Cruise Planners Lauded with Nine Travel Weekly Magellan Awards

Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, receives nine coveted Magellan Awards for top travel-industry tools, campaigns and programs  

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – September 17, 2014 – This year, Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the industry has received nine Magellan Awards for the brand's superior training program, innovative marketing, e-newsletter tool for agents and travel insurance program. The awards recognize top travel organizations worldwide and honor Cruise Planners' outstanding work with a high standard of excellence within the travel industry.

“We are constantly dreaming up ways on how to improve our service offerings, our top-notch training and our marketing support for our franchisees,” said Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “Each year, our in-house team continues to impress our home-based travel agents with strategic marketing innovations, career advancement training opportunities and programs to help small businesses be successful.”

Cruise Planners received top honors with three Gold Magellan Awards for its travel agent programs including Cruise Planners University featuring the new Master's level courses; Cruise Planners travel insurance program; and “The CP Travel Advisor,” the company's e-newsletter. In addition, the company received six Silver Magellan Awards in the marketing categories for its “Sea of Love” lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender campaign; “Travel Wish List” campaign; “World's Largest Cruise Event 2013” campaign; “Stop Doodling” campaign; “Color Your World” campaign; and “Cruise Planner Magazine,” the company's official magazine.

The Magellan Awards are judged and overseen by a one-of-a-kind panel of top travel professionals representing the best names and most accomplished leaders from the industry.

“We are honored that Travel Weekly judges continue to acknowledge our great achievements and are flattered to be honored by travel industry leaders,” Garcia said. “With so many host and travel franchise networks to choose from, it's important for travel agents to find the right fit and these award recognitions are one of the many reasons to join Cruise Planners Travel Franchise.”

About Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative

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 franchise network of more than 1,000 franchise owners who are experienced travel professionals who independently book amazing vacation and travel experiences for their clients. The Florida-based Home Office team positions franchise owners for success by providing them with innovative marketing, booking and lead-generating tools as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry's top executives. The company continues to be lauded and was named No.1 Cruise Tour / Travel Agency by Entrepreneur for 11 consecutive years. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology and named to the Fast 50 by the South Florida Business Journal.

Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. for 20 years, Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line. Accolades include a record 11 Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly in 2013, Special Needs Group Accessible Travel Advocate Power Partners™ for 2012, American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award for eight years in a row (2004 – 2011), American Express Agency of the Year (2010), Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year (2007 – 2013), Royal Caribbean International President's Award for Overall Achievement for 2012, Norwegian Cruise Line Franchise Agency of the Year (2011-2013) and Home-Based Agency of the Year (2010), Celebrity Cruises Home-Based Account of the Year (2013) and Southeast Region Travel Agent Partner of the Year (2010), American Express Vacations Globe Award (2008 – 2012), Globus Family of Brands Premier Agency Partner (2009- 2012), Platinum Circle Member with Viking River Cruises (2009-2012) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer. Cruise Planners is one of the Top 50 franchises for Veterans according to GI magazine, has been named one of the Top 25 franchises for African-Americans by Black Enterprise magazine and is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. For information, visit www.cruiseplanners.com.

Stay in Touch: Media can stay up-to-date with Cruise Planners by visiting our media room, following us on Twitter @Cruisitude or on Facebook. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should locate a travel advisor near them. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit our franchise site.

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Media Contacts:
Caitlin Murphy
Director of Public Relations, Cruise Planners-American Express Travel
954-344-8060
CMurphy@CruisePlanners.com