Company launches new brand-focused, social media powered website for all travel advisors
to boost consumer engagement
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - April 2012 - Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, this week released a completely new engine for its travel advisors website. Developed to build consumer confidence and boost customer engagement, the new website design establishes a clear brand message for all Cruise Planners home-based travel advisors.
"The Cruise Planners/American Express name establishes credibility and a sense of security for customers. Now our advisors have the cutting-edge tools, including integration of social media into many facets of the new website, and many incredible features that put them at the forefront of the market," said Vicky Garcia, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Cruise Planners/American Express. "We want our advisors to be the most successful in the industry. The branding of our new website along with the personalization if offers will give our advisors a competitive edge by setting the foundation for a customer to book, positioning our advisors against any online retailer."
Developed by Cruise Planners' in-house IT Team, the sleek new website provides home-based advisors with an easy to use interface that is automatically personalized with industry videos, news and client testimonials as well as national deals. Advisors can further customize their website to distinguish themselves and define their area of expertise. Completely new to advisors are tools for increasing consumer engagement with the "My Trips" section, providing consumers access to their own online repository of their personal trip itineraries where they can manage and customize reservations as well as share trip details with their network of friends and family, via email, social media and/or through the new systems communication tool.
"The new website illustrates all the benefits of allowing our advisors' customers to book a cruise directly, but also offers the added benefit of easily connecting with an experienced Cruise Planners travel advisor," said Garcia. "The website is very user-friendly for advisors and consumers and we're confident our Cruise Planners advisors will see a significant increase in leads as a result of the consumer engagement factor."
With a new look and improved usability, Cruise Planners' advisor website makes researching and booking cruises, excursions and land tours easy. Features include travel advisor videos, direct advisor messaging and links to the advisor's social media pages. Additionally, consumers can easily access information on ships, itineraries, ports of call, insurance options and more.
For view the new Cruise Planners/American Express website, visit www.cruiseplanners.com.
About Cruise Planners/American Express
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Services Representative, is the largest homebased travel agent network in the cruise industry with more than 800 franchise owners across the country that independently book cruises and associated travel. Named No.1 Cruise Tour / Travel Agency by Entrepreneur magazine for the past nine years, Cruise Planners positions franchise owners for success by providing them with innovative marketing, booking and leadgenerating tools as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry's top executives.
Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla., Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line. Accolades include Agency of the Year from American Express (2010), Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year (2007 - 2010), Norwegian Cruise Line Home-Based Agency of the Year (2010), Southeast Region Travel Agent Partner of the Year from Celebrity Cruises (2010), four coveted Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly in 2010, American Express Travel Representative Excellence Awards (2004 - 2010), Globe Award from American Express Vacations (2008 - 2010), Globus Family of Brands Premier Agency Partner (2009, 2010), Platinum Circle Member with Viking River Cruises (2009, 2010), and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer. For more information, please visit www.cruiseplanners.com.
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Media Contacts:
Holly Zawyer / Deserae del Campo
Cheryl Andrews Marketing
P: 305-444-4033
holly@cam-pr.com / deserae@cam-pr.com
