The first agreement is for Bountiful, Utah – located just north of Salt Lake City – and is expected to open in late 2024 and the second agreement is slated for a mid-2025 opening in Boise, Idaho. A record 35.7 million passengers are expected to set sail this year – up 6% from before the pandemic – and as its franchise system grows, Expedia Cruises is able to further its commitment to create personalized vacations on a local level.
Behind the Utah single-unit agreement are husband and wife, Ramon and Garimirka Chaparro. Ramon brings a wealth of financial experience from decades of controlling finances and accounting for global corporations, including one of the world’s largest gold mining companies. Garimirka previously worked as a marketing professional within the banking and financial field before taking a job in human resources, while at the same time, she worked as an independent contractor arranging all-inclusive resort vacations for affinity groups. With a deep passion for travel and engaging with people, Garimirka jumped at the opportunity to bring Expedia Cruises to Bountiful. While a joint venture for the duo, Garimirka will focus on the day-to-day operations and Ramon will oversee the financial side of the business.
“Travel has always been one of our favorite things to do, and I wanted our next chapter to be something we were really passionate about, so joining Expedia Cruises was a no-brainer for us,” said Garimirka. “We’re first-time franchisees, and the Expedia Cruises corporate team is making the process as seamless as possible. They have a streamlined model, an established and nationally-recognized brand, and strong leadership which has set us up for the ultimate success.”
The new Boise, Idaho location – which is the first in the Gem State – is owned by husband and wife, Mike and LesliAnn Hansen. Mike comes from a chemical engineering background and has more than 15 years of experience managing teams of engineers and technicians. LesliAnn has a master’s degree in mental health counseling and worked for several years at low-income elementary schools before leaving the workforce to focus on her family.
“LesliAnn and I never thought about opening our own business, but we were drawn to Expedia Cruises for their excellent reputation and commitment to providing customized vacation experiences to every customer,” said Mike. “We love traveling and know the importance of having a travel agent with you every step of the way. There is a great need and demand for more travel agencies in Boise, so we’re excited to bring one of the world’s best and biggest travel brands to our community.”
With a dominating market share in Canada, Expedia Cruises’ franchise opportunity is rapidly expanding throughout the U.S. Company leadership has identified the western states as a prime target growth area, with the region expected to produce more than $161.9 billion in franchise revenue this year. Looking toward its next era of growth, the leading travel agency franchise looks to award 25 new franchises and add 2,400 vacation consultants in 2024, with a larger goal of reaching 500 locations in the future.
The success of the brand has not gone unnoticed with Expedia Cruises earning a spot on Franchise Business Review’s “Top 200 Franchises”, “Top Franchises for Women”, and “Top Franchises Culture” rankings for 2024, and Celebrity Cruises’ Partner of the Year President’s Award for outstanding sales.
With an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, an omnichannel approach, and a proven franchise model, Expedia Cruises is a leading seller of cruises and vacations in North America. Anchored in a passionate expertise for air, land, and sea vacations, each Expedia Cruises franchise location is a full-service leisure travel agency. Franchisees and their dedicated Vacation Consultants are experts in booking cruise vacations, all-inclusive resorts, coach and rail tours, vacation packages, homes and villas, travel insurance, flights, hotels, cars, and activities.
Expedia Cruises is currently seeking like-minded team-leaders interested in pursuing franchise
Tags: Expedia Cruises, Utah and Idaho
