Planners franchise benefits include the highest commissions in the industry, travel agent rates for personal travel and year-round educational training opportunities. Exclusive veteran benefits include a $1,000 franchise discount, a $500 co-op advertising fund to help get the business started and a complimentary three-month trial on Cruise Planners’ Web Program, just to name a few. “We support our U.S. troops and veterans through our successful CP Cares program. We’re proud to launch this program as an extension of our support and we look forward to helping entrepreneurial veterans transition to a new and rewarding career,” Fee continued. “Some of our veteran owners are among our strongest and most successful agents.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — To celebrate National Cruise Vacation Month in October, Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, is celebrating The World’s Largest Cruise Event (WLCE) from October 12 – 19, 2009, with incredible values and exclusive promotions on cruise travel to the world’s top destinations. The campaign is a spin off of Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) World’s Largest Cruise Night, a 24-hour event during which travel agencies across North America band together to promote the industry by hosting various events, seminars and promotions. Cruise Planners extended the one-day event into a week’s worth of deals exclusive to Cruise Planners’ customers, which include: • Oceania Cruises: $2,000 price reduction, 2-for-1 airfare, and prepaid gratuities; Bonus: $100 shipboard credit • Cunard Line: Up to $300 onboard credit and reduced deposit • Norwegian Cruise Line: Up to $250 onboard credit and onboard coupon booklet • Royal Caribbean: Up to $200 off • Princess Cruises: $100 reduced deposit and onboard coupon booklet; Bonus (on 2010 Europe & Alaska only): $100 onboard credit • Celebrity Cruises: Up to $100 onboard credit • Carnival Cruise Line: Two-category upgrade “By strengthening its industry partnerships to provide consumers with even more value and unique experiences, Cruise Planners continues to build awareness and excitement for cruising,” said Bob Sharak, CLIA’s executive vice president of marketing & distribution. “Cruise Planners continues to go above and beyond, and the industry and consumers are direct beneficiaries of the company’s forward-thinking initiatives.” Cruise Planners will also be adding to the excitement with three cruise giveaways including a 4-night Carnival cruise, 5-night Royal Caribbean Cruise and 7-night Princess cruise.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, reached out to the local veteran community on July 28 with an event to celebrate the donation of a Cruise Planners franchise worth more than $11,000 and the announcement of the company’s year-long charitable partnership with Royal Caribbean International and the Fisher House Foundation. In late 2008, Cruise Planners hosted a nationwide franchise giveaway to celebrate the launch of the company’s CP Cares program, which provides veterans with more than $2,500 in discounts toward purchasing a franchise. As the deserving recipient of the franchise, Air Force veteran Chris Silman was presented with the “key” to his new business as well as a $500 donation towards his marketing efforts by Cruise Planners Co-founder and CEO Michelle Fee. In addition, Royal Caribbean International matched the contribution for a combined donation of $1,000. Cruise Planners also announced “Voyages for Veterans,” its yearlong charitable partnership with Royal Caribbean International and the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides no-cost housing to families of veterans who are undergoing extended medical treatment at VA medical centers. Cruise Planners and Royal Caribbean executives kicked-off the partnership by presenting the foundation with a $2,000 donation. In addition, Fee announced that charitable efforts will continue into next year with the companies donating $50 for every booking made through a Cruise Planners agent on select Royal Caribbean Voyages for Veterans sailings throughout 2010. “Cruise Planners believes in bringing positive impact to our industry, customers and the community that we’ve called home for our entire 15 years in business,” said Fee. “Not only is it our civic responsibility, it is our privilege to honor those that serve our country.” Event attendees included representatives from Broward County’s Veteran Services and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “Companies like Cruise Planners and Royal Caribbean set the bar for social responsibility,” said Marjorie Valdes, public affairs specialist for the Miami VA Healthcare System and Fisher House Foundation representative. “Much of what the Fisher House Foundation accomplishes is a direct result of charitable contributions, and we are so honored to be the recipient of their generosity.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, has launched a new, integrated marketing campaign titled “Cruisitude” enabling Cruise Planners agents to showcase the flexibility, customization and sheer fun of cruising. Cruisitude, which is simply a witty, made-up word that describes an attitude, feeling, disposition or state of mind related to the cruise experience, was designed to appeal to the individual interests of all cruisers whether they are in or outside the industry. The campaign will add to the repertoire of Cruise Planners agents to provide customers with the most personalized experience possible. Already, Cruisitude has been launched across multiple mediums including the popular social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. In addition, the campaign’s custom-built microsite www.Cruisitude.com provides a virtual platform for everyone to exchange ideas and further develop a unique community and strengthen the home-based agent base. “We work in a fun industry, so when developing the campaign, we stayed away from worn-out expressions with concrete associations and instead, created a lively concept that can be tied into various strategies and tactics,” said Vicky Garcia, Cruise Planners SVP of sales & marketing. “Cruise Planners is continually cultivating new ideas to provide our agents with ahead-of-the-curve resources to build their businesses and strengthen our company as a whole and what better way to do that than with a campaign that is truly unique and exciting.” As part of the campaign, Cruise Planners has embarked on an exclusive partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) and www.Sunny.org. Through this exclusive promotion, Cruise Planners agents will receive a $25 American Express gift card every time they facilitate a booking for a two-night stay at any participating Fort Lauderdale hotel. In addition, travelers booking through this promotion will receive a GFLCVB Beach Starter Kit, which will align with the consumer-oriented side of the campaign.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, has been honored with top producer status from two leading cruise lines. As a recipient of Carnival Cruise Lines’ Pinnacle Award, this marks the 10th consecutive year that Cruise Planners has been recognized by the “Fun ship” brand. The Pinnacle Award is given to top producers with high-volume sales who demonstrate exceptional professionalism, creative marketing techniques and outstanding support of the Carnival experience. Just prior to receiving this award, Cruise Planners was honored with Crystal Cruises’ Millionaire Producer Award for generating more than $1 million in sales. It was the first time in the company’s 15-year history, and Cruise Planners’ SVP of Sales & Marketing Vicky Garcia accepted the award on behalf of the company at Crystal Cruises’ 19th Annual Sales Achievement Gala aboard the ultra-luxurious Crystal Serenity. “We are delighted to honor Cruise Planners for their continued support of Crystal Cruises,” said Crystal President Gregg Michel. “Reaching the Millionaire Producer status is a great accomplishment, and Cruise Planners agents should be very proud of themselves.” “We’re thrilled to have been able to reach top producer levels with both of these cruise lines,” said Garcia. “Cruise Planners is pleased to be in such good standing with our industry partners and will continue to exceed all expectations.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, has awarded Air Force veteran Chris Silman with a franchise worth $10,000. The Arizona veteran was notified in honor of Memorial Day. Cruise Planners hosted the nationwide giveaway competition to celebrate the launch of the company’s Corps Care veterans program last November, which provides veterans with more than $2,500 in discounts toward purchasing a franchise. To enter the contest, which was open to all honorably discharged U.S. military personnel, veterans had to describe in 500 words why they should be awarded a franchise. A panel of industry experts at Cruise Planners selected the winner based on entrepreneurial spirit, integrity and character. “It’s important that companies and organizations reach out to help ease the transition of the veteran community back to a civilian lifestyle,” said Michelle Fee, Cruise Planners co-founder and CEO. “It’s often challenging for veterans to readjust to the workforce and we want to support them in this process. We’re so pleased that Chris took the time to enter because his dedication and drive is exactly what we were looking for in the winner. He will undoubtedly fit our company perfectly and serve as a role model for other veterans eager to gain financial independence and to agents within our network.” Silman, who served in the Air Force for six years, was deployed to Afghanistan as part of a combat search and rescue unit directly responsible for 22 combat rescues of downed pilots, injured Army soldiers and Afghan fighters. Upon being honorably discharged in 2005, Silman enrolled at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and completed a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics while working full-time at an energy management company. “The transition to civilian life has had its challenges, but my strong work ethic is really what has seen me through to success,” said Silman. “This is a wonderful opportunity to grow my own business from the ground up, and I plan to make the most out of this experience.” Silman will attend franchise training at the company’s headquarters in Fort Lauderdale in July and officially open his business thereafter. Moving forward, he plans on obtaining a master’s in business administration from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, unveiled its completely redesigned franchise management system at CLIA’s Cruise3Sixty on Friday, April 3. “Our vision was to develop a program that is simple to use but creates professional output while cutting costs and time,” said Michelle Fee, Cruise Planners co-founder and CEO. “The result is an exclusive technology that allows our agents to interact with suppliers and clients with expertise and precision.” Research — An integrated Web 2.0 extranet provides social networking to more than 700 franchisees across the country for sharing best practices; finding travel products; staying current on destination, cruise and tour information; and connecting with the Cruise Planners Home Office from anywhere in the world, on any platform. Management — The innovative system allows for real-time booking, invoicing, commission tracking and reporting. In addition, Regisweb, a group management tool exclusive to Cruise Planners, allows agents to create individual pages on their Web sites specific to group bookings that provide group members password-protected platforms to specify preferences, obtain trip updates and enter personal information, which ensures accuracy and phases out the data entry process for agents. Marketing — Cruise Planners’ Web-based marketing system provides agents with the ability to generate leads and customize their Web sites and materials from templates with search engine optimization built directly into the framework. Additionally, in an industry first, agents can also design, print and send personalized, professional quality HTML sales flyers, e-cards and other custom direct mail pieces using CPpod, a print-on-demand portal exclusive to Cruise Planners, which has proven to be the most effective and highest utilized tool. Cruise Planners also has a new, exclusive partnership with MailPound for creating agent-specific e-brochures and other custom-tailored approaches to help attract and maintain clients. “The new technology supports our goals of providing the best value, customer service and overall experience, and we’ve received nothing but positive feedback since Beta testing began last week,” continued Fee.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Cruise Planners/American Express, the largest homet-based travel agent network in the cruise industry, today announced the launch of NewNCLShip.com, where cruising enthusiasts can register to win a spot on the inaugural voyage of the highly anticipated Norwegian Epic. “The Epic will revolutionize the cruise industry, so this is an exciting time for cruise lovers and travel agents to get a glimpse of history in the making,” said Cruise Planners/American Express CEO Michelle Fee. “This microsite is a virtual backstage pass to the rarely seen construction, development and launch of a much anticipated ship. We’re thrilled to have the only site offering a giveaway on the inaugural cruise,” said Fee. NewNCLShip.com provides access to image galleries with the latest ship renderings and rare shipyard photos all the way from St. Nazaire, France, documenting the construction process of the 4,200-passenger ship. Cruisers can get the latest ship updates on the news blog and track the launch date of the ultramodern Epic on the countdown clock. In addition, visitors are automatically entered to win a trip for two on Epic’s inaugural voyage in July 2010, by registering to receive news updates on NewNCLShip.com. A winner will be selected at random in May 2010. Airfare will not be included. “We’re excited that cruisers will be able to experience a new level of cruising come July 2010,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Executive VP Global Sales and Passenger Services. “The ship has already established quite a fan base, and I’m confident we will see more and more buzz about Epic’s launch with supportive industry partners like Cruise Planners by our side.” The Norwegian Epic will debut many firsts, including spa suites with in-room whirlpools, and will carry on NCL’s other industry-leading concepts such as the ship-within-a-ship design where suites and villas are situated on private decks at the top of the ship giving guests exclusive access to a private pool, gym and sundeck. Many of the rooms will feature NCL’s revolutionary curved-wall NewWave design to maximize space, and there will also be studio living with customizable lighting and connecting family staterooms. Additionally, the ship will feature an Ice Bar, POSH Beach Club, the Bliss Ultra Lounge with four-lane bowling alley and an adults-only pool deck. Cruise Planners holds exclusive block space pricing on the Epic starting at $675 per person. Reservations are now available by calling toll free (800) 971-1198.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express, the largest at-home travel agent network in the cruise industry, is pleased to announce that Terri Burke has joined the company’s executive team as Senior Vice President of Relationship Marketing. In this newly created position, Burke will be responsible for developing training and certification programs, designing and implementing marketing campaigns, and most importantly, working with Cruise Planners franchise owners to help enhance their sales and marketing techniques. “These are uncertain times, but we’re being bullish by bringing on top talent, marketing more than ever, and investing in new corporate technology that will put us ahead of the game,” said Cruise Planners/American Express CEO Michelle Fee. “Terri is a seasoned professional who has earned tremendous respect in the industry. Her appreciation for the professional travel agent and enthusiasm for the new opportunities Cruise Planners/American Express is bringing to the industry makes her the perfect fit for our team. We’re thrilled to have her onboard.” Burke joins Cruise Planners/American Express from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) where she was responsible for nearly 100 sales team members as vice president of business development and industry relations. Prior to her five year tenure at NCL, Burke was senior director of national accounts for Holland America and worked as a travel agent for 22 years before transitioning to cruise suppliers. “Cruise Planners/American Express is operated by a quality team that is young, vibrant and progressive from the CEO down. Their agents have a real depth and they move quickly in the industry with new tools and impressive technology, which is exactly the type of company that I want to be aligned with at this point in my career,” said Burke. “I’m eager to get back to my roots working with travel agents. In this economy, it’s imperative agents differentiate themselves in the marketplace by gaining the skills and certification that will provide consumers with the confidence that comes from using a professional travel agent who has the added-value of offering personal relationships, comprehensive travel experience and industry know-how through their preferred travel partners. I look forward to working with Cruise Planners/American Express to build upon their strong foundation by creating new certification programs for agents that will surely set the company apart from the competition.” Burke, who is based in Orlando, Fla., received a bachelor’s of arts from San Jose State University and is a Certified Travel Consultant (CTC) and Destination Specialist (DS) from The Travel Institute, Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) from CLIA and Freestyle Certified from NCL.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The hits keep coming for Cruise Planners/American Express in the form of prestigious industry awards as the company announced today that it recently brought home another American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award. The 2008 award is the fifth such honor in as many years for the national cruise agency franchisor, home to more than 700+ home-based travel professionals. American Express Travel Representative Excellence Awards honor the achievements of Representative Travel Network member agencies that attain superior sales results with the highest year-over-year sales growth. “It’s always nice to win, of course, but our extra special relationship with American Express puts this award above the rest,” said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners/American Express. “Winning five years in a row truly reflects the sustained excellence that our staff and agents exhibit every day toward achieving success even in these trying economic times.” The 2008 American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award is the latest in a series of honors recently won by Cruise Planners/American Express, including: Royal Caribbean International Homebased Partner of the Year (2007 & 2008)

• Globus Top “Premier” Travel Partner Award (February 2009)
• Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500^®~ 6th straight #1 cruise agency ranking (January 2009)
• Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations Globe Award (January 2009)
• NCL’s President’s Elite Award ~ 7th straight year (2008)
• Travel Weekly Silver Magellan Award (2008)
• Carnival’s Pinnacle Club (2008)

CORAL SPRINGS, Fl. — Cruise Planners/American Express is making room in its crowded trophy case for its second Home-Based Partner of the Year award from Royal Caribbean International. With the win, Cruise Planners/American Express remains the only company to receive the prestigious award. “It’s a tremendous honor being the sole recipient of this great award,” said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners/American Express. “All the praise goes to our wonderful agents and the strong team we have here at headquarters that provide an unmatched level of training and support to make this kind of victory possible.” The Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year award is the latest in a series of honors recently won by Cruise Planners/American Express, including:

• 2008 American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award (February 2009)
• Globus Top “Premier” Travel Partner Award (February 2009)
• Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500^® ~ 6th straight #1 cruise agency ranking (January 2009)
• Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations Globe Award (January 2009)
• NCL’s President’s Elite Award ~ 7th straight year (2008)
• Travel Weekly Silver Magellan Award (2008)
• Carnival’s Pinnacle Club (2008)
• 2007 American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award (2008)
• Royal Caribbean International Homebased Partner of the Year (2007)

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2009 with a new logo and branding offering a fresh, updated look for one of the travel industry’s top host agencies. Designed by the award-winning Cruise Planners/American Express internal marketing design team, the updated logo and branding were unveiled recently to the entire network of 725+ Cruise Planners/American Express agents to rave reviews. The new look is featured in the company’s new 2009 ad campaign, with full integration across all print and online marketing materials and customer touchpoints currently ongoing. Vicky Garcia, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Cruise Planners/American Express, commented on the new logo, saying: “We are extremely excited to kick-off the New Year with a great new look. The strength of our brand is tied in large part to our affiliation with American Express, so featuring the iconic ‘blue box’ was a must. Our new logo effectively highlights our core strengths as never before, giving our agents the type of enhanced credibility that attracts incremental customers and sales.” The new look and campaign are just the beginning of a yearlong celebration at Cruise Planners/American Express, with a variety of sales promotions, recruitment initiatives, and special events planned around the company’s 15th anniversary. The celebration will culminate at the 2009 Cruise Planners/American Express annual convention. “We’ve always placed a high premium on providing our agents with a strong, memorable brand to go along with the industry’s best business development and management tools and support,” said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners/American Express. “Our new logo builds upon that tradition, and really speaks to the optimism we have for 2009 and beyond despite the economy.”

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express announced today that it has received a 2008 Top “Premier” Travel Partner Award from the Globus Family of Brands. The award was presented in recognition of Cruise Planners/American Express’ exceptional 2008 sales results with the Globus Family of Brands. “Congratulations to everyone at Cruise Planners/American Express for a strong showing in 2008 worthy of our top travel partner honors,” said Kristen Steele, Business Development Manager, South Florida and Puerto Rico for the Globus Family of Brands. The Globus Family of Brands consists of Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways. Long recognized as the world’s largest tour operator with 80+ years of international travel experience, the Globus Family of Brands offer travelers unparalleled tour, independent travel package, river and small ship cruise options. The Top “Premier” Travel Partner Award follows closely on the heels of a slue of other honors recently won by Cruise Planners/American Express. Last month, the company achieved the #1 ranking among all cruise agency franchises on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500^® list of the world’s top franchises for the sixth consecutive year, while also receiving a Globe Award from Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations. Awards earned in 2008 included NCL’s President’s Elite Award (seventh straight year), the American Express Travel 2007 Representative Excellence Award (fourth straight year) and a Silver Magellan Award from Travel Weekly. In February 2008, Cruise Planners was inducted into Carnival’s Pinnacle Club, while Royal Caribbean International also named Cruise Planners “Homebased Partner of the Year” in December 2007.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Cruise Planners/American Express was one of 40 travel agencies and organizations receiving a coveted “Globe Award” from Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations, one of the country’s largest tour operators selling destinations worldwide. Award recipients are selected based upon criteria including business growth, innovation and partnership. The award was presented at the tour operator’s annual “Best of the Best” celebration held at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort in Miami for more than 170 top travel agencies and organizations that book travel through Travel Impressions or American Express Vacations. “This is truly out of this world,” said Vicky Garcia, SVP of Sales and Marketing of Cruise Planners/American Express, in reference to the string of awards recently won by the top-rated cruise franchisor. “We are, indeed, honored to receive such a wonderful award from our friends at Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations.” The Globe Award win continues an impressive string of honors and awards bestowed upon the company in the past year. Just last month, Cruise Planners/American Express achieved the #1 ranking among all cruise agency franchises on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500^® list of the world’s top franchises for the sixth consecutive year. In September 2008, the company was honored with a Silver Magellan Award from Travel Weekly. Additional awards earned in 2008 included NCL’s President’s Elite Award (seventh straight year), and the American Express Travel 2008 Representative Excellence Award (fifth straight year). In February 2008, Cruise Planners was inducted into Carnival’s Pinnacle Club, while Royal Caribbean International also named Cruise Planners “Homebased Partner of the Year” in 2007 and 2008.