News

For Immediate Release

Expedia CruiseShipCenters Unveils New Florida Location
Fort Lauderdale Retail Agency Set To Open February 2010

The Fort Lauderdale neighborhood of Weston, will soon become home to the first Expedia CruiseShipCenters franchise in Florida. The retail agency located in the Weston Lakes Plaza is planning to host the largest team of cruise specialists in South Florida. “Over 900 new agents have joined us this year alone,” says Michael Drever CEO and Founder of Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “We’re anticipating a very positive response from travel agents and customers with our newest brick and mortar location in the heart of the cruising world.” The new Center brings the North American total to 116 stores.

No doubt the cruise lines are also happy to see the company come to the region. “We’re thrilled to see Expedia CruiseShipCenters opening here,” says Dondra Ritzenthaler, Senior Vice President, Sales for Celebrity Cruises. “They’ve earned our Top National Account Award, are extremely focused on marketing and selling cruises, and have amazing marketing and technology to support their agents.”

That technology is CruiseDesk, one of the key reasons Franchise Partners David and Mary Beth Casey chose to invest in the new venture. “We were really impressed with the company’s track record and vision for the future” says David. “When you add up all the strengths including the Expedia brand, incredible buying power, award-winning marketing and layer it with the CruiseDesk technology, it really gives us a tremendous competitive advantage.

Mary Beth who has exchanged her senior management position in the corporate world to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams couldn’t agree more. “The market continues to grow with new ships, destinations and plenty of first-time cruisers who really want to speak to a specialist” she says. “We have very ambitious plans for our team, who will be able to use CruiseDesk to deliver amazing customer service – even if they happen to be away on a cruise!”

New locations are also scheduled to open shortly in Chicago, Detroit and other major cities as new entrepreneurs take advantage of the new opportunity and existing travel agencies choose to rebrand to Expedia CruiseShipCenters.