AI Powered Travel | 33 As a leader in travel technology, Cruise Planners continually disrupts the market . “Technology is one of the core pillars of our business,” says Brian Shultz, Chief Information Officer, Cruise Planners . “We take great pride not only attending to the needs of our advisors, but also in understanding the changing landscape and providing tools that are on the cutting edge of technology . We were one of the first agencies to offer mobile technology to both advisors and customers . We also were an early adopter of digital assistance tools like Alexa . Beyond that, we work hand in hand with travel advisors every day to understand the challenges they face and develop technology-based solutions to address them — bringing innovative tools to market ahead of our competition .” The latest innovation, the AI-powered CP Maxx system, equips travel advisors with advanced tools to increase efficiency and elevate customer service . CP Maxx is more than just a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform for Cruise Planners travel advisors . It’s designed to help travel franchises manage their clients, reservations, and overall business operations . This all-in-one system provides various tools to enhance travel advisors’ daily workflows and optimize their business performance . CP Maxx has a suite of significant features to simplify business operations for travel advisors:  Marketing tools include email and newsletter builders with customizable templates to engage clients; client segmentation tools to help target specific client groups for marketing efforts; and lead tracking tools to monitor leads and clients throughout the sales lifecycle .  Operational tools include daily task management functions to keep track of daily tasks; a goal tracker to FROM THE SPONSOR: CRUISE PLANNERS set and monitor franchise goals and gain insight into progress; and numerous dashboards, including a sales dashboard to access critical metrics, such as sales figures, bookings, and tool usage in CP Maxx .  Research and proposal tools include search engines to efficiently search for and compare various options to find the ideal vacation for clients (search engines for cruises, lodging, cars, excursions, activities, tours, and transfers); and numerous tools to create and send proposals to clients, including a side-by-side comparison view .  Artificial Intelligence tools enhance Cruise Planners franchise owners’ productivity, which is what truly sets the platform apart . 1. AI Chatbot: The proprietary chatbot tool provides instant access to a wealth of information sourced by Cruise Planners . This chatbot is essentially a personal travel assistant for travel advisors . They can ask about cruise sailings, destination content, details on our trusted partners, and content from the Cruise Planners learning management platform . This saves valuable time that would otherwise be spent on research . 2. ChatGPT tool: This is the Cruise Planners generalized AI tool, powered by ChatGPT, that allows travel advisors to ask about anything . This can help them with content creation or just general inquiries . In addition to developing and offering industry-leading technology, Cruise Planners boasts one of the largest and most experienced Business Development teams in the travel sector . Each franchise owner is assigned a dedicated coach with travel industry expertise, offering personalized support and guidance . These coaches also conduct group and individual training sessions focused on accelerating success, covering topics from sales strategies to client relationship management . Travel advisors, and those interested in becoming a Cruise Planners franchise owner, who want to learn more about how Cruise Planners can help them understand the impact of its state-of-the-art technology offerings, generate more prospects, close more deals, better serve clients, and maximize their businesses, can visit www .cruiseplannersfranchise .com . Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network, supports over 2,500 franchise owners with award-winning marketing programs, proprietary industry-leading technology, and comprehensive booking tools. Known for its technology innovation and commitment to professional development, Cruise Planners provides hands-on training and support from top executives in the travel industry.

34 | AI Powered Travel The integration of generative AI in the travel industry is transforming how businesses operate and how travelers experience the world . From personalized recommendations and enhanced customer service to dynamic pricing and virtual travel experiences, AI is enabling more efficient, engaging, and sustainable travel solutions . Generative AI’s impact begins with automation . AI-powered tools handle routine tasks like booking management, answering customer inquiries, and organizing itineraries . By automating these time- consuming processes, AI allows advisors to focus on more complex, personalized aspects of their work . Chatbots, for example, offer real-time, 24/7 customer support, handling routine queries, booking changes, and cancellations, ensuring that advisors are free to focus on more valuable client interactions . One of AI’s most transformative effects is in personalizing travel experiences at scale . AI systems can analyze vast amounts of data, including a traveler’s preferences, past bookings, and social media activity, to generate tailored travel recommendations . From creating personalized itineraries to suggesting unique local activities, CONCLUSION generative AI enables advisors to offer highly customized experiences that meet individual client needs . This level of personalization helps advisors differentiate their services in a competitive market . AI also optimizes travel planning and logistics, improving the accuracy of itineraries and minimizing disruptions . By analyzing real-time data on flight schedules, traffic patterns, and weather forecasts, AI-driven tools can generate the most efficient travel routes and provide advisors with predictive analytics to proactively manage delays or cancellations . Finally, generative AI empowers travel advisors to make data-driven decisions . By analyzing booking trends, price fluctuations, and emerging travel patterns, AI enables advisors to offer competitive pricing and stay ahead of market trends . In conclusion, AI is not replacing travel advisors — it is enhancing their capabilities . By automating routine tasks, personalizing experiences, optimizing itineraries, and offering predictive insights, AI empowers advisors to deliver better service, improve efficiency, and thrive in the rapidly evolving travel industry .