Why the Travel Agency Model Fits Today's Expedia Cruises Traveler

This Expedia Cruises video makes the case for the Expedia travel agency franchise model — built around the insight that travelers do their research online but want to speak with someone they trust when it is time to actually book a trip. Local Expedia Cruises franchise locations exist to be that trusted in-person guide while inheriting the buying power and brand recognition of Expedia Inc. The growth story behind the brand is significant. Over the next five years, Expedia Cruises plans to grow from 200 North American franchise locations to more than 500, with 50 added in Canada and US footprint expanding to roughly 300 locations. The industry is expanding underneath that growth: 57 new ocean-going cruise ships are coming online, each with average capacity of 3,000 passengers — adding 9.6 million new cruisers to the market over the next five to seven years. Inside a franchise location, the model centers on building a team of qualified, passionate vacation consultants who are themselves enthusiasts of travel. The brand emphasizes that consultants are not just selling cruises — they are putting together travel dreams for their clients, drawing on Expedia's full gamut of travel products. Average team size today is about 25 selling consultants per location, with no upper limit; the larger the team, the more interaction with the deep cruise-buyer database the brand brings to each franchisee. Operating support comes from a franchise performance coaching team that trains and guides owners and, more importantly, holds them accountable to their own growth goals. The video closes on the executive's personal note: he has no plans to do anything else — Expedia Cruises is the business he found. The watch page is part of the Expedia Cruises content series on Franchise Direct.