Cruise Planners expects growth in 2014 – Sun

Cruise Planners-American Express Travel continues to expand its network of home-based travel agency franchises, now numbering more than 900 agents nationwide.

Last year, sales of cruise and land-based vacations and other travel related services grew 24 percent over 2012 to $217 million, the Coral Springs-based travel company said.

Cruises accounted for the majority of sales: 74 percent, followed by land vacations at 18 percent.

In 2012, Cruise Planners’ agents sold $175 million in travel and related services, company data show.

The 20-year-old travel company continues to rack up cruise industry awards and notable franchise rankings, and executives say 2014 should be even bigger.

“This year’s Wave Season has gotten off to a fabulous start,” CEO and co-founder Michelle Fee said. “At Cruise Planners, we are tracking 17 percent ahead of last year based on purchases within the first 20 days of January.”

The “wave season” runs January through March and is a period when cruise lines typically offer their best deals, including free upgrades and onboard credits, to entice consumers to book cabins early.

Cold weather in parts of the U.S. is helping to fuel demand.

“Typically, we see a boost in business when cold weather hits, and even a bigger boost when a blizzard-type storm shuts down an area and people can’t go out, hence surfing the Internet to plan a warm-weather getaway,” Fee said.

Nationally, several new franchises have been added for 2014, with more expected throughout the year, a company spokeswoman said.

Cruise Planners recently copped the No. 19 spot on Entrepreneur’s Annual Franchise 500 List — the highest ever in the “Travel Industry” category, the company said. Royal Caribbean International also has named Cruise Planners “Home-Based Partner of the Year” for the seventh year in a row.

Franchise fees range between $495 and $11,190, and the company earns a 3 percent royalty from agents’ commissionable sales, according to Entrepreneur’s 500 franchise list.

On Tuesday, Cruise Planners welcomed its newest owners, Don and Sharon Snyder of Virginia, who were awarded a travel franchise worth more than $10,000 after winning a Facebook contest for U.S. veterans.

The Snyders were in Fort Lauderdale this week for training.

Coconut Creek-based travel agent owner Carol Samela said the support and training Cruise Planners provides its franchisees is invaluable.

“Cruise Planners made sure they were available just about any time to walk through any technical challenges I was having,’ said Samela, 77, who bought her franchise 10 years ago. “They are there to help you. If you put the time and effort into learning the business, you’ll be fine.”

asatchell@tribune.com, 954-356-4209 or Twitter@TheSatchreport.