Franchising 101: How Our Franchise Discovery Process Works — Step by Step

Franchising 101 Series · Article 2 of 7

The Basics: What to Expect

Our franchise discovery process is completed with the guidance of our dedicated Franchise Advisor, Jeff Warkentin, and can be finished in as little as 30 days. It’s organized into three phases and eight clearly defined steps, each building on the last, so you always know exactly where you are and what comes next.

Every step is intentional. Each one prepares you for the next.

Phase One: Exploration

Steps 1–2 · Getting to know each other

Step 1: Initial Call

The process begins with a short introductory call — typically 10-15 minutes — with your dedicated Franchise Advisor, Jeff Warkentin. This is a brief, no-pressure conversation: a chance to get an honest overview of the opportunity and for both sides to determine if it’s worth exploring further.

Step 2: Exploration Meeting

If there’s a strong initial fit, you’ll move into a more in-depth exploration meeting (approximately 45 minutes). This is where you and your Franchise Advisor dig into your goals, your background, and what you’re looking for in a business — and map those against what the Expedia Cruises franchise opportunity actually offers. The goal is simple: make sure your ambitions and our model genuinely align before either of you invests more time.

Think of Phase One as the foundation. Everything that follows is built on this shared understanding.

Phase Two: Education

Steps 3–5 · Understanding the opportunity inside and out

Step 3: Education

This is where you go deep during 3 separate education calls with your Franchise Advisor. You’ll work through our online education program covering the Expedia Cruises franchise system and the support structure available to you as a franchise owner. You’ll learn about the four pillars of our franchise operating system:

• Recruitment & Onboarding — How you’ll attract, hire, and train your team of Vacation Consultants

• Leadership & Recognition — How you’ll lead, develop, and motivate your team to perform at their best

• Marketing & Promotions — The award-winning marketing programs, national campaigns, and exclusive cruise promotions your location will benefit from

• Planning & Performance — The business management tools, reporting systems, and operational resources that set our franchise owners up to run a well-managed, profitable business

Step 4: Qualification

Once you’ve completed the education phase, you’ll be invited to complete a detailed qualification form, including your financial information. This step helps ensure that both sides are aligned on the investment requirements and that you’re in a strong position to move forward successfully.

Step 5: FDD Review & Receipt

At this stage, you’ll receive your Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) — the legal document that provides a complete and transparent picture of the franchise, including investment details, fee structures, territory rights, franchisee obligations, and audited financials. Your Franchise Development Manager will walk you through it and address any questions or concerns.

Reading the FDD carefully is one of the most important steps in your due diligence. We cover exactly what’s in it — and what to pay attention to — in our article: How to Read and Understand the FDD →

Phase Three: Validation & Award

Steps 6–8 · Confirming your decision and getting awarded

By Phase Three, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the Expedia Cruises franchise opportunity. This phase is about confirming what you’ve learned — directly from the people who know it best — and taking the final steps toward becoming a franchise owner.

Step 6: Meet the President

You’ll join a group call with Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia Cruises and Head of Global Cruise for Expedia Group™. This is a genuine opportunity to hear directly from our top leadership on the direction of the company, the state of the cruise industry, and the long-term vision for the franchise system — and to ask the questions that matter most to you.

Validation Calls

Alongside the President’s Call, we strongly encourage you to connect one-on-one with existing Expedia Cruises franchise owners. Hearing directly from people already running the business is one of the most valuable things you can do at this stage.

We cover exactly how to prepare for and get the most out of these conversations in our article: Best Practices for Conducting Validation Calls → 

Step 7: Discovery Day

Arguably the most important step is attending Discovery Day at our corporate headquarters in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. You’ll spend a full day with our Senior Leadership Team and subject matter experts in both group sessions and one-on-one breakouts — experiencing our Stronger.Together® culture firsthand and filling in any remaining gaps in your due diligence.

Everything you need to know about Discovery Day is in our article: What to Expect at Expedia Cruises Discovery Day → coming soon

Step 8: Award

After Discovery Day, your application is reviewed by our Franchise Awarding Committee. Upon approval, the franchise is officially awarded — and your journey as an Expedia Cruises franchise owner begins.

This final step is a deliberate one. The awarding committee review ensures that every new franchise owner is set up for success and that the partnership is right for both sides. It’s the last checkpoint in a process designed to be thorough, transparent, and genuinely mutual.

Why We’ve Built It This Way

A lot of franchise companies rush prospective owners through their process. We don’t. The structure and sequence of our discovery process is intentional — each phase is designed to build on the last so that by the time you reach Discovery Day, there are no surprises and no unanswered questions.

We’ve been doing this for nearly 40 years, across hundreds of locations in North America. We’ve learned that the best franchise partnerships are the ones that start with the most informed decisions.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If you’re exploring what franchise ownership with Expedia Cruises could look like for you, the best place to start is a conversation. Reach out to our team and your Franchise Development Manager will guide you through the rest.

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

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This is Article 3 in our Franchising 101 series — a step-by-step guide to evaluating and purchasing a franchise with Expedia Cruises.

[← Article 1: Franchise vs. Starting From Scratch — Which Is Right for You?]
[Article 3: How to Read and Understand the FDD →]