CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – March 17, 2023 – Innovation is the root of technology and how it makes our lives easier. When it comes to travel, there are countless new ways that companies are making the experiences more seamless, more enjoyable and less stressful.
“What propels Cruise Planners forward as a trailblazer in the travel industry is our award-winning technology,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners. “We invest heavily into developing proprietary technology tools are the driving force for our marketing programs and tools that help our advisors elevate their business.”
With 2023 proclaimed as being the “Year of Travel,” here are some travel technology trends we are keeping our eyes on.
Here are the top 4 tech trends for travel advisors to pay attention to in 2023:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Solutions: AI-powered technologies like chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming increasingly popular in the travel industry. These solutions are being used to help customers make travel decisions, book flights, and more. While AI will allow customers and advisors to work together to narrow down destination options, it will never replace the “human touch” of an advisor offering personal recommendations for tours, restaurants, hotels and more.
LivePlanner: With the rise of online meeting/webinar services, consumers are more comfortable with online presentations from the comfort of their homes. LivePlanner is a new, patent pending, interactive travel planning and presenting tool from Cruise Planners that allows travel advisors to share information about cruise lines, tour companies, all-inclusive resorts, activities with images, videos, itineraries and more to educate and make recommendations that will help plan the perfect vacation for their clients.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): AR and VR technologies are being used to create immersive experiences for travelers. It can be used to simulate a variety of travel experiences, from exploring a breathtaking tropical beach to taking a close-up look at a famous architectural landmark. VR technology is also used to create immersive experiences for travelers, from virtual tours of cities to interactive activities such as zip-lining through a forest or scuba diving in an exotic location. VR can also be used to create an immersive educational experience for travelers, allowing them to learn about the history, culture and natural wonders of a destination. This technology can be used in a variety of ways to enhance the travel experience and provide travelers with an unforgettable journey.
Mobile Applications for Travel Advisors: Mobile applications are becoming increasingly popular in the travel industry. From booking flights to checking in at airports, customers are using mobile applications to make their travel experience more efficient and convenient. Cruise Planners’ award-winning Cruise Planners app allows clients to keep all their travel updates and reminders in one space. With CP Maxx mobile, clients can book activities, integrate with Yelp for recommendations while traveling, and keep important documents and schedules in one place.
“We never rest on our laurels when it comes to technology,” said Brian Shultz, CIO of Cruise Planners. “We are constantly evolving and taking into consideration the needs of our advisors and how we can make them more efficient—it’s what drives our innovation.”
With all these innovations geared toward helping travelers plan and book vacations with ease, Cruise Planners will continue to harness emerging technologies to help their network of expert advisors be successful.
Company Background:
Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor 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 innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and travel advisor 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. Travel Weekly ranked Cruise Planners #18 on their annual 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/.