Travel Leaders
Travel agencyBackground
Founded: 1888 Franchising since: 1984
In 1872, Georges Nagelmackers began his company, Wagons-Lits, to install sleeping compartments in European trains. A few years later, he created the Orient Express. In 1888, Ward G. Foster founded Ask Mr. Foster, a travel agency based in St. Augustine, Florida.
Franchisor has 1070 employee(s); 104 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
In 1872, Georges Nagelmackers began his company, Wagons-Lits, to install sleeping compartments in European trains. A few years later, he created the Orient Express. In 1888, Ward G. Foster founded Ask Mr. Foster, a travel agency based in St. Augustine, Florida.
Each company expanded-Wagonlit throughout Europe and Africa, Ask Mr. Foster across the United States and Europe. Carlson Companies Inc. purchased Ask Mr. Foster in 1979; the company changed its name to Carlson Travel Network in 1990.
Carlson Travel Network and Wagonlit Travel merged in 1997, forming Carlson Wagonlit Travel. The new company serves travelers in more than 140 countries.
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6442 City West Pkwy. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55344 |
Phone: (866)225-9026 |
Franchisor has 1070 employee(s); 104 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
| Year | U.S. Franchises | Canadian Franchises | Foreign Franchises | Company Owned |
| 2009 | 407 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| 2008 | 497 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 2007 | 609 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2006 | 622 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 2005 | 652 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Costs and Fees
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Total investment: $3.1K-11.9K Franchise fee: $1.5K |
Ongoing royalty fee: $505-960/mo. Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable |
Type of Financing Available
| In-House | Third Party | |
| Franchise Fee | Yes | Yes |
| Startup Costs | No | No |
| Equipment | No | No |
| Inventory | No | No |
| Accounts Receivable | No | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
Qualifications
Business Experience:
- Industry experience
- General business experience
- Marketing skills
- Must own existing travel agency
Operations
- 27% of all franchisees own more than one unit
- Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10
- Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Training and Support
Training
Ongoing Support
Marketing Support
- Available at headquarters: 3 days
- At franchisee's location: Varies
- Workshops, 1-2 days each; online training
Ongoing Support
- Newsletter
- Meetings
- Toll-free phone line
- Internet
- Field operations/evaluations
Marketing Support
- Co-op advertising
- Ad slicks
- National media
- Regional advertising