Carnival Selects 8 Travel Advisors as Semi-Finalists in Business Plan Challenge

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.