News

For Immediate Release

Now Serving Canada from Sea to Sea to Sea
Expedia CruiseShipCenters Opens in Yukon Territory

As the popularity of cruise vacations continues to grow, more Expedia CruiseShipCenters retail locations are opening in order to provide travelers with specialized local service. The company officially celebrated its reach from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and now to the Arctic, with the opening of its first Center in Whitehorse.

The new Franchise Partners, Erik and Kim Hougen, have add Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Yukon to their long list of successfully established businesses in the northern territory. “We have been involved in many different types of businesses over the years and are very excited about the travel industry,” says Kim, “With so many options to choose from, cruise vacations are a very complex product to sell. Customers really want to speak to someone who can explain the differences and recommend the trip that best suits their tastes. After all, this isn’t just point A to point B, it’s a hard-earned, well-deserved vacation.”

The continued growth of Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ chain of retail outlets contradicts the myth that travel agents have lost relevance in today’s age of ecommerce. According to a 2008 PhoCusWright Report, travel agents book $110 billion dollars worth of travel annually and account for about 77% of all cruises booked.

When asked why their chain of retail cruise agencies is so successful, Matthew Eichhorst President of Expedia CruiseShipCenters attributes it to the company’s core business practices. “We focus on the essentials: Training, Technology, Marketing and Customer Service”, he says. “Everything we do revolves around providing a world-class system to support our Franchise Partners and Cruise Consultants in fulfilling our mission: Making Dreams Come True.”

Expedia CruiseShipCenters has plans to open several more retail Centers this year as they continue their expansion throughout North America.