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CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – April 21, 2022 – Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced the recipients of the 2023 Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Awards and Cruise Planners top agent Michael Consoli took home the prestigious “Travel Innovator or the Year Award”. Award winners were inducted at the CLIA Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Awards Gala Dinner during the CLIA Cruise360 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday, April 20, 2023. “I am so incredibly humbled and honored to be recognized with this award,” said Michael Consoli, a franchise owner since 2002. “Our success is a team effort and I am very proud of what we have accomplished in bringing positive ideas and influence to the travel sphere.” The awards identify individuals and organizations whose efforts and accomplishments represent a significant contribution to the cruise industry. This award specifically recognizes a CLIA Travel Agency Member that has demonstrated innovative and visionary leadership in their approach in promoting cruise travel, growing their cruise travel sales and supporting their affiliated travel advisors. Consoli has achieved unbelievable sales through sharing his expertise through social media, hosting consumer events and providing his guests with exceptional service. In addition, he curates and personally escorts several unique, invitation-only journeys throughout the year traveling with his guests whom he calls his “Wanderlust Society.” Consoli posted an astounding $20 million dollars in sales in 2021 (despite the pandemic) and beat that by increasing his sales to $24 million in 2022. An amazing feat considering his team consists of just 4 people. “Michael has broken record after record and shown us how mighty a small, but experienced and dedicated, team can achieve amazing sales,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners. “CLIA couldn’t have picked a better recipient for Travel Innovator of the Year and we are very proud of Michael and his team.” Consoli is the top producing agent at Cruise Planners and has been named their #1 producing luxury agent as well as being named Viking Cruises Global Top Producer for the past nine years.

Alaska is hands down one of the most unique, beautiful and popular destinations when it comes to cruising, and Cruise Planners Travel Ambassador Vik Bhatnagar got a chance to visit the famed frontier on Holland America's Koningsdam ship!

At Cruise Planners, we know that owning your own business can be a dream come true. That's why we're always excited to share success stories from our network of travel advisors. Our franchisees, Julie I. and Tawnee S., recently had the incredible opportunity to partner with Celebrity Cruises and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to design the inaugural Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cruise. The event was such a success that it even caught the attention of the media – check out the video below to see the highlights.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – April 6, 2022 – On the heels of an incredibly busy and successful wave season, Cruise Planners proudly hosted their bi-annual Elite Summit for top producers on Avalon Waterways’ Envision in Europe. The event had over 85 attendees from all over the U.S. Advisors, Cruise Planners executives and supplier partners gathered on the Danube to network, learn and revel in the fruits of their labor.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – March 29, 2023 – Allianz Partners, a leader in travel insurance and travel assistance, has named Cruise Planners one of their top travel agency partners for 2022. Allianz Partners recognized Cruise Planners for their outstanding efforts in protecting their clients travel investments in a year that saw strong demand for travel. “Cruise Planners has a longstanding relationship with Allianz Partners that we are proud of because it allows our advisors to give their clients peace of mind and an ally when they are traveling,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners. “We are thrilled to be recognized and know our advisors do all they can to help protect their client’s travel investment.” “It’s a pleasure to recognize Cruise Planners for their outstanding efforts in protecting their clients’ valuable travel investments,” said Richard Aquino, Vice President and Head of Sales at Allianz Partners USA. “Travel has rebounded tremendously and we’re proud to play a role in both protecting travelers non-refundable travel deposits and provide them with travel assistance when they need us.” Allianz Global Assistance provided travel insurance to millions of Americans in 2022. Cruise Planners has been an exclusive Allianz partner for over 15 years and has been previously recognized as a top partner.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – March 27, 2023 – Military veterans and their families are the lifeblood of America and their sacrifice to serve our country is commendable. After they leave military life, there is so much more out there for them than just retirement. For many, a second career is exactly the right way to transfer the incredible skills they learned while in the military. Cruise Planners has a robust community of veterans and has been ranked by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise for Veterans. And for good reason—Cruise Planners offers the flexibility for veterans to create a life that works for them. Isaiah Banks, a Navy veteran says being a franchise owner has been a great way for him to segue his skills into an encore career. “As a former naval officer, it taught me how to prepare, plan, adapt, and overcome challenges and obstacles,” said Isaiah Banks, a veteran and franchise owner. “After I retired, I wanted a profession where I was in complete control of my destiny and a career as a travel advisor at Cruise Planners has been the perfect fit.” Similar to military life, once a new travel advisor has undergone extensive training, Cruise Planners’ technology, training, marketing and support helps them succeed. Cruise Planners’ best-in-class technology, industry experience and Home Office team experience and support have helped the organization become the leader in the industry. Being a business owner is also appealing to veterans because of the flexibility and freedom it provides. They can set their own hours and make decisions that will directly impact their success. Being their own bosses is also a great way for veterans to continue to serve their communities by creating jobs and providing services. “We are proud of the myriad of awards that we have won that highlight our commitment to veteran entrepreneurs,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners. “From day one, you'll benefit from having access to cutting-edge technology, award-winning creative marketing campaigns, as well as professional coaching and advisor development throughout your ownership journey.”