Expedia Cruises hosted its largest annual Anchor Conference this year, according to a press release. 

Held April 11–18 onboard the MSC World America, the event brought together nearly 1,000 franchisees, vacation consultants, supply partners and corporate team members. 

With the theme “Stronger Together – Elevate and Accelerate,” the event focused on collaboration, education and growth. 

“The Expedia Cruises 2026 Anchor Meeting was our most successful ever. 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,” said Expedia President Matthew Eichhorst. 

“Each conference represents a unique moment when our entire industry and system come together to one place. These gatherings help move our industry forward by sharing best practices, strengthening relationships, and reigniting our collective passion for the business.” 

Expedia shared plans to add 2,400 new vacation consultants and open 15 new franchise locations this year. 

Top agents across the network were also honored during the event. 

More than 100 vacation consultants were recognized at the Diamond Level, each achieving over $1 million in annual sales. 

“At a time when the global travel market is seeing unprecedented growth, we unveiled new sales, marketing, technology and training initiatives to help our Expedia Cruises network capture that opportunity,” said Ealeen Wong, senior director of strategy, partnerships and sales at Expedia Cruises. 

“From keynotes and one-on-one coaching to tradeshows and a day at Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island, our network is leaving more confident, more connected and better equipped to grow their business. We believe travel is a force for good, and Anchor doesn’t just celebrate results; it unlocks our next wave of growth.” 

Additionally, technology initiatives were announced, such as a new AI-driven consumer website platform for all consultants, as well as recent technology enhancements, including the introduction of a consultant dashboard and a sales pipeline powered by Microsoft Power BI.