5 Travel Franchises We Love

The past two years have been a trying time for the travel industry. However, according to U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow, domestic leisure travel has largely recovered.

On the heels of a surge in travel after the COVID-19 vaccines were deployed last year, business is booming for travel agencies and vacation planning franchises that are helping clients plan the vacation of their dreams, or at least a quick escape from their combination home/office/school.

• Units: 2,800

• Startup cost: $2,295–$23,665

Backed by travel giant American Express, Cruise Planners is the largest home-based travel agent franchise. Founded in 1994 by a young mom and travel advisor, Michelle Fee, Cruise Planners travel advisors work from home selling full-service travel packages, including cruises, land-based vacations, travel insurance, car rentals and more.

• Units: 1,489

• Startup cost: $2,000–$21,000

Dream Vacations, which recently celebrated 28 years in business, is the world’s largest seller of cruise vacations. As part of World Travel Holdings, Dream Vacations was named one of the 20th Fastest Growing Franchise Worldwide and one of the Top Low-Cost Franchises of 2021 by Entrepreneur Magazine. As a home-based business with no inventory, franchisees’ overhead costs (and risk) are minimal.

• Units: 82

• Startup Cost: $101,000–$141,000

A trio of co-founders started this property-management company franchise in 2008 after their own property management needs were not being met. After conducting some research, they were unable to find adequate solutions in the marketplace. Today, their multi-million-dollar original territory in Panama City Beach, FL is where they continually test and perfect new innovative strategies for property management.

• Units: 253

• Startup Cost: $165,000–$291,000

You may have used Expedia to book your most recent vacation, but are you familiar with their sister company, Expedia Cruises? The full-service leisure travel agency provides travel expertise for air, land and sea vacations. The business model provides customers with a seamless booking experience from start to finish, emulating the traditional Expedia model.

• Units: 367

• Startup Cost: $2,000–$17,000

Travel Leaders is a 30-year business that focuses not only on leisure travel but also business travel. The franchise can trace its beginnings to 1984 as the Carlson Wagonlit franchise system "Ask Mr. Foster" Travel, which itself was North America's first travel agency chain established in 1888. In 2016, for the eighth year in a row, Travel Leaders Group was the highest-ranking travel management company in Business Travel News' annual compendium.