CruiseOne Signs its Youngest Franchisee

While most high school seniors are submitting college applications, getting ready for prom and ordering graduation gowns, high school student Mubeen Walimomin has business ownership on his mind. A Sugar Land, Texas resident and senior at William B. Travis High School, Walimomin is CruiseOne’s newest, and youngest, franchisee. He recently completed CruiseOne’s training program and plans on running his business while beginning his studies as a freshman at the University of Houston this fall. “Owning a CruiseOne travel franchise affords me the flexibility to set my own hours to revolve around my class schedule, and will give me real-world experience when I start pursuing my business degree next year at the University of Houston,” said Walimomin. CruiseOne, a home-based travel franchise that promises customers the lowest prices on vacations, has seen younger generations of travel agents joining the franchise — a trend they attribute to millennials placing great emphasis on creating a well-rounded lifestyle for themselves. In the last three years, the number of millennials who own a CruiseOne franchise has increased 16 percent. “Work-life balance is ranked as one of the most important factors millennials when considering a career choice, and owning a franchise is all about creating a lifestyle,” said Tim Courtney, CFE, vice president of franchise development for CruiseOne. “This makes owning a CruiseOne travel franchise an appealing option to this younger generation who not only have a thirst for travel, but also an independent and business-minded attitude.” Rather than as a limitation, Walimomin said he sees his youth as an asset. “As a member of Generation Z, I offer my clients a fresh perspective on vacations that will appeal to a large age range and multi-generational groups,” he said.