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This week, Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel representative, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry, is hosting its first-ever boot camp, which is part of the brand’s enhanced training program. 

This year, Cruise Planners supersized its training program by rolling out eight regional trainings and two, intense boot camp sessions hosted by the brands’ owners and executive team. The trainings for Cruise Planners franchisees are designed to take each franchise’s business to the next level and boost sales. The goal of the training program is to ensure each travel agent can enhance their ability to sell new products, upsell or add value to existing packages and earn more commissions along the way.

“We are investing in our travel agents by training them personally in the field,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and co-founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “We are activating the troops by inspiring them to grow their business and providing them direct access to in-person and in-depth training.”

The new regional meetings and boot camps are face-to-face opportunities exclusive to Cruise Planners franchise owners and associates. At each training, travel advisors leave with a sales and marketing roadmap so they can focus on attracting new clients and retaining loyal clients.

Two-day boot camps hosted in Fort Lauderdale include:

• In-person training by Cruise Planners’ top executives and company owners
• Hands-on technology workshops
• Key partner roundtable discussions and panels
• Business development updates and training
• Land travel and value-add training programs
• Trade show showcasing 50 preferred partners 

One-day regional trainings in major cities include:

• Training directly from Cruise Planners’ CEO, COO and VP of Technology 
• Updates on the brand’s latest sales and marketing tools and technology 
• Partner presentations on key destinations, cruise lines and land-based travel brands
• Hosted on the road in key markets such as Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York City and other major cities

Throughout training, Cruise Planners franchisees are able to interact with top representatives from major travel-industry brands such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, American Express Vacations, Globus Family of Brands, Celebrity Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and more.

“We are constantly evolving and our franchisees know we are here to support them,” Fee said. “Adding more regional trainings and the intensive two-day boot camps provides our agents with more knowledge, confidence and tools for profitable success.”

Cruise Planners already hosts multiple six-day new franchisee training classes hosted in Fort Lauderdale throughout the year as well as a robust online training program, Cruise Planners University.

Stay in Touch: Media can stay up-to-date with Cruise Planners by visiting our media room, following us on Twitter @Cruisitude or on Facebook. 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 our franchise site.