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.

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.

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?

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

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 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

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, 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.

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...

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...

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

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.

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....

Something I just wrote on another site

Let me add a few pennies here...

YTB "is" legit in the business model it has but the way they promote and recruit are the big part of why it's so suspect. What I believe YTB should call it's people are "travel marketers"; nothing more nothing less because that's what it is... marketing... I believe the ITAN/CLIA etc... should "not" be available to this group in any fashion whatsoever!! I mean why should it when the company says it's in the business of "marketing"... so I'm not against YTB marketers making money (which many of you seem to miss)... but when you pay for a title name only, it just dilutes the value of the people who have really earned and that's in just about "any" business...

When I speak with these YTB people, you know the first thing I'm told?; Benefits like an agent, make money by recruiting people, tax benefits, get a website and so on and so forth...it pisses me off to hear YTBers talk as if they know the industry when they do not..they rattle off names like expedia/travelocity/orbitz which ARE travel agencies...all of this from their YTB presentations...:-(

YTB sells this BS of "market shift" as if YTB all of a sudden came along and changed the world, which it has not...the only difference between YTB and other MLM programs is that it hasn't been this agressive since the good ole Amway days... YTB acts as if there's this new group out there that goes to the internet to buy travel just from them...people got "HIP" to the internet back in the nineties..not 2006-2007...they do comparision shopping and of course I'll admit, YTB will have some good prices....but it should as it leases 95% of its technology from existing vendors....

I may be a lot of things...hater I'm not but you best believe this is funny as all get out because "you" sound like the hater...this is a real trip with you Regina!!! I acknowledge that YTB is a "legit" business in and of itself, I say that there is nothing wrong with you making money rather as an RTA or otherwise, cool, I even repeat that I think its good you make money at this...but as soon as I say just segregate the two groups (which you have said as well) and take away the cards..you freak out!! I wonder why that is???? Look, you YTBers can get off jim jones kool-aid fence with this "internet" thing..the internet "thing" happened years ago...as a matter of fact, now the focus is on the word "web 2.0" (which I hate but understand why it gets used)so we are past web 1.0...there is NO move to the internet out there..not in massive droves.... brick and mortar agencies were given that wake up call in light of microsoft..so old news...it's strange you say you've done a "lot" more for your clients in the above statement... if that's the case, sounds like you fall "outside" of the YTB way...and this is their OWN wording, not mine....you get mad at me for stating what YOUR company has put on their own website!! comical

Dearest BTNG,

Your acknowledgement of our being a legit business is neither here nor there. We ARE a legit business whether or not you admit it. The fact that you acknowledge it probably does more for you than it does for me, so I'm happy for you.

Now...do you honestly think that I would get angry with you about something that you -- a person that I have absolutely no connection with except in this Internet conversation -- think, say or believe? This is entertainment for me. I enjoy these discussions, but I am being frank about what I see. I'm merely calling a spade a spade. To me, your language and your tone suggests that you're a hater: (I believe the ITAN/CLIA etc... should "not" be available to this group in any fashion whatsoever!!...it pisses me off to hear YTBers talk as if they know the industry when they do not..they rattle off names like expedia/travelocity/orbitz which ARE travel agencies...all of this from their YTB presentations...:-(...YTB sells this BS of "market shift" as if YTB all of a sudden came along and changed the world, which it has not...the only difference between YTB and other MLM programs is that it hasn't been this agressive since the good ole Amway days...) While I am not angry, I do disagree. And YES! I admit! I love having the IATAN & CLIA credentials. They've worked wonderfully for me and my family, and I am thankful to God for them. Times have changed. What it took in your day to get them, it doesn't take today. More changes are on the horizon, so... Get over it! It's not worth getting high blood pressure or an ulcer over.

At this point, it seems that we're going round and round, saying the same things over again differently. It's clear that we're on opposite sides of the fence on this issue, so let's just agree to disagree.

All the best.

ro

Ro and BNT I say your conversation is great, I dont see her as a hater Ro, I see her as someone who is afraid and rightly so she will be losing her day job soon because of companies like us, we have no doubt come into her pocket already. I know for a fact that nationwide agencies are closing in record number, I know this to be true because I market to many of these small types of B/Ms most dont even have websites.

BNT now I am not saying oohhh your soo scared of YTBs, but I will say you can not see the whole picture if you did baby you would have a flag out front with YTB, Treverus, WV and joystar. Your working in a system that is going away and YTB did not start the movement by any means. YTB has been around for some 15 years or so, they simply made the move to the net to benefit their small travel store, and when they made that move they were still losing and needed to think quick before it was all over. You see your Travel Store Front is most likely on the net just like us, the difference is your store is not trying to help anyone but your little store we are not. Your not hiring grandmothers, sisters or neighbors neither is Expedia but we are and that is powerful and that is why you dont want us with cards. I say if you can beat them join them.

Ro is only stating you have no right to demand anything in an industry you have no idea about. I doubt that CLIA and the rest of the industry greats will ever stop any of us, because we are all putting money in their pockets. To in fact it is soo good that they are having a week long event just for people like us in Atlantic City... The Home Based Agent Event.

BNT you say we rattle off names like Travelocity an Orbitz they are partners with YTB, we should be able to, yep sorry to let you in on the bad news but they also saw the trend YTB saw and felt it was well worth their time/money to jump on board.

I think your real issue is the cards, you dont want anyone unless they are working for B/M to have industry cards and that is not in your control. What you should be doing is asking your boss to see if they can change your TAs names to something different or even give you an extra card one the store makes up call it storefronts.

But here is a bit of Networking for you. We do not work in your Industry of Conventional Business, our Business Model is different.

This model exist because people became tired of working 40 years of their life to end up living on less then 40% of their incomes, people like me genX were tired of losing jobs and being downsized. I personally looked at my parents who retired to jobs some what similar to what you will do in your future if you dont change with the times because retirement money is fast running out, and lets face it if your company is gone when you turn 65 your on welfare like half this nation.

Your real issues BNT is not us or ytb, it is the simpe fact that you dont understand our system. We sell and market Travel in a world you have no idea about and that has you in fear. You may not want the backlash joining one of us could cause you, but I am sure you would want to benefits from 1,000.00 check every time some where in your Team grew by 6 new business. I am sure you would want to benefit from the money it earns you to build someone else while you build yourself.

I know for a fact your B/M is not worried about you for the next 20 years, in fact they dont even care... but we do... our plan is here to insure our benefits, where yours is not and that is really sad for you I mean, because you defend a outdated system that will never defend you.

BNT I am going to lay out it out for you here is a reading list, it is going to show you why companies like YTB will continue to change the world. No we dont need everyone and everyone is not going to do it, just like I love Avon but heck I dont want to sell it.

We do need more people willing to get up at 8am and go to lunch at 1pm and go home at 6pm. We are always going to require the working class and I am not mad at ya, it is great having a weekly pay check, but I just wanted an extra pay check a week and they dont give those out where I worked, but they do now, and I even got FREE Medical benefits too.

Go to any book store... pick up:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
anything from www.richdad.com please if you do nothing else go here.
anything from Donald Trump
the science of getting rich by wallace d wattles
anything by Paul Zane Pilzer
anything on Networking for Dummies or idiots they are actually very good
48 laws of power by Robert Green
Prosumer Power by Bill Quain
any book you can find on the word "Franchising" in the dotcom world

and if you can find it Why your full time job is a thing of the past, by oh that one is by me LOL well its not in print yet LOL...

But seriously speaking girl I want you to realize and understand why we are here to stay, just like Avon and MaryKay, and you dont see Lancome, Macy's or Revlon jumping all over them. We are not going anywhere as long as the system requires Network Marketing, Web2.O they can call it what ever they want same business model and it is all good.

Ro as always on Point Girl... I think we are all going to learn something here. Because your discussion is going to show people like BNT how we are different and what we really are, our value in this vast market place is not going anywhere.

It is good to see how these B/Ms types feel and what they are afraid of. I think that BNTs honesty is here, she is not a hater of us per say, she does not care about the business model (though I believe if she understood it she would be out getting hers) but that cool aide she is drinking is way too strong and she seems to have drank a lot.

I feel she does however have a very serious point, the B/M fear we are taking their market. Rightly so because since our product is better (meaning Network Marketing as apposed to Conventional Business) she does have a lot to worry about. Her boss will never train her to do his job and run her own business. In fact her boss most likely wants to keep her as dumb as he can so he does not have to pay her much, she has to go for her review and he has to see where he can get her to do more work for less money.

Our business on the other hand if we dont build someones business we dont make money she has never seen anything like that in your job even the statement is too powerful for her to grasp.

Ro I am a movement all by myself but I am a force when were together!!!
check myspace page at my email mytravelnotes@gmail.com and if your on holla at ya girl.

The Federal Trade Commission advises that multi-level marketing organizations with greater incentives for recruitment than product sales are to be viewed skeptically. In April 2006, it proposed a Business Opportunity Rule intended to require all sellers of business opportunities—including MLMs—to provide enough information to enable prospective buyers to make an informed decision about their probability of earning money. FTC trade regulation rules usually take 1-1/2 to 3 years before a final rule is established.

Criticisms have been raised against MLM programs for being cult-like in nature. Many MLM programs feature intense motivational programs, which can be hard to distinguish from cult propaganda. Criticism of Amway as a cult have been regarded as largely baseless, though some of the "Independent Business Organizations" within Amway have been accused of operating as cults.[4]

Another criticism is that MLM programs are set up to make most distributors fail, as there is a continued incentive to continue to recruit distributors even as the products have reached market saturation, thus causing the average earnings per distributor to continue to fall.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_marketing

seekingalpha.com/article/26398-reality-check-raising-the-red-flags-on-ytb-international

Reality Check: Raising the Red Flags on YTB International

YTB International (YTBL.PK) (YourTravelBiz.com) has a Market Cap north of $450 million with no current financials. Any stock that rises straight up 900% in two months is always an object of interest.

Add to that a publicly traded company based on a multi-level marketing scheme [MLM]. These are always intriguing because of the potential for Ponzi-scheme type abuses.

Add to that a publicly traded company that hasn't reported its financials in over a year: one that trades on the pink sheets because of lack of adequate financial reporting.

.....One that has recently declared its historical financials for at least 3 prior years invalid and in need of restatement.

......One that, the last time it reported its numbers, had three times the revenues from selling business opportunities than it had from selling its core product.

.....One that guarantees a minimum commission for recruiting even more participants.

... .and one whose compensation program is tied to the promise to issue large blocks of stock at a set price less than 6% of today's market price ($1 a share).

Seems impossible, but its all true.

Multi-level marketing is not illegal. A few multi-level marketing companies have been very successful. But far more collapse because of the potential abuses in the business structure that create the conditions of a Ponzi scheme.

What are the real numbers? Is this company even profitable net of its multi-level compensation promises? What are the legal implications and financial effects of promises of large blocks of below-market stock into an MLM organization st $1 a share?

BNTG in Alexandria, Virginia said: Something I just wrote on another site

Let me add a few pennies here...

.....What I believe YTB should call it's people are "travel marketers"; nothing more nothing less because that's what it is... marketing... I believe the ITAN/CLIA etc... should "not" be available to this group in any fashion whatsoever!! I mean why should it when the company says it's in the business of "marketing"...

Are you kidding me...BNTG Do you need a coarse on selling? All selling I mean ALL selling is about marketing, when you talk to your clients you are marketing yourself as being knowledgable about things they have an interest in. So if you think people who are into marketing themselve, their company and products of the travel industry shouldn't have CLIA or IATA cards do yourself a favor and cut yours up as I know you would not want to go againist your own thoughts.

Personally I am a member of YTB but I have neither my CLIA or IATA or YTB ID cards, because I dont feel that at this point in time I need or warrant them. I have stayed at some hotel where I have received discounts but I take my stay very seriously for my sake and the hotels. I have them give me a guided tour, I take notes on the property, I make sure if they have a restuarant I have one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner course to add to my review and after I leave and go home and review my notes and type up my review I always send the hotel manager who showed me around and the hotel corporate a copy of my review.

Oh and PS - All the times I recieved discounts I never asked for them they just gave them to me even the time where my rooms was comp. due to my breakfast being bad, in which they only found that out when they asked me as I was checking out after I had already paid.

Wow. I am currently layed off and found this thru google and i have to say there seems to be a lot of fighting. I looked into YTB and Traverses (Traverses seems a better deal to me) but now I am not sure.

Big companies for cruiseboats are stopping doing business and i know a lot of people are crusiing. will that kill the business?

Then i see all the controversy like at this blog which is against any network marketing notravelmlms.blogspot.com/

And this one that just seems to be set up to bash non network marketing (oh heck it was linked last page..the guy grom Georgia with the titanic on hispost)

So, just not sure where to go now. So confusing. And to be honest, I want to make some moeny (I dont need millions--be nice but i dont need) but $500 is a lot to spend (for me) right now. I just wish i could be sure.

I am working in american travel company.It has a serious reputation.
If you want travel in good hotels Marriot International and have money as well welcome to our club.
You can read www.lalija3.mytravelclubusa.com
Thanks.
Julia.

hello!
Thanks for your reply.
I chechk your sites later. NOw is late and I go to sleep.
Good night and good luck.
Talk with you later.
Julia.

hello!
Thanks for your reply.
I chechk your sites later. NOw is late and I go to sleep.
Good night and good luck.
Talk with you later.
Julia.

Jjj,

Do you have experience as a travel agent? Please contact me. I would love to talk to you. I am neither for or against MLM (if that is what you're looking for). However, if you are looking to build a business by being a work at home travel agent, we might make a great fit. ABSOLUTELY NO MONTHLY OR INITIATIAN FEES. 90% commission without any quotas. I own my own agency and am swamped as it is just me. Would love to have someone else who has either initiative or experience to help out. Call me at 1-888-388-TRAVEL.

BNTG in Alexandria, Virginia said: 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

exactly!! I'm right there with you on all points BNTG!! Bravo.

BNTG in Alexandria, Virginia said: they rattle off names like expedia/travelocity/orbitz which ARE travel agencies...YTB sells this BS of "market shift" as if YTB all of a sudden came along and changed the world, which it has not...YTB acts as if there's this new group out there that goes to the internet to buy travel just from them...

IMO - YTB should be nothing more than an "affiliate" of Travelocity etc. That's exactly what happens when an "affiliate" has a link to book travel or cruises via one of these organizations, but somehow, the YTB organization was able to "manipulate" the system and appear as though they were a legitimate travel agency by going through all of the normal travel agency qualifications, but with many many twists which are very SCAMWAY and flopporunistic like!! YTB'ers need to really consider what this "flopportunity" is exactly like that and are you "really" making any kind of money. Ask yourselves this....can you really provide for yourselves and your family without any other source of income, solely on YTB? Sure if you're the coach you can, but that's because everyone is writing a big ole fat check to "the coach". EWWW Cultish!!

Heck, anybody can have a website and or simply put an affiliate link on their website and make money. It sure doesn't make them a travel agent or even a referring travel agent!! Please, don't minimize what the professionals do and are passionate about. I am a single mother who provides a roof over our head and food in our mouths. I am very proud of what I do.

Not a hater, just passionate about what I do!!

I am also passionate about what I do because it works. And yes, I am a stay-at-home and YTB is my primary source of income.

I praise God that I was introduced to YTB. It is a fantastic company with an incredible reputation for having the highest integrity in the industry. What is so silly about all this fuss about YTB is:

1. Network Marketing is a legitimate business model. Instead of YTB choosing to spend billions of advertising dollars to market its business like Expedia, Orbitz, etc., our company has chosen to utilize the relationship and referral marketing distribution model and to pass on those advertising dollars to ordinary moms and dads and good people who deserve a chance to earn a great living while enjoying great benefits. It just makes sense.

2. YTB didn't create the revolution that shut down 85% of the B/M travel agencies. It is only capitalizing on the trend. If the people who ran the pony express acted like some of you, and held on kicking and screaming to that mode of transportation ... thinking that they were in the "pony express" business rather than in the transportation business, they would have starved to death when trains became the primary mode of transportation.
We are now in the information age, and the average consumer wants to be served quicker and better. Thank God, the Internet gives them this option. And even better when their parents, children, friends, classmates, etc. have personal booking engines that will allow them to book travel on their sites and STILL get competitive pricing.

Whether you are or think you are a hater is irrelevant. The fact is that our business, utilizing our business model is increasing at a rate of about 400% annually. At this rate, we will be the largest travel agency business worldwide in the next 4 -5 years. If you choose to grip your "pony express" business model and hold on tightly with white knuckles kicking and screaming, you can. But me and my house, we're flying high!

Thank you very much Corporate Travel Goddess in Charleston!!!! Unfortunately, I believe with the YTBers, its more about the love of money than the profession itself save for the TA benefits they receive...even though I fully believe there are some very legitimate agents at YTB...I don't understand why they wouldn't go to a real host agency...but some like shortcuts

www.courts.state.ny.us/tandv/ita.html

www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/11/worldcls.shtm

Interesting reading before their was a YTB...many have been doing this before! and you see what could happen.

YourTravelBiz.com, Inc. (and subsidiaries)
YourTravelBiz.com, Inc. (“YTB Marketing”) conducts business through recruitment, enrollment, training, and support of its sales force. There are currently approximately 120,000 independent contractors, known as Independent Marketing Representatives (each, an “IMR”), who are responsible for selling on-line travel agencies to RTAs, most of whom work from their homes. IMRs are compensated via a multilevel marketing commission structure. An IMR might utilize a number of methods for attracting new RTAs, including the use of informational meetings and events, newspaper advertising, and one-on-one meetings with individuals seeking a home-based business enterprise.

Stock: Last Price 1.30

12-Oct-2007

Regulation FD Disclosure, Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 12, 2007, YTB International, Inc. ("YTB") issued a press release publicizing its issuance of a letter to its Referring Travel Agents ("RTAs") and stockholders concerning YTB's travel booking capabilities and its maintenance of strict professional standards for its RTAs. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

The information in this report, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and shall not be incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

BNT firstly we at YTB do not Sell a "Travel Agent Kit" where by someone can now re-sell the kit and have people travel at agent rates. That would actually be illegal in the YTB market place. However I see how this can be confusing to you, because you dont understand what our product is.

We at YTB sell Travel... Many of us have been at home booking online travel since Expedia and the rest turned on their internet websites. Since many of us have chose not to link with an agency because we dont want to or because they are not paying us we linked with a home based site that is solely internet based. We did not want to be restricted to just our local market place but were looking for global options.

We simply sell Travel today, tomorrow and last night while we were sleeping right from our Internet Travel Stores. The issue currently on the table is not about the antiquated system you looked up in the FTC files. The issue is over us not selling any Travel and people accusing all Home Based Agents such as us as selling Travel Cards, which is totally false.

Change BNT is away of future business just think about it if we dont sell Travel here we will still Sell it in China, South America, and the like. Our system is internet based meaning it is not your brick and mortar money making system where you have to be to work at 9 eat lunch at 12 and go home at 10 pm...

We are based solely on the Internet Market Place and we are governed by those laws, just as all the other internet Travel Sites are. If they are going shut down any Travel Stores they would have a lot more then just YTB to worry about. I think Donald Trump and Magic Johnson would have a lot to say about it too.

Arenie, what "real" change do you know about other than what they have taught you at the courses/seminars/conventions etc...????? I listened "again" at the YTB presentation and just couldn't help laughing..."market shift"?????? like I said before, that has been going on since the mid 90s, this is OLD news...you really need to think about what you saying, brick and motars aren't going anywhere, yes there will be fewer of them but they will also be around as long as their are human, sometimes we humans like person to person contact...this is like saying best buy/ciruit city won't be around because everybody will just order from the amazons and ebays of the world...if I were you, I would really think about that..because that simple means someone just needs to come up with a better plan/technology than YTB and now you guys would be so called obsolete....

Donald Trump uses the same backend technology that YTB uses...it isn't newly created technology, its running off the same good ole GDS type mainframes that you don't realize you refer too

The insurance isn't free. And it's also not very good coverage. Please re read the YTB info.

Arlenie in New Jersey
I've been reading this thread and I have a couple of questions about some of the statements. For example, I've seen the number that 85% of the B/M agencies have gone out of business, what is this based on? You state that you are selling travel globally, does this mean that you are a registered travel seller in CA., FL. and all the other states that require you to register when selling travel to a resident of that state? And are you really "selling" travel or is it more of just letting the website take orders? As a professional salesman, I know that there is a difference between selling and order taking and what I'm hearing sounds more like order taking then selling. Do you actually talk to your customers or is it all point and click? This looks alot like you are selling downline and not travel.

The info I posted regarding B/Ms closing down was from Travel Weekly, not sure where you saw 85%, but this has been going on since the early 1990s and since Expedia came to be, it is not really news to us in The Industry. Yes I have to Sell Travel to make money, People also come directly to me, from my website, and yes I talk to Clients I also show them how to shop for travel abroad right from my website.

As for Selling Travel to downline, that is impossible as all downline members sell Travel, they actually have no need to purchase Travel from my website when they have their own Travel websites.

Yes our websites we are able to sell Travel Worldwide 24/7 all someone has to do is get on our booking engine. Unlike a B/M they mainly service their communities and are only open 9/5 we are not limited in this area.

Yes YTB is registered here in the USA and also a publically traded company checked out by the Federal Trade Commission to be trustworthy.

It really is not much difference from a TA with a Host Agency, we just chose to use YTB as our Host, we are still required to get all our training and credentials just as any Agency would require.

I just saw this forum today for the first time and had to chime in.

FYI YTB sold over 14,000 cruise bookings yesterday thru Carnival Cruise Line.

For the people that don't think people in YTB sell travel, I would like to know what is the most cruises their Company or Host
has sold in a single day.

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that yesterday YTB sold more Cruises in a single day then any other Travel Agency or Host has ever sold.

I have never bashed the brick and mortor travel agencies but boy everywhere you look they are bashing YTB.

I work personally under the highest paid director within YTB and I think RCCI has started something that we think they will regret.

We had already sold over 13 Million dollars in Cruises for RCCI this year and then they decide they don't want us to book people on their ships.

I bet you the people at Carnival are real happy with YTB today.

I would hate to be the person within RCCI that made this decision, to have to stand in front of the shareholders and explain why you would pull the plug on a Company with over 130,000 Agents that had already booked over 13,000,000 USD worth of cruises for them this year, and then in a single day booked over 14,000 cruises with Carnival after RCCI said they did not want to allow us to book their cruises anymnore.

I'm sure the people that decided this did not get much sleep last night.

I wish you all the best.

Stay tuned the fun has just started!!!!

Best regards,
Daniel Womack
www.amazingdreamtravel.biz

Daniel in Houston, RCCL is not regretting their decision, the shareholders "will" understand. You must remember, just because they stopped doing business with YTB doesn't mean they have lost marketshare. A lot of the non-ytb agents started moving or recommending RCCL to their clients especially since the product is a good one. Those numbers from the one day cruise are good, but they would have been just as good if the same offer were given to say american express travel agencies.