Why cant we just all get along...

I am new to Travel, but have wanted to get into the Industry for very long time. It was just on lock down, you either had to work for an agency or pay fees to be an off site agent which I could not afford.

I am very happy to see the Industry changing, the best thing to happen to many of us workers was the internet, it has forced most of the small travel sellers out of this growing market place. The Store Front Travel Agency is becoming obsolete and that is a beautiful thing.

More people are booking online and tired of paying the agency high fees to cover their over head or store front fee. Three have gone out of business here in my Town, that only means that now I have more customers to service, and more girls behind those desk have the freedom to get out and start their own business just like me and start traveling and working in travel.

Change is good, and through this market shift has only just begone many will not be happy with it, and many will be angry at people like me working from home selling travel and getting paid.

I say to those either change with the times or become the dinosaur, soon I will be booking corporate travel and so will all Home Based Agents and Store Fronts will be gone forever.

I just wish people would not hate us for wanting to own a Store Front on the Internet and make the change with us and grow their business.

I know about a lot of things in business but this one I don't, so please educate me. I am not a million miler by any means but I have spent no little time on planes in my career. Most of the time, the secretary handled the travel arrangements and often I had to do it myself. I always went directly to the airline and there was never a problem. On a couple of occasions I observed people making the travel arrangements right at the ticket counter (hated by the rest of us in line but still the ticket agent went through the options patiently)

My question is this.. Why would any reasonably intelligent person need a travel agent? A quick gander at the British Air website will (as example) allow you to download a small software program that you can use to search and schedule any flight. All airlines have more information about regulations and such than you'd care to read on their websites. One can purchase tickets to have them waiting at the counter.

I just don't see the need for an agency to do it for somebody. Where on earth do you get your clients? I can't imagine a corporation choosing a home based business to handle their travel needs. Most of them employ their own people to do that in-house. If they don't, any secretary or clerk can handle it. In any event one does not want the competition knowing where their execs are meeting and when so an unknown individual would be a risk in that light.

Unfortunately the global demand for booking agents like myself who lost their jobs due to bookings moving online had to either find other employment or change with the times.

You are right anyone can book Travel, but most people do not, it is for this reason I have a business these people come to me, or book directly from my website while I am sleeping. My site comes up when they search and they see a cheaper price they buy it.

I just think that it is sad that many still working at the old Brick and Mortar Agencies are so angry at the Home Based Worker for changing with the times. I feel bad that soon all of them will be closed, but it is not due to Travel going away just going online.

Someone can book a flight, vacation or even time share rental in disney in a matter of mins. 24/7... so you see what I have to offer as a Home Based Agent was never even possible for me sitting at a desk in Liberty Travel. Now I get to take the Fam trips my boss was on every other week, because I am the boss.

In answer to your question what does anyone need a travel agent for, I actually dont know, which is why I lost my Travel Agent Job... and it is for that same reason why I have a business from home today...

I am a Travel Consultant I assist those not so capable on the internet or who dont feel quite up to booking that cruise, and the high end client who has money to spend but no time. Good thing for me is I can assist so much more with my Travel Store being open worldwide... no over head besides my license fee. I have all the benefits of the big Travel Store Fronts except I also make money on every Internet Franchise I open. Travel Store Fronts are not in business to help anyone else make money or make a living for themselves. I have the option of helping anyone open up a Internet Travel Franchise and this helps me make even more money, that is the best part of being able to work for yourself.

I just don't see the need for an agency to do it for somebody. Where on earth do you get your clients? I can't imagine a corporation choosing a home based business to handle their travel needs. Most of them employ their own people to do that in-house. If they don't, any secretary or clerk can handle it. In any event one does not want the competition knowing where their execs are meeting and when so an unknown individual would be a risk in that light.

Imagine if that same company no longer had to pay in house employees to book Travel or have to pay any clerk to do the work? They will save money by not having to pay someone's medical benefits, and having to pay for their vacations and time off, once they figure out they dont need to do that and they can save more money, you honestly think they are going to have an office person booking Corporate Travel? It is not going to happen...

I understand that it may seem more cost effective to have your secretary book your trips. In some cases, this may be true. Say you travel once a year to meet a client and stay in the cheapest motel and rent the cheapest economy car and prepay for these arrangements-easy deal-your secreatary can do it using a site such as orbitz or travelocity. However, if your company wide travel is more extensive a travel agent may be able to help you.

I am a travel agent who specializes in corporate/group travel. I had nearly 20 years experience working in hotel/airlines corporate sales prior to opening my agency. My reason for opening my agency was because I was fed up with my employers not extending discounts they normally would have to some corporations versus others.

I witnessed first hand accounts of companies booking once a year trips and getting incredible discounts versus 'our' top accounts booking year round and getting pretty much nothing for it. My employers reaction was that our top accounts thought they were getting a good deal and were happy so why extend them anything else. Most, if not all, of our top accounts arrangements were made by scretaries. Many companies do hire in house travel professionals and pay a pretty penny for them. This is a good move if your company travel warrants it as it can save you money; however, a good corporate/group travel agent can do the same thing without costing your company a cent.

With my prior experience, I know which items can be negotiated in a contract. I negotiate these items to the fullest and my clients are very happy with the results. It doesn't cost them anything as I am paid by the suppliers.

If you are unsure of what a travel agent can do for your company, give your next travel arrangements to both your secretary and your travel agent - advise them both not to book, just to let you know the results and evaluate their efforts. Make sure the agency has someone who is dedicated to corporate travel.

I am a Home Based Travel Agent, and I own the travel business through my company YTB International. What I've found is that there are still a few areas where travel agents may have a competitive edge. For example, most airline consolidators can help you save hundreds of dollars for example for international travel, but they will only work with travel agents.

Someone in an earlier post asked the question, "where do we get our customers?" I get my customers from everywhere! As it has been stated, 85% of the people are booking their travels online. But what hasn't been said is that there is no loyalty to any particular company. People who book travel online are looking for the deals. If your online site can offer them better deals, they'll book with you. In my case, my site has very often beat out all the major players and competitors. Because of my own travels when I have booked vacation packages and airline tickets, I've also checked all the competition. Although I earn a commission for booking on my site, I, too want the best prices. Fortunately, most of the time, I find the best rates on my site: www.ez4utravels.com

Most recently, I needed roundtrip airfare from Memphis to Montego Bay, Jamaica. I checked Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire and Cheap Tickets. All of these sites charged $400 and up for these tickets. On my site, however, I was able to get my ticket for $294 (less than $300!). Now when you can save people over $100 on airfare, why WOULDN'T people book their airfare through you?

To me, it just makes sense to own my own travel business. Not only does it allow me to personally take advantage of premium travel perks, deals and discounts that I wouldn't get otherwise, but it also helps me SAVE BIG on my taxes and enables me to travel to some of the most luxurious resorts on the planet for literally PENNIES on the dollar.

Plus, it's a very lucrative business, even part-time, the way I work it.

That's a pretty good price. What were the dates for the flight to Montego Bay?

There is obviously some confusion on using a travel agent or booking it yourself. I'd like to point out a few things in reading some of these comments. 1. no company executive will ever take time out of his or her busy day to book any flights, nor spend valuable time jumping from one website to another to research the best possible flight at the best possible cost. Nor will their personal assistant.. I speak from a great amount of experience on this. As an agent one would have access to all carriers all fares and all fare rules, as well as a trained agent would know how to break that down to terms the travelers could understand. Having said that, I can move to my next point. 2. when you go to a specfic carriers to buy a flight you're only given information regarding that specific carrier, so if you ask say for a flight from los angeles to new york on Continental for $458. you may be missing an opportunity on American for aproximately the same times for $250. Which brings me to point number 3. personal travel one could take the time to research fares, however any corporate organization will have a set of policies which have to be followed by all business travelers, the contracts the companies set up with airlines, hotels, and car rental vendors are specific to the company and the travel agency which is negotiated in the contract. By going around this the business traveler is doing two things one- breaking company policy, and two- effecting the contract which mandate a certain market share to maintain such.

In closing when you say "go online" and book travel you are also subject to some really hard times should you need to cancel or change with out understanding the fares and the rules that apply to these fares. You could wind up being charged for your simply because you did understand what to look or ask for when making these changes.

grntravelclub in Olathe, Kansas said: That's a pretty good price. What were the dates for the flight to Montego Bay?

Hi, sorry that I just got your reply. I've already taken that trip to Montego Bay. I went October 5th - 9th. It was FABULOUS!

Tres in Pasadena, California said: There is obviously some confusion on using a travel agent or booking it yourself. I'd like to point out a few things in reading some of these comments. 1. no company executive will ever take time out of his or her busy day to book any flights, nor spend valuable time jumping from one website to another to research the best possible flight at the best possible cost. Nor will their personal assistant.. I speak from a great amount of experience on this. As an agent one would have access to all carriers all fares and all fare rules, as well as a trained agent would know how to break that down to terms the travelers could understand. Having said that, I can move to my next point. 2. when you go to a specfic carriers to buy a flight you're only given information regarding that specific carrier, so if you ask say for a flight from los angeles to new york on Continental for $458. you may be missing an opportunity on American for aproximately the same times for $250. Which brings me to point number QUOTE]

As a REFERRING travel agent w/YTB, I greatly respect the phenomenal job that has been traditionally done by travel agent professionals in the industry. The time that you take for the work that you do is admirable. This being said, I think we're missing one major point here. Regardless of what you may believe, 85% of all people who travel are ALREADY going online booking their own travel plans! The MARKET SHIFT from people exclusively or even primarily using travel agents to book travel has already happened. Travel is THE MOST SEARCHED topic on the Internet. Everyone from top executives on down goes on the Internet (as well as administrative assistants, etc.) are going online booking travel. That's a given. In addition, most, if not all, Internet travel booking sites provide user friendly, easy-to-understand information about flights, including information about restrictions, pricing for multiple carriers, etc.

When you consider that what we're talking about is a MARKET SHIFT, you must realize that once it happens, life changes and we must either change with it or get left behind. In the case of Internet travel, the market shift is past. Just as we no longer listened to vinyl records or 8-tracks after cassettes came on the scene (and now: CD's and MP3's) in the same vein, I don't anticipate seeing a "come back" of brick and mortar travel agencies. Most have already gone out of business because Brick and mortar has given way to CLICK and Mortar, and in-house travel agents are now working more as outside agents. Even more of the traditional agencies have also gotten Internet-based sites to try and apture that segment of the market. Ours is a "self-service", "high-tech" "want-it-done-now" generation. The Internet is not going anywhere anytime soon, especially as it relates to people booking their own travels online. That's one reason why it makes so much sense to own your own online travel agency. Especially since travel is THE largest industry in the entire world and literally millions of dollars are spent on travel every minute of every day - AND - with an Internet presence, you are virtually unlimited in attaining a worldwide customer base. I see it as a WIN-WIN for all.

Regina,

I have to agree with you, Click and Order is the routine these days for many. I was in CLIA Training this pass week and funny thing out of a class of 40 of us only 2 people were still working for a Travel Brick and Mortar Agency.

Accourding to Travel Weekly were over 200,000 agencies all across America and by year 2007 they are down to 60,000. With Travel being a 7 Trillion Dollar Industry Worldwide with the US doing 1.2 Tillion this is really the market to be in.

I know many of the Travel Agents laid off from American Express Travel are happy to have an option of now working for themselves and make more money then they ever could working for an Agency.

I see it as a WIN-WIN also...

You're on target, Arlenie! I also believe that travel agents should be happy to have another option. Our company currently has a 90 Day Blitz for travel professionals (including current and former travel agents, flight attendants, pilots and reservationists) that will end on Dec 2nd at midnight. The deal is that what most of our agents have paid $450 for what Magic Johnson Travel charges $5000 for and Barry Diller paid over $3 Billion -- they can get for only $49.95/month (due to the one time set-up fee being waived). Last week I was in Jamaica on a FAM trip with several other travel agents, and I shared the concept with them. What I learned is that they see agents like me as "the enemy" and told me so. I see them as being resistant to change. Perhaps I should have recommended the book, "Who Moved My Cheese" to some of them. But they're missing out on a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a business that will give them the best of many worlds, in addition to the wholesale travel benefits, we also earn huge tax benefits and can also earn money in one of the greatest referral compensation networks on the planet!

Arlenie, I'd love to talk with some of your travel agent friends in American Express who have been laid off. If you think any might be interested please let me know. FYI, these are my websites for more info also:
regina.vacationmedia.net and www.ez4utravels.com

Thanks Regina LOL... I already signed up my friends who lost their jobs they joined me right from my website www.ytb.com/mytraveldiscounts after viewing the info on www.howifiredmyboss.com

They are all very happy with YTB especially since we now have full medical coverage. I was just over looking the coverage package and it is totally unbelievable these benefits are excellent for a Home Based Worker and anyone who is paying over 500.00 a month for Family coverage... and with a signle only having to pay 99.00 to 190.00 per month for all this medical is unheard of in any Business.

We are in the Right Place...

I'm a movement by myself but I'm a Force when we're together!

AMEN! Well, I should have known that I was talking to another YTBer! You GO girl!

Blessings,
ro

Yes! email me anytime Girl YTB is going to be a household name... because Expedia is not hiring your neighbor, Sister, Brother or School Teacher but we are.

I just finished my CLIA training and it was excellent I cant wait to the next class.

So how do you guys feel about YTB now that RCCL corporation has dropped them starting 11/9? RCCL has coined YTB as a "card mill". What is your opinion?

Wow! Isn't that unfortunate? I think, especially for RCCL, because YTB agents have booked literally millions of dollars in cruises with RCCL in this year alone! What a waste! And all because of some disgruntled travel agents!

Regina Osei in Memphis, Tennessee said: Wow! Isn't that unfortunate? I think, especially for RCCL, because YTB agents have booked literally millions of dollars in cruises with RCCL in this year alone! What a waste! And all because of some disgruntled travel agents!

Be selective of who you choose to business with in the travel industry. There are many choices in the area of true host agencies, not referral services or get a card to receive discount travel business and lastly one that has lost 12.5 million dollars since it's inception. " A risky investment" according to its CEO. " A growing concern" according to the company's accounting firm. Choose your friends wisely!

Regina Osei in Memphis, Tennessee said: Wow! Isn't that unfortunate? I think, especially for RCCL, because YTB agents have booked literally millions of dollars in cruises with RCCL in this year alone! What a waste! And all because of some disgruntled travel agents!

Not really unfortunate for RCCL...travel agents will pick up the slack...but I think RCCL recognized a fundalmental thing. Maybe YTB isn't a card mill but when you look at the program they offer, it certainly "seems" like a card mill or rebating program whereby the members are basically saving because the host is "rebating" a portion of their commissions plus the already savings from having a vendor relationship. It doesn't look good for a host when you have "referral" agents or report benefits of being a travel agent "without" being a travel agent. I'm sure there are a lot of truely professional agents in YTB which I honestly would rather see go to a legitmate host agency...because ultimately when you start just signing up people to do their own discount travel plus a few friends..they dilute the value of real travel agents and travel in general down to the lowest possible value

I've been in this business for about a year and a half. It has been the best experience! I love everything about it. It gives me the opportunity to earn on so many different levels and in so many different ways. And though I do respect the jobs that travel agents do, honestly, I don't want to do what they do. I spent several days recently at the Sandals resorts with several travel agents, and to listen to them talk about their "jobs", I'm just not interested in that for my family. The levels of travel booking that I do for my clients works for me and for them. I enjoy booking group cruises, etc. and I do so, but I wouldn't even want to do that fulltime. I definitely do not want to search for and write airfare tickets, etc. Plus, just earning money via my websites (we have about 7 that produce additional streams of income) while I am sleeping is phenomenal. Lastly, because I also am very engaged in the network marketing side of the business, the perks (bonuses, etc.) more than compensate for my not being a professional travel agent. And yes, I do enjoy being able to work both sides of the business AND enjoy the best of the travel industry perks and benefits as well. I think we have the best of both worlds.

Regina, I get ya...I really wish they had another name for this type of business as it tends to get under the skin of the real travel agent community...constantly certifying people as travel agents through a few lessons and such only dilute the job and perception of people who want to use real agents

I understand, and you've made some good points. If there was a way that a different name would be a "win-win" for all of us, I think we'd all love that. But I wish(as the initial poster suggested) that we could all just get along and work together. I believe that even people who compete can also collaborate and learn from one another. Perhaps forums like this one is a start.

I believe we serve different functions, and really shouldn't be seen as enemies (as one TA told me we are) but as co-laborers. I've not had all the training that you've had, but the education that I'm getting is enabling me to serve my clients in a way that most are very pleased.

I really do believe that TAs would really gain a lot by joining us as well, because we offer so much and they can have the best of both worlds! And for only $49.95 a month, you could literally double your salary over the next 6 - 12 months, and I'm being conservative. Even the tax benefits alone are worth it, not to mention the benefits to people who have large networks already and who are builders. For someone already in the travel industry, this is a big WIN. The funny thing is that the agents I met were so negative that one lady among them (she is a TA but also in our business) never told anyone because she was around them when they ran the rest of us into the ground. I guess she was a "private" (RTA) agent! LOL!!!

I'd love to send you more info about it. If you send me your email address (you can reach me at regina.osei@ez4utravels.com) I will.

ro

I wish I knew what name would work!! If I had to be completely honest I wouldn't say you are the enemy persay but you certainly are not a friend....and here's why...

Real travel agents have to go through a lot of training to do what they do..while we hope everything goes well, there are all those times it does not..and when it doesn't someone (the traveler) wants answers now..it is that knowledge of the industry and connections that enables an agent to "rescue" that traveler...something not so easily done with YTB/World Ventures/GTT. Look at it this way, what if "everyone" had YTB...who would "really" be making money????; first, no need for travel agents since you are your own agent, no need of friends booking with you since they can use their own site because of course the monthly fees would be lower since the technology has stayed the same on the backend and you have increased only the number of users...how much would you really make then? if you ran into problems, had questions who would you turn to?; the vendor?; ok you turn to the vendor who now either charges you for phone support (because they had to hire more staff to handle the calls from self bookers) or the overall costs of travel go up incrementally...

believe me Regina, you really sound like a good person and I'm not bashing you but I do wish YTB would go away...what if I could self book my own fedex packages and cut out a lot of the jobs there by doing so...how would you have felt if that were the case... if everyone could use myotherfedex to get their packages where they needed to go by using the cheapest method possible? would fedex go away? of course not but they sure would have to start looking at their workforce for reductions

I hear you loud and clear, and what's more, I really do understand. You are facing the same thing that many Realtors (I'm one) are facing around the country as more and more, home buyers and sellers are shopping via the Internet and using discount internet brokers. In fact, I felt the same way as you do... just wanting the "Homes For Sale companies and others like them to just "go away." But what I've found is that this change is all about three things: market shift, technology and economics. The market shift of home buyers/sellers now depending more on the internet for info about houses has literally changed the way we do business. Technology, the desire of the consumer to accomplish more, faster and our self-service culture as well as our need to be in control is another link in the chain. Also, the economy and the need for people to get more for less is also fueling this change. What I'm learning is that these things are not likely to go away, but it really doesn't matter because while our Realtor services may change, consumers will never (as a whole) stop using Realtors. The same is true w/travel agents. Travel agents will always serve a need, though their roles may change. And I think that as they are more flexible and open to (rather than being resistant to)change, they will fare better.

About YTB. YTB is a business just like every other business, and we're competing in the marketplace... taking advantage of a market shift that has taken place and changed the entire travel industry. But don't worry, there are tons of people who don't want to be their own agents and book their own flights, hotels, etc., so these people will always be your clients. Plus, my philosophy is one of "abundance" and not "scarcity". Call me crazy, but in this $7 trillion industry, I just believe that there is more than enough of this pie for everyone of us to have a share and still live well.

You may not see me as your friend, but I could be. (Or people like me)

This is what I mean. Here is a hypothetical example. What if you and I worked together as a team? How? As a professional TA, you serve clients in a way that I don't want to. So when I get clients who want services that I don't wan to provide, I could send them to you. By the same token, I offer services that you don't offer via my website, when you encounter people who want those products or services, you could send me the referrals.

The market has really shifted in some terms as much as the internet is an additional avenue...although you must be quick and agile to get in front of the consumer via whatever vechicle..consumers are a finicky group prone to fads and trends...for instance when the internet came along, they predicted the demise of postal services and travel agents..yes you will see a great many agents who dealt with large air bookings left and did not jump in front of the internet movement but those who stayed have done so through additional creative methods....

YTB (& others) are seen as the enemy because of the "way" they do business, not the fact that they "are" in business....unfortunately MLM scams have attacked the travel industry many times in the past and you really can't blame us for being sooooo suspicious especially when the language on YTB's site sounds completely like MLM...and couple with the fact all most people do is pay the setup fee and monthly fees and wala....travel agent <<< now what is the public suppose to think???? We are ALL like YTB???? You may say of course not but perception often comes much easier than reality

Wow, has this thread taken a turn! It started as someone asking for assistance to get started in the industry... turned to corporate travel... turned to some YTB'ers trying to promote their services... and now is a discussion on card mills/YTB/etc. Are there any mods on this forum? LOL

I'm curious how much traffic comes through the YTB sites that aren't generated by the ICs. It sounds like a great opportunity... you're given a free website and only pay $???.?? a month to obtain it. I would love to hear your feedback.

As an agency owner, I am not thrilled by companies such as YTB, as I feel they take advantage of those without expericence who want to be TAs and think this is the answer. However, with the few that have posted here, knowing they were getting into a cardmill (and paying for that benefit), it seems only fair.

I'm also curious because I've always gone about things the right way... how do you get IATA & CLIA cards without actually booking anything? I can't believe you can get the legitimate TA IDs you claim. Furthermore, if you do, this would only substantiate the "cardmill" claim/disassociation by RCCL.

To Regina... how would you refer your customers to me or anyone else if we had a partnership based on your website only interaction with your clients?

Thank for your feedback.

Kendra in Broad Brook, I am glad your here, we need more Agency Owners speaking on this issue. It is a please to read your comments as they contain the knowledge we as booking agents need. YTB is really an open book, go to any website and review our Investor section. The Good and the Bad come up, I like that fact too, because I was a part of Networking company that had everything hidden for a reason too.

I think Regina's hypothetical idea is a good one, because there is a big difference between what we do and what you do. We or at least I mainly book travel and vacations for Friends, Family and Neighbors who normally would have booked online themselves now they just book through me.
There are many people sitting home booking Travel actually to the tune of over 80% according to Travel Weekly Magazine. They have been doing this slowly since Expedia came to be. These people book for their church groups and family reunions, they love booking but if they walked into a Travel Store Front the owner and the TAs in there would most likely laugh them out the door.

This is our market, these are mainly the people we want in our business or at least I do. I currently have a guy from NYC who has booked Travel for 40 men for the last 15 years, they take trips twice a year, he books through an Agency, they told him to charge more for the trips and put some money in his pocket.

Kendra, I certainly was about to say give Regina a "call" as she has a real passion for what YTB delivers for her...this reminds me of the challenges my technical (yes I'm a techie too) experienced when vendors came out with certification tracks...

It was supposed to be you had "some" experience in the industry first working on a particular product/application and the certification proved that you indeed possessed the skills and knowledge "verified" by the vendor themselves to work/service that product/application.

Then along came "bootcamps" and "brain dumps" where novices could really just study hard and end of passing the same test. For a while this took a big toll on our industry that only straightened itself out a few years ago. The problem was solved by both business and vendor in which a lot of the testing now relies more on industry experience than study knowledge which has helped to get rid of those novices who were bringing things down.

As I said before, I wish they had a different name for this product and a different structure that didn't involve the "travel agent" name. Basically, YTB "hosts" the technology solution at their headquarters and everyone pulls from those servers...content and engine wise, its all the same, the difference is the templating function.

continued: I have not met with him yet but once I do he will understand he can get proper training and receive medical benefits and bonus too I am sure he will be on board with YTB. Now if I got a Client who was looking for an African Hunting Safari with 10 men all inclusive I would not know where to begin Regina's idea could come in handy it would be nice instead of feeling like I did not know what I was doing could refer him to your Agency Kendra. I would actually see that as a smart move for any Brick and Mortar because they can benefit both ends they could have staff plus have outside help making their company appear larger, since our booking capacity is not only local, I just booked a Client from Romania she found my site.

Many of us are Trained I will continue to be, I have taken CLIA training and several Cruise Line Trainings all my education is excellent I loved it, I will also attend YTB University Training. I feel this issue over card mills and becoming a TA for like a 1.00 is crazy. I can see where the industry will have to have some strict rules in place. YTB is taking the hit for all the card mills right now because we are such an open book. We are the only ones publicly traded plus we do offer high pay outs to our TAs more then they ever made working for an Agency. I wish there was away we could just all get along, but I dont see it happening as long as we have a group of people who believe they are better and willing to put others down. I have learned it can be a difficult industry, its all about who you know. I can see that YTB needs to have strict rules in place as far as ethics go YTBs should not be on Cruise ships handing out Business Cards and telling people what they paid on a Fam. I dislike this sort of behavior and do inform my team to always remember they are professional business owners. But I do see this as a growing issue I was happy that we have the YTB U.

Hi All,

I'm just happy to see that we can all communicate about these issues in a way that is handled w/decorum and honesty. That's probably what's needed because I don't think either side fully understands the other side's point of view. I do believe that our target markets are different, and Arlenie made a great point about they are. As she said, many of our clients and business partners are people who may be booking travel anyway for their office, church, sorority, etc. but not getting paid for it. When they join YTB, they earn a commission for doing so w/out having to take all the classes and spend all the money for getting the education that TAs must get. I have a friend who went to the TA school and she paid a lot of money to do so. But when she got out, the only agency that would hire her wanted her to sign a noncompete agreement that would have put her in a very bad situation for years after she left if she ever did leave, so she wouldn't sign and didn't get the job. Now after spending all that time and money to be a TA she still isn't one. An opportunity like YTB would be ideal for her.

Kendra, our IDs are legitimate. My CLIA came from CLIA. The IATA card you only get by booking enough travel to earn at least $5000 in commissions in a 12 month period. The RTA credential that we get by joining YTB is also very powerful though, and we are able to get TA and TAED rates, upgrades, etc. with it.

Home Based Travel Agent Show in Atlantic City starts next Week...

www.modernagent.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=30910
Other industry leaders at the general session include Chris Kroeger, senior vice president of Sabre Travel Network, who will speak on the evolution in technology for home-based agents; Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International, who will address challenges and opportunities for all-inclusive Caribbean resorts; Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of sales for Royal Caribbean International, who will discuss the ever-more important role of the home-based agent; and James Shillinglaw, editor in chief of Agent @ Home magazine, who will provide a look at the evolution of the home-based agent market -- where it's been and where it's going.
All of this and much more is available for a registration fee of $39 by clicking on the registration page at www.actravelshow.com and using promo code 3056. Hotel rates are still available for a very reasonable price; weeknight rates for under $99 are set to expire at the end of this week. For suppliers interested in signing up for an exhibitor booth, please call Jim Cloonan at 617-744-1671 or email jim@travelindustryshows.com.

Now there's another thing....if the market is truly different and we (TA's) are addressing one market while you guys (YTB etc...) are addressing a another market...there should be no need to get an itan or clia...

(Quote)"Now there's another thing....if the market is truly different and we (TA's) are addressing one market while you guys (YTB etc...) are addressing a another market...there should be no need to get an itan or clia...

1. If the industry PROVIDERS of the IATA & CLIA cards are happy to provide YTB agents the card when we meet whatever qualifying standards that they have in place, why shouldn't we receive the cards and reap the benefits of having them?

2. Why would it matter to anyone other than those providers and the YTB agents, WHAT travel credentials we have? Why would that be an issue or problem to you? I honestly don't understand the issues that TAs would have with this as long as we meet the standards of the credential providers.

TA's actually believe they are better for business and clients, I find this issue with most of them who hold jobs. They believe they offer Clients better service and info on Vendor products. They feel they have expertise and it comes with clout as if the world or Clients owe them something.

For the Mom at Home/School Teacher type to obtain this same right at her computer is close to a total insult to the average TA brick and mortar. I was totally unaware of standards and industry clicks in this group, but they take their business very serious. They even from one Agency to another do not have much loyalty to the Industry but to their Agency and who they represent.

I can imagine I would feel the same, but its a case of dont hate the player hate the game. Its not our fault we love Travel just as much as they do and finally can capitalize on this market trend, a market that without the internet would still be on lock down to many of us, heck Barry Diller was some where counting his money before Expedia but since he had money he was able to buy his way in, same with Donald and Magic, but I dont seen anyone trying to shut them down.

Answer to the Quote: (there should be no need to get IATA & CLIA)?
This is not in our control and required by the Industry, for us to be able to Book Travel and earn Commissions we are required to obtain these cards. It is actually better for us, because people have sat home for years booking travel getting their church groups and family reunions together, having to call up a TA for all the arrangements while that TA/Agency earned commissions and offered the Client nothing in return.

My brother put 57 people on Royal for a 7 day cruise about 5 yrs ago, when he asked the TA if he got anything free she told him no, when he got on the ship he tried to get a cot for his sons room and had to pay 13.00 a day for it, since he lacked proper credentials they owed him nothing.

Quote:TA's actually believe they are better for business and clients, I find this issue with most of them who hold jobs. They believe they offer Clients better service and info on Vendor products. They feel they have expertise and it comes with clout as if the world or Clients owe them something.

The WAY that the TAs that I know become experts in offering their clients the level of service that they do, is often by utilizing the FAM Trips and other travel benefits offered by the vendors so they can visit the vacation spots and be able to give recommendations. As YTB agents also take advantage of these perks and the training provided by the vendors, YTBU, TAU, etc. we also offer our clients similar services. Like it or hate it, YTB is not going anywhere,and as the bar for YTB agents is raised, so will the expertise and professionalism of agents in the business. There are tens of thousands of YTB agents who are just as serious about our travel business as are the brick and mortar agents. We just have the advantage of sharing our business model with others who can also join our businesses, giving us the advantage of also earning a 50% match, bonuses and other overrides on those new RTAs. As you said Arlenie, "don't hate the player, hate the game" but better still, if you can't beat us, why not join us?

Yes Regina and I believe it is due to this business model (Networking Arena) that causes Brick/Mortar TAs the most fear. We benefit from two business in one and they do not. I personally dont see TAs going away, our Industry will always need the Expert Professional Types booking all inclusive to say Rome, and there will be clients willing to pay for their services, my clients just wanna go to Disney with 4 kids.

I am happy that as a Host Agency YTB stands out from the crowd, we have a lot to offer any Agent. The medical alone was mainly my core reason, because I work everyday and my medical is not free so why the heck would I not work for FREE Medical Insurance for life it just made since. I have several girlfriends still in TA jobs and they do not offer medical. YTB has just went down in the History books for doing that and the Million Dollar Bonus payout alone.

YTB wants to help all Agents and Brick/Mortar's to expand, and I wish they could at least see that much. If YTB offered you the option of expanding your B/M to reach a worldwide population your business would grow. Instead of just reaching your small community or someone who clicked on your site. lets say you actually had people in China working as a Home Based Agents for you? That is powerful, that is something you as a B/M can not do today, but that is the future of what YTB is doing for everyone even you.

Many fight change, but would you fight it if you could see how you to can benefit? It might free up some of your time, earn you another pay check for the month. I would urge all of you forget about the Networking end, so what... dont work it how about just hiring a few people for your company that worked from home and lived in Canada?

To those of you who resist change, I encourage you to read:
"Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson.

Unlike what YTB teaches, it's not about change....the vast majority of you have been brain washed into this "resistence" move..but cheers, later this evening, I will post some words from YTBs' OWN president who said he there are some things that need to be changed to make them more legit (paraphrase).... if TA's were resistant to change.. it was LONG before YTB was a thought on anybody's radar... deregulation would have been the start...

BNTG yes you are right YTB can not force TAs to change, that change took place long before YTB came into the picture. Only difference is YTB made that change, Brick and Mortars have not, because they do not exist in the Global Market Place.

There are no Brick/Mortar Agencies with a Global presence. If they are to join the ranks of YTB and the others they will need to make a change to that world and enter that global market. It is mainly what is killing American Express Travel right now. I have like 4 girls from that company join my YTB Team.

Change will happen, how many of you walk around with cash or a cash card? How many of you have a ezpass, and how many use a token or a metro card. From what I can see the internet was the start...

Do you really want to bet money on that??? 4 girls from American Express does not equate to a dooms day theory... American Express is already around the world (B/M) so is Boeing Management (B/M) and I could on and on.... don't believe the hype that here along comes YTB doing what "nobody" has done before... they aren't.. they are only following the same fomula that amway used back in the day

Ironically, when I was at the Sandals FAM a couple of weeks ago, some of the TAs that I met were also business owners. One, who had her husband with her... the husband was chumping at the bit wanting his wife to join YTB. He said that they pay over $700/mo in overhead while his wife spends much of her time at home in front of the computer. He literally begged her to close her agency and to do what I am doing. And when he found out that my overhead is less than $50/mo and even that is reimbursed each month, he was outdone.

BNTG or any other B/M TAs out there, please... enlighten me...especially if you own the business. WHAT do you feel that you're getting out of your scenario that you could not or would not get out of mine?

1. Not being associated with the "stigma" of being associated with a perceived card mill
2. Not being associated with a network marketing company
4. Having the ability to make more than 60% commission without having to recruit people into my power team and/or dream team
5. Not being associated with the new "amway"
6. Having a B/M AND internet presence
7. Tell me, what image would I expect someone to believe I am with this out there? www.ytbforyourwealth.com/
8. I actually serve clients, don't be misled.. there AREN'T any people who JUST go on the internet and buy a ticket off the bat.. they research and compare
9. Being able to solve a clients problems

To add from a travel article:

According to SEC filings, about 72% of YTB's revenue comes from licensing fees and the Web site fees that it charges the more than 60,000 referring agents who use its systems to book travel.

The remainder of the company's revenue comes from sales commissions that it retains and from fees it collects for training seminars for its "referring travel agents," or RTAs.

According to its most recent annual report, the company had a net loss of approximately $6 million on total net revenues of $50.8 million, up from $21.6 million in 2005. The company currently has a market capitalization of more than $169 million.

BNTG, Do you really want to bet money on that??? 4 girls from American Express does not equate to a dooms day theory... American Express

Over 600 people lost their jobs and it was not as funny as you must picture it... dont worry though anyone who has a job will lose it sooner or later so I am sure you will soon relate... if only 4 people lost their jobs I doubt people would be complaining. I said 4 of them have joined my YTB.

It is soo funny how these B/Ms think YTB is the only Travel Networking company on the planet, and now we are suddenly as big as worldwide Amway... I hope soo because I personally would love to have a company open up in China, there are many companies like WV and Traverus and Joystar... I mean we did sell 13 Million on Royal alone for 2007 but hey there are other companies just like us actually around 15 to date...

So dont be too afraid but YTB is not the only one out there, we are not even the biggest either, just we are the only ones offering FREE Medical and Life Insurance you know the stuff you work for and then pay for... Well we get that for FREE... We are also the only company that pays out a 1 Million Dollar Bonus, you know the one your job does not offer you, yeah thats the one we have that too.

As far as us getting money hey honey we are not a conventional business, go to a book store pick up Network Marketing for dummies and begin reading it. You can not compare how or where we make our money to a conventional business model because we are not the same. It is so funny how so many people are afraid of our business model and how it makes money yet are just not willing to do the research before making blanket statements about it.

Your #1 response tells me a lot about you. Let me tell you a little bit about us. We're looking for leaders, not people who are ruled by what others think about them. We're looking for people who know who they are and what they represent and are therefore not intimidated by what names others may call them. We're looking for people who have integrity and who are confident, not people who are petrified - walking in fear.

I am very proud to be associated with YTB, and I absolutely love that we are a network marketing company. Network marketing is truly a misunderstood and controversial concept, but one which -- once I truly understood -- I absolutely love. You see, network marketing in its essence is all about building character, building leaders and helping others. Robert Kiyosaki & Donald Trump speak highly about the concept in their most recent book, "Why We Want You To Be Rich" because it is one of the best leadership and business training tools that you will find. Plus, because it's about leverage, it just makes sense. As J. Paul Ghetti and Dale Carnegie have said, "I'd rather have 1% of 100 people's efforts than 100% of my own." It makes sense to help others become successful as you become successful yourself. It makes sense to not only get tremendous rewards for great performance but also to earn a residual income where you ARE NOT trading your time for money.

This being said, I respect that it's not for everybody. I'm just glad that it is for me.

Arlenie,

All I can say is "YOU GO!" girl.

Someone inquired about about RCCL's decision related to YTB. Well, here is a bit of interesting news:

Follow these hotlinks and you will soon see what RCCL is up to these days. There are only a few missing pieces left uncovered to complete the puzzle. The truth is rising to the top just like before.

Investigation exposes appearance of unethical relationship between RCCL and Path (Peter Stilphen):

homebasedtravelagentsblog.typ.../05/index.html

Make sure you read the last paragraph of the last page of the FAQs:

www.ossn.com/htmlemail/CardMill_FAQ_external.pdf

Investigation raises likely suspicion of an unethical RCCL/PATH connection affecting YTB and Joystar:

travel-pro.blogspot.com/

blog.joystar.com/BlogPostDetail.aspx?postID=45

After reading these letters, it confirmed there that something rotten in Denmark applies to our situaton:

www.royalmistake.com/letter3.htm

Something else just turned up this morning:

Royal Caribbean is ACTIVLY Marketing the Magic Johnson Franchise Opportunity. They have a "vested" interest in this home based business opportunity, and should “make the hairs stand up on the back of your head”.

travel-pro.blogspot.com/2007/...l-blunder.html

Noboby "fears" YTB...as I said before, since you see your market as different, then BE different....if you could not get clia/itan then things would probably look better, after-all, you're just a network marketing company...I'm all for you guys making money....but not diluding the value of a real TA....

As for RCCL...they can investigate away...but so far, they were well within their rights to do what they did....