blog post

Cruise Planners--American Express Travel, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry, announced today the keynote speaker for this year’s sold-out convention along with confirmed cruise line executive speakers and top breakout sessions.

Taking place October 24-27, 2013 at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Fla., the annual event brings home-based travel advisors and industry partners together for an action-packed three days filled with “Cruisitude™.” This year, Cruise Planners has invited Johnny Jet, renowned travel expert, active blogger and host of Travel Channel’s “Hot Spots 2012,” as the keynote speaker to provide his expert advice and insider’s scoop on 2014 travel trends and forecasts.

 
Johnny Jet in Sydney, Australia. 

The convention will focus on new technologies, products, trends and programs with nearly 500 in attendance to learn about new cruise and land vacation packages in preparation for the 2014 year. As an award-winning travel partner for many of the top cruise lines, Cruise Planners will host its customary and much-anticipated cruise line executive panel, and cruise executives Vicki Freed of Royal Caribbean International and Dondra Ritzenthaler of Celebrity Cruises will co-present on their family of brands. While most of the breakout session themes remain under wraps until opening day on Oct. 25, some of the sessions that have been announced include: Zero to Hero, a panel featuring success stories from Cruise Planners Rock Stars (top-selling travel advisors); A Luxury Travel Segment Panel, What’s New from American Express Vacations; River Cruising as a Major Trend and Niche Travel Markets.

“As evidenced by our noteworthy line-up, the Cruise Planners program has become stronger each year with widespread support from our travel advisors and the travel industry,” said CEO and Co-founder Michelle Fee. “This support has been key to our 20 years of success, which is why we’re dedicating the theme this year to those partnerships.”

This year’s theme is “Power in Partnerships,” as Cruise Planners puts an emphasis on developing and nurturing partnerships with cruise lines, land vacation tour operators and fellow agents. More than 120 of the industry’s leading vendors are participating this year. Cruise Planners is also celebrating its 20^th anniversary at convention, an important milestone to the company’s history. There will be a variety of new Cruise Planners merchandise available for purchase to commemorate the event, with all donations from the merchandise going to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As part of the CP Cares initiative, attendees are also being asked to bring donations for Kids In Distress, a South Florida-based charity that Cruise Planners is supporting this year.

Following the land portion of the convention, the agents will join the North American inaugural sailing of the Royal Princess from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on October 27, 2013.

For more information on Cruise Planners, please visit www.cruiseplanners.com. “Like” Cruise Planners on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/CruisePlannersAmEx, follow Cruise Planners at @Cruisitude and stay up to date on convention by using #CPconv2013.