Cruise Planners/American Express, the nation's largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the cruise industry, today announced it will be partnering with the Wyland Foundation for its 2011 CP Cares initiative, a program created to support charitable organizations in the U.S. and around the world. Wyland Foundation, founded by renowned marine muralist and environmental advocate Wyland, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the world's oceans, waterways, and marine life while striving to increase environmental awareness through programming, public artwork and community events.
"Wyland and the Wyland Foundation are making great strides to increase awareness and educate children and adults about the importance of protecting our oceans," said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners/American Express. "As cruise travel agents, our owners have a deep appreciation of our waterways and the Wyland Foundation has the perfect platform for our agents to get behind. I am confident this will be our most successful CP Cares program to date and I am eager to launch our partnership so we can start raising funds to support the foundation's critically important efforts."
Through CP Cares, Cruise Planners/American Express will raise dollars for the foundation by auctioning numerous items and selling commemorative "limited edition" shirts at their annual convention, incorporating the organization's information in marketing materials, allocating a portion of sales for Wyland escorted Princess Cruises made through a Cruise Planners agent and organizing internal donation programs, just to name a few. These dollars will help fund the organization's clean water pledge campaign, increase awareness on the effects of climate change and expand the outreach of its classroom programs to schools across the country.
"We are keenly interested in the future and health of our oceans and recognize that the cruise industry shares this interest given the millions of people who look forward to the vacation of a lifetime aboard a cruise ship," said Wyland, founder, marine wildlife artist and environmentalist. "It is important that we all do everything we can to ensure that our oceans not only remain healthy and vibrant, but also beautiful for the generations of travelers to come. We thank Cruise Planners for helping us spread our message and supporting our mission."
Cruise Planners/American Express will officially launch the 2011 CP Cares initiative with the Wyland Foundation at the 2010 Cruise Planners Convention, November 10-13, 2010.
About the Wyland Foundation
Founded by renowned environmental artist Wyland, the Wyland Foundation has helped children and families around the nation to rediscover the importance of healthy oceans and waterways through public art programs, classroom science education, and live events. The foundation gives children the tools they need to become more creative, positive, and solution-oriented. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has worked directly with more than one million children since its inception in 1993. Learn more at www.wylandfoundation.org.
About Cruise Planners/American Express
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Services Representative, is the largest home-based travel agent network in the cruise industry with more than 700 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 seven years, Cruise Planners positions franchise owners for success by providing them with innovating marketing, booking and lead-generating 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 Royal Caribbean International Home-based Partner of the Year (2007 - 2009); Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer (2009); and American Express Travel Representative Excellence Awards (2004 - 2009). For more general information, please visit www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com.
Media Contact:
Holly Zawyer / Deseraé E. del Campo
Cheryl Andrews Marketing
P: 305-444-4033
holly@cam-pr.com / deserae@cam-pr.com
