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Leadership Forum will take place December 10-13, 2023 in Pebble Beach, California.

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⚡ Cruise Planners Recognized Again on Travel Weekly’s Prestigious 2023 Power List

Posted on: June 30, 2023 at 6:42 AM

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Jun. 30, 2023— On the heels of an incredibly productive and strong first half of the year,   Cruise Planners   has been rated #20 on Travel Weekly’s prestigious 2023 Power List, again solidifying their powerhouse status in the travel industry. Cruise Planners is the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor franchise network with over 2500 advisors.  Cruise Planners was also recently awarded with the “Most Innovative Use of Technology: Products” award for their patent pending LivePlanner™ tool at the 2023 Franchise Innovation Awards. 

Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee, Chief Strategy Officer Scott Koepf and COO Theresa Scalzitti attend Travel Weekly’s Leadership Forum in Pebble Beach, Ca.

Cruise Planners had an incredible rebound year in 2022 with $845 million in total sales, adding over $300 million to their previous year of sales. And 2023 departures are even stronger, pacing 45% ahead of same time last year and the company has already surpassed full year 2019 sales by 40% and full year 2022 sales by 30%. 

The annual Power List ranking was unveiled in Pebble Beach, Ca. at this year’s Travel Weekly Leadership Forum where Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee, COO Theresa Scalzitti and CSO Scott Koepf attended. Travel Weekly’s Power List measures full-year travel sales for the previous year. Cruise Planners debuted on the prestigious Power List 10 years ago with a ranking of #44 and has reached #20 in less than 10 years.

“To be recognized on this list for over a decade is a feat in itself, but to see our sales from 2021 to 2022 increase an additional $300 million in just one year is phenomenal,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and founder of Cruise Planners. “It is a testament to the perseverance and expertise of our advisor network, our spirit of continuous innovation and support, as well as our strong relationships with our supplier partners that we are seeing such a positive upward trajectory.”

For the full profile, you can click   here .

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LEADERSHIP FORUM 2024

Event Details

ABOUT LEADERSHIP FORUM

The Northstar Leadership Forum brings together the industry’s thought leaders – planning professionals and suppliers – for three days of education, networking and sharing of best practices. Our forum is unlike any other industry gathering: A unique, high-level experience where business relationships and friendships are forged. Hosted at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, Calif., the Leadership Forum has been programmed by the teams behind Northstar Meetings Group flagship brands –  Meetings & Conventions ,  Successful Meetings ,  Incentive  and  SportsTravel  – to deliver an experience your clients and colleagues will never forget.

Follow along on Instagram:  #NMGEvents

Follow along on LinkedIn:  #NMGEvents

All Day Arrivals & Check-In

1:00— 5:00PM

Registration

6:30 – 8:30PM

Welcome Reception

7:00 — 8:00AM

Breakfast Buffet

8:00 – 9:30AM

11:00 — 5:00PM

Activities With Lunch Provided

Gather for Dinner Transfer

6:45 — 9:30PM

Off-site Dinner

7:00 — 9:00AM

Breakfast Buffet at Leisure

7:00 — 9:00pm

Closing Celebration

6:30am – 9:00am

Breakfast at Leisure

HOSTED BUYERS

ALL QUALIFIED BUYERS WILL BE FULLY HOSTED BY NORTHSTAR MEETINGS GROUP, INCLUDING AIRFARE ALLOWANCE, ACCOMMODATION, MEALS, AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES.

INFORMATION

The Leadership Forum is an invitation-only event. An event professional can be invited through a supplier or from Northstar Meetings Group directly. All invited event professionals will enjoy:

• Business marketplace
• Activities including golf or other unique experiential activities in Pebble Beach and Monterey, Calif.
• Dynamic keynote speakers
• Endless networking opportunities with all attendeesIf you have received an invitation, or are interested in attending, please contact Angela Cox at  [email protected] .

SUPPLIER INFO

Upgrade your experience for enhanced exposure.

For more information, please contact your business development director or  Shalise DeMott .

The Inn at Spanish Bay

2700 17 Mile Drive

Pebble Beach, Calif., 93953

Buyers & Suppliers:  We will make your reservations for you.

Advisory Notice Regarding Outside Solicitations

Please be advised that numerous companies have been emailing and calling our attendees attempting to book them into hotels for Northstar events.

Here are the companies and their representatives that we have been made aware of:

• CBS International
• Corporate Booking Services 
• Exhibition Housing Services 
• Global Housing Corporation 
• World Wide Travel 

Be advised that these companies and individuals have no relationship with our events. Our attendees are encouraged to disregard any communication received from these companies or any others that are not affiliated with Northstar Meetings Group.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR:

Buyers contact:.

Cindy Binder

Director of Buyer Development

[email protected]

Suppliers Contact:

Shalise DeMott

[email protected]

Event Logistics Contact:

Vice President, Events

[email protected]

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Cruise Planners recognized again on Travel Weekly’s Prestigious 2023 Power List

• Franchise News

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.  — On the heels of an incredibly productive and strong first half of the year,  Cruise Planners  has been rated #20 on Travel Weekly’s prestigious 2023 Power List, again solidifying their powerhouse status in the travel industry. Cruise Planners is the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor franchise network with over 2500 advisors. Cruise Planners was also recently awarded with the “Most Innovative Use of Technology: Products” award for their patent pending LivePlanner™ tool at the 2023 Franchise Innovation Awards.

Cruise Planners had an incredible rebound year in 2022 with  $845 million  in total sales, adding over  $300 million  to their previous year of sales. And 2023 departures are even stronger, pacing 45% ahead of same time last year and the company has already surpassed full year 2019 sales by 40% and full year 2022 sales by 30%.

The annual Power List ranking was unveiled in  Pebble Beach, Ca.  at this year’s Travel Weekly Leadership Forum where Cruise Planners CEO  Michelle Fee , COO  Theresa Scalzitti  and CSO Scott Koepf attended. Travel Weekly’s Power List measures full-year travel sales for the previous year. Cruise Planners debuted on the prestigious Power List 10 years ago with a ranking of #44 and has reached #20 in less than 10 years. 

“To be recognized on this list for over a decade is a feat in itself, but to see our sales from 2021 to 2022 increase an additional  $300 million  in just one year is phenomenal,” said  Michelle Fee , CEO and founder of Cruise Planners. “It is a testament to the perseverance and expertise of our advisor network, our spirit of continuous innovation and support, as well as our strong relationships with our supplier partners that we are seeing such a positive upward trajectory.”

For the full profile, you can click  here.

Company Background:  Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 2,500 franchise owners for success by providing award-winning and innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and travel agent training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 3 years and ranked #20 on Travel Weekly’s 2023 Power List.

Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises of 2022. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.

Visit our website,  www.cruiseplanners.com ,  for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit  https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/ .

SOURCE Cruise Planners Franchising, LLC

Tags: Cruise Planners , home-based franchise , travel agent , travel franchise industry

Check out some of the latest news from around the industry.

Ace hardware and ace handyman services named two of 2024’s best of the best franchises, my salon suite boosts beauty industry with new scholarship opportunities now open for students, rising workloads and new jobs drive positive hiring outlook, budget constraints pose challenges.

Cruise Planners recognized again on Travel Weekly’s prestigious 2023 Power List 

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Jun. 30, 2023— On the heels of an incredibly productive and strong first half of the year, Cruise Planners has been rated #20 on Travel Weekly’s prestigious 2023 Power List, again solidifying their powerhouse status in the travel industry. Cruise Planners is the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor franchise network with over 2500 advisors.  Cruise Planners was also recently awarded with the “Most Innovative Use of Technology: Products” award for their patent pending LivePlanner™ tool at the 2023 Franchise Innovation Awards. 

Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee, Chief Strategy Officer Scott Koepf and COO Theresa Scalzitti attend Travel Weekly’s Leadership Forum in Pebble Beach, Ca.

Cruise Planners had an incredible rebound year in 2022 with $845 million in total sales, adding over $300 million to their previous year of sales. And 2023 departures are even stronger, pacing 45% ahead of same time last year and the company has already surpassed full year 2019 sales by 40% and full year 2022 sales by 30%. 

The annual Power List ranking was unveiled in Pebble Beach, Ca. at this year’s Travel Weekly Leadership Forum where Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee, COO Theresa Scalzitti and CSO Scott Koepf attended. Travel Weekly’s Power List measures full-year travel sales for the previous year. Cruise Planners debuted on the prestigious Power List 10 years ago with a ranking of #44 and has reached #20 in less than 10 years.

“To be recognized on this list for over a decade is a feat in itself, but to see our sales from 2021 to 2022 increase an additional $300 million in just one year is phenomenal,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and founder of Cruise Planners. “It is a testament to the perseverance and expertise of our advisor network, our spirit of continuous innovation and support, as well as our strong relationships with our supplier partners that we are seeing such a positive upward trajectory.”

For the full profile, you can click here .

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Northstar Meetings Group’s leading brands, Meetings & Conventions,   Successful Meetings and Incentive , and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition have collaborated to produce the Northstar Meetings Leadership Forum, the premier summit for high-level planner and leaders of the meetings industry.

Hosted by the legendary Pebble Beach Resorts, the Northstar Meetings Leadership Forum brings together leaders from all areas of the meetings industry (suppliers, planners, and media) to review, discuss and develop strategies that will shape the future of our industry.

FORUM INCLUDES:

• Activities                
• Networking Events
• Business Exchange
• Education                

Curated thought-leadership sessions include:

REDEFINING THE CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE

Presenter:  Jean-François Bouchard , CEO and Co-Founder of Montreal-based business strategy/creative agency Sid Lee and curator, C2 Montréal Sponsored by:

Jean-François Bouchard believes meetings should be immersive, transformational experiences. He brought that vision to life with the creation of C2 Montréal, a conference designed to explore the intersection of commerce and creativity. The annual event, held in Montréal, attracts more than 4,000 C-level executives from more than 40 countries, along with a roster of world-renowned speakers. The three-day experience revolves around a “innovation village,” complete with performances, exhibitions, installations, workshops and festivities. Learn how to take your business event to a new level by learning to let go of the status quo. 

Co-founder and CEO of Montréal-based Sid Lee,  Jean-François  has been leading the company for 20 years. Sid Lee — a creative firm known for its progressive thinking— has carved out a prominent global position by adopting a multidisciplinary approach to creativity and by consistently challenging the status quo. An entrepreneur at heart, Jean-François  oversees the work of more than 600 professionals from various backgrounds at offices in Montréal, Amsterdam, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. A passionate practitioner of what he calls "commercial creativity,"  Jean-François  believes companies must always transform themselves to remain competitive.

He is the chairman of C2 Montréal, an event he imagined with his colleagues and launched in 2012 in close collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. The three-day event brings together visionaries and forward-thinkers from around the world to explore the relationship between commerce and creativity, and its potential to redefine business. Awarded " No. 1 Innovative Meeting in the World " for the second year in a row and described by Harvard Business Review as “ a conference unlike any other ", C2 Montréal offers unique opportunities to network and exchange with game-changing business influencers, explore and experiment with creative processes, and be inspired by world-class speakers. Each year, the event unites decision-makers in their thirst for innovative business models and disruptive technology, representing companies such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Intel, Microsoft, Pernod-Ricard, Whole Foods, SAP and Adidas, and speakers such as James Cameron, Sir Richard Branson, Andre Agassi, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Eisner, Diane Von Furstenberg and Chelsea Clinton.

Jean-François  is also an accomplished photographer and his exhibitions have been shown in Montréal, Paris, Miami and Toronto.

THE SHIFT AGE

Presentation and discussion led by David Houle , highly regarded futurist blogger of the Evolution Shift

Sponsored by:

In an age of constant electronic connectedness, the concept of “place” has changed how we work and meet. We can — and do — work anywhere; when we get together the most value derives from collaboration and personal interaction. As meetings industry professionals and suppliers, how can we prepare for, adapt to and exploit this shift?

David Houle is a futurist, thinker and keynote speaker. Known as the “CEOs’ futurist,” having spoken to or advised 3,500+ CEOs and business owners in the past seven years, Houle writes the highly regarded futurist blog Evolution Shift and most recently co-authored Brand Shift: The Future of Brands and Marketing , the first book, according to renowned marketing professor Philip Kotler, “to show what it will take to build successful brands in the 21st century.”

Your guest planners will receive complimentary accommodations, F&B, airfare, and CMP education credits

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2016 Agenda

All Day Arrivals & Check-in at Inn at Spanish Bay Golf Course

Contact Pete Ciriello for practice rounds (rate of $187) Monterey Airport Transfers Sponsored by: CCM&E

4:00- 6:00PM

Registration

Planner Property Tour

6:30 – 8:30PM

Welcome Reception sponsored by Pebble Beach

Troon Room w/ Fire Pits

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

8:00-8:30AM

Breakfast Buffet and Maui Jim Sunglass Fittings

Ballroom West/Central

Welcome Remarks and Meetings Mean Business

Keynote Speaker – Afshin Molavi

Business Marketplace

Activities - Golf (Boxed Lunch for Golfers) 11:30AM modified Shotgun Tournament (2 day play) - Golf on Spanish Bay (18 holes non-tournament) - Cooking Lessons/Demonstration at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Arranged by Monterey Bay Aquarium and CCM&E - Horseback riding

The Links at Spanish Bay

Free Time (if not participating in Golf)

Gather in Main Lobby for Transfer (Planners wheels rolling at 6:15; Suppliers 6:40)

Dinner at Monterey Plaza Hotel Sponsored by Monterey Plaza Hotel, Transfers provided by CCM&E

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

Breakfast Buffet at Leisure

Walk over & warm-up at Pebble Beach - flow

Tournament Golfers: Tee Times to flow (Box Lunches

Pebble Beach

- Golf on Pebble Beach (18 holes, non-tournament) - Wine Experience - Spa Treatment

Closing Reception and Dinner

St. Andrews Ballroom

Hotel Restaurant

Departures hosted by CCM&E

EXPERIENCE PEBBLE BEACH

Danielle Cirami-Gillis

Vice President, Events and Tradeshows

646.380-6271

David Blansfield

Executive Vice President/Group Publisher

201.902.1901