Koepf joins Cruise Planners in newly-created Vice President role after 30 years as an influential travel agent advocate
Coral Springs, Fla. – February 21, 2018 – Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, welcomes Scott Koepf as Vice President of Strategic Development to the nation’s leading home-based travel agency network.
“I’ve known Scott for more than 20 years and we are excited for him to join our powerhouse executive team,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and founder of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. “His impressive background in the travel industry allows us to tap into his diverse experience, skills and knowledge. Having Scott on our team will help us continue our mission to innovate, grow and evolve.”
In his new role, Koepf will support the growth of the Cruise Planners network by leading the Training and Events teams and exploring new opportunities for strategic development. Using his natural motivational training style and tapping into his keen marketing and sales experience, he will help Cruise Planners travel agents continue to develop their franchises.
Cruise Planners, known throughout the travel agency industry for its signature “Cruisitude™,” will welcome Koepf in March 2018. “Cruise Planners’ reputation and innovations are exceptional, and I am thrilled to join Michelle, Vicky and the rest of the Cruise Planners team. Not to mention my lifetime desire to wear green shoes will now be fulfilled,” he quipped.
For more than 30 years, Koepf has held a variety of roles within the cruise industry including travel franchise owner, onboard entertainer and various leadership roles with brands such as Cruise Holidays, Nexion and most recently, Avoya Travel where he served as Senior Vice President of Sales – experience that will serve him well in his new role.
“I am beyond excited to be joining the Cruise Planners family and be a part of such a successful and fast-growing company,” Koepf said. “I started my career in travel as a cruise franchise owner and now, I am coming back full circle to help each Cruise Planners franchisee achieve their goals.”
In the industry, Scott has served as president of NACTA and has been a champion for travel agents focused on growing the group’s membership and he is often quoted as an expert in travel media.
“Cruise Planners dares to be different and since we are a unique company we welcome Scott for being a proven leader and advocate for travel agents,” Fee said. “I am a strong believer that when agents are having fun, then they listen and learn – Scott has a proven track record as a great communicator, entertainer and leader and knows the true meaning of Cruisitude™!”
To contact Scott at Cruise Planners Home Office, please email him directly at Skoepf@cruiseplanners.com.
About Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network in the travel industry. Cruise Planners operates a network of more than 1,800 franchise owners who independently book vacation and travel experiences for their clients. Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. since 1994, Cruise Planners supports its network of franchise owners with innovative marketing, booking and technology tools, professional development and training with the industry’s top executives. Cruise Planners and has been named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 15 consecutive years and was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology. Consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, Cruise Planners is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, has been ranked as the #1 travel franchise by Franchise Business Review for 6 years and is recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.
Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line including Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Viking Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, as well as many land vendors such as Travel Impressions and Sandals and Beaches Resorts. As an American Express Travel Representative, Cruise Planners maintains a reputation for quality and offers exclusive American Express Travel benefits such as Pay with Points. Cruise Planners has earned the American Express Travel Representative Excellence Award since 2004, as well as numerous marketing, technology, franchise and philanthropy awards including an International Franchise Association FranTech award for innovation, Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly and Travvy Awards from travAlliance media. Cruise Planners celebrates diversity and supports are troops as one of the Top 50 franchises for Veterans according to GI magazine, the Top Franchise Brand for Veterans according toFranchise Business Review, one of the Top 25 franchises for African-Americans byBlack Enterprise magazine and a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors.
Stay in Touch: Media can stay up-to-date with Cruise Planners by visiting our media room or Socially Yours page for social media updates and handles. 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 the Cruise Planners franchise website.