Why Experienced Travel Advisors Are Choosing Cruise Planners

A Look Inside the Elite Summit, the Network, and the Culture That’s Earning a Closer Look.

 

Presented By: Cruise Planners

 

 

150 Cruise Planners franchise owners joined Michelle Fee, Founder and CEO, and Theresa Scalzitti, Chief Operations Officer, aboard a Silversea ship in Tahiti for the Elite Summit, celebrating top-performing agents in the Millionaires Club.

 

Experienced travel professionals know that choosing a host agency or franchise is about more than brand recognition or commission structure. The real question is what kind of support, access, and growth environment comes with the business. That is one reason Cruise Planners is earning a closer look.

 

This year, 150 millionaire-level Cruise Planners advisors traveled to Tahiti for an Elite Summit alongside CEO Michelle Fee, executive leadership, and supplier partners. For outside advisors evaluating their next move, that kind of event says something meaningful. It reflects a business model where leadership is visible, supplier relationships are active, and top performers gain firsthand experiences that can strengthen both product knowledge and sales. For experienced advisors, that matters.

 

Access to Leadership Should Start Early and Continue as You Grow

One of the clearest differences in the Cruise Planners model is leadership accessibility. That access starts before a franchise owner even joins the network. From the first Discovery Day, prospective owners have opportunities to meet leadership, ask questions, and get a real feel for the company. It continues through training programs like STAR University, major events, conferences, conventions, and Elite Summits around the world.

 

For experienced travel professionals, that kind of visibility is not a minor detail. It signals a culture where leadership stays connected to the field and where franchise owners are supported throughout the life of the business.

 

The Best Franchise Communities Are Built Through Real Relationships

Strong travel businesses are built on relationships, and the strongest franchise systems create opportunities for those relationships to grow. Elite Summits do exactly that by bringing together top-performing franchise owners, executive leadership, and preferred suppliers in a setting designed for real conversation and collaboration. The value goes well beyond the trip itself.

 

 

Kim Ferri Watkins, a Cruise Planners franchise owner since 2012, shares her experience at the 2026 Elite Summit in Tahiti.

 

Kim Ferri Watkins, a Cruise Planners owner since 2012, describes it this way:

 

“One of the greatest benefits is the strong connections I build with fellow advisors, where we openly and casually discuss our individual businesses and share ideas… Through these Elite Summits, I’ve developed meaningful friendships with colleagues I know I can turn to anytime, whether I need advice, guidance, or even someone to help cover my business while I’m traveling.”

 

That kind of network is a real business advantage. For experienced advisors, the right franchise should offer independence without isolation, and community without unnecessary friction.

 

Product Immersion and Supplier Access Help Advisors Sell with More Confidence

Experienced advisors already understand the value of firsthand experience. When advisors travel to destinations themselves, meet supplier partners in person, and experience premium products up close, they return better equipped to serve clients and close sales with confidence.

 

That is part of what makes Cruise Planners’ long-running incentive travel strategy so relevant. Upcoming destinations this year include Egypt and Yellowstone. Past experiences have included Antarctica, India, Japan, and African safaris. These trips reward performance, but they also strengthen the network. Advisors deepen destination knowledge, build stronger supplier relationships, and gain the kind of product familiarity that makes recommendations more credible.

 

Watkins also pointed to the supplier side of that value:

 

“Traveling alongside executives from many of our supplier partners helps me to strengthen those relationships as well… Knowing I have trusted contacts who will go above and beyond to assist me ultimately benefits my clients.”

 

That is an important distinction for advisors weighing host agency and franchise options. Supplier access on paper is one thing. Real working relationships are another.

 

Long-Time Franchise Owners Make the Strongest Case

 

 

Brenda Daisey and Stephen “Steve” Daisey, Cruise Planners franchise owners since 2008, share their experience with Silversea Cruises at the 2026 Elite Summit in Tahiti.

 

The most convincing proof often comes from owners who have already spent years in the business. Brenda Daisey, a franchise owner since 2008, put it simply:

 

“I left a corporate salary with a large travel consortium to take this leap of faith. And, I’m glad I did! I’ve never been alone! Our home office team, and executive team are a true extension of our agency and are invested in our success… These trips are priceless!”

 

That kind of perspective is likely to resonate with experienced travel professionals who are not looking for a beginner platform. They are looking for a business relationship that helps them grow.

 

 

Debra and Tony Thune, Cruise Planners franchise owners since 2019, share their excursion experience swimming with stingrays and sharks. The Thunes travel 95 percent of the year and live on a cruise ship.

 

Debra and Tony Thune, franchise owners since 2019, make a similarly strong point:

 

“Not only do we get to spend time with our CP colleagues, but we also get to network with the vendors, which is always a fabulous opportunity. And, who gets to go on vacation with the CEO of their company if they work for any other company?”

 

That line captures something unique. In many organizations, leadership feels distant. In this one, leadership is present.

 

Why This Matters for Advisors Exploring Their Next Move

Experienced travel professionals tend to ask better questions when evaluating a host agency or franchise:

• Will leadership be accessible?
• Will the community help me grow?
• Will supplier relationships get stronger?
• Will I have opportunities to deepen product knowledge and sharpen my sales edge?

Cruise Planners makes a compelling case in each of those areas. For advisors who want more than back-end support, the model offers something bigger: leadership access, community, supplier engagement, and immersive experiences designed to help franchise owners build stronger businesses over time.

 

 

Michelle Fee, Founder and CEO, and Theresa Scalzitti, Chief Operations Officer, connect with agents and suppliers while lounging aboard a catamaran.

 

See It for Yourself, Two Upcoming Virtual Discovery Events

Here’s your chance to experience the Cruise Planners culture without leaving home! Discover our award-winning marketing, best-in-industry technology, and top-notch coaching and training, all designed to help you build a thriving travel business. You’ll hear directly from our executive team and connect with successful franchise owners to get a real feel for what it’s like to be part of our network. We can’t wait to see you there!

 

Travel Agents
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (ET)
https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/vtog-06022026-ta

New to Travel
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM (ET)
https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/vtog-06022026-nte

 

Ready to explore the opportunity? Visit the Taste of Green event page to learn more and reserve your spot.