Annette Duplechin - Cruise Planners

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween 🎃

Throwback to this gorgeous fall display at Cheekwood Estate in Nashville — thousands of pumpkins, mums everywhere, and that perfect crisp autumn air. If you’ve never been during their Cheekwood Harvest season, add it to your list.

Wishing you a safe, cozy, and not-too-spooky Halloween!

Photo: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

10/30/2026

The scariest costume of all... TOURIST WITH EXPIRED PASSPORT 😱🎃

It's Friday, Halloween is tomorrow, and this guy at Gate X is NOT making his flight.

Don't let this be you. If you haven't checked your passport in a while, now's the time.

Happy Fri-YAY + Halloween Eve! ✈️

10/28/2026

It’s time for the last few travel packets of the year. Laid out the foundation of those this morning and will add to them in the next few days until delivery time 😎

10/21/2026

Home sweet home! Well, almost. I had one more stop to make before calling it a day. 😉

It was another very early morning leaving Fort Lauderdale. Papa and Baby Bag were packed, loaded, and ready to head home! I’m not always thrilled about those early flights, but there’s something pretty spectacular about watching the sunrise from an airplane window. That view never gets old!

We had some beautiful views coming back into Lake Charles, and I got to see the new gator at Lake Charles Regional Airport while waiting for my luggage. What a fun addition! Beautifully painted with scenes representing our region.

Once I collected Papa and Baby Bag, I headed over to the super cute The Buzz Coffee Shop at McNeese to meet with our fabulous Collette Business Development Manager, Lesley Beyt.

Lesley was kind enough to make the drive over so we could visit, talk about some of the wonderful tours Collette offers, and toss around a few ideas for future Global Wanders Unlimited adventures.

And y’all, I’m itching to spill the tea on a couple of things we’re working on! Not quite ready to share just yet, but here’s a little hint. Both destinations have well-known musicals associated with their regions. Any guesses? 😉

Thank you, Lesley, for making the trip and for such a great visit! I always enjoy spending time with our supplier partners, especially when we get to brainstorm new opportunities for our clients.

Now I’m finally home, the bags are inside (unpacking is another story!), and I’m ready to enjoy a little downtime.

October has been one heck of a busy month between travel, conferences, meetings, and everything else going on at GWU. I’ve covered a lot of miles, learned a lot, enjoyed catching up with some wonderful people, and still have plenty on the calendar before the month is over.

But for tonight, I’m happy to be home. 😊

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

This is all I’m bringing home from yesterday’s supplier trade show at CP Con. Normally, I’d have at least triple this amount of stuff and have to ship a box home.

This was my fourth trade show this year, and I was very intentional about who I stopped to visit with. I focused on suppliers I want to build or expand relationships with and only picked up information I could see myself using. For a couple, a business card and a good conversation were all I needed.

As my business grows and evolves, I’m giving more thought to the travel experiences I want to offer and the relationships that will help me do that well. Some of those conversations were about trips already in the works. Others were about possibilities I’m excited to explore.

Those relationships matter. Knowing who to call, having someone to ask questions, and understanding where a supplier might be a good fit all help me better serve my clients.

I’ve invested a lot of time and money in education and industry events this year. Now I have to put what I’ve learned—and the connections I’ve made—to work.

Apparently, that also means leaving a little more room in my suitcase. I’m certainly not complaining about that!

10/20/2026

Okay, catching up — I didn’t post last night about Day 2 of CP Con 2026. Went to dinner with some CP colleagues and it was a late evening. 😅

Before General Session even started, I saw my name up on the board for our team hitting Mega Star. That was a bittersweet moment but we’re moving forward to try to make that happen again or beyond. 💚

I also saw several of my friends up on the Millionaires screens — that was so heartwarming and I’m so proud of them!

The day was filled with great supplier sessions - Backroads, Quark Expeditions, Sandals, Travel Answers, Collette, and Princess. So much good info to bring home. And I’m meeting with our Collette BDM tomorrow to chat about a couple potential groups so stay tuned!

General Session was another loaded one — Shark Travel Tank and Shark Bites! Always fun.

Had lunch with my close CP friends and then it was on to our trade show and afternoon sessions about groups, events, associates and assistants. All great info from fellow CP colleagues to apply to our own business.

Thank you to Scott Koepf and Allianz Partners for the book — Tune Up Your Sales! Can't wait to dive in.

On to Day 3!

10/19/2026

Day One of CP Con 2026 is in the books! ✅

What a full day of learning, connecting, and getting a look at what’s ahead for Cruise Planners and the travel industry!

I started the day with sessions featuring Kensington, Azamara, Hawaii, Classic Vacations, and Delta Vacations. Each offered valuable insights, destination updates, and opportunities to continue expanding what we can offer our clients.

Our opening executive session was equally exciting! We got a look at some impressive new enhancements coming to our Cruise Planners systems and technology, along with updates designed to help us work more efficiently and better serve our travelers. The cruise supplier presentations brought even more excitement with new ships, destinations, and experiences on the horizon!

One of the things I appreciate most about being part of the Cruise Planners family is the continued investment in our success. The technology, supplier partnerships, training, and support behind the scenes give independent agency owners like me the resources to compete, grow, and deliver exceptional travel experiences. It’s a partnership I truly value.

And, of course, one of my favorite parts of convention is reconnecting with my CP colleagues! I wrapped up the evening enjoying a relaxing dinner filled with laughter, great conversations, and the kind of camaraderie that makes this organization special. There’s something to be said for spending time with people who understand the business, share your passion, and genuinely support one another.

It’s been a busy first day, but a rewarding one. I’m looking forward to what the next few days bring and bringing home fresh ideas, new knowledge, and even more opportunities for our clients at Global Wanders Unlimited.

CP Con 2026 — Game On! 💚

10/16/2026

Today is prep day, and tomorrow starts bright and early as I head to our annual Cruise Planners convention!

I’m looking forward to catching up with my CP friends, connecting with suppliers, and finding out what Cruise Planners has up their sleeves for us. There’s always something new to bring home to my clients!

I’ll be out of the office October 16–21, checking email as I can. Replies may take a little longer, so thank you for your patience. Stay tuned for a few updates along the way! 💚