expert advice for travelers

Cruise Industry Leader Makes Waves in Franchising with Strategic Multi-unit Growth

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Expedia CruiseShipCenters, a leading cruise travel agency franchise, announced the awarding of its 300^th franchise agreement, reaching a major milestone for the rapidly expanding retail travel agency franchise. The milestone was achieved as a result of two multi-unit agreements that will bring Centers to Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Expedia CruiseShipCenters signed its first multi-unit agreement in 2018 and the multi-unit franchise opportunity has proven to play a strong, strategic role in the brand’s rapid expansion.

This milestone only builds momentum for the brand as it works toward an overall growth vision of reaching 500-locations in North America over the next five years. As the cruise industry continues to surge with 30 million passengers expected to cruise by 2027 – a 34 percent increase from five years prior – Expedia CruiseShipCenters is poised to capitalize on the growing industry. The cruise industry has made tremendous waves this year with a $69B investment that will debut 24 new ocean liners and 20 new river ships by year-end.

“The industry is hot and as we continue to grow and innovate, we aim to become the number one retail cruise agency in North America,” said Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “This 300^th signed agreement milestone is a true testament to the strong Franchise Partners we’ve grown with and our incredible corporate team. It is a time to celebrate and continue to build as we march toward our next growth goals.”

This milestone was achieved on the foundation of a strong 2018 as Expedia CruiseShipCenters awarded 26 new franchises and achieved over $790 million in gross bookings. Most notable, Expedia CruiseShipCenters was ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Franchise 500 ranking. The prestigious ranking is a testament to the brand’s ability to grow its footprint across North America while continuing to provide unparalleled franchisee support and customer service.

At Expedia CruiseShipCenters, customers can choose from numerous vacation possibilities over land, sea and air, including customized trips, coach and rail tours and insurance – all at Expedia Group prices. Centers offer personal vacation consultations in person, through email or over the phone, so customers have the freedom to book when, where, and how they choose. As part of the Expedia Group family of brands, customers get to enjoy the best of two worlds; competitive pricing on a wide range of travel products and expert, personalized advice from a real person connected to a locally owned business.

With plans to open 35 new franchise locations throughout 2019, Expedia CruiseShipCenters continues to provide business opportunities for driven team leaders who want to build income, equity, and a great lifestyle with a retail business they are passionate about. The brand has eyes set on key development markets including Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, Illinois, and Washington.

To learn more about Expedia CruiseShipCenters please visit https://expediafranchise.com/.

Travel Brand Celebrates Sales Milestone After Regional Cruise Promotion

BELLEVUE, Wash. — The top cruise travel agency franchise in North America, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, continues to exceed expectations as they book their clients on the perfect cruise adventure. From June 6-8, 2019, all Expedia CruiseShipCenters franchise locations worked together to secure a record number of cruise vacations for families and travelgoers.

In a large-scale effort to provide as many cruisers possible a once-in-a-lifetime experience at an incredible value, Expedia CruiseShipCenters collaborated with Princess Cruises in a bold three-day-long promotional event. Travelers had the opportunity to access unbeatable deals, the best value on new itineraries, various exclusive Expedia® Extras such as free drinks, free gratuities, $50 onboard cash credit, over $750 savings in onboard coupons, reduced deposit, and more.

“The Princess 3 Day Sale took the saying ‘It takes a village’ to a whole new level,” said Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “Everything fell into place. Our success was due to our dedicated team members who supported each other through the entire weekend. Marketing drove great lead generation and technical support handled our entire back end so bookings could be made seamlessly. This was an all hands on deck experience and everyone came together in stunning fashion.”

Princess Cruises allows travelgoers to take the plunge to discover new things, take in new cultures, try new decadent cuisines and come back home feeling relaxed and refreshed. If you’re looking for an award-winning cruise line that offers world-class entertainment, gourmet cuisines, enriching activities, blissful relaxation, and vast destination options, Princess Cruises has it all.

At Expedia CruiseShipCenters, customers can choose from numerous vacation possibilities over land, sea and air, including customized trips, coach and rail tours and insurance – all at Expedia prices. Each franchise location offers personal vacation consultations in person, through email or over the phone, so customers have the freedom to book when, where, and how they choose. As part of the Expedia Group family of brands, customers get to enjoy the best of two worlds: competitive pricing on a wide range of travel products and expert, personalized advice from a real person connected to a locally owned business.

Join a company that cares. With an Expedia CruiseShipCenters travel franchise, you can enjoy the benefits of owning a retail business, while making dream vacations come true. To learn more about Expedia CruiseShipCenters please visit https://expediafranchise.com/.

With More Ships Than Ever, Customers can Save Big on Last Minute Sailings to The Last Frontier

BELLEVUE, Wash. — There has never been a better time than now to discover Alaska! With the Alaska season now underway, more passengers than ever are looking to see the icy fjords up close while taking advantage of significant savings for booking a last-minute cruise.

The top cruise travel agency franchise in North America, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, continues to see high demand for Alaska in the Pacific Northwest with the deployment of two brand new ships – Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy – which are offering 7-day roundtrip sailings from Seattle, for prices as low as $599 per person. The Norwegian Joy features the thrilling two-level race track, a virtual world of wonder at the Galaxy Pavilion, new concierge level accommodations, and stunning views from the observation lounges – perfect for families, couples, and anyone looking to relax while taking in The Last Frontier.

“Alaska continues to grow in popularity, but this season is like none other with the largest deployment of cruise ships yet,” said Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “With this many cruise ships, our customers really win – they get to choose the widest selection of ships yet and get to enjoy significant savings as cruise lines look to fill their unsold staterooms. We see this as a fantastic opportunity for our Franchisees to help their customers check off Alaska from their bucket list, along with introduce new people to cruising for the first time!”

At Expedia CruiseShipCenters, customers can choose from numerous vacation possibilities over land, sea and air, including customized trips, coach and rail tours and insurance – all at Expedia prices. Each franchise location offers personal vacation consultations in person, through email or over the phone, so customers have the freedom to book when, where, and how they choose. As part of the Expedia Group family of brands, customers get to enjoy the best of two worlds: competitive pricing on a wide range of travel products and expert, personalized advice from a real person connected to a locally owned business.

For more information about booking vacations and exploring Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ Alaska cruise offerings, please visit www.cruiseshipcenters.com.

Cruise Industry Leader Announces New Multi-Unit Signed Agreements; Sets Growth Goal for 20 Additional Locations by 2024

ORLANDO, Fla. — Expedia CruiseShipCenters, the top cruise travel agency franchise in North America, has announced targeted expansion plans to bring additional retail travel franchise locations to Florida. Joining the 17 existing locations already open and operating across the state, three additional locations in development, and three recently signed multi-unit agreements, the leading travel franchise brand aims to have 20 more locations open and operating throughout Florida over the next five years.

Folded into an overall growth vision for the brand, its Florida development efforts are key to Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ goal to reach its 500-location milestone in North America over the next five years. Kickstarting this latest expansion are two locations set to open this summer in Ocoee and Plantation, and one location set to open this fall in the Bradenton area.

Multi-unit agreements have played a strong, strategic role in the brand’s rapid expansion across the state. So far in 2019, Expedia CruiseShipCenters has signed three multi-unit agreements that will bring a total of 10 new locations to Florida. Avid entrepreneur Kristan Hamill will bring four locations to the Brandon and Bradenton areas. After 15 years of growing 40 Domino’s franchises, Hamill was ready for her next adventure in travel. Edgardo Rivera, an emergency physician and former U.S. Air Force Officer, will bring three locations throughout Orlando, Kissimmee, and Lake County. Debbie Moreland, a former McDonald’s multi-unit franchisee, is pursuing a second-act career and will add three locations throughout the Jacksonville area. As the cruise industry continues to surge, Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ multi-unit franchise opportunity has provided eager Franchise Partners a path to entrepreneurship that allows for extensive growth.

“According to Cruise Lines International Association, 2.1 million people from Florida took a cruise in 2018, an increase of 14 percent from the previous year. As demand for cruising continues to increase with 30 million passengers expected to cruise in 2019, we are confident that the number of cruisers in Florida will continue to rise,” said Bob Tipple, Vice President, Franchising. “Florida is home to three of the busiest cruise ports in the world: Port Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades. With a total of five cruise ports in the state, more than any other in the U.S., we’re confident our strategic expansion will remain strong and steady.”

Expedia CruiseShipCenters awarded 26 new franchises, achieved over $790 million in gross bookings, and exhibited 17 percent year-over-year growth in 2018. Riding this wave of success, the brand plans to open even more locations this year with a particular focus throughout Florida including all across the Panhandle, including Tallahassee, Florida’s east coast, from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville, and South Florida, including the greater Miami area.  The company is also focusing on a strategy to acquire independent travel agencies with great real estate locations and re-brand them under the Expedia CruiseShipCenters banner.

With plans to open 35 new franchise locations throughout 2019, Expedia CruiseShipCenters continues to provide business opportunities for driven team leaders who want to build income, equity, and a great lifestyle with a retail business they are passionate about.

For more information about franchise opportunities with Expedia CruiseShipCenters visit www.expediafranchise.com.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Expedia® CruiseShipCenters® – part of the Expedia group family of brands – recently celebrated its highly anticipated annual National Conference at sea. This year, the franchise company welcomed attendees onboard Carnival Dream®, all while celebrating last year’s big wins and setting major growth milestones for the year ahead.

The theme for the annual event, attended by over 500 Franchise Partners, corporate support staff and travel industry partners, was “Customer First.”  The brand is putting a refined focus on customers and partners at the center of its product, service innovation, and decision making. With the ultimate goal of best understanding its target customers and partners as well as what each individually values, Expedia CruiseShipCenters is striving to find innovative ways to create an exceptional experience with every customer interaction.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters is working to meet this goal through initiatives which include integrating a state-of-the-art search and booking engine into the Center websites, applying market segmentation analysis to find targeted customers in specific neighborhoods, and developing new training resources to build the confidence and skills of both new and experienced Consultants. As more passengers are expected to travel and the industry continues to grow, Expedia CruiseShipCenters is poised for success.

Kicking off the keynote speakers during the week at sea was President of Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Matthew Eichhorst. His keynote, “An Incredible Journey: The Best is Yet to Come” painted a very promising future for the cruise industry. With 30 million passengers expected to cruise by 2027 – a 34 percent increase from five years prior, a $69B investment, 24 ocean liners and 20 river ships set to debut in 2019, Expedia CruiseShipCenters is excited to capitalize on the growing industry.

“In four years, we aim to become the number one cruise agency in North America by focusing on a customer centric platform and differentiating ourselves from the competition,” said Eichhorst. “Every individual in our franchise system is passionate about helping cruisers plan and purchase their cruise seamlessly across all channels. With the introduction of new tools and resources, we are confident we will have a successful 2019.”

Other keynote speakers included:

• Cathy Denroche, Regional Sales Director for Oceania Cruises, who shared the wisdom behind Aristotle’s “Fortune Favours the Bold.”
• Adolfo Perez, Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Marketing for Carnival Cruise Line, spoke of how taking small steps can generate incredible results in business and in life.
• Dondra Ritzenthaler, Senior Vice Present of Sales and Trade Support & Services for Celebrity Cruises, discussed The Three P’s — Power, Passion, and Purpose – and how incorporating these elements in your day-to-day can make a positive impact in your personal and professional lives, as well as those who enter your Centers.

During the conference, Expedia CruiseShipCenters also came together in support of its charity of choice, breast cancer research and awareness. Through fundraising initiatives at the corporate and franchise level, with a matched donation from Expedia Group, the company raised more than $30,000 – contributing to its year-to-date total of more than $320,000.

With plans to open 35 new franchise locations by the year’s end, Expedia CruiseShipCenters continues to provide business opportunities for driven team leaders who want to enjoy the benefits of owning a retail business, while making dream vacations come true. Join a company that cares. To learn more about Expedia CruiseShipCenters franchise opportunities, please visit https://expediafranchise.com/.

For more information about Expedia CruiseShipCenters, please visit https://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/en-US/corporate.

Cruise Industry Leader Celebrates 2018 Milestones; Looks to Build on Innovation and Growth in 2019

BELLEVUE, Wash. — The top cruise travel agency franchise in North America, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, announced a milestone-heavy year for the growing brand. In 2018, the brick and mortar travel agency awarded its 100^th franchise in the U.S., signed its first multi-unit deal, and exhibited 17 percent year-over-year growth. Riding this wave of momentum in 2019, the company expects another high performing year with 35 new franchise locations projected to open.

Adding to the several notable growth achievements over the past year, Expedia CruiseShipCenters awarded 26 new franchises and achieved over $790 million in gross bookings in 2018. The brand also received industry recognition, winning Carnival Cruise Line’s Retail Partner of the Year Award, Holland America Line’s Franchise Agency Network Award, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Canadian Retail Partner of the Year, among several others. Most notable, Expedia CruiseShipCenters was ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Franchise 500 ranking. The prestigious ranking is a testament to the brand’s ability to grow its footprint across North America while continuing to provide unparalleled franchisee support and customer service.

“2018 was a strong year for the brand, as we achieved some new milestones, won a series of supplier awards, and continued to build on the success from last year,” said Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “We hope to keep this momentum going in 2019, and with our continued focus on agent recruitment and retention, and our plan to incorporate technology and data to drive our consumer outreach, I believe this will be another incredible year for us.”

In 2019, Expedia CruiseShipCenters has eyes set on key markets throughout the U.S. for development including Florida, Texas and California, Georgia, Illinois, and Washington.

With the cruise travel industry expected to continue its rise throughout 2019, Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ growth is in part driven by this continued demand. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) report, more than 30M passengers are expected to cruise in 2019 – a 34percent increase from five years prior. Additionally, 24 new ocean, river and specialty ships are scheduled to debut this year, with more than 125 new ships coming online between now and 2027.

For more information about franchise opportunities with Expedia CruiseShipCenters visit www.expediafranchise.com.