Expedia Cruises Sets Sail for Growth in Western U.S., Announces Signed Agreements in Utah and Idaho

VANCOUVER – Expedia Cruises, a full-service leisure travel agency franchise backed by one of the most powerful travel brands in the world, announces it has secured two separate single-unit franchise agreements to expand their services in the western region of the United States. With the appetite for traveling at an all-time high, both aspiring and experienced franchisees are taking note and looking to stake their claim with Expedia Cruises’ franchise opportunity. 

The first agreement is for Bountiful, Utah – located just north of Salt Lake City – and is expected to open in late 2024, and the second agreement is slated for a mid-2025 opening in Boise, Idaho. A record 35.7 million passengers are expected to set sail this year – up 6% from before the pandemic – and as its franchise system grows, Expedia Cruises is able to further its commitment to create personalized vacations on a local level. 

Behind the Utah single-unit agreement are husband and wife, Ramon and Garimirka Chaparro. Ramon brings a wealth of financial experience from decades of controlling finances and accounting for global corporations, including one of the world’s largest gold mining companies. Garimirka previously worked as a marketing professional within the banking and financial field before taking a job in human resources, while at the same time, she worked as an independent contractor arranging all-inclusive resort vacations for affinity groups. With a deep passion for travel and engaging with people, Garimirka jumped at the opportunity to bring Expedia Cruises to Bountiful. While a joint venture for the duo, Garimirka will focus on the day-to-day operations and Ramon will oversee the financial side of the business.

“Travel has always been one of our favorite things to do, and I wanted our next chapter to be something we were really passionate about, so joining Expedia Cruises was a no-brainer for us,” said Garimirka. “We’re first-time franchisees, and the Expedia Cruises corporate team is making the process as seamless as possible. They have a streamlined model, an established and nationally-recognized brand, and strong leadership which has set us up for the ultimate success.”

The new Boise, Idaho location – which is the first in the Gem State – is owned by husband and wife, Mike and LesliAnn Hansen. Mike comes from a chemical engineering background and has more than 15 years of experience managing teams of engineers and technicians. LesliAnn has a master’s degree in mental health counseling and worked for several years at low-income elementary schools before leaving the workforce to focus on her family. 

“LesliAnn and I never thought about opening our own business, but we were drawn to Expedia Cruises for their excellent reputation and commitment to providing customized vacation experiences to every customer,” said Mike. “We love traveling and know the importance of having a travel agent with you every step of the way. There is a great need and demand for more travel agencies in Boise, so we’re excited to bring one of the world’s best and biggest travel brands to our community.”

With a dominating market share in Canada, Expedia Cruises’ franchise opportunity is rapidly expanding throughout the U.S. Company leadership has identified the western states as a prime target growth area, with the region expected to produce more than $161.9 billion in franchise revenue this year. Looking toward its next era of growth, the leading travel agency franchise looks to award 25 new franchises and add 2,400 vacation consultants in 2024, with a larger goal of reaching 500 locations in the future.

The success of the brand has not gone unnoticed with Expedia Cruises earning a spot on Franchise Business Review’s “Top 200 Franchises”, “Top Franchises for Women”, and “Top Franchises Culture” rankings for 2024, and Celebrity Cruises’ Partner of the Year President’s Award for outstanding sales.

With an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, an omnichannel approach, and a proven franchise model, Expedia Cruises is a leading seller of cruises and vacations in North America. Anchored in a passionate expertise for air, land, and sea vacations, each Expedia Cruises franchise location is a full-service leisure travel agency. Franchisees and their dedicated Vacation Consultants are experts in booking cruise vacations, all-inclusive resorts, coach and rail tours, vacation packages, homes and villas, travel insurance, flights, hotels, cars, and activities. 

Expedia Cruises is currently seeking like-minded team-leaders interested in pursuing franchise opportunities. For more information about the Expedia Cruises franchise opportunity, visit expediafranchise.com.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. brands power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Our organization is made up of three pillars: Expedia Product & Technology, focused on the group’s product and technical strategy and offerings; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem.

The Expedia Group family of brands includes: Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Expedia® Partner Solutions, Vrbo®, Trivago®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Hotwire®, Wotif®, ebookers®, CheapTickets®, Expedia Group™ Media Solutions, CarRentals.com™, and Expedia Cruises™. One Key™ is our comprehensive loyalty program that unifies Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo into one simple, flexible travel rewards experience. To enroll in One Key, download Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo mobile apps for free on iOS and Android devices.

For more information on Expedia Cruises, visit www.expediafranchise.com.

© 2024 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Expedia and the Expedia Cruises logo are trademarks of Expedia, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CST # 2029030-50 and CST # 20893-43.

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