FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Travel Agent Wins National Business Award In Celebration of Women’s History Month CruiseOne® honors female franchisee with OPAL Award for leadership and community service Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (March 6, 2014) – For the second year in a row, the leading home-based travel franchise CruiseOne® celebrates Women’s History Month in March by honoring a female CruiseOne Vacation Specialist and Franchise Owner with the OPAL Award for Women. The company has named Tina Hogue the 2014 recipient of this prestigious award. The OPAL Award recognizes a female franchise owner who demonstrates Outstanding Performance And Leadership. The honoree is active in community and civic organizations, is among CruiseOne’s top selling agents and has exhibited strong business skills. Hogue will receive three months of waived fees and a $100 gift certificate. "Tina has been part of the CruiseOne family for six years and embodies the spirit of the OPAL Award," said Tim Courtney, vice president of franchise development at CruiseOne. "Not only is she a leader in our franchise system, but also within her local community. We were impressed by Tina’s grassroots efforts to help women and children in need and by how much her fundraiser has grown over the years. It is amazing how one woman can make a difference in the community." A resident of Spring Township, Pa., Hogue has been a CruiseOne franchise owner in Wyomissing, Pa. for two years, and previously worked as a CruiseOne associate for four years. In 2003, Hogue donated 100 Easter Baskets for Berks Women In Crisis (BWIC), a non-profit organization that provides a safe haven and ongoing support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and called the program "Easter Baskets for Berks." Since that first year, the initiative has grown among local businesses and churches and Hogue now donates nearly 1,000 baskets to more than five local non-profit organizations in her area including the Children's Home of Reading, 2nd Street Learning Center at Opportunity House, Mary's Shelter and Pathstone. She hopes to become a national non-profit organization with fundraisers throughout the country. More information on Easter Baskets for Berks can be found at www.facebook.com/EBforB. A member of the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce, Hogue also supports the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and Goodwill Industries, an organization that provides training and job placement for people with disabilities. She has received many accolades for her community involvement. In 2010, she became the first recipient of the Live United Award given by the Berks County United Way and was a nominee for Profits for Passion in both 2012 and 2013, a Berks County community award for business owners with a passion for giving back to the community. If you have a passion for travel and an entrepreneurial spirit and are interested in opening a CruiseOne travel franchise, please complete the form below for more information. About CruiseOne® Celebrating 22 years in business, the home-based travel franchise CruiseOne® is ranked in the top one percent of all franchises worldwide and is a member of the International Franchise Association. As part of World Travel Holdings, the world’s largest cruise retailer, CruiseOne franchisees are able to offer their customers the lowest possible pricing on vacations with its 100 percent "Best Price and Satisfaction Guarantee." CruiseOne has received partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines including Norwegian Cruise Line®, Royal Caribbean International®, Celebrity Cruises® and Carnival® Cruise Line. For more information on CruiseOne, visit www.CruiseOneFranchise.com. Like CruiseOne on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CruiseOneFranchise, and follow us on Twitter at @CruiseOneBiz. ###