From Casual World Cruiser to Top Global Producer

If you would have told Michael Consoli 17 years ago that he would become a top-producing travel advisor, he never would have believed you. Fast forward to today and Consoli remains a leader within the nationwide Cruise Planners® franchise network and is truly living his dream.

Choosing the Cruise Planners Family

Already a successful professional in the technology sector in Roswell, Georgia, Consoli fell in love with the travel industry following a cruise he went on. Immediately after, he decided he wanted to help people discover the joys of cruising and seeing the world, so he looked at how to get started in the travel industry, despite not having any professional travel experience.

"I did a lot of research after talking with people in the industry and I finally selected the same company that I had purchased my initial cruise from – Cruise Planners," Consoli says. "After a year in the business, I knew this was really what I wanted to do, so I slowly stepped away from my technology business and focused completely on Cruise Planners. In just two years, I had exceeded the income I earned from my other business."

A Business in a Box

Consoli chose to invest in a Cruise Planners franchise because the company offered him more than just a name and a logo. He shared that a big reason why he became a travel advisor with Cruise Planners is because the company had a process in place to help him start his business by giving him direction and the award-winning marketing materials he needed to promote himself.

Cruise Planners' franchise model was the perfect fit for Consoli, as the tools supplied by the company allow him to focus his efforts solely on growing his business and forming authentic relationships with his customers. A Home Office Team comprised of more than 120 people also supports Consoli and other franchise owners with tailored training and business development coaching to help their businesses thrive.

Tech You Can Travel With

Another important factor that influenced Consoli's decision to own a Cruise Planners franchise was the fact that Cruise Planners' advanced technology and software, which is developed by a technology team in house, allowed him to work from anywhere on his own time. To Consoli, this was the icing on the cake.

"I love to take advantage of the tools that Cruise Planners provides to assist me with growing my business because there are just so many," he says. "Cruise Planners works hard to keep offering us the latest technology and I love technology – so I use them all. Between client management software and booking platforms, there are endless amounts of products I can use virtually anywhere, from the comfort of my own home to my cabin on a river cruise."

Awards and Accolades

Consoli is part of an elite group of top producing Cruise Planners franchise owners whose individual average sales are over $1.6 million. Even among that group, he stands out as the first-ever to be honored by Viking Cruises as its Top Global Producer and has maintained that status for four straight years. He's also an American Express Travel Insider and CLIA certified as an Elite Cruise Counsellor and a luxury cruise specialist. Not to mention, he's been recognized by Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, Allianz Global Assistance USA and many more organizations for his top-performing sales.

"I am so thankful for all of these honors. It is a recognition of my hard work and of the service I provide my clients," Consoli says. "It's also a wonderful testament to my clients' loyalty as I could not achieve this level of recognition without their continued support and consistent referrals."

Invest in Your Passion for Travel

Seventeen years later, Consoli has found his niche in river cruising and luxury travel, and still loves creating unforgettable vacations for his clients.

"I am still doing the thing that makes me the happiest while continuing to develop amazing relationships with my clients and travel industry executives – all while making people's travel dreams come true," Consoli says. "Purchasing my Cruise Planners franchise was the best decision I ever made, and I have never looked back."

Ready to live out your travel dreams like Michael Consoli? Learn more about his journey with Cruise Planners and how to become a Cruise Planners franchise owner at cruiseplannersfranchise.com.