Cruise Planners: The Only Travel Franchise to Make a Splash on Inc 5000 List

(Franchise Buy) - By Joan. Updated Aug 29, 2018

Cruise Planners: The Only Travel Franchise to Make a Splash on Inc 5000 List

Cruise Planners enters Inc. 5000 Hall of Fame with six-time appearance on the

fastest-growing private companies in America list

Coral Springs, Fla. – August 29, 2018 – Cruise Planners®, an American Express Travel Representative, has once again earned a spot on Inc. magazine’s 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Cruise Planners has been ranked six years in a row with a three-year growth of 69 percent. This prestigious honor places Cruise Planners on the Inc. Hall of Fame list, a rare achievement for a travel brand, especially a home-based travel company.

“This 2018 Inc. 5000 honor is a remarkable stepping stone for Cruise Planners as we have continuously proven ourselves as an innovating company changing the travel industry,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “This growth is thanks to our incredible network of franchisees who keep surpassing the sales targets we have with our partners alongside our growing Home Office Team, who work to inspire and support our franchisees.”

As the nation’s leading home-based travel franchise, Cruise Planners is always working to accommodate and exceed the needs of franchises, specifically in the areas of:

• MarTech Tools to Work from Anywhere – The Cruise Planners Technology Team launched a new tech platform, CP Maxx™, a work-from-anywhere tool that gives Cruise Planners agents access to hands-free marketing and reporting tools as well as the industry’s first voice-activated technology in the form of two Alexa skills.

• Business Coaching to Drive Franchisee Success – The Business Development Team ensures travel franchise owners are set up for success by providing regular coaching calls and assisting with strategic business growth.

• On Demand & In-Person Trainings – Cruise Planners offers in-person and virtual ongoing training, so franchise owners can increase sales and achieve a successful home-based travel business.

Cruise Planners prides itself in creating sales opportunities for its nationwide of network of home-based travel agents while agents are inspired, trained and prepared to focus on selling travel. Cruise Planners agents push the envelope with their dedication to sales, while delivering personalized customer service to their clients.

“Our agents continue to make a positive impact in overall sales and build a positive reputation around the country,” Fee said. “Their efforts and positive Cruisitude™ helps maintain our strong brand image while servicing travelers and connecting them with unique vacation opportunities.”

Inc. exclusive annual 5000 list ranks company’s performance and growth by percentage revenue from the last three years and has been a tradition since 1982. Inc. recognizes the hard work of respected private businesses in America and earning a place on the list is nothing but a rewarding accomplishment. According to James Ledbetter, Inc. Editor in Chief, “We believe the credit for job growth should go to the leaders who’ve made this list.”

About Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative

Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry. Cruise Planners operates a network of more than 1,800 franchise owners who independently book vacation and travel experiences for their clients. Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. since 1994, Cruise Planners supports its network of franchise owners with innovative marketing, booking and technology tools, professional development and training with the industry’s top executives. Cruise Planners and has been named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 15 consecutive years and was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology. Consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, Cruise Planners is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, has been ranked as the #1 travel franchise by Franchise Business Review for 6 years and is recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line including Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Viking Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, as well as many land vendors such as Travel Impressions and Sandals and Beaches Resorts. As an American Express Travel Representative, Cruise Planners maintains a reputation for quality and offers exclusive American Express Travel benefits such as Pay with Points. Cruise Planners has earned the American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award since 2004, as well as numerous marketing, technology, franchise and philanthropy awards including an International Franchise Association FranTech award for innovation, Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly and Travvy Awards from travAlliance media. Cruise Planners celebrates diversity and supports are troops as one of the Top 50 franchises for Veterans according to GI magazine, the Top Franchise Brand for Veterans according to Franchise Business Review, one of the Top 25 franchises for African-Americans by Black Enterprise magazine and a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors.

Stay in Touch: Media can stay up-to-date with Cruise Planners by visiting our media room or Socially Yours page for social media updates and handles. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should locate a travel advisor near them. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit the Cruise Planners franchise website.