Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced the recipients of the 2023 Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Awards while Cruise Planners' top advisor Michael Consoli took home the “Travel Innovator of the Year Award." Award winners were inducted at the CLIA Hall of Fame Cruise Industry Awards Gala Dinner during the CLIA Cruise360 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 20.
“I am so incredibly humbled and honored to be recognized with this award,” said Consoli, a franchise owner since 2002. “Our success is a team effort and I am very proud of what we have accomplished in bringing positive ideas and influence to the travel sphere.”
of Cruise Planners (Cruise Planners)
The awards identify individuals and organizations whose efforts and accomplishments represent a significant contribution to the cruise industry. This award specifically recognizes a CLIA Travel Agency Member that has demonstrated innovative and visionary leadership in their approach in promoting cruise travel, growing their cruise travel sales and supporting their affiliated travel advisors.
Consoli has achieved impressive sales through sharing his expertise through social media, hosting consumer events and providing his guests with exceptional service. In addition, he curates and personally escorts several unique, invitation-only journeys throughout the year traveling with his guests whom he calls his “Wanderlust Society.” Consoli posted $20 million dollars in sales in 2021 (despite the pandemic) and beat that by increasing his sales to $24 million in 2022. It is seen as an amazing feat considering his team consists of just four people.
“Michael has broken record after record and shown us how mighty a small, but experienced and dedicated, team can achieve amazing sales,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and founder of Cruise Planners. “CLIA couldn’t have picked a better recipient for Travel Innovator of the Year and we are very proud of Michael and his team.”
Consoli is the top-producing advisor at Cruise Planners and has been named their No. 1 producing luxury advisor, as well as being named Viking Cruises Global Top Producer for the past nine years.
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