Expedia Cruises Sets Sail on National Conference

Last updated on August 23rd, 2022

Our Annual Conference at Sea for Franchisees is Back and Better Than Ever

Each year our Franchisees, along with our corporate team members, look forward to our much anticipated annual National Conference at sea. This year the anticipation was at an all-time high as we had to forego our conference in 2020 and 2021, due to the global pandemic. From embarkation to disembarkation the energy and excitement on the ship was palpable. After two grueling years, and a lot of uncertainty, our annual conference brought back a sense of normalcy and reignited our belief of a bright future for travel. That’s why, as an Expedia Cruises franchise owner, attending our National Conference is so much more than setting sail on an amazing cruise, it’s an opportunity to come together to celebrate our successes (both personally and professionally) and to prepare for the year ahead.

This April, we welcomed over 300 of our franchise owners, travel industry executives and corporate team members, onboard the Discovery Princess for a roundtrip Mexico sailing from Los Angeles. The five-day conference consisted of an action-packed agenda with executive keynote presentations, workshops, supply partner 1 on 1’s, and panel discussions surrounding the recovery of the cruise and travel industries, as well as helping our franchisees prepare for the year ahead.

“Our annual conference represents a unique moment when our entire industry and system are united in the same space. Our Franchise Owners, Corporate executives, and industry thought leaders gather to share best practices, build relationships, and drive the industry forward,” says Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia Cruises

Keep Your Finger on the Pulse

Each year, we thoughtfully craft the week at sea with our franchisees in mind. Our goal is to provide maximum value for our franchise owners as they take time away from their Center to work on their business. We organize a variety of educational workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, and fun networking events with our own corporate team members, industry leaders, suppliers, and fellow franchisees. Plus, a little downtime in the sun! By the end of the week, our franchisees come home with a renewed and elevated level of excitement for their business.

“It was so wonderful to be together again and the content and offerings were great. The corporate team was well prepared, upbeat, and very engaged with us. Thank you for the opportunity to come together! It was just the shot in the arm I needed to come home and get to work!!!” – Expedia Cruises Franchisee

Build and Establish Relationships

Another benefit of attending National Conference is getting to meet or reconnect with members of the corporate team that you work so closely with! You will also get to spend some quality time with your fellow franchisees who are truly your built-in support network. Having a group of people to turn to, who have been in your shoes, is an incredible resource for a franchisee. Whether you’re just starting out and want advice on recruiting your dream team, or have been in business for years and are looking for fresh new ideas to reach travelers in your community, you’ll find the franchisees in our network have invaluable insights and are always willing to help each other succeed.

“Despite being under excessively trying conditions for a very long time, I thought the Conference was very well organized and solidly successful. Hearty round of applause for the Corporate Team and the participating Suppliers for accomplishing a great deal.  A Conference hallmark was the amount of ‘Openness and Vulnerability’ shown not only on stage during various keynotes, but also off stage by many attendees. Some dinner conversations became unusually genuine and to a degree solemn, as some people took a few moments of personal reflection about what they had been through since March 2020, and how they felt” – Expedia Cruises Franchisee

Experience the Company Culture

Traveling should be a fun experience, and we share that sentiment across our company (both at the corporate and franchise level). At Expedia Cruises we’re dedicated to recognizing our success when we’ve earned it and making fun a priority – it’s truly at the heart of what we do. We carry this same enthusiasm for fun and recognition into National Conference, as well the smaller events held throughout the year, by hosting Awards Dinner Galas, theme nights, cocktail parties, fundraisers and more.

This year’s National Conference was no exception as we made sure to have a good balance of fun and work! In between training, learning, and networking, we hosted entertaining cocktail parties, delectable dinners, and enjoyed a beautiful and sunny port day in Cabo San Lucas. Everyone also took to the ship deck for a “Party Animals” party where they dressed to impress in their best “Party Animal” themed costume.

Our franchisees live our mantra of Stronger.Together® and enjoy time together while recognizing our combined and individual accomplishments.

Our Charity of Choice: Breast Cancer Research and Awareness

For more than 20 years, Expedia Cruises has been supporting a cause that’s close to our hearts: breast cancer research and awareness. As our designated charity of choice, our entire organization gets behind this cause each year to raise funds to fight this disease that has impacted so many of our Franchisees, Vacation Consultants, corporate staff, and customers.

During National Conference our franchisees, supply partners, and corporate staff members head to the top deck, dressed in their best pink attire, to do the Walk for the Cure. This year we raised over $20,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness and had over 25 prizes donated by our supply partners, valued at over $95,000.

Learn more about starting your own travel agency franchise

Expedia Cruises is North America’s Full-Service Leisure Travel Agency specializing in air, land, and sea vacations and backed by one of largest travel brands in the world, Expedia Group. Build equity and enjoy a great lifestyle with our proven franchise model with 35 years of success. Expedia Cruises currently has over 280 retail locations open or under development across North America. As the cruise industry rebounds, customers are seeking the expert advice of a travel agent who can create customized travel plans and provide personal service.

If you’re ready to learn more, we invite you to continue exploring the Expedia Cruises franchise opportunity by completing the form below.