Posted on: January 24, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Cruise Planners, the nation’s #1 travel agency franchise brand, is once again at the forefront of travel industry trends. We took the opportunity at our 2023 CP World event, held at the Broward Convention Center on November 27th, to introduce a suite of new technological advancements set to revolutionize the travel planning experience. Among them, Maxx Intelligence stands out as a game-changer. This innovative tool incorporates sophisticated artificial intelligence aimed at transforming how both travel advisors and their clients navigate the travel planning process.
Standout Features
At its core, Maxx Intelligence seamlessly integrates with Cruise Planners’ proprietary CRM for travel agents and booking platform, CP Maxx, providing a comprehensive, all-in-one solution. The key objective is to equip Cruise Planners’ network of travel advisors with a suite of enhanced capabilities, streamlining and elevating the overall travel planning experience. Some of the technology’s standout features include:
- AI-Powered Recommendations: Harnessing the immense potential of AI, Maxx Intelligence analyzes extensive travel data to deliver tailored recommendations that align with each client’s preferences.
- Improved Content Generation: Leveraging AI capabilities, Maxx Intelligence assists advisors in crafting compelling content effortlessly, facilitating the creation of engaging narratives and materials.
- Predictive Analysis: Employing predictive analysis, the tool anticipates emerging travel trends, enabling advisors to offer proactive suggestions and stay ahead of market demands.
- Personalization: Maxx Intelligence empowers travel advisors to effortlessly generate marketing content, newsletters, and blog posts, and enrich cruise and vacation proposals, among other personalized materials.
“We're thrilled to provide our travel advisors with this state-of-the-art tool,” said Michelle Fee, Cruise Planners’ founder and CEO, emphasizing the company's commitment to innovation. “Maxx Intelligence embodies Cruise Planners’ fresh approach and commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for our advisor network,” she added. “Instead of shying away or waiting, we encourage our advisors to embrace change and utilize technology to bolster their success.”
The introduction of Maxx Intelligence is just one way we’re recognizing the importance of AI in tourism and signifies our dedication to empowering our advisors with the latest advancements, ensuring they remain at the forefront of travel industry trends.
Unprecedented Growth
Addressing a crowd of more than 1,000 travel advisors, our founder also used the occasion of our annual convention to share some compelling statistics: The luxury travel segment saw an impressive 36% growth, with an incredible 295% spike in world and exotic cruise bookings, as compared to 2022. Additionally, river cruising spiked 20%, with land sales showing double-digit growth - up 13% from the previous year.
Theresa Scalzitti, Cruise Planners COO, also emphasized the resurgence of cruising, which witnessed a remarkable 63% growth in sales for 2023 compared to 2022. Notable destination-wise surges included a 48% increase in European and Alaskan departures, while the Caribbean boasted an astounding 80% sales increase over the previous year.
What these percentages attest to is a thriving industry as more and more people discover (or rediscover) the joys of travel and vacations! We know our franchisees have diverse objectives, and we assist them every step of the way, helping them achieve their unique goals. In fact, almost half of the Cruise Planners network saw a remarkable sales increase of 50% or more over the past year, showcasing the diverse and robust growth within the network. All indications point to a great, record-breaking year ahead, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Ready to find out more information about a Cruise Planners franchise opportunity? We’re here to answer all your questions, so reach out today!
