Cruise Control: Michael Decker Succeeds with Expedia CruiseShipCenters

Michael Decker now operates an Expedia CruiseShipCenters franchise in Orlando, Florida, but he says it was his military experience that provided the crucial background he needed to become a successful franchisee.

Decker served in the US Army in Germany and Tacoma, Washington between 1975 and 1979 and then two years of inactive required duty from 1979 to 1981. Prior to becoming a franchise owner, he attended Orlando College, now Everest College and UCF, graduating with a B. S. in Business Management/Marketing. From here he began his career in the travel industry in 1996 and worked at Premier Vacations as a travel and receptive center sales manager. He went on to work with several other vacation and cruise lines until opening his own Expedia CruiseShipCenters business.

"I was the first Expedia CruiseShipCenters sales center sold in the US," says Decker. "I know the power of the Expedia brand and I was excited about the potential that the Expedia CruiseShipCenters program brings to the US."

Decker's business didn't take off as quickly as he would have liked at first but late in 2011 he added a sales manager and things really began to take off. The franchise is currently building at a good pace for recruiting and sales which provides a firm foundation for consistent growth. Currently, Decker has a call center model franchise, and in 2013 he hopes to transition and open a retail center franchise.

Decker attributes his business success, strong attention to detail, and his ability to follow Expedia CruiseShipCenters' Standard Operating Procedures to his background in the military.

"The ability to work through problems and to come to a solution is a trait that was built into me through my experience in the military," he says.