WMPH Vacations
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| Industry | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters | Delray Beach, Florida |
Key people |
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| Products | Cruise Finder (mobile app) |
| Brands |
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Number of employees | 120 |
| Website |
wmphvacations |
WMPH Vacations is a Florida-based travel company specializing in cruises and resort vacations. The company was founded in 2004 by Uf Tukel and Don Walker, who currently serve as co-presidents of WMPH. WMPH conducts most of its business through its flagship brand iCruise.com.
Background
Veteran travel industry executives Uf Tukel and Don Walker co-founded WMPH Vacations in 2004. The acronym WMPH stands for "We Make People Happy."[1] Since its founding, the company has booked vacations for more than 600,000 passengers and books about 40,000 cruise vacation packages a year.[2] WMPH currently has 120 employees, making it one of Delray Beach, Florida's largest employers.[1]
In 2009, WMPH launched the Cruise Finder app by iCruise.com, which provides users access to over 30 cruise lines, 300 ships, 20,000 cruise itineraries, special deals, deck plans and itineraries, as well as the ability to book a cruise.[3]
In 2014, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) inducted WMPH Vacations into the Cruise Industry Hall of Fame as an "Outstanding Cruise Retailer." Tukel and Walker accepted the award on behalf of WMPH.[4][5]
In 2017, WMPH began offering cruise trips to Cuba.[2]
Brands
WMPH operates the following brand websites, each of which focuses on a certain destination or market segment:[6]
- AlaskaCruises.com — Alaska and Canadian Rockies cruise and tour vacations
- CruiseCheap.com — the first website launched by WMPH Vacations
- CruiseNow.com – last-minute cruise vacation deals (acquired in December 2016)[7]
- EuropeCruises.com — cruises to Europe
- HawaiiCruiseOutlet.com — cruises to Hawaii and Tahiti
- iCruise.com — the flagship brand of WMPH Vacations (acquired in 2007)[3]
- LindbladCruises.com — small ship, adventure and expedition style cruises to Alaska, the Galapagos, Antarctica, and the Sea of Cortez
- RegentCruises.com — luxury cruises
Cruise Finder app
In 2009, iCruise.com launched Cruise Finder, a free cruise vacation-planning mobile app. The app "is a source for real-time costs and details about 38 cruise lines, 310 cruise ships and 25,000 international itineraries via search, calendars, deck plans and a high-res photo-driven interface."[3]
The New York Times,[8] Los Angeles Times,[9] Travel + Leisure magazine,[10] and The Australian[11] have recommended Cruiser Finder for those planning a cruise vacation. The Los Angeles Times said Cruise Finder is a "must-have app [that] has itineraries for every major cruise line, searches for hot cruise deals and includes photos, deck plans, etc."[9]
Awards
- 2016: "Marketing Partner of the Year" from Royal Caribbean International[12]
- 2014: Cruise Industry Hall of Fame – inducted as "Outstanding Cruise Retailer"[5]
- 2014: "President's Award for Overall Partner of the Year" from MSC Cruises[13]
- 2010: "Retail Agency of the Year" from Norwegian Cruise Line[14]
- 2010: "Strategic Partner of the Year" from Carnival Cruise Line[15]
- 2008: "Southeast Regional Partner of the Year" from Royal Caribbean International[16]
References
- 1 2 "Monday Meeting: We Make People Happy’s Uf Tukel". Palm Beach Post. January 1, 2017.
- 1 2 "Delray Beach travel company offering cruises to Cuba". Sun-Sentinel. January 3, 2017.
- 1 2 3 "The Untold Story of iCruise.com". Travel Pulse. June 25, 2017.
- ↑ "Trade group announces 2014 hall of famers". Sun-Sentinel. March 15, 2014.
- 1 2 "CLIA Announces 2014 10th Annual Cruise Industry Hall of Fame Inductees". Cruise Lines International Association. March 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Our Brands". WMPH Vacations.
- ↑ "Delray's WMPH Vacations acquires last-minute deals site CruiseNow.com". Sun-Sentinel. December 16, 2016.
- ↑ "Apps to Help Navigate Cruise Lines". The New York Times. March 10, 2015.
- 1 2 "Want cruise information? Apps will lead the way". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Pick The Perfect Cruise—and Stateroom: Cruise Finder". Travel + Leisure. June 1, 2013.
- ↑ "Decked out with the latest technology". The Australian. May 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Recognizing The Best Of The Best, Royal Caribbean Honors Travel Partners Of The Year For 2016". Royal Caribbean International. January 13, 2017.
- ↑ "MSC picks top agencies for 2014". Travel Weekly. December 11, 2014.
- ↑ "NCL honors Vacations to Go with two 2010 awards". Travel Weekly. January 26, 2011.
- ↑ "Carnival Names Six 2010 Funtastic Travel Partners". Travel Pulse. January 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Royal Caribbean International Announces 2008 Travel Partners Of The Year" (PDF). Royal Caribbean International. February 6, 2009.