Cruise Planners/American Express Latest Award Win "Out Of This World"

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.