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CRUISE PLANNERS-AMERICAN EXPRESS LATEST AWARD WIN

Posted 02/11/09

CRUISE PLANNERS/AMERICAN EXPRESS’ LATEST AWARD WIN

‘OUT OF THIS WORLD’

Top-rated cruise franchisor wins ‘Globe Award’ from Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations

CORAL SPRINGS, FL – (February 11, 2009) – 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.

CRUISE PLANNERS-AMERICAN EXPRESS CELEBRATES

Posted 02/11/09

CRUISE PLANNERS / AMERICAN EXPRESS CELEBRATES
15 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE!

With a new logo and branding that’s a fresh update for 2009

CORAL SPRINGS, FL – (February 3, 2009) Cruise Planners/American Express is celebrating its 15^th anniversary. And to kick-start the celebration, they gave their logo and branding a fresh, updated look. Designed by the Cruise Planners/American Express award-winning, internal marketing team, the updated logo and branding are featured in a new ad campaign which also launched this year. Plus, it was unveiled to their entire network of travel professionals to rave reviews. The new look will be fully integrated across all print and online marketing materials and customer touchpoints—all of which has created the right excitement for “wave season”.

“We are both proud and excited about our American Express affiliation,” says Vicky Garcia, SVP of Sales and Marketing for Cruise Planners/American Express. “And our new look complements the coveted blue box and our new branding is just the beginning of a banner year.”

The new look and campaign are just the beginning of a yearlong celebration at Cruise Planners/American Express, with a variety of sales promotions, recruitment initiatives, and special events planned around the company’s 15^th anniversary. The celebration will culminate at the 2009 Cruise Planners/American Express annual convention.

“We pride ourselves on keeping up with the latest technologies, sales techniques and marketing strategies to help our travel professionals succeed,” says Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners/American Express. “Our new logo builds upon this approach—keep it fresh and keep it exciting—and really speaks to the optimism we have for 2009 and beyond.”

CRUISE PLANNERS-AMERICAN EXPRESS LATEST AWARD WIN

Posted 02/18/09

Top-rated cruise franchisor wins ‘Globe Award’ from 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 2007 Representative Excellence Award (fourth straight year). In February 2008, Cruise Planners was inducted into Carnival’s Pinnacle Club, while Royal Car

CRUISE PLANNERS-AMERICAN EXPRESS NAMED 2008

Posted 02/25/09

CRUISE PLANNERS/AMERICAN EXPRESS NAMED 2008

ROYAL CARIBBEAN ‘HOME-BASED PARTNER OF THE YEAR’

National cruise agency remains only company to receive prestigious award with second consecutive win

CORAL SPRINGS, FL – (February 24, 2009) – Cruise Planners/American Express is making room in its crowded trophy case for its second Home-Based Partner of the Year award from Royal Caribbean International. With the win, Cruise Planners/American Express remains the only company to receive the prestigious award.

“It’s a tremendous honor being the sole recipient of this great award,” said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners/American Express. “All the praise goes to our wonderful agents and the strong team we have here at headquarters that provide an unmatched level of training and support to make this kind of victory possible.”

The Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year award is the latest in a series of honors recently won by Cruise Planners/American Express, including:

2008 American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award (February 2009)
Globus Top “Premier” Travel Partner Award (February 2009)
Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® ~ 6^th straight #1 cruise agency ranking (January 2009)
Travel Impressions/American Express Vacations Globe Award (January 2009)
NCL’s President’s Elite Award ~7^th straight year (2008)
Travel Weekly Silver Magellan Award (2008)
Carnival’s Pinnacle Club (2008)
2007 American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award (2008)
Royal Caribbean International Homebased Partner of the Year (2007)