Expedia Cruises Testimonial: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Andrew Fowler has spent much of his professional life connected to the travel industry. He joined CruiseShipCenters head office in 1996 and spent 14 years there. After that, he worked in high tech renewable energy in Canada and Europe, then later returned to the brand, now Expedia Cruises, for another five years. The idea of business ownership eventually surfaced for a simple reason: he wanted to work for himself and build a personal asset.

Choosing the Path That Made Sense

When he began considering franchise ownership, Andrew did not explore a long list of options. He already knew the brand well and had seen many Franchise Partners succeed. In his words, “none” of the other franchises were part of his search. He bought into an existing office in July 2017 and, over time, bought out his business partners.

The Reality of Ownership

When asked whether the experience has been what he expected, Andrew said, “Working for yourself is fine. I am my hardest critic. COVID was hard, but I have the T-shirt that I survived and pulled my business and team through it. From a success standpoint it’s fine, but I have bigger goals for the office, and working on that big goal is rewarding but takes time.”

When the conversation turned to future growth, he said, “I always want to open or acquire more, but for now let’s build a big team with these two offices.”

Support That Helps Him Move Forward

Andrew credits the ongoing system improvements and coaching as meaningful parts of the franchise model. “I get a working system that is always being enhanced and developed. Not only software, but with professional coaching from head office and suppliers.”

A key moment that made ownership feel real came while teaching other Franchise Partners how to manage back office processes. After one of those calls, he remembers thinking, “I can do this, what’s stopping me from doing it versus teaching it?”

Finding His Rhythm

Andrew personally leads marketing, recruitment, sales, and Independent Contractor coaching. He hires for accounting and relies on his manager for back office work and day-to-day operations. His background in project management, teaching, technology, and even farming has shaped his ability to adapt and pivot when needed.

His Guidance for Future Owners

Andrew is direct when offering advice to people considering the brand. He encourages candidates to ask what the travel industry will look like in the next 10 to 20 years. And for those trying to determine if this path is the right fit, he keeps it simple: “Two things: they can’t reinvent the wheel and they have to be self-motivated.”

When reflecting on how ownership has impacted his life, he summed it up in one line: “My earning potential is unlimited.”