franchise tourism company

Be Your Own Boss With An Expedia Travel Agency Franchise

Own a piece of the most powerful brand in travel.

Open a Travel Franchise with Expedia

Be your own boss. lead a team. build equity.

Cruise Experts. Land Connoisseurs. Vacation Specialists.

Become the travel experts in your community

Are you a proactive, outgoing leader who wants to leverage a successful franchise model to sell travel, earn income, and build equity? Bring an Expedia Franchise to your community and own a business in a booming industry.

At Expedia Cruises, we are a full-service leisure travel agency anchored by our deeply passionate expertise for air, land, and sea vacations. Backed by the most powerful travel brand in the world – Expedia – we’ve thoroughly integrated their massive brand presence, state-of-the-art technology, unrivaled marketing, and distinguished supplier relationships to become Expedia’s cruise experts.

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Why an Expedia Franchise?

Scalable Business

Our franchisees support travel agents and earn a share of the commissions. With no limit to the size of your team, there’s endless opportunity to grow your business.

Brand Expedia

Expedia Cruises is the only franchise business in the Expedia family. Leverage billions of dollars in buying power of one of the most reputable and trusted travel companies.

Proven Success

We’ve been franchising for over 35 years. Our mission at Expedia Cruises is to “Empower our franchisees with a proven system to grow a profitable and valuable business.”

Omnichannel Retail Model

Customers can call, click, or come in to one of our brick-and-mortar locations. Plus, all cruise leads from  Expedia.com ,  Expedia.ca , and  Expediacruises.com  go to the nearest Center.

Robust Support

We set you up for success. Over 100 corporate staff supporting our franchisees. Award-winning marketing and training programs, as well as innovative proprietary technology.

More than Cruise

Our franchise locations are experts in booking Cruise, All-Inclusive Resorts, Coach & Rail Tours, Vacation Packages, Homes & Villas, Insurance, Flights, Hotels, and Activities.

Awards & Accolades

Hear What Our Franchisees Are Saying

Chris Meyer

Franchisee in orange county, ca.

The idea of a big digital company also doing brick-and-mortar locations to appeal to every segment of the market was attractive to me and I felt that it was very forward-looking. Expedia is a household name that has instant credibility and instant familiarity with our customers. That is a big differentiator from most of our competitors who don’t have a big brand for people to connect with.

Jennifer White

Franchisee in fort lauderdale, fl.

We have a lot of what we call ‘Customers For Life’. Expedia Cruises’ training program has taught us how to create a system that will create a customer for life from the first time we reach out to them to the time they get back from their trip ready to plan the next one.

Shawn Friesen

Franchisee in thunder bay, on.

We follow the system. We send out flyers, build our 7SEAS database, attend tradeshows, and host cruise nights to spread the word in our community. I think the most important and powerful way to find customers is by building your Consultant team because they bring family, friends, and friends of friends, to your agency – and that doesn’t cost you anything.

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10 Best Travel and Tourism Franchises [Cost, Fees]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Do you want to start a tourism business by buying a franchise? If YES, here are 10 best tourism franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. Tourism is a very big industry in the United States. People travel for various reasons and chief among them is to relive the pressures of the work year. With convenient online tourism destination sites, people now find it easy to make all their travel arrangements at the click of a mouse.

People like to vacation, and tourism businesses help make these dreams a reality by simplifying the often difficult task of planning a trip, whether for solo travelers, group travel, family travel, or more. Tourism agencies can help tourists plan entire vacations and find amazing deals on accommodations and activities in the process thus making the whole process easy for would-be tourists.

If you want to carve a niche in the tourism industry, we have listed out a few of these businesses to help you out.

Travel & Tourism Franchise Opportunities

A. Hotel Franchises

B. Travel & Tour Agency Franchises

C. Amusement Park Franchises

D. Water Park Franchises

10 Best Travel & Tourism Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost

Dream vacations/cruiseone.

Founded in 1992, Dream Vacations is the leading home-based travel and tourism franchise in the United States. As part of World Travel Holdings (WTH), they have maintained the position as the world’s largest seller of cruise vacations.

Beyond their growing clientele base, they have mastered the art of unrivaled buying power, innovative marketing programs, and dedicated franchisee support. Undoubtedly, their network of 1300+ home-based travel franchise owners stand out above the rest!

Dream Vacations franchisees sell travel packages, including travel protection, shore excursions, hotels and tours to individuals, couples, families, businesses and groups. The company offers in-house financing to cover only the franchise fee, so franchisees are required to seek financing for other requirements.

Financial Requirements

• Initial Investment – $3,245 – $21,850
• Initial Franchise Fee – $495 – $9,800
• Ongoing Royalty Fee – 1.5-3%

Veteran Incentives – 20% off franchise fee; training fee waived for business partner; training fee waived for first veteran/military spouse associate, reduced by 50% for additional associates; marketing assets.

Expedia Cruiseshipcenters

Expedia CruiseShipCenters launched in 1987 and it is a leading seller of cruise travel in North America. Their travel agency franchise is rapidly expanding, with over 290 locations open or under development.

The growth is driven by three overarching factors: their proven business model is affordable to start and extremely scalable, their focus on cruise vacations makes them a trusted resource among cruise customers who overwhelmingly prefer to book with a travel/tourism agent, and the cruise industry is growing quickly.

In addition to cruises, Expedia CruiseShipCenters franchisees sell vacation packages, tours, excursions, travel insurance and more. The company has been franchising since 1987 and is part of the Expedia Inc. family of brands. The comapny has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable and payroll.

• Initial Investment – $165,495 – $281,990
• Net-worth Requirement – $300,000
• Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
• Initial Franchise Fee – $39,000 – $39,000
• Ongoing Royalty Fee – 9%
• Ad Royalty Fee – $600/mo.
• Veteran Incentives – 15% off franchise fee

Cruise Planners

Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Services Representative, is a home-based travel agent network. Cruise Planners travel agents work from home selling full-service travel packages, including cruises, land-based vacations, travel insurance, car rentals and more.

Cruise Planners has been named the nation’s number one home-based travel franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 16 straight years. Their unmatched training, marketing, technology and individualized coaching allow franchisees to work from anywhere, be your own boss, and travel the world.

Cruise Planners offers in-house financing to cover just the franchise fee, so franchisees are required to seek financing for other requirements.

• Initial Investment – $2,295 – $23,367
• Initial Franchise Fee – $695 – $10,995
• Ongoing Royalty Fee – 3%
• Liquid Capital Required: $10,995
• Total Investment: $2,295 – $23,617

Veteran Incentives – 28% off franchise fee, free training for co-owner/associate, $250 marketing credit, $60 design credit, 3 months free technology access, free software license, 1 year free errors & omissions insurance.

Cruise Holidays

Cruise Holidays, a cruise travel franchise, was founded in 1984. It is part of Travel Leaders Group, a travel services parent company comprised of multiple operating subsidiaries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cruise Holidays is made up of retail locations as well as home-based franchise owners concentrated in the United States and Canada.

Cruise Holidays is a highly-respected travel franchise company with over 200 locations internationally. Travel is a booming industry with strong earnings potential, and franchisees can set their own hours and have the added benefit of discounted or free cruise and hotel stays. Cruise Holidays offers a national marketing program and both home-based and retail models are available.

Cruise Holidays has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover just franchise fee and startup costs, so franchisees are required to seek financing elsewhere for other requirements.

• Initial Investment – $10,350 – $160,350
• Net-worth Requirement – $15,000
• Liquid Cash Requirement – $10,350
• Initial Franchise Fee – $9,500 – $30,000
• Ongoing Royalty Fee – Varies
• Veteran Incentives – 10% off franchise fee

All About Honeymoons

All About Honeymoons is a home-based travel agency franchise that provides and ensures your dream honeymoon destination meets your social, recreational and environmental desires. All About Honeymoons is an award winning travel company that specializes in creating romantic vacations for newlywed couples.

Rather than pitching packages, All About Honeymoons works with couples to plan a personalized, magical honeymoon that couples will remember for the rest of their lives. With travel connections, All About Honeymoons is also able to negotiate lower prices for the couple so honeymooners can have a great experience without breaking the bank.

The business also caters to couples who want to hold a destination wedding. As it can be difficult to plan a wedding so far from home, All About Honeymoons can accept the responsibility for ensuring that destination weddings go off smoothly.

They continually expand their reach to more exotic, less traveled destinations. They believe that personalized service from someone that you can speak with and even meet in person is the ideal way to plan romance travel, especially when it involves a honeymoon trip or all inclusive honeymoon package.

• Liquid capital required – $30,000
• Net worth required – $100,000
• Investment – $30,000 – $75,000
• Franchise fee – $10,000

Discovery Map International (DMI)

Discovery Map International is the country’s leading provider of curated guides to top tourist destinations, cities and towns throughout North America. The distinctively colorful, hand-drawn maps are a favorite of travelers for navigating local dining, attractions, businesses, cultural experiences, ski destinations – and even the best locations to take selfies.

Discovery Maps can be found in local hotels, restaurants, shops, visitor information centers and other participating venues.

Discovery Map International began as Resort Maps in 1977. Its colorful, hand-drawn maps became such a favorite of travelers for navigating local dining, attractions, businesses, cultural experiences and ski destinations that tourists frequently made the comment, “I wish we had these in our town.”

So Resort Maps began franchising in 1992. In 2005, current CEO Peter Hans purchased the company. In 2011, Resort Maps merged with Discovery Map International. The company retained the Discovery Map International name. Discovery Map Int’l. Inc. has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover just franchise fee, so franchisees are required to seek financing elsewhere for other requirements.

• Initial Investment – $35,250 – $44,950
• Initial Franchise Fee – $25,000 – $25,000
• Ongoing Royalty Fee – 10%
• Veteran Incentives – 20% off franchise fee

Hospitality International, Inc.

Hospitality International represents five hotel brands: Red Carpet Inn, an economy to mid-level hotel chain started in 1968; Passport Inn, a budget and economy hotel chain with generally small properties; Scottish Inns, an economy, limited-service chain started in 1967; Master Hosts Inns, a mid- to upper-middle hotel chain with locations primarily in resort or destination areas; and Downtowner Inns, an economy to upper-economy hotel chain with locations primarily in city centers or downtown areas.

Hospitality International, Inc. offers franchising opportunities with five nationally recognized hotel brands in the economy to mid-level markets for existing hotels and motels. Each of their brands is supported by the same corporate staff and they share the same reservations and marketing systems.

• Initial Investment – $133,600 – $2,602,000
• Initial Franchise Fee – $5,000 – $15,000
• Ongoing Royalty Fee – $35/room/mo.

iTrip Vacations

iTrip Vacations is a web-based vacation rental and property management company that is revolutionizing the way guests book and use vacation homes. With leading technologies and platforms for franchisees, iTrip’s goal is to become one of the most trusted brands in the vacation rental industry.

iTrip® originally started because the company’s founders had a need for their own vacation rentals and could not find an adequate solution in the marketplace. Focusing on a single territory, they have developed and are operating a multi-million dollar business in Panama City, FL. This territory allows them to continually test and perfect new innovative strategies that when successful, are ultimately shared system wide.

• Liquid capital required – $125,000
• Net worth required – $300,000
• Investment – $123,400 – $152,700
• Franchise fee – $40,000

Results Travel

Results! Travel is part of the Travel Leaders Franchise Group, which also franchises Travel Leaders. Existing travel agencies can become franchisees of Results! and gain access to the company’s resources, suppliers, training and technology while maintaining their own business name.

Results! Travel presents investors with a means to achieve greater revenue for their sales. The company gives franchisees the chance to join other agencies without requiring a multi-year commitment or huge cost to join, without requiring them to change their name or lose their unique identity.

Results! Travel offers their businesses the chance to override agreements with carriers who carry over half of the U.S. air traffic; override on car rentals; lucrative commission structures with tour companies and cruise lines; and a hotel program with preferred rates and last-room availability at major hotel groups.

• Initial Investment – $25 – $10,400
• Initial Franchise Fee – $1,500
• Ongoing Royalty Fee – to $300/yr.

UNIGLOBE Travel

UNIGLOBE Travel is a global network of travel agencies that focuses on servicing the needs of small to mid-size corporate clients and providing leisure services to those same travelers. By harnessing leading industry technologies, they combine the best of the automation with the highest levels of personalized service. The company has agencies in over 50 countries worldwide to support the global needs of their SME clients.

UniGlobe Travel is a travel-agency franchisor designed to handle the needs of both the corporate and leisure client. The company franchisees benefit from money-saving automation agreements, exclusive territories, and top-notch incentive commission programs with major airline, hotel, car rental, tour and cruise-line companies in the $300 billion travel market.

• Liquid capital required – $20,000
• Net worth required – $60,000
• Investment – $46,600 – $63,500
• Franchise fee – $2,000

Related Posts:

• 8 Best Travel Agency Franchises [Cost, Fees]
• 14 Best Indoor Go Kart Franchises [Cost, Fees]
• How Much Does It Cost to Open Days Inn By WindHam Franchise?
• How Much Do Cruise Planners Franchise Owners Make?
• How to Open Expedia Cruises Franchise [Cost, Fees, Requirements]

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How to Open a Travel Agency Franchise: Costs & Opportunities

For entrepreneurs eyeing the travel industry, opening a travel agency franchise can be a smart and rewarding choice. The appeal of a proven business model, brand recognition, and support services can make the journey smoother. In this guide, we'll look at differences between a travel agency franchise and a travel agency host, the advantages of travel franchises over other options, and important factors in selecting between travel franchise opportunities for your entrepreneurial aspirations.

Franchising in the Tourism Industry

First, let's clarify what travel franchising entails. A travel agency franchise is a business opportunity where a franchisor provides you with a proven business model, brand, and comprehensive support services in exchange for a franchise fee. According to travel agent resource company Host Agency Reviews, this fee typically ranges from $11,000 to $39,000 on average. The franchises on the higher end of this range typically require their franchisees to open a brick-and-mortar location, while those on the lower end allow franchisees to operate from home. One notable advantage of a travel agency franchise is that you retain all the commissions you earn, while some other models may require a portion of your commissions.

In contrast, a host agency is a different concept. It allows you to use the host's accreditation, essentially becoming a travel agent working under their umbrella. While this approach typically involves lower initial cost (usually between $500 to $2,000, according to Host Agency Reviews), you're responsible for developing your brand and business model.

Advantages of Travel Agency Franchises

Why choose a franchise over opening an independent travel agency or partnering with a host agency? Here are some compelling reasons to go with franchising for your travel agency business opportunity:

• Proven business model: A franchisor provides a tested and proven business model that can save you time and effort in building your agency from scratch. The brand recognition of a franchise can also help attract clients more easily.
• Comprehensive support: Franchisors offer a range of support services, including training, guidance, marketing resources, and ongoing assistance throughout your journey as a franchisee.
• Established brand: A franchise with a reputable brand name is more easily noticed and recognized by potential customers. This can give you a head start in building a client base.

Qualities to Look for in a Franchise

As you begin your search for the perfect travel franchise, consider these important qualities:

• Budget and startup costs: Assess how much you can afford and are willing to invest in startup costs, including the franchise fee, equipment, and supplies.
• Marketing services: Evaluate the marketing support provided by the franchisor. Effective marketing can be the key to attracting clients and growing your business.
• Support services: Inquire about the level of support services offered, such as training, ongoing guidance, and access to experienced professionals.
• Perks for franchisees: Some franchises offer additional perks, like exclusive access to travel deals or discounts. These can enhance your value proposition to clients.
• Franchise reputation: Research the reputation of the franchise. Look for any awards or recognition they have received and read reviews from other franchisees.

Selecting the Right Fit

Ultimately, choosing the right travel franchise is a significant decision that should align with your budget, goals, and aspirations. Carefully consider the benefits of a proven business model, brand recognition, and comprehensive support services. This foundation can set you on a path to success in the competitive travel industry.

As you explore your options, remember that your chosen franchise should be the gateway to incredible travel experiences for your clients. So, take your time, do your research, and choose the franchise that best matches your vision of delivering unforgettable journeys to adventurers around the world.

Find a Great Franchise with MFV Expositions

For over 30 years, we’ve been helping bring the franchising world together. Let us share our expertise and services with you to help you on your way to becoming a franchisor. From our podcast series to our blog, we want to provide answers to your questions about franchising .

At our regular franchising expos, we help franchisors and franchisees connect, network, and find leads. We also host workshops and presentations at our expos, where industry experts in a variety of fields provide insight on the latest developments. Request attending info today to learn more about what’s coming up at our next expo.

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Travel Franchise Opportunity Guide

The travel industry is one that seems to continue growing, now especially with convenient online features that allow people to compare and learn more about various destinations and prices all with one mouse click. At Franchising.com, one click provides access to a full list of franchise businesses for sale in a variety of industries, including the ever popular travel industry.

People like to vacation. Whether it is jetting off for a tropical destination, planning a small get away to a secluded little town, or taking the whole family to Disney World, there is a booming market out there, and you can be a part of it. From travel agent franchises, to cruise franchise opportunities and everything in between, Franchising.com can help you explore and learn about all of your options. We offer a full resource section that will explain the ins and outs of owning a travel franchise, whether your interests lie in hotel franchises, extended stay businesses or vacation franchises. Plus, our years of expertise and our dedicated support system can help you find the right travel franchise to fit your lifestyle so that you can fully enjoy your business venture.

Why wait - the vacationers aren't, and there is a whole lot of opportunity waiting for you. Browse our A-Z index of travel franchises and request information on the topic of your choice today.

Franchise Businesses

• Industry: Travel
• Founded: 2018
• Founded: 2005
• Founded: 1999
• Founded: 1984
• Industry: Hotel
• Founded: 1981
• Founded: 2019
• Industry: Business Services
• Founded: 2017
• Founded: 1974
• Founded: 1973
• Industry: Extended Stays
• Founded: 1995
• Founded: 2014
• Founded: 1938
• Founded: 1939
• Founded: 2016
• Founded: 1994
• Founded: 1970
• Founded: 1977
• Founded: 1969
• Founded: 1958
• Industry: Cruise
• Founded: 1989
• Founded: 2006
• Founded: 1983
• Industry: Automotive
• Founded: 1957
• Founded: 2012
• Founded: 1987
• Founded: 1972
• Founded: 2008
• Founded: 1951
• Founded: 1986
• Founded: 1971
• Industry: Entertainment
• Founded: 1996
• Founded: 1919
• Founded: 1952
• Founded: 1991
• Founded: 2009
• Founded: 1988
• Founded: 2004
• Founded: 2015
• Founded: 1967
• Founded: 1927
• Founded: 1962
• Industry: Motel
• Founded: 1980
• Founded: 2007
• Founded: 1941
• Founded: 1954
• Founded: 1968
• Founded: 1959
• Industry: Financial Services
• Industry: Travel Agent
• Founded: 2000
• Founded: 1937
• Founded: 1912
• Industry: Rental
• Founded: 1904
• Founded: 2020
• Founded: 1998
• Industry: Food
• Founded: 2001
• Founded: 205
• Industry: Construction
• Founded: 1930
• Founded: 2002

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Dream Vacations Ranked Best Travel Agency Franchise In Entrepreneur’s Highly Competitive Franchise 500®

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (January 11, 2022) – Dream Vacations was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. An invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the 2022 Franchise 500® ranks Dream Vacations as number one in the travel category, 82 across all industries, and in the top 16 percent of all franchise opportunities for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

“The past year has been one of the most challenging for businesses in recent memory, which made putting together our 43rd annual Franchise 500 list more enlightening than ever,” says Entrepreneur Editor in Chief Jason Feifer. “The companies named to this year’s list showed us how being resilient, supportive, and nimble can help navigate extraordinary challenges and also underscore the grit and innovation that define entrepreneurship.”

In Entrepreneur ’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 43-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors that go into the evaluation, including:

• Costs and fees
• Size and growth
• Brand strength
• Financial strength and stability.

Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.  

“It is always an honor to be included on the Franchise 500® list, but this year’s ranking is extra special not only because we were named the best in our category, but because the metrics speak to the power of the Dream Vacations brand, the success of our franchise owners and the financial stability of our parent company World Travel Holdings,” said Drew Daly, general manager and senior vice president of Dream Vacations. “While many organizations have shrunk in size, we continue to expand our team as the network continues to grow each year. In fact, 2021 was one of our best years in recruitment, which shows that people are ready to join the fun travel industry, and they want to be associated with a brand that speaks to all vacation experiences. With consumers recognizing the value of a travel advisor and the incredible pent-up demand for travel, now is the time to affiliate with a trusted travel agency franchise that helps advisors grow their business.”

Dream Vacations has always prided itself on the support it provides to its travel agency franchise owners, and during the past two years of the pandemic the franchisor has doubled down on its efforts. From investing millions in funding commercial loans and hosting industry-wide training events to creating new technology tools and marketing assets, Dream Vacations is committed to the success of its network and has proven to be a business opportunity that can withstand the test of time.   

Over its 43 years in existence, the Franchise 500 ® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Dream Vacations’ position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

To view Dream Vacations in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500 . To learn more about joining the travel agency franchise that cares more about its franchise owners, please visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com or call 888-249-8235.

About Dream Vacations

Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received franchise partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information about Dream Vacations, visit www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com . Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise , follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise and watch its videos at http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness .

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Travel Franchise Opportunities for Sale

More results...

Prior to the pandemic, travel-related jobs directly accounted for 6% of the US workforce, while travel-supported jobs accounted for 11% of the nation's workers. And with a bit of good fortune, the travel industry won't take long to get back to where it was in 2019.

Before the pandemic, travel was the 7th largest employer in the private sector and the largest small-business employer in the United States (that's travel-dependent leisure and hospitality). One in ten private-sector jobs were supported by travel, and the travel industry supported 15.8 million American jobs - that's planes, trains, and automobiles, people.

So, once we start moving about again, there's enormous potential in the travel franchise industry to once again bring vigor back to the sector.

The primary type of travel franchise is the travel agency franchise sector, such as Cruise Planners, Dream Vacations (formerly CruiseOne), and Expedia Cruises. And although these companies all contain "cruise" in their brand names, they cover more than boats - they provide access to air, land, and sea vacations.

Another popular travel franchise sector is the hotel industry. Nearly all American hotel chains are franchises, and while the costs of investing in hotel chains can be extremely high, it’s a fertile industrial sector to plant your money.

Franchising

People spend a lot of money on their vacations. On average, the American consumer spends 5% of their income on planning and booking their holiday. That amounts to an average of $2,400.

Of course, many people spend way more than that - but there's one critical metric that all consumers need when they invest their hard-earned money in a dream trip:

And one of the principal problems with small, independent travel companies is that the general public doesn't necessarily trust the small guys. They often opt for the tried-and-tested brands well-known for delivering excellent customer service and the best deals.

So, franchising is the ideal option for anyone hoping to get into the travel industry.

A travel franchise provides a ready-built reputation for excellent customer service and satisfaction. They offer instantly recognizable branding that affords immediate curb appeal, and they come with compliance with all the complicated and technical travel guidelines, regulations, and protections that consumers expect.

Travel franchise parent companies usually provide world-class training to bring you up to expert level - they have their hard-earned reputation to protect, after all. As well as training, most travel franchises also provide HR services that help you ensure that your business works in line with US business and employment regulations.

Facts About Travel Franchises

The travel industry is essential to the general health of the US economy, and many believe that the economy won't recover fully until the travel industry is up and running again. As the Travel Technology Association puts it:

“The travel industry is a vital facet of our nation’s economy, generating billions of dollars in revenue, supporting millions of jobs nationwide.”

But there is light at the end of the tunnel as restrictions ease and vaccine programs roll out. Analysts are already seeing signs that the travel franchise industry is recouping the $500 billion loss in travel spending experienced in 2020 and is once more on the path of steady growth.

And as consumer confidence returns, we’ll see international visitors return, bringing with them their keenness to spend their holiday dollars in the United States.

It’s easy to get glum about the prospects for the travel franchise industry, but - actually - there’s every reason to feel positive, making this a great time to invest in a travel franchise.

Travel franchises offer a range of travel-related services, from full package holidays to transport solutions. They give customers a wide choice of budgets and standards to meet their holiday and traveling wish list.

There are still tremendous profits to be made in the budget holiday offering, providing the lower-paid the opportunity to enjoy their vacation in comfortable, pleasant surroundings.

Of course, there are considerable profits to be found in the high-end vacation choices - from luxury stays in Las Vegas's most exclusive hotels to exotic American tours and - of course - fabulous holiday cruises on vast travel liners.

Franchising Vs. Independent

Franchising requires an initial investment, starting from around $50,000, moving into the hundreds of thousands for the most exclusive brands.

Most of us require funding from an outside source to gather the startup collateral for a travel franchise, and this is where the franchise model really does come into its own.

The majority of banks and moneylenders are keen to invest in franchises because they represent a minimal risk compared to small independent companies that are setting up without the support of an established partner.

Independent companies lack proof of the market viability of their business model, whereas travel franchises can demonstrate a history of profit and sustainability (even in tough times). Franchises have the support of an experienced partner who knows the marketplace and has already forged their products in line with customer needs.

Franchise companies tend to hit the ground running, while independent companies often struggle to survive beyond the first five years of trading.

One of the principal pain points for new indies is their lack of reputation, meaning that they often struggle to establish themselves in the crowded marketplace.

In fact, almost half of all independent companies go bankrupt before their fifth birthday as they struggle to recoup their initial investment and turn around a profit.

On the other hand, franchising is often considered the common-sense way to start up in business for yourself - taking on a ready-formed business model that has proven its market viability; with branding that future customers already know, love, and trust.

Check out Franchise Direct's brilliant selection of travel franchises.

You can also check out many more related franchises here on Franchise Direct, such as:

• Hotel Franchises
• Travel Agency Franchises

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Top Travel Agency Franchises of 2024 (Franchise Chatter Rankings)

Last updated on March 3, 2024 by Franchise Chatter Leave a Comment in Franchise Chatter Hot List , Travel Franchise

💵 Interested in any of the franchises on this list? Click here to find out if they (or similar franchises) are still available in your area.

People are traveling more than ever, and Americans are increasingly open to exploring the rest of the world. But while the tourist industry is growing, business isn’t looking so promising for a previously critical part of the sector – travel agencies.

A Golden Age of Travel?

There’s never been an easier time to travel. Despite their environmental impact, flights remain popular, and are cheaper than ever. For anyone wanting to avoid planes, there are trains and automobiles, or even the option of hitting the water and going on a cruise. Whether travelers want to see the rest of the US or the wider world, there’s big business in vacations.

Travel for work is also significant, if slightly less so than it was pre-pandemic. Some meetings and other events work better in person, and an expense account can help justify travel for everyone from executives to academics. An interconnected world of global cooperation needs international travel.

Around the world, the tourism sector grew by 14% in 2023 , a continuing recovery from the Covid pandemic pushing revenues up to $2.29 trillion . American tourists make up a disproportionately large part of that, making American tourism important both for the tourist industry and for the American economy. Travel agencies play an important role in this, using their contacts and expertise to ease out the process of booking.

Tours and packaged travel make up the largest chunk of revenue for travel agencies, followed by cruises and airline arrangements. Like tours and package holidays, cruises reflect consumers’ desire to have the whole vacation taken care of for them, with everything booked and presented in a single easy package. This is where travel agencies have traditionally made their mark, providing a complete and satisfying package that takes away the strain of planning and removes any uncertainties.

Travel Agencies in Decline

Despite the continuing growth of travel, travel agencies are in decline. Revenues for agencies in the US stood at $37.6 billion in 2023 , a sizable sum but significantly less than pre-pandemic, with an average decline of 1% per year over the past five years . This isn’t just a sign that the industry has been slow to recover from Covid – even in 2023, revenues fell by 0.2% . Thanks not just to the pandemic but to wider trends, these businesses are fading.

This decline is reflected in workforce numbers. While travel agencies employed 61,000 staff in 2021 , that’s expected to fall by over 25% over the next ten years . The prospects for anyone hoping to work in this sector aren’t great right now.

Part of the problem is that this is a highly saturated market . A large number of agents are competing for a limited pool of customers, who are looking for the best deals they can get. With online booking sites often able to reach a wider market and offer cheaper deals on both travel and accommodation, it can be difficult for agents to compete. The brutal efficiency of algorithms is replacing the human touch of another person helping you pick the perfect vacation, and the already slender margins on which agencies operated are being shaved further away.

Economic uncertainty hasn’t helped. With the fluctuations of recent years, both businesses and leisure travelers have had reasons to be more frugal in their travel bookings. People planning vacations need to save money because they have less to spare, while businesses are looking to reduce their overheads to get ahead in the market. With the growth of online meetings, there’s less need for some sorts of business travel to take place at all.

Getting Into Travel

For anyone who isn’t put off by those statistics and wants to get into this sector, online business is critical. Online travel agencies deal with hundreds of millions of bookings a year, and their sales are currently growing . Most people will start their search for a holiday online, so you need a strong presence there. But competing with the big players in bookings will be difficult, so you also need a way to differentiate yourself or to draw the attention of your local market.

It’s important to focus on the right sort of travel. For US travel agencies, international bookings grew twice as fast as domestic ones in 2022 . If you’re looking for a focus, then international travel currently seems to have more growth potential, though it would be hit hard if another pandemic arrived, or even the hint of one beginning.

There’s satisfaction to be found in working as a travel agent. There will always be some people who want that expert input into their plans, and the industry is still worth billions. But it’s in an ongoing decline that might make it a poor choice for a new business venture.

The Top Travel Agency Franchises of 2024

1. cruise planners.

Cruise Planners gives franchisees a work-from-home opportunity as a Travel Advisor who sells all kinds of vacation travel packages, although there is a primary focus on cruises. The company is owned by American Express Travel Representative, which means American Express credit card holders get all kinds of special perks if they use their Amex card to pay. The franchise is a recognized master of micro-targeted email marketing along with its other high-tech, data-driven marketing tactics and technologies to give its Travel Advisors the edge they need to succeed. Franchisees also enjoy a surprisingly low franchise fee and overall investment to get started.

Founded in 1994 by Michelle Fee in Coral Springs, Florida, and franchising since 1999, the number of locations expanded rapidly in recent years from 1,758 in 2014 to 3,151 in 2020 but has since dropped back to the current total of 2,720 (up from the previously reported total of 2,585), of which one is company-owned, and all are located in the US.

2. Dream Vacations

Dream Vacations is a similar work-from-anywhere as a Travel Advisor, also featuring a low overall investment to get started, and the more experience one has in the travel industry, the bigger the discount received on the franchise fee (medium experience gives a 67% discount and higher experience can result in a 95% discount). Travel Advisors can work from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection available. They are encouraged to travel as much as possible to keep their own knowledge and travel experiences up to date, which improves their customer service. Franchisees also enjoy deeply discounted rates for their own travel.

Founded in 1991 and franchising since 1992, the number of locations has grown fairly steadily from 990 in 2014 to the current total of 1,874 (up from the previously reported total of 1,618), of which none are company-owned and all are located outside the US.

3. Expedia Cruises

Expedia Cruises focuses mainly on selling cruises but also offers a full array of travel services and all types of vacation packages. This company has the distinct advantage of carrying the well-recognized Expedia brand name. Franchisees can get involved as individual travel agents (Vacation Consultants) who can work from home or at the nearest retail location. They can also choose to run a retail location. With its omnichannel business model, franchisees receive leads from their Expediacruises.com website, center walk-ins, a robust marketing program, as well as all cruise inquiries coming in from Expedia.com and Expedia.ca within their market territory.

Founded in 1987 and franchising since that same year, the number of locations climbed slowly but steadily in recent years from 180 in 2014 to 269 in 2020 but has since fallen to the current total of 234 (down from the previously reported total of 246), of which none are company-owned, and 154 are located outside the US.

An Important Note About Our Methodology

The franchises on this list were ranked according to the number of units in the franchise system. If you are a prospective franchisee searching for franchise opportunities that meet or exceed certain performance benchmarks for sales, profits, and return on investment , please check out this list of America’s Most Lucrative Franchises .

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Turn your passion for travel into an exciting business

Learn how you can own a home-based travel agency franchise and the perks that go with it!

Register now to watch our webinar and learn more about this exciting Franchise Opportunity

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By clicking Learn More, you agree that Dream Vacations may call, email and/or send SMS text messages to you to provide information related to your inquiry. We will never use your data for any other purpose, nor will we resell your data to a third party. Data and message rates may apply.

Consumers are seeking the expertise of travel agents to plan their next getaway! Learn how to turn your passion for travel into your own home-based business in a growing industry with record-breaking vacation sales. It’s time to thrive – join our travel tribe.

If you love to travel, are a self-starter, are an entrepreneur looking to grow your own business, it’s never been a better opportunity to join the Dream Vacations family.

Register Now!

Enjoy the opportunity to work from anywhere you want

You can own your business in a fast-growing industry from the comfort of your home. If being a travel agent is what you want, then it’s time to make a move, and the first step to becoming a Dream Vacations franchise owner might just be the easiest. All you need do is sign up for a FREE webinar.

Powerful Brand

Leveraging the equity of a strong brand like Dream Vacations, with more than 30 years as a travel industry powerhouse, you can sell all types of vacation experiences.

Dream Vacations is ranked the #1 travel agency franchise

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Own a Dream Vacations franchise for as little as

$3,500 down*

Our franchise owners come from many different social and professional backgrounds, but they all have in common: passion for travel, commitment to succeed and excitement to own a business!

• No travel industry experience required
• All you need is the drive to be your own boss
• Receive travel perks and discounts to explore the world yourself

Training and Ongoing Education

You’ll receive hands-on learning from our expert training team, who provide on-demand educational opportunities, in-person or virtually, 24/7.

Dedicated Support Team

Our support team offers our franchisees the best support ratio with around-the-clock support.

Award-Winning Marketing

Our mission is simple: set you up for success. That is why 95% of our marketing programs are included at no extra charge!

Trailblazing Technology

You are provided with all the operational tools you need to grow your business at your fingertips.

And one of the best parts? Travel perks and discounts for you to explore the world yourself!

What People Are Saying

Hear some of the reasons why our travel agents love being part of the Dream Vacations community.

“Dream Vacations is absolute the best, great opportunity, great people and headquarters is absolutely wonderful.”

– Debbie Saxer, Franchise Owner

“At Dream Vacations we are not competitors we are family.”

– Maggie Billy Fisher, Franchise Owner

“Our Business development manager they really helped us thru our business plan and making sure we stayed in focus with were we are trying to get to.”

– Christo Robinson, Franchise Owner

“Cruise Fare watch is great, we’ve really saved our clients hundreds and even thousands of dollars being able to put their reservation in this platform.”

– Natilou Benipayo, Franchise Owner

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It’s time to Thrive! Join the #1 Travel Agency

Become part of a powerhouse in the travel industry.

What is a Tourbase Franchise?

An online travel business for top destinations around the world. it allows you to work from anywhere and build a marketplace of your favorite local tours and activities. you'll create content, learn digital marketing and earn great commissions from all your bookings., why should you own a tourbase franchise, you get to enjoy the most epic things to do in a destination, build personal relationships with local tour operators and share your favorite experiences with others. build a flexible schedule with huge potential for scale., work anywhere.

Set your own schedule. No brick and mortar means work anywhere

Make a Difference

Support local businesses & reinvest in communities

Scale Potential

Scale a multi-million dollar business without a scaling workload

Best Technology

We are constantly innovating to give you the tools to succeed

Why The Travel Industry? Why Now?

Because there has never been more demand.... and there has never been a better opportunity. the $183 billion dollar tours & activities space is ready.

A shift to buying tours online means a huge opportunity for marketplaces offering trust & convenience

More people than ever looking to find authentic, local experiences while traveling

The Industry

Tours & Activities is perhaps the very best part of travel. Be a part of something fun

Who is an ideal Tourbase owner?

A self-starter that can learn quickly, create meaningful content and provide exceptional customer service. an ideal owner is eager to collaborate with other tourbase owners and has grit that keeps them going..

You build teams AND roll up your sleeves to get stuff done

You adapt in a quickly changing industry and embrace new technology

An Overachiever

Your work hard, think big and are maybe a little competitive

A People Person

You communicate well with tour operators and guests and use empathy to connect with others

What type of territories are available with Tourbase?

U.S. National Parks

Over a dozen National Parks that have been hitting record visitors. Domestic travel to National Parks is at an all time high.

Europe & Asia

Own one of many international destinations like Mediterranean cruises, tours through Tuscany or adventures in Thailand.

U.S. Cities

From Seattle to the Florida Keys. From LA to New York. Consider one of the hottest cities for domestic travel and activities.

Latin America

Incredible diving, rich culture, & the largest rain forests in the world. From the beaches of the Caribbean to the mountains of Patagonia.

Tourbase Franchise Information & Next Steps

Get going with two quick steps. first, sign up and we'll email you our tourbase info packet, no commitment whatsoever. second, let us know if you're interested and we'll set up an introductory call to share more info and see if we seem like a good fit..

Access Franchise Info

Have more questions, a list of faqs to help you understand how it works., do i need to be a travel or marketing expert.

Definitely not. We teach you the essentials and have a team of experts to provide support along the way. You DO need to have a hunger to learn and a willingness to try new software and systems that will power your business.

How do I actually make money in this business?

You will partner with local tour operators that deliver the end experience to the customer. You drive online marketing, sales and provide the customer service to earn roughly 20-30% commission of each sale.

How much initial investment is needed to start a Tourbase Business?

The franchise fee is $10k. The total investment needed for your first year of business ranges from $50k – $90k depending on how heavily you invest in online advertising & hiring others vs. DIY. Most businesses could anticipate a range of $50-70k investment.

What does a Tourbase owner actually do?

Build relationships with local tour operators. Go on tour and take video and photos to differentiate your online content. Write helpful travel tips and excursion guides. Build a small team to provide excellent customer service. Experiment with new marketing strategies and sales channels. Learn about customers and how to better serve their needs.

As an owner, you can choose to DIY the majority of this work or pay to have it done for you.

Do I need to live in the territory I operate?

You can live and work anywhere where you have a fast internet connection. With that said, you MUST be deeply knowledgeable about the region so that you can provide unique tips, insights and guidance to curate incredible experiences for the guests that book through your platform.

What does Tourbase provide for me?

We provide you an incredible custom website and a proprietary software that automates a huge part of the normal headaches a travel planner deals with. We offer integrations into tour operator reservation systems, CRM, marketing support and training around AI. Further, we provide personalized training, business playbooks, marketing tools and coaching to help you scale your business.

Interested to learn more? Let's talk.

We'd love to hear from you!  Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to franchise with us or a tour operator interested in partnering with us, we'd love to chat.

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• The United Kingdom
• Franchise Ratings in The United Kingdom

The 6 Best Travel Franchises to Own in The United Kingdom for 2023

Despite travel restrictions and other factors Travel franchises are steadily recovering in the United Kingdom. The niches within the industry which appeared during lockdown are projected to be filled in in 2022. But as you can see the best Travel franchises have survived and are still at the top of the list. The travel industry is growing! Everyone needs to travel now and then. Sometimes traveling is life style for someone. So why not create biz on helping people do that? People spend more and more money on traveling. This makes the travel business a beneficial opportunity for future travel franchise owners. Nothing can't compare with the pleasure of having your beloved activity also giving you profit if you adore everything related with traveling. Plus many travel franchises often require lower start-up value and let you operate your business right from your home. If you decided to start this type of business view top 6 best travel franchises in the UK.

Here are the list of the best 6 travel franchises to own in the UK

Founded in: 2014 Franchising since: 2014 No. Existing Locations: 6 Total Initial Investment: £1,510 - £3,010 Royalty Fees: £25 per month

With the exceptional growth of the travel market over recent years, MTC Travel is delighted to offers you the opportunity to join it team of franchise partners, where with great experience and expertise you will be able to start your own specialist travel business offering your clients a variety of travel destinations at some unbelievable prices.

The Holiday Franchise Company

Founded in: 2016 Franchising since: 2016 No. Existing Locations: 227 Total Initial Investment: £13,790 - £15,820 Royalty Fees: 2%

The Holiday Franchise Company has been created by travel professionals to open up this exciting industry to those with a passion for travel, who want the freedom of running their own business. As part of Hays Travel Independence Group, it has access to 500+ suppliers.

Global Travel Group

Founded in: 1992 Franchising since: 1992 No. Existing Locations: 350+ Total Initial Investment: £15,070 Royalty Fees: 1.5% of Turnover

The Global Travel Group franchises and operates travel agencies in the United Kingdom. It offers business opportunity to start, develop, and operate travel agency from home and business premises to its members. Having been established for over 20 years, The Global Travel Group inspires people to run their own successful business within the dynamic world of travel.

No. Existing Locations: 60 Total Initial Investment: £11,300 – £15,070 Operating fee: £130

With a network of over 60 franchisees & backing of Fred.Olsen Travel, GoCruise & Travel is a premier UK cruise agents. Cruising has become a more common activity as more and more people choose to cruise for the holidays and even weekends. GoCruise has the latest offers from all the top cruise lines. The company is a member of major travel organizations: ABTA, ATOL, CLIA, and BFA.

Explorer Travel

Founded in: 2005 Franchising since: 2005 No. Existing Locations: 300 Total Initial Investment: £4,000

Explorer Travel is the UK's largest and most successful travel franchise. The company offers a unique opportunity to run successful internet travel franchise using proven successful formula. No experience is necessary! Explorer Travel is ABTA bonded (L3832) and has ATOL and IATA facilities.

The Travel Franchise

Founded in: 2001 Franchising since: 2010 No. Existing Locations: 700 Total Initial Investment: £7,530 – £30,140 Royalty Fees: 5%

The Travel Franchise & Not Just Travel is one of the UK's leading travel companies. It is an independent travel company offering a friendly, one-to-one travel service, knowledge and experience of more than 700 caring travel professionals all over the UK.

To summarize, we can say any of the listed above travel franchises is worth buying. But there is a lot to consider while choosing the best one for you. Pay attention to the reputation of the brand, what training and support are offered, check if the other franchisees are successful. But the main thing you need to do is to align your budget with investment requirements of the brand. In order to ease the challenge, we have made the comparison flowchart of the best travel franchises in the UK for you. It shows the minimum estimated initial investment of each brand. By using it, you can figure out the difference in financial requirements for each franchise, and decide which one fits you the most.

View all Travel Franchises

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Wyndham adds all-inclusive resorts in franchise brand deal.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts expanded its all-inclusive resort portfolio Tuesday through a new alliance with Decameron All Inclusive Hotels & Resorts .

This full franchise deal lets Wyndham add nine of Decameron’s all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Panama, and Jamaica, involving 2,600 rooms.

The companies didn’t disclose the terms of the franchise contracts for the resorts.

The resorts will retain Decameron branding, which is not a new soft brand for Wyndham. However, the hotels coming in are soft-branded to either Wyndham’s Trademark Collection or Ramada. (Hard brands dictate many rules for property owners that soft brands don’t.)

Travelers can book the resorts for cash or loyalty points via its site and app. Members of Wyndham’s loyalty program can now redeem points for free stays starting at 15,000 points a night. The award chart is static, not dynamic. Properties that are 15,000 will remain 15,000 points and those that are 30,000 will remain 30,000, regardless of season.

Decameron has more properties than the all-inclusive resorts joining Wyndham as franchises. Why are some included and others not? Wyndham said it sees “long-term opportunities with Decameron.”

In the short term, Decameron’s priority is greater distribution with its Caribbean resorts.

The Larger All-Inclusive Trend

The marketing alliance marks Wyndham’s latest move to boost its presence in the fast-growing all-inclusive resort sector. The deal expands the hotel group’s all-inclusive choices to more than 50 worldwide.

“Increasingly, operators like Decameron are turning to Wyndham, helping to significantly expand their reach,” said Gustavo Viescas, Wyndham’s Latin America and Caribbean president.

In late 2022, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)  said on Monday that it had signed a licensing deal with   Iberostar  to let IHG market up to 70 of that brand’s all-inclusive hotels and resorts.

Since 2021, Marriott has added about 20 all-inclusive resorts across Central America and the Caribbean to its Autograph Collection of hotels through a licensing deal with Sunwing Travel Group’s hotel division, which manages them.

Accommodations Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date

What am I looking at?  The performance of hotels and short-term rental sector stocks within the  ST200 . The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets, including international and regional hotel brands, hotel REITs, hotel management companies, alternative accommodations, and timeshares.

The Skift Travel 200 (ST200)  combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more hotels and short-term rental financial sector performance.

Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.

Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com.

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Russia: Franchising in the largest country on Earth

Russia may win in terms of sheer land mass, but when it comes to franchising potential, the country’s story gets a little more complicated

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Russia may win in terms of sheer land mass, but when it comes to franchising potential, the country’s story gets a little more complicated.

Words by Kieran McLoone, deputy editor for Global Franchise

Politically, socially, and financially, Russia is often viewed as a literal world apart from what we’ve come to understand as western culture. This could be due to the fact that Russian culture and news isn’t widely publicized in the West, which extends to the current positioning of its burgeoning franchise industry.

You may be surprised, then, to learn that past its mysterious exterior, the Russian franchise industry isn’t just similar to what can be found in the West; it arguably borrows many lessons and best practices from the market, too.

A business behemoth

Before we dive deep into what franchisors and entrepreneurs can expect from Russia’s business landscape, it’s important to understand what kind of country we’re dealing with in the first place.

Russia is almost double the size of the U.S. and covers a whopping 17 million square kilometers, making it the largest country in the world. Russia is so large, in fact, that its surface area makes up one-eighth of the earth’s total. Across that vast expanse are around 144.5 million people, situated in several key cities around the country. The capital, Moscow, is home to roughly 12.7 million residents and is often regarded as one of the main franchise markets within Russia.

“You may be in demand and trendy in somewhere like the U.K., but because nobody knows you in Russia, it’s all about providing value”

To ignore Russia’s other large cities would be a mistake, however, and these include St. Petersburg (with around 5.5 million inhabitants), Novosibirsk (1.66 million), and Nizhniy Novogorod (1.25 million). In total, Russia has 12 cities with over one million inhabitants and a further 201 smaller cities that contain between 100,000 and one million people. As expected from a country so large, the on-paper opportunity for franchisors in Russia stretches as far as the eye can see – and then some.

Russia’s franchise industry was first established in the early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite the past decade seeing considerable instability in the Russian economy, the country’s franchise industry is estimated to be worth around $7.5bn, and consists of roughly 1,450 different franchise brands; with more than 50,000 individual franchisees operating in Russia.

65 per cent of brands within the country are of Russian origin, and of the remaining 35 per cent, nearly half of that figure is comprised of U.S. organizations.

The universal appeal of the golden arches

Many of the franchises currently operating in Russia could be considered relatively young, with 45 per cent having been established in the market for less than five years.

There are of course some notable outliers of this trend; namely, the brand that arguably started it all: McDonald’s. Known as the first major success story for franchising within Russia, McDonald’s was introduced after a partnership between the Moscow city government and the brand, which saw the government take a 49 per cent stake in the Russian entity. McDonald’s launch in January 1990 was something to behold and saw more than 30,000 people queuing around the block from 4:30 am to get their first taste of American fast food.

“The Russian market could be second to America – trust me”

Unlike other U.S. concepts that have come and gone since then, McDonald’s remains a popular investment choice in Russia and has seen exponential growth in the 30 years that it has operated. Just this year, in fact, the organization announced that it would open new locations in Russia’s far east in December 2020, in cities such as Khabarovsk and Vladivostok for the first time. With these openings, McDonald’s hopes to launch its 800th site in Russia; showcasing a true success story of a foreign brand within the country.

But proven success in the U.S., and even a wider international market, doesn’t always guarantee prosperity in Russia. Square burger favorite, Wendy’s, encountered this in 2014 when it announced that it would be closing all eight of its Russian locations. This announcement came only four years after Wendy’s first entered Russia, and at the time, the brand planned to open 180 locations throughout the country.

With the announcement of these closures, a spokesperson for Wendy’s told Bloomberg that its Russian franchisee “has not expressed interest in growing Wendy’s business in Russia, nor have they shown that they have the resources to successfully operate the existing restaurants on a long-term basis.”

Gary Chaglasyan, the World Franchise Associates’ Russian representative, emphasizes the need for caution, and not letting the success stories of brands like McDonald’s cloud strategic thinking: “A brand could be huge in your country, but in Russia, nobody knows about it. You may be in demand and trendy in somewhere like the U.K., but because nobody knows you in Russia, it’s all about providing value. Brands should definitely think about promotions and marketing before entering the Russian market.”

Local success story

So what kind of approach works well in the Russian market? If Wendy’s struggled to gain a foothold half a decade ago, what could the brand have done differently today to instead prosper and develop throughout the region? The answer can be found in a local Russian pizza chain, which has used this past decade to exponentially grow; both within Russia, and in 13 countries around the world.

“Some brands find that Moscow is too hard to crack with all the competition, so they start from some other regions”

Dodo Pizza was founded as a brick-and-mortar restaurant brand in 2011 and has since pivoted to being a delivery-first operation centralized by a proprietary tech platform called Dodo IS. With 550 locations in Russia and many more overseas, it’s something of a domestic success story and can provide some key insight into the Russian consumer mentality.

“Fyodor Ovchinnikov, the founder of Dodo Pizza, saw huge potential in the pizza market – in Russia and globally,” says Max Kotin, chief storyteller for the brand. “He wanted to revolutionize the way this business is managed by developing a proprietary cloud-based tech platform that would be deeply integrated with the brand’s managing system.

“There was also very little competition across Russia since Domino’s Pizza and Papa John’s focused their efforts on Moscow and left the rest of the country almost unattended. This allowed Fyodor to launch his first highly successful unit, scale the network fast through franchising, and use profits to reinvest them in the development of Dodo IS, Dodo’s tech platform that allowed the brand to achieve outstanding results in less than a decade.”

While some of the key differentiators offered by Dodo Pizza don’t seem exclusive to the Russian market, they serve as important reminders to international franchisors that nailing the basics can make all the difference when entering a new region: “Dodo developed a format that was better suited to the market with well-designed dine-in areas and more balanced mix of dine-in/ delivery operations,” explains Kotin. “Also, the brand’s radical transparency and commitment to the win-win principle in building partnerships attracted the most gifted and ambitious franchisees and suppliers; this also allowed us to connect our franchisees with investors and help them raise capital that would otherwise be hard to attain given the state of the financial market in Russia.”

The key takeaways from this take-away success story? Find a niche in the market, don’t be afraid to pivot to suit evolving trends, and make sure franchisee relationships are at the forefront of all ongoing strategies. Not exactly revelatory observations, but crucial pillars that some foreign brands seem to forget when attempting Russian growth.

Moscow or bust?

One of the other lessons that can be learned from the success of Dodo’s Pizza is that while Moscow is the capital of Russia and often regarded as its prime franchise market, incoming brands would do well to explore other areas as part of their national strategy.

“Previously, brands just focused on Moscow. Moscow and St. Petersburg were the main cities,” says Gary Chaglasyan. “Moscow is comparable to New York, and St. Petersburg is like California. The rest of the country was less developed a few years back, but now, all of the cities that have over one million inhabitants are nicely developed and can be approached with a good strategy.

“Some brands find that Moscow is too hard to crack with all the competition, so they start from some other regions. They slowly grow outside of Moscow, and then develop into the city. The reason brands tend to look at these main cities, though, is that they have better supply chains, distribution, and large markets.”

Fortune favors the prepared

Give or take a few high-profile failures, franchising in Russia may seem a surefire way to develop your brand. After all, household names like McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King reportedly open around 70 to 100 new locations in the country every year, and the proven growth in both international and domestic tourism means that brand awareness is organic and reliable.

As it turns out, though, there’s one main barrier to entry when it comes to Russian franchising: the economy. And while this can be a challenge in every single country a franchisor may try to penetrate, there’s some unique problems presented by Russia’s unpredictable and volatile financial situation.

“The main problem is exchange rates, which are a huge issue that stop a lot of brands from entering Russia,” says Chaglasyan. “Brands are usually western, based in the U.S. or Europe, and all of their fees are in USD or Euro. Many of them have their own products which aren’t manufactured in Russia, so they need to import them from their own suppliers overseas. Due to that, they need to pay shipping and transport fees, which increase prices.

“What’s worse is that you’re working in Russia so it’s based on rubles. Just this year, the ruble fell down by 20 per cent. Over the last four years, that was almost 50 per cent. But we still have to pay the USD figure for royalties; the spending power here went down, but the cost to work with brands doubled.”

Baskin-Robbins was faced with high import fees when it first attempted Russia in 1988, as it found that Russian sources of supply didn’t meet its high standards. As a result, the ice-cream franchisor built its own $30m factory in Moscow’s Ostankino district in 1996, which produced 70 tons of ice-cream every day upon opening. This was certainly a solution, but not necessarily one that smaller brands could enact at a moment’s notice.

Overcome these issues, however, and Russia can be a fertile market for the right brand to mop up swathes of customers, who are hungry for international concepts and their best practices.

While franchising is still a relatively new concept to Russia, there’s starting to become a national understanding of the model’s benefits. Case in point: in the first four years of franchising in Russia, 42 brands opened in the country, which is approximately 10 new concepts per year. By 2018, this number had increased by more than 50 times. By 2030? Russia could become a world contender on the franchise stage.

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Why Did the Hotel Chain Hire a Marine Biologist?

Megan Morikawa of the Iberostar Group is applying science — and scale — to eliminate food waste, save coral and collaborate across the travel industry to cut carbon.

Megan Morikawa went from getting her Ph.D. at Stanford to working for the Spanish hotel group as director of sustainability. Credit... Iberostar

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By Elisabeth Goodridge

• May 15, 2024

Carbon neutrality, zero waste and serving seafood solely from responsible suppliers: Many boutique eco-tourism destinations — particularly those catering to small numbers of luxury travelers — can reach or come close to sustainability goals such as these, but what about a decades-old resort company operating 97 properties across 14 countries?

As the global director of sustainability at Iberostar Group , Megan Morikawa is striving to prove that large travel operators can be better stewards of the planet. The Stanford-educated marine biologist is applying science to achieve these goals and more, such as helping the privately held hospitality company build coral research labs and use A.I.-powered trash cans to reduce kitchen waste.

In a nearly two-hour video conversation, Dr. Morikawa talked about her career pivot from academia to hospitality, the importance of collaboration across the travel industry and her new role for the Travel Foundation , a nonprofit providing destinations with sustainable-tourism research, strategy and training.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

What led you to research coral reef die-offs for your doctorate?

Basically, the theme of my technical background is how we can use the technology of genetics and genomics to better conserve species on the planet.

My Ph.D. adviser, Stephen Palumbi, was focused on genetics, genomics and coral reefs. His whole proposition was: Could we find the world’s toughest corals, learn what makes them tough and use that to help predict winners and losers of climate change, so that managers could better understand how to restore reefs?

How did you end up in travel?

It was at the end of my Ph.D. when at Stanford I met Gloria Fluxá Thienemann, Iberostar’s vice chairman and chief sustainability officer. My adviser and I were scratching our heads asking, “What does a Spanish hotel owner have in terms of interest in our research?”

Our initial conversation showed that she was genuinely interested in the science. Gloria’s passion for the science of the oceans has facilitated so much of what we now do.

I moved from academia to Iberostar because really passionate people want to use the private sector to scale solutions for critical ecosystems, like coral reefs.

Iberostar now has three coral labs and seven underwater nurseries in three countries. How did that start?

The first year that I joined, we constructed our first coral lab at a property in the Dominican Republic. It would have taken us four or five years if we were doing this from an academic standpoint.

The coral lab is three things in one. It’s an outreach center, where guests and others can pop in and stumble upon seeing — for many of them — coral for the first time. But it’s also a genetic bank: Corals in the Caribbean are experiencing a lot of challenges, like widespread disease and bleaching events. Having a genetic bank is an important asset saving for genetic diversity. Our third objective is to recreate coral bleaching: The lab has a sophisticated system that recreates heating waves with small tanks so that we can stress individual corals, and predict winners and losers, just like I did for my Ph.D.

Iberostar has taken hotels off fossil fuels, partnered to create a waste-management system in Brazil and more. How is it making these changes?

The question is always around how you scale sustainability. Scaling is an interesting combination of being able to speak in a high-level strategy voice about say, business objectives, and then being able to translate that down to the actual actions that a hotel director needs to take.

Because it’s not just our executive leadership. From our operations to our procurement team to our head of human resources, we all recognize the risk climate change poses to our business. So the passion and enthusiasm to do something about it is there and was not what needed to be sparked.

Tell me about these trash cans.

We do a lot of work on our food waste — we serve around 45 million meals a year.

With our partnership with Winnow , an A.I. waste management company, we have placed devices in our kitchens that have an A.I.-assisted camera and scale that allows for chefs to spend the first month or so training the model on what the camera is seeing. Through time, the system automatically registers what is being wasted.

With that data, we can get feedback on those economic losses as well as carbon footprint losses. And finally, what is it that we are throwing away? And how can that help us to inform how we produce food the next day?

What are the top challenges to Iberostar’s sustainability goals?

Travel is made up of a bunch of different businesses in different sectors. And how that all joins together can be really difficult to understand — particularly in the role we all play in protecting natural resources. Because we are a beachfront resort company, when we see erosion and other impacts on those areas, it’s really clear and evident. But one of our excursion providers might not be thinking about it as much in their day-to-day.

As a scientist, I recognize that a lot of discovery of how to do things that have never been done before requires quick absorption of new materials and being able to speak multiple languages. And by that, I don’t mean linguistic languages; I mean speaking from a research standpoint to a government standpoint to a business standpoint. A lot of the barrier to collaboration was not being able to communicate effectively with each other.

Are any of these changes something a guest would see?

We somewhat boldly said we are demonstrating that a luxury hospitality experience does not require single-use plastics. What I like to say is that when you see a room that is free of single-use plastics, it’s kind of hard to unsee it. A lot of times it can be thought of — initially — as needing to remove items. But I think our operations team thought critically about ways to elegantly offer an experience that was a better product. So that’s probably the most tangible way that we can see that.

What is the purpose of the Travel Foundation?

The Travel Foundation is a U.K.-based NGO, providing research, strategy and support in their aim for tourism to provide the greatest benefits for every destination around the world, so local communities and environments can thrive. The role I’ve taken is chair of the board of trustees.

A recent research piece they published was looking at how to model pathways to reach net zero emissions, looking at aviation, transport and hotels. The Travel Foundation also supports destinations in producing management plans. For Lake Tahoe, in California, they’ve been doing great work to help the area think through its new boom in tourism and how residents can have a voice.

When it comes to changing human impact on the environment, what are steps that travelers could take?

One of the best things that tourists can do is to inject mindfulness into their decisions. I know it sounds really silly, but the more meaning that we draw from the choices that we make in our consumption, the more likely we’re able to maximize the value that comes from it and make them memorable experiences.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Elisabeth is the deputy editor for the Travel Desk at The New York Times. More about Elisabeth Goodridge

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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America’s Best-Paid Tourism Marketers

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

May 6th, 2024 at 9:49 AM EDT

Many tourism board CEOs command high compensation. Here's Skift's first major look at the pay packages of U.S. destination marketing executives.

Dawit Habtemariam

Many American tourism marketers are well-paid. Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta recently collected more than $1.5 million in compensation. Brand USA CEO Chris Thompson recently took home over $700,000.

These were some of the findings when Skift reviewed the the pay for U.S. tourism marketers at city, state, and national levels. Here’s how we approached it:

• We used the 2022 fiscal year because those records were the most comprehensively up-to-date.
• We focused on the top 20 cities, based on those with the highest inbound visitation from overseas . Many are non-profits, and we were able to review their Form 990s filed with the IRS. In some cases, we got pay data from government agencies.
• At the state level, we were interested in heavily touristed states with large, non-profit destination marketing organizations (DMOs), such as California, Hawaii, and Florida. We left out states like New York that didn’t have them.
• At the national level, we added  Brand USA , America’s destination marketing organization, and Destinations International , the association for destination marketers.

Update May 10: We’ve added two additional data points for each destination below: Total revenue and employee headcount. Tourism boards look at many factors when determining executive compensation, and the budgets and size of the organizations are important considerations.

Pay for High-Profile U.S. Tourism Marketers in Fiscal Year 2022

Source: Official filings and Skift reporting. CauseIQ made it easier to find filings . The “total compensation” figure includes bonuses and non-taxable benefits, such as healthcare. * Miami’s William Talbert, a CEO for 16 years, was only a consultant in 2022. **Houston doesn’t disclose the pay of its tourism executives ; there were $20 million in Visit Houston expenses in the year .

Some Smaller Destinations Offer Big Pay

Some tourism marketing executives had high compensation, but because of their city’s relatively small inbound international visitation, they didn’t make our above list.

Exhibit A: In Indianapolis, Visit Indy CEO and President Leonard Hoops made $921,470 and is under contract. Visit Indy’s executive committee has twice renewed his contract, most recently in 2018 with a 12-year extension.

“The Visit Indy Board Executive Committee decided years ago that it wanted Leonard to continue elevating Indy into a top national and international destination,” said Chris Gahl, Visit Indy executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “Leonard is regularly a target of recruiters for other CEO searches but the Visit Indy Board has proactively worked to ensure that Leonard will be in Indy for years to come.”

Destinations typically justify high pay packages based on performance.

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp’s Christopher “Butch” Spyridon made $1,393,273 in fiscal year 2022 before his retirement last year. Spyridon led the organization for over three decades and has been credited for playing a big role in turning Nashville into one of America’s most-visited cities.

Factors in DMO Pay

There’s a gray area regarding how much of a destination’s performance is due to the CEO.

“It’s always hard to determine if the performance is based solely on the work of the CEO or the organization or whether that performance is just momentum,” said Greg Klassen, a former CEO of Destination Canada and senior director of Skift Advisory .

Pay is usually determined by the board of directors, which might consider performance indicators, such as hotel occupancy, visitor spending, overnight stays, and convention bookings.

“Any incentive beyond my base bonus was tied to the overall strategic plan and the KPIs against that plan,” said Don Welsh, who is currently the CEO and president of Destinations International and who recalls his experiences serving as the top boss at Visit Seattle, Choose Chicago, and Visit Indy.

Why Tourism Bosses Are Paid What They’re Paid

The scope of the organization’s size, the complexity of the destination, and the CEO’s expected economic impact are big influences on compensation, said Mike Gamble, president and CEO of SearchWide Global , an executive recruiting firm.

Different boards may also have different priorities. Some boards, for example, may place greater weight on resident sentiment and community relations.

“Between my current job and previous jobs, anywhere between 15 and 50 KPIs were used in my reviews, and those vary from one to the next,” said Brad Dean, CEO and president of Discover Puerto Rico .

Larger Organizations, Larger Challenges

Another factor in pay: State-level destination marketing organizations often come with oversight of massive budgets.

Exhibit A: Visit California’s Caroline Beteta earned $1,562,141 in the 2022 fiscal year. The state’s destination marketing organization received around $100 million in a one-time investment from its state government.

Beteta has been credited for helping California’s tourism and meeting industries recover from the pandemic .

In some states, how much those budgets can go toward executive pay is limited by organizational constraints. Visit Florida’s Dana Young made $214,876, but only up to $120,000 can come from state funds. “All amounts in excess of $120,000 are paid for with private (non-state) funds,” said Visit Florida’s page on executive compensation . Visit Florida is a public-private partnership.

Skift Advisory’s Klassen said the tourism board CEO position has become more complicated over the past decade. These executives must manage destination marketing and development, attract visitors and new investors, obtain funding to build hotels, convention facilities, attractions, and other tourism assets, and manage relations with politicians and residents.

“There’s a number of pretty charismatic CEOs who perhaps tried to convince their boards that they’re the reason why the performance is happening within their destination,” Klassen said.

Latest U.S. Tourism News

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: brand usa , ceo pay , ceos , destination marketing , destination marketing organizations , dmos , executive compensation , executives , marketing , tourism , tourism boards , us travel , US Travel Association

Photo credit: A view of the Golden Gate Bridge in 2020 in San Francisco, California. David Yu / Flickr / Creative Commons

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14 May 2024

Romie, the AI-powered travel buddy you want to ‘roam’ the world with, is unveiled alongside 40+ new features in the 2024 Spring Release

Travel Shops open for business; new e-commerce product debuts as first shoppable storefront for content creators

Travel industry’s leading advertising platform is announced with groundbreaking capabilities

Traveling just got a whole lot easier. Expedia Group announced today at EXPLORE™, our annual partner conference in Las Vegas, the travel industry’s most innovative and comprehensive release of 40+ new products and features — making picking a hotel that won’t offend your hotel-obsessed companion or your budget a seamless experience.

“At Expedia Group, we embrace the transformative power of AI to create personalized travel experiences. Our long-standing investments in this space enable us to capitalize on the breathtaking pace of AI innovation, and today’s Spring Release demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative products and features that enhance the way people explore the world,” said Ariane Gorin, CEO, Expedia Group.

ROMIE – YOUR ‘ROAMING’ AI BUDDY

Let’s face it, we’d all love to have someone help us work out all the details of our trip based on our preferences. Travelers now have that option with Romie™, the travel industry’s first AI assistant designed to ‘roam’ the world with you and have your back at every step of your trip.

Romie assists with planning, shopping, booking and even lends a hand when something unexpectedly changes during a trip — serving as your travel agent, concierge and personal assistant, all in one. Like the ideal travel companion, Romie gets progressively intelligent — learning who you are, remembering what type of trips you like, and even if you prefer Italian food and boutique hotels or an afternoon hiking through nature. The alpha version of the Romie experience is currently available on EG Labs™, a hub for experimental products:  

• Group Chat Trip Planning : Invite Romie to join your SMS group chat and listen to your vacation plans. If you want some advice, just @Romie to get suggestions on where to go or what to do, like you would a travel agent.
• Smart Search : Ask Romie to summarize your group chat and bring what they learned about your trip straight into your Expedia shopping experience. Personalize your search even more by adding your own filters like rooftop views and early check-in to find your ideal hotel faster.
• Building Your Itinerary : Like any good concierge, your new AI buddy is eager to help you build your perfect trip. Romie can pull in travel information from your emails and suggest restaurants and activities near your hotel that they think you and your group will enjoy.
• Dynamic Service : You can rely on Romie to troubleshoot with you when things don’t go as planned. Like the perfect personal assistant, Romie monitors weather changes or last-minute disruptions that may impact your plans and has alternative suggestions ready that are convenient for you.
• Intelligent Assistance : Throughout your trip, Romie updates your itinerary in real time so anyone in the group chat with FOMO can see what you’re up to, and anyone that needs to pick you up from the airport can simply @Romie to check what time you land.

“We believe in re-imagining the traveler experience, and then using the latest in AI to bring it to life, and with Romie, we’ve done just that , ” said Rathi Murthy, CTO, Expedia Group. “We created an AI assistant with hyper personalization in mind so that travelers can choose when they want Romie’s help on their own terms. Romie can assist throughout dreaming, planning and traveling or even when things don’t go as planned, all while getting more intelligent as the traveler interacts.”

2024 SPRING PRODUCT RELEASE

In our 2024 Spring Product Release, we leveraged the power of AI to eliminate confusion and stress for travelers across tasks like planning, booking management, and customer service. Trust us — we want to get you on the plane en route to your destination as fast as possible and free up some of your time to worry about what matters the most, making lasting memories.  

Our travel partners, the cornerstone of our marketplace, can leverage our investments in AI and machine learning with new tools that safeguard their business, control rate integrity, and provide actionable insights on service.

Traveler Product Highlights:

• Personalized Itinerary Builder :For the first time, travelers can create customized itineraries for upcoming trips based on AI-generated recommendations tailored to your trip and saved items. Available this summer on the Expedia app in the U.S.
• Self-Service Booking Management : Navigate hassle-free changes, cancellations, and air credit redemption for your bookings directly in the app or on the web. Available this summer on Expedia and Hotels.com globally.
• Get Help Fast : Who actually reads the fine print? Thanks to our advancements in AI, travelers can find the solutions they need fast in our completely updated Help Center. Available now on Expedia and Hotels.com® in the U.S.
• Price Comparison : Travelers can now compare prices for hotels and flights across dates, so you can travel within your budget. Available this summer on Expedia and Hotels.com in the U.S.
• Destination Comparison : Sit back, relax and let our GenAI tools help you discover and compare new destinations worth visiting for you. Available this summer on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo globally.
• Guest Review Summary : Save time sorting through thousands of reviews. Using GenAI technology, Expedia summarizes guest reviews upfront, so you don’t have to.

Partner Product Highlights:

• Fraud Prevention as a Service (FPaaS) : Our industry has lost over $21 billion annually to fraudulent transactions. 1 It’s time to safeguard your business from financial loss. Our FPaaS solution helps you screen bookings, reduce unauthorized account access and minimize chargeback losses.
• Advertiser- Funded Loyalty : It’s time our destination partners cash in on the loyalty game. And now they can by funding OneKeyCash™ for travelers booking hotels.
• Optimized Distribution for Hoteliers : Optimized Distribution is now available to regional chains and independent hotels, bringing properties more control over their inventory and pricing.
• Guest Experience : AI-powered insights identify recurring negative sentiments in reviews and deliver personalized recommendations to hosts to create a better experience for travelers.
• Seasonal Cancellation Policy : Have more control over your vacation rental with Vrbo’s date-based cancellation policy, all from a single page.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: SHOP INFLUENCER FAVORITES ON TRAVEL SHOPS

Travel Shops debut today as a new storefront, allowing creators to share and save their travel recommendations in one central place on the Expedia app — saving travelers from spending hours scrolling on social media to find past recommendations and new inspiration.

This new storefront allows content creators to earn commission, increase visibility and customize their own personalized space for travel content. Advertising partners will soon be able to spotlight destinations with shoppable links across our social channels or partner with handpicked travel influencers to sponsor a collection via their channels.

“We saw an opportunity to reinvent how consumers interact with travel content on social media platforms,” said Jochen Koedijk, CMO, Expedia Group. “Travel Shops are a first-of-its-kind travel platform that bridges the gap between content creators and travelers, creating a central hub for curated travel recommendations and a seamless shopping experience. Travel Shops give creators the tools to build unique marketplaces, making it easy to share travel recommendations and providing a more personalized experience for travelers.”

WORLD’S LEADING TRAVEL MEDIA NETWORK

Today at EXPLORE, we revealed the world’s leading travel media network. Building on two decades of advertising experience from Expedia Group Media Solutions, the travel media network leverages our first-party traveler intent and purchase data, so advertising partners reach even more travelers across the purchase journey. Advertising partners benefit from:

• In-house Creative Team : Collaborate on inspiring, actionable and shoppable campaigns with our in-house creative team to reach highly relevant audiences across multiple platforms.
• Industry-Leading Advertising Tools : Target high-intent travelers with industry-leading onsite advertising tools such as TravelAds, connecting our travel audience to 200 booking sites in 70+ countries.
• Offsite Capabilities : Leverage our first-party travel intent data to meet travelers wherever they are online, such as YouTube and Connected TV.
• Global Network and Scale : Develop curated media campaigns with our expert media teams, using partnerships such as Netflix and Disney+, and tap into Expedia Group’s vast B2B network of over 60,000 partners to extend global footprints to new markets and audiences.

“We’ve pioneered the travel retail media network model. Our robust, first-party data and network of industry-wide partnerships gives us the exclusive ability to translate traveler shopping behavior to actionable insights for our advertising partners,” said Rob Torres, SVP, Expedia Group Media Solutions. “Our travel media network targets travelers at various touchpoints on the journey with highly relevant travel content, driving conversion. We’ve only just scratched the surface with building bespoke media campaigns for partners, I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Partners can find more information at: partner.expediagroup.com/release

EG Labs™ can be accessed at: expediagroup.com/labs

1 Research from global Edgar, Dunn & Company, on behalf of eNett.

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A new casual Mexican restaurant is opening in the Marquette area

Taco Pros, an Illinois-based Mexican restaurant franchise, is coming to 1400 W. Wells St.

The casual restaurant will open in early June, franchise co-owner Darmesh Ghelani said.

Taco Pros opened in 2019 in Oak Park, Illinois, and has expanded throughout Illinois and Indiana, and now into Wisconsin.

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A location in Mequon at 10942 N. Port Washington Rd. opened earlier this year. Besides the Wells Street location, there are plans for Taco Pros at 242 E. Capitol Dr. in Milwaukee, 2068 Miller Park Way in West Milwaukee and 7801 W. Greenfield Ave. in West Allis.

Ghelani is also a pharmacist and owns independent pharmacies in the Milwaukee area. He plans to also stay in that field while running Taco Pros.

The location is on the ground floor of the Lark on 14th student apartment complex near the Marquette University campus.

More: Kwench Juice Cafe on Milwaukee's east side has permanently closed

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A new casual Mexican restaurant is opening in the Marquette area

Franchise Group Results Slide as Firm Looks for Ways to Cut Debt

• First-quarter revenue and earnings fell, private results show
• FRG’s founder and finances are matters of concern for B. Riley

Franchise Group Inc. , the firm at the center of a controversy surrounding B. Riley Financial Inc. ’s finances, posted steep drops in first-quarter results as it grapples with looming maturities on its debt load, according to people familiar with the matter.

The owner of brands such as Vitamin Shoppe and American Freight told investors revenue showed a double-digit drop from a year earlier, according to the people. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization plunged to around $25 million from about $62 million, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the private figures.