Carnival Cruise Line named the eight travel
advisors who are semi-finalists in the “Your Winning Plan” business success
series. One semi-finalist was chosen from each of the six in-person events and
two were chosen from the virtual event.
The semi-finalists selected are Gwendolyn
Johnson, CTC, of GMN Vacations in Charlotte, N.C.; Margaret Gomes of Gomes
Travel Planners/Dream Vacations in Los Banos, Calif.; Paula McDonald of Family
1st Travelers in Livonia, Mich.; Kimberly Stanley of Adventure by Kim in
Tupelo, Miss.; Leigh Lee of Our Next Adventure Travels in Johnstown, Colo.; Charvon
Parker of Gateway Travel in Garner, N.C.; Juan Velazquez of Cruise Planners in
Fort Mill, S.C.; and Maureen Adams of Inteletravel in Charleston, S.C.
One of the semi-finalists will be named the
grand prize winner when entrepreneur Daymond John, star of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” appears
at a grand finale event in Houston on Sept. 27. Each semi-finalist earned a $2,500
prize and the chance at the additional grand prize of $5,000 to use to execute
the winning plan.
The series brought together travel advisors
across the country and provided opportunities for learning, development, and
business growth. Carnival encouraged the advisors to develop business plans
with a tool created in cooperation with America’s Small Business Development
Centers, a partner of the U.S. Small Business Association. The advisors were
then invited to submit their plans and compete for cash to use toward
implementing them. More than 1,000 plans were submitted.
“I’m impressed by the creativity and passion
we’ve seen from the advisors who shared their business plans with us, and I’m
delighted by our continued partnership and thrilled to play a part in their
future growth,” said Adolfo Perez, Carnival Cruise Line’s senior vice president
of global sales and trade marketing.
Creativity and passion, along with the quality
of each plan’s attention to driving business results, played a role in the
criteria for selecting the semi-finalists. A panel from Carnival, the Cruise
Lines International Association and the American Society of Travel Advisors judged
the business plans submitted.
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