Sales Top $100 Million

Cruise Planners, the national cruise agency that operates a franchised network of travel professionals, set a new sales record in 2005. The company rang up over $100 million in sales for the first time in its short history. That sales total compares to $85 million during the previous year.
The company said that it achieved this total with 650 agents while other national franchisors and host agencies with similar sales did so with double or even triple the number of agents.
“Our agents just stack up better than most,” said COO Michelle Fee. “We provide them with many of the turnkey tools they need to sell and it shows.”
Cruise Planners began operation in 1994 when it was rare to use agents selling out of their homes. That year the company had $3 million in sales.
“We were in the right place at the right time,” said Marvin Davis, CEO. “We’ve shown that those agents who participate in our marketing programs will achieve great sales success.”
Reinforcing the company’s rise to the top of its marketing sector were the recent rankings by Entrepreneur Magazine, said Davis. Cruise Planners rose in every category that the magazine ranks.
The primary measure, however, is the cruise only agency category in which Cruise Planners ranked first for the third year in a row, he added.
Lynn Korn, CFO, noted that agents choose Cruise Planners because they realize the advantage of working for a nationally recognized firm instead of a locally owned mom and pop.
“It’s the difference between being affiliated with Burger King or McDonald’s instead of Fred’s Burger Shack,” she said. “At Cruise Planners, each agent has 33 people working for them and we’re still able to deliver the highest commissions in the industry.”
Entrepreneur Magazine recognized Cruise Planners in other categories also.
In its primary sector — top 101 Home Based franchises — Cruise Planners ranked 18th, while in the list of top low cost franchises, the company comes in at number 21, up from 30th. Again, this ranking tops other competitors in the same cruise agency category. In the category of fastest growing franchises, Cruise Planners comes in at #29, up from #55 in 2005, also the highest ranking in this category ever.
Agents looking to affiliate with Cruise Planners should contact Diane Chiafair at (888) 582-2150 or through its Web site, www.cruiseagents.com.