Chapter XXII
About CruiseCompete Consumers come to CruiseCompete to research and book cruise vacations. CruiseCompete has been the premier online cruise marketplace since 2003 (see our media plaudits); since that time it has provided nearly 14 million quotes. Consumers compare offers from trusted travel agents, check consumer reviews of agents and agencies, and then contact travel agents directly for more information and to book their cruise. CruiseCompete is a member of the Family Travel Association, the leading authority and resource for family-travel information. CruiseCompete CruiseTrends™ offers monthly stats for an inside look at consumer trends and what consumers want in cruise vacations. CruiseCompete takes top honors in Travel + Leisure ’s “Top 60 Best Apps and Websites for Travelers” with an honorable mention. The Wall Street Journal praised CruiseCompete as the “Best Cruise Travel Site,” while The New York Times says, “…independent travel agents compete to offer you the best deal.” Similar praise comes from Travel + Leisure , Kiplinger, and The Washington Post . The Street says, “Score luxury cruises at bargain prices.” For more information, please visit http://cruisecompete.com or http://www.cruisecompete.com/group_cruises/. CruiseCompete is an Iowa limited liability company and is not a travel agency nor owned by a travel agency. CruiseCompete – Find us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! About the Author: Heidi Allison Heidi Allison is an accomplished travel writer who maintains memberships in the Society of American Travel Writers, the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives, and the North American Travel Journalists Association. She has worked extensively as a consultant to the travel industry, specializing in online marketing. She is also an avid cruiser, with over 60 cruise ship adventures under her belt. Her voyages have ranged from Glacier Bay in Alaska on a lovely Princess Cruises ship to Antarctica on the Marco Polo; from the rainforests of Central America to the remote Galapagos Islands on the Celebrity Xpedition; from St. Petersburg, Russia via the small ship Regent Seven Seas Navigator to the mystical lands of the Orient; from an Atlantic Crossing on the QM2 to a photo safari in Kenya. An innovative marketing and e-commerce pioneer and expert with 17+ years of experience developing sustainable websites and e-commerce, Ms. Allison has combined her Internet expertise with her love of travel. She cofounded CruiseCompete in 2003, and has counseled a wide range of successful companies in the travel industry on how to leverage the Internet to expand their markets and grow their businesses. Heidi has a strong background in travel, online marketing, e-commerce and entrepreneurship. In her most recent assignment with American Express, she was in charge of meetings, groups, and incentives for Ford Motor Company, including all subsidiary brands: Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Previously, she served as VP of Sales & Marketing for American Express Group & Incentive Services, managing numerous Fortune 500 companies’ meetings & incentives. She served as a regional sales manager overseeing the key territories of California and Florida (which produce one third of US cruise travelers) for Princess Cruises and Norwegian American Line. In addition, Heidi had a short tenure with American Hawaii Cruises, with responsibility for the state of Texas. She also founded Allison & Taylor Inc., an online service specializing in background checks and pre-employment screening.
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2016 Family-Friendly Cruise Travel Planner
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