Travel Leaders

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.

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.

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

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

• 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

Franchise 500® rank:
#288 (2009); #173 (2008); #204 (2007); #311 (2006); #184 (2005);