Leading travel franchise sets sights on California

ANAHEIM, CA – Expedia CruiseShipCenters, part of the Expedia Inc family of brands, has identified port cities in California as prime markets for its retail travel agency franchise concept specializing in cruise vacations. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), 23 million people worldwide are expected to have taken a cruise in 2015 and more than 65 additional ships will enter the market over the next five years. As the cruising industry continues to thrive, Expedia CruiseShipCenters is rapidly expanding and has experienced record growth in the past year. The company is on track to open 30 new stores in 2015 alone.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters is aiming to award 150 franchise locations in the United States over the next three years with three cities along California’s coast targeted for expansion – Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. The state continues to be a hot market for cruising and CLIA reports that more than 11 percent of all cruisers in the United States were sourced from California in 2014. With four bustling cruise ports in Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, Californians are within easy driving distance of a dream vacation at sea. The World Cruise Center at the Port of Los Angeles is the West Coast’s largest cruise ship terminal serving more than a dozen cruise lines.

“Expedia CruiseShipCenters is growing to meet demand and provide opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to invest in a travel franchise with a proven model and a powerful brand,” said Matthew Eichhorst, president of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “Because of the growing popularity of cruising and the multitude of options now available, the complexity of booking a cruise is also increasing. Our brick and mortar franchise model is more in demand now than ever before in the history of our company. I look forward to watching our brand expand throughout the nation and on the burgeoning West Coast in particular.”

Chris Meyer, 57, a former journalist with a passion for travel and now owner of Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Laguna Hills, did not waste any time pursuing the franchise opportunity with Expedia CruiseShipCenters when he came across the concept in 2011. After opening in a high traffic retail space next to the Trader Joe’s in his neighborhood, he immediately began setting sales records in his first year. Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ travel agency franchises specialize in cruise vacations, but can also sell flights, hotels, vacation packages and more, all at Expedia prices.

“Southern California, as well as the rest of the state, is ready for more Expedia CruiseShipCenters locations given the success I’ve had since opening, the number of thriving ports along the coast, the significant amount of cruisers from California and the growing popularity of cruises,” Meyer said. “I chose Expedia CruiseShipCenters because it was a franchise offering the systems and training that ensures success.”

Expedia CruiseShipCenters will be exhibiting at the West Coast Franchise Expo (WCFE) between Nov. 12 and 14 at the Anaheim Convention Center in booth No. 437. The travel company will present its retail travel franchise opportunities to passionate entrepreneurs seeking business ownership. The WCFE is the perfect venue for the Expedia CruiseShipCenters and entrepreneurs like Meyer to connect, especially considering the thriving cruise industry and the company’s growth plans.