VANCOUVER — Expedia Cruises brought nearly 1,000 attendees together aboard MSC World America for its largest ANCHOR Conference to date, as the travel franchise network outlined ambitious growth plans and new technology initiatives aimed at supporting advisors and franchisees.
Held from April 11-18 under the theme “Stronger Together – Elevate and Accelerate,” the annual conference welcomed franchisees, Vacation Consultants, supplier partners and corporate team members for a week focused on collaboration, education and strategic alignment.
The full-service leisure travel host agency franchise said the event comes at a time of strong industry momentum, with global travel demand continuing to rise and U.S. travel projections expected to reach 85 million travellers.
“The Expedia Cruises 2026 ANCHOR Meeting was our most successful ever,” said Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia Cruises. “Not only did we welcome our largest and most engaged audience to date, but I have never seen our distribution channel more energized about the opportunities ahead over the next decade. These gatherings help move our industry forward by sharing best practices, strengthening relationships, and reigniting our collective passion for the business.”
The conference program included keynote sessions, coaching opportunities, tradeshow events and networking activities, including a visit to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.
Top-performing members across the Expedia Cruises network were recognized during the week. More than 100 Vacation Consultants achieved Diamond Level status, awarded to advisors generating more than $1 million in annual sales, and were recognized during the event.
Expedia Cruises also highlighted continued expansion within its franchise system, noting that a number of existing franchisees are increasing their footprint by opening additional locations.
During the conference, Expedia Cruises unveiled plans to further expand its network in 2026, including a goal of recruiting 2,400 new Vacation Consultants and opening 15 additional franchise locations.
The company also announced a new AI-driven consumer website platform for consultants, part of a broader investment in technology tools and advisor support. Recent enhancements include the rollout of a Consultant Dashboard and a Sales Pipeline platform powered by Microsoft Power BI.
