Franchises

Retail Travel Franchise Partners

The Expedia CruiseShipCenters "High Tech – High Touch" Advantage

Successfully operating in small, medium and large cities, Expedia CruiseShipCenters retail franchise locations from coast to coast are the anchor point for marketing and sales activities. The typical location is approximately 1,000 square feet and is home to both retail and home-based Cruise & Travel Consultants. From the exterior signage to the canted red wall, a signature porthole and ship railing, the Center design portrays a professional, cruise-related theme that is reflective of the inherent quality of the Expedia CruiseShipCenters brand.

Site selection, design and build-out, typically takes 3 - 6 months and is facilitated by the Expedia CruiseShipCenters travel franchise team. Travel Agency Franchise Partners can complete initial training, begin selling cruises and recruiting staff, prior to opening. Additional training is provided by a dedicated Business Development Manager who will provide in-person support during the Center opening.

The Online Experience @ www.cruiseshipcenters.com

Every day, an average of 10,000 unique guests visit Expedia CruiseShipCenters Online.

With a multi-million dollar investment in our Internet strategy, Expedia CruiseShipCenters has developed the most content rich website in the industry. Through a direct interface with the cruise line systems, our website features over 10,000 departures in multiple currencies. In-depth content also includes 360-degree virtual tours, maps with detailed itineraries, information on ports-of-call, features of each ship and a variety of other travel planning tools.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters proprietary agent-level technology connects each online customer to an Expedia CruiseShipCenters location and their personal Cruise & Travel Consultant. Each retail location and every individual Cruise Consultant has a personalized "micro-website" that includes all of the content and features of the main Expedia CruiseShipCenters website. The site includes their individual contact information, About Us section, local specials and other information. All website visitors and email enquiries from the micro-site are directed to that specific location (e.g. www.cruiseshipcenters.com/bellevue).

Retail Franchise Partners Enjoy:

• Independent ownership with the backing of a proven franchise system
• The highest revenue opportunities through exclusive, preferred contracts with all cruise lines
• Proven systems and leading technology through CruiseDesk^®, our proprietary Enterprise Customer Relationship Management platform
• Exclusive, protected geographic territories which may increase in value
• Extensive training in all core areas including marketing and sales, operations, business administration and product knowledge
• Proven systems, processes, and supplier relationships which enable immediate start-up
• Advertising and promotional programs developed for a large network. This results in "economies of scale" by reducing costs to individual franchises while increasing buying power and consumer impact
• Less risk, lower capital requirements and improved success rates