The article explains how treatment needs, daily habits, appearance, and patient responsibilities can influence the choice between orthodontic options.

EASTON, Md., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What should you consider when choosing between braces and Invisalign?

HelloNation has published an article featuring insights from Expert Orthodontists Dr. Erik Higginbottom and Dr. Kyle Higginbottom of Higginbottom Orthodontics in Easton, MD. The article explains how patients can compare treatment methods based on orthodontic needs, personal preferences, and daily responsibilities.

The HelloNation article explains that braces use brackets and wires to guide teeth into new positions over time. Because braces remain attached throughout treatment, patients do not need to remember to replace them after meals or brushing. They do, however, require adjustments to eating and cleaning routines.

Invisalign works differently by using removable trays that gradually move teeth according to a treatment plan set up by the orthodontist. These clear aligners are changed as directed while progress is monitored during regular appointments. Patients must wear them consistently for the recommended amount of time to keep treatment progressing. Compliance is KEY.

The orthodontic problem is an important consideration when comparing these approaches. Different bite concerns and tooth positions can require different types of movement. An orthodontic evaluation allows an orthodontist to assess those needs and determine which options can produce the necessary movements.

Treatment goals also influence the decision. Some patients may need relatively straightforward teeth straightening, while others have more complex bite or positioning concerns. The article notes that braces can offer advantages for certain movements, while clear aligners can be appropriate for many other cases.

Daily habits are particularly important with Invisalign because the trays are removable. Patients need to keep track of the trays during meals and replace them afterward. Following the recommended wear schedule can play an important role in treatment progress.

Oral hygiene requires attention with either approach. Patients with fixed appliances must carefully clean around brackets and wires where food and plaque may collect. Removable trays allow patients to brush and floss normally, but the trays themselves also require cleaning. Maintaining good oral hygiene remains important throughout treatment.

Eating habits differ as well. Patients with fixed appliances may need to avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that could damage brackets or wires. Clear aligners are removed during meals, allowing patients to eat their usual foods before cleaning their teeth and replacing the trays.

The article also discusses comfort and appearance. Both methods apply controlled pressure to encourage tooth movement, so temporary soreness can occur. Removable trays are designed to be less noticeable, while some patients may prefer a fixed treatment that does not depend on remembering to wear an appliance.

Treatment time cannot be determined by the method alone. The length of orthodontic treatment depends on case complexity, required tooth movement, individual response, and patient cooperation. Regular appointments allow an orthodontist to monitor progress and determine whether adjustments are necessary.

Cost may also influence the decision, but the article recommends considering fees alongside treatment needs. Pricing can vary based on complexity, treatment length, and the method selected. Patients should understand what is included when comparing costs.

An orthodontic evaluation provides a foundation for making that comparison. Tooth position, bite alignment, treatment goals, and expected movement can all be reviewed before a suitable approach is selected. The article concludes that both methods can provide effective orthodontic treatment when chosen for appropriate cases.

Braces vs. Invisalign: What Should You Consider When Choosing? features insights from Dr. Erik Higginbottom and Dr. Kyle Higginbottom, Expert Orthodontists of Easton, MD, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

John W. Bordelon to retire as Chief Executive Officer effective January 8, 2027; Darren E. Guidry to assume Chief Executive Officer role

LAFAYETTE, La., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Home Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: HBCP) (the “Company”), the parent company for Home Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”) (www.home24bank.com), today announced that Mr. John W. Bordelon will retire as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company and the Bank, effective January 8, 2027. Mr. Bordelon’s retirement marks the culmination of more than 45 years of distinguished service and leadership to the Company and the Bank. Following his retirement as CEO, he will continue to serve as Chairman and as a member of the boards of directors of the Company and the Bank, supporting continuity during the leadership transition and thereafter.

“On behalf of the Board, we extend our sincere appreciation to John for his extraordinary leadership, dedication, and lasting contributions over more than four decades of service,” said Chris Rader, Chairman of Nominating and Governance Committee. “John has helped guide the Company and the Bank through significant growth and change, and we are grateful that he will continue to provide leadership and continuity as Chairman. We are also confident that Darren’s experience, institutional knowledge, and strategic focus position him well to lead the organization into its next chapter.”

Effective upon Mr. Bordelon’s retirement, Mr. Darren E. Guidry will assume the role as CEO and continue as the President of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Guidry has served as President for the Company and the Bank since July 1, 2026. Since joining the organization in 1993, he has contributed to a balanced approach to growth and risk management, advanced the Company’s strategic priorities, and reinforced its commitment to long-term shareholder value.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank,” said Mr. Guidry. “This is an exciting time for our organization, and I look forward to working with our Board, leadership team, and associates to build on our strong foundation, advance our strategic priorities, and continue delivering long-term value for our customers, communities, employees, and shareholders. I am grateful to John for his outstanding leadership and for the lasting impact he has made on our organization.”

“Serving as Chief Executive Officer and formerly President has been one of the great privileges of my career,” said Mr. Bordelon. “I am proud of all that our team has accomplished and confident that, under Darren’s leadership, the Company and the Bank are well positioned for continued success. I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and watching the organization continue to thrive in the years ahead.”

About Home Bancorp

Home Bancorp is a Louisiana corporation that became the holding company for Home Bank N.A. in October 2008 upon Home Bank’s mutual to stock conversion. Home Bank is a federally chartered, community-oriented bank which was originally organized in 1908 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana. Home Bank, N.A., founded in 1908 as Home Building & Loan, is the oldest financial institution founded in Lafayette Parish and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana. We have expanded to serve markets in South Louisiana, Natchez, Mississippi, and the Greater Houston area.

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SOURCE Home Bancorp, Inc.

With 23 innovations in 2026, Cruise Planners raises the bar for AI-powered travel technology, transforming how advisors research, market, sell and grow their businesses

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cruise Planners is once again setting the pace for artificial intelligence (AI) and technology innovation in the travel industry, unveiling a powerful new generation of AI-driven solutions at its annual CP World conference. With 23 innovations introduced in 2026, Cruise Planners continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, delivering sophisticated, proprietary technology designed to give its franchise owners a distinct competitive advantage.

While much of the travel industry continues to explore the possibilities of artificial intelligence, Cruise Planners is putting AI into action across nearly every aspect of an advisor’s business. From conversational vacation research and predictive sales intelligence to automated digital marketing and connected itinerary management, the company’s expanding technology ecosystem helps advisors work smarter, sell more and deliver exceptional personalized service.

The five featured innovations—Maxx Assist, Maxx Reach, Genius Agents, enhanced Trip Summary and Maxx SharePlace—represent the next evolution of Cruise Planners’ commitment to technology leadership. Unveiled before more than 1,300 travel advisors and suppliers at CP World 2026, these innovations build on an extensive suite of proprietary tools designed to keep Cruise Planners advisors ahead of the competition.

“At Cruise Planners, we don’t wait for the future of travel technology. We build it,” said Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners. “We’ve always believed that technology should be one of the greatest competitive advantages we give our franchise owners, and AI is taking that commitment to an entirely new level. While others are still talking about what AI can do, we’re delivering powerful, practical solutions that are transforming how our advisors run their businesses. From identifying the next sales opportunity to researching an entire vacation in minutes, we’re putting AI to work in ways that drive real results. Our mission is simple: to give Cruise Planners advisors the most innovative technology and the strongest competitive advantage possible.”

AI That Works. Innovation That Leads.

Maxx Assist: Revolutionizing Vacation Research with Conversational AI.
Built directly into Cruise Planners’ technology ecosystem, the AI-powered tool helps advisors research flights, transfers, pre- and post-cruise hotels, excursions, insurance quotes and more through a single conversational, natural language interface. For an existing cruise booking, Maxx Assist understands where clients are traveling and when, giving advisors a contextual starting point for building the complete trip faster, smarter and easier.

Maxx Reach: Transforming Predictive AI into Revenue Opportunities.
Each week, the AI-powered sales tool matches promotions, offers and sailings with clients based on a myriad of signals including past travel, marketing behaviors, supplier loyalty and predictive analysis. Recommendations include a Maxx Reach Score indicating the strength of the opportunity, a suggested brand, offer or sailing, and talking points to help start the conversation. Within CP Maxx, advisors can act on recommendations by sending an eCard, creating a flyer and tracking outreach.

Genius Agents: An AI-Powered Digital Marketing Workforce.
Three specialized AI-powered agents help advisors get found, build trust and stay visible. The Reputation Agent creates on-brand responses to online reviews and flags sensitive feedback for personal attention. The Search Agent optimizes local business listings to improve search visibility. The Social Agent creates and publishes on-brand content tailored to individual businesses, routing sensitive content for human review. The agents learn from advisor feedback and actions over time to refine their responses and recommendations.

Trip Summary: Redefining the Itinerary Experience.
The upgraded itinerary builder within CP Maxx introduces a refreshed interface, flexible free-form proposal sections, expanded supplier lookups, integrated hotel imagery and client-view tracking. Two-way synchronization between Trip Summary and advisor bookings reduces duplicate entry and helps keep trip information current. Advisors can also import details from any supplier confirmation for tours, hotels and flights, reducing manual entry while creating polished, comprehensive itineraries. With sophisticated new capabilities and seamless integration within CP Maxx, Trip Summary delivers a powerful itinerary-building experience that rivals standalone solutions while remaining included at no additional cost for Cruise Planners advisors.

Maxx SharePlace: Powering Collaboration Across the Cruise Planners Network.
The new resource-sharing space allows advisors to contribute and access templates, text snippets, Maxx Creator flyers, newsletter assets, information buckets and other materials created by their peers. Inspired by collaboration already taking place across the Cruise Planners network, Maxx SharePlace makes practical advisor expertise easier to share and reuse throughout the network.

Beyond AI Tools: Building the Future of the Travel Advisor Business
Cruise Planners’ technology leadership goes beyond the number of innovations it introduces. The company’s greatest differentiator is how its proprietary tools, AI-powered intelligence and marketing capabilities work together to create a smarter, more connected business environment for its franchise owners.

Through its proprietary CP Maxx platform, Cruise Planners continues to integrate artificial intelligence, predictive sales intelligence, marketing automation, booking capabilities, itinerary management and business analytics into a comprehensive technology ecosystem designed specifically for travel advisors.

From identifying the next sales opportunity with Maxx Reach and simplifying vacation research through Maxx Assist to creating seamless itineraries with Trip Summary, automating digital marketing with Genius Agents and sharing resources through Maxx SharePlace, each innovation contributes to a more efficient and connected advisor experience.

Together, these advancements represent a fundamental shift from technology that simply helps advisors complete tasks to intelligent solutions that proactively uncover opportunities, automate processes and support business growth.

Cruise Planners isn’t simply adding AI to its technology platform. It’s building an AI-powered business ecosystem designed to give its advisors a competitive advantage at every stage of their business.

An Unmatched Commitment to Technology Innovation.
The CP World announcements extend a year of innovations across consumer discovery, advisor operations and client engagement. Redesigned corporate and franchise websites support visibility and connections with travelers, while the CP Mobile redesign makes it easier for clients to find inspiration, book vacations, manage trips and reach their advisor. Direct hotel consumer booking adds another way for travelers to book through advisor digital channels.

“Every year, I think Cruise Planners can’t possibly top what they’ve already created, and then they introduce innovations like these,” said Alena Einfeldt, Cruise Planners franchise owner based in Hollywood, Florida. “What’s most exciting is how much time these AI-powered tools are going to give back to us. Between simplifying vacation research, automating marketing, and identifying new sales opportunities, we’re eliminating hours of work that used to be done manually. That means more time to connect with clients, close sales and focus on growing our businesses. It’s another example of why Cruise Planners continues to lead the industry in technology and innovation.”

Additional innovations include Flight Tracker enhancements, Ask Maxx V2, the Maxx Intelligence redesign, AI Cruise Import, AI Cruise Search, Hotel Sheets, Additional Rates, Maxx Media, the My Settings redesign and the Maxx Adventures Game. These tools expand research and selling capabilities, simplify access to business insights and marketing assets, and make training more interactive.

Cruise Planners’ specialty marketing magazines—including the River & Expedition Guide, Romance Guide and Luxury Look Book—give advisors evergreen content to inspire travelers and showcase specialized experiences. Digital editions are available at no cost through advisor websites, extending their value beyond the initial launch.

CP World Brings the “Game On” Theme to Life
CP World 2026 brings together more than 1,300 Cruise Planners advisors and suppliers in Fort Lauderdale for education, training, networking and a first look at the company’s latest innovations. With a “Game On” theme, the conference reinforces Cruise Planners’ commitment to equipping franchise owners with the technology, marketing resources and business development opportunities they need to stay ahead of the competition.

Held at the Broward County Convention Center, CP World features travel industry partners, breakout sessions, a trade show, and presentations, panels and fireside chats with senior executives from leading cruise, tour and resort brands. The experience extends beyond the convention center with ship tours, professional headshots and networking, followed by a four-night conference sailing aboard Princess Cruises’ Star Princess to Grand Turk, featuring additional educational sessions at sea.

Beyond the announcements and experiences, CP World reflects Cruise Planners’ larger vision for the future of travel—one where cutting-edge technology, AI-powered innovation and the expertise of professional travel advisors come together to create an extraordinary competitive advantage.

“Technology innovation has always been part of our DNA, and we’re accelerating that investment like never before,” said Fee. “Our advisors deserve more than tools that help them keep up. They deserve technology that puts them ahead. That’s why we continue to push boundaries, challenge what’s possible and deliver solutions that give our franchise owners an extraordinary competitive advantage. AI is transforming our industry, and Cruise Planners is committed to leading that transformation.”

With 23 innovations introduced in 2026, Cruise Planners is demonstrating that its commitment to technology leadership goes far beyond announcements. By combining powerful AI capabilities, proprietary technology, industry-leading marketing programs and comprehensive advisor education, Cruise Planners is equipping its franchise owners to work smarter, grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences.

For Cruise Planners, “Game On” is more than a conference theme. It’s a commitment to staying ahead of the competition, redefining what’s possible and leading the next era of travel technology and AI innovation.

For additional information about Cruise Planners, CP World 2026 or the company’s latest technology and marketing innovations, please contact LeAnne Weekes at PR@CruisePlanners.com. 

About Cruise Planners  

Cruise Planners was founded in 1994 and is the nation’s largest home-based travel agent franchise network. As a leader in the travel franchise industry, Cruise Planners positions a nation-wide network of 3,000 franchise owners for success by providing innovative marketing programs, proprietary and cutting-edge booking and technology tools, as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. The company continues to be an industry leader and was named the No.1 travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 18 consecutive years and was awarded by Franchise Business Review as “Best-In-Category” for 3 years.  

Cruise Planners received a 99% franchise owner satisfaction report from Franchise Business Review for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Franchise Business Review also ranked Cruise Planners #3 OVERALL on their list of Top 200 Franchises. Cruise Planners was recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology, has been consistently named as one of the Top Women-Owned Businesses by the South Florida Business Journal, is on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and was recognized as one of the Top Workplaces by the Sun Sentinel.  

Visit our website, www.cruiseplanners.com, for more information or to view the complete list of awards and honors. For those interested in becoming a franchise owner, please visit https://www.cruiseplannersfranchise.com/. 

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SOURCE Cruise Planners Franchising, LLC