Franchising 101: Best Practices for Conducting Validation Calls

Franchising 101 Series · Article 4 of 7

By now you’ve worked through the Expedia Cruises discovery process, attended the education sessions, and reviewed the Franchise Disclosure Document. You have a solid understanding of the investment, the fee structure, the territory model, and the support system behind the opportunity.

But there’s one thing no document can give you — the unfiltered, firsthand perspective of someone who has actually done it.

That’s exactly what validation calls are for.

What Is a Validation Call?

A validation call is a one-on-one conversation with an existing Expedia Cruises franchise owner — someone who has been through the same discovery process you’re in right now, completed the Cruise Management Academy, opened their doors, built a team of Vacation Consultants, and is operating within the same four-pillar system you’ve been learning about.

It’s your chance to hear firsthand — unfiltered and unscripted — what it’s really like to run an Expedia Cruises franchise. The good, the challenging, and everything in between.

Unlike a sales conversation, this is peer-to-peer dialogue. You’re not being pitched. You’re gathering real-world intelligence from someone who uses CruiseDesk® every day, has experienced the Marketing Fund and promotional programs in action, and can speak honestly about what the corporate support team is actually like to work with.

When Should You Complete a Validation Call?

Timing matters. Your dedicated Franchise Advisor will guide you through our discovery process in a structured sequence — and validation calls are intentionally positioned toward the later stages.

By the time you reach this step, you’ll have already:

• Developed a solid understanding of the Expedia Cruises franchise model and our omnichannel approach to travel

• Learned about the comprehensive training and support our 100+ person corporate team provides

• Reviewed our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)

• Explored the investment details, including startup costs and financing options

This foundation is what makes validation calls so productive. When you go in informed, you can ask smarter questions — and get answers that are truly meaningful to your decision.

While completing a validation call is optional, we strongly encourage every prospective franchisee to do at least one. There is simply no substitute for hearing directly from someone who has been through the process and built a business within our system.

Where to find franchisees to call: Item 20 of the Expedia Cruises Franchise Disclosure Document lists all current and former franchise locations along with their contact information. This is your starting point — and it’s there specifically for this purpose. Your Franchise Advisor can also help connect you with franchise owners in your area who are happy to speak with prospective new owners.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Validation Call

Prepare Before You Dial

The difference between a good validation call and a great one comes down to preparation. Set aside dedicated time before the call to think through what you most want to learn. Here are some questions worth considering — tailored specifically to what you’ve learned about the Expedia Cruises system:

On the day-to-day reality:

• What does a typical week look like as an Expedia Cruises franchise owner?

• How long did it take to feel confident using CruiseDesk® and the tools provided?

• What was the Cruise Management Academy like, and how well did it prepare you to open?

On support and the system:

• How responsive has the corporate support team been — especially in the early months?

• How have the Marketing Fund promotions and cruise line partnerships actually performed for your business?

• What’s it like working within the four-pillar operating system day to day?

On the bigger picture:

• Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?

• How has the Expedia Cruises system evolved since you joined, and how has corporate communicated and managed those changes?

• What does the Stronger Together culture actually feel like from the inside?

These are the kinds of conversations that go beyond the brochure — and they’re exactly what this step is designed for.

Be Selective and Thoughtful

Every franchise owner’s experience is unique — and at Expedia Cruises, that’s especially true. Our franchise community includes people from remarkably diverse backgrounds: retired police officers and first responders looking for their next chapter, corporate professionals who wanted to build something of their own, stay-at-home parents re-entering the workforce on their own terms, teachers, healthcare workers, and entrepreneurs from all walks of life.

Their local markets, team-building approaches, and paths to ownership are all different. But they’ve all built success within the same proven system. That diversity is actually one of the most valuable things about validation calls — you get to hear how someone with a background similar to yours navigated the journey, and what it looked like for them specifically.

In fact, we have an entire article dedicated to this — from a retired NYPD homicide detective to a Coast Guard veteran to a long-haul truck driver, the stories are as varied as the people behind them.

Read Second-Act Careers: Before They Were Franchisees →

Practical Tips for the Call Itself

• Block enough time. Plan for at least 45–60 minutes. These conversations tend to be rich, and you don’t want to feel rushed.

• Call from a quiet space with a reliable connection. It sounds obvious but to really maximize your time on this call you’ll want to call from a quiet place with a reliable phone connection — small distractions can break the flow of a meaningful discussion. There’s nothing worse than traffic noise or a dropped call in the middle of an informative call like this. 

• Take notes. You’ll want to reference what you learned when you reach the final stages of your decision.

Franchise ownership is an incredibly rewarding endeavor and one that will challenge you in ways you may not have imagined. It’s important to take in and fully process all of the information you receive during the franchise discovery process and proceed with confidence that you’ve found the opportunity that is in line with your goals and interests.

Ready to Explore the Expedia Cruises Franchise Opportunity?

If you’re drawn to an opportunity that balances equity, lifestyle, and a passion for travel, we’d love to start the conversation. The power of the Expedia brand, a proven franchise model, and a team of 125+ dedicated corporate support staff are ready to work for you.

To learn more, fill out the form below, email jeff@expediafranchise.com, or call (778) 928-0053.

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This is Article 4 in our Franchising 101 series — a step-by-step guide to evaluating and purchasing a franchise with Expedia Cruises.

[← Article 3: How to Read and Understand the FDD]

[Article 5: What to Expect at Expedia Cruises Discovery Day → coming soon]