Friday, June 29, 2007

YTB Makes Travel Weekly's Power List...

In 2005, Atlanta based couple joined YTB International, Inc. as their Host Agency, enabling them to open their own travel business from home. Two years later, the company is now recognized by Travel Weekly as Leading Travel Agency in their 2007 Power List.

Atlanta, GA, -- Just Picture It Now, an independent representative of YourTravelBiz.com and BandBVactions.com, a home based travel agency of YTB Travel Network, Inc. announced today that it’s parent company YTB International, Inc. has been named as one of the country's leading travel agencies in Travel Weekly's 2007 Power List. As part of the Power List, YTB was ranked 35th among all travel agencies and included in the top 11 leisure travel agencies. YTB International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

The yearly ranking included gross sales figures, ARC sales; travel related subsidiaries; percentage of sales from business, leisure, etc.; corporate structure as well as other matters.

Figures that Travel Weekly was able to verify through YTB include:

2006 Sales: $226.1 Million

- ARC sales of $52.1 Million
- $91.7 Million of sales fulfilled by third parties
- $175.2 Million of sales from hosting outside agents.
- 80% of sale from leisure, 10% from business, 10% other.
- 300% growth in sales and representative for each of the last three years.

Other leading travel agencies named in this year's Power List are Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, AAA, and American Express Travel Services.

Doug Bauknight, owner of Just Picture It Now, and BandBVacations.com added that the Host Agency, based just outside of St. Louis, is just 6 years old, and fulfill these large numbers with a team of RTA’s that are Home Based Independent Travel Agents. “Every time we open our mouth and tell someone that we own our own Travel Agency, the very next thing out of their mouth is “Really, can you get me a deal to _________?” Doug adds “This ranking simply shows how simple and viable our business model really is.”

Doug’s growing team would certainly agree. “If you had more time and more money…what would YOU do?” asked Chris Pappas, a team member based in Las Vegas. “I love that line! I already know what the answer is going to be.” Other team members have even been able to land large group cruises for family reunions, class reunions, Sunday School classes, even some company trips. “There are large commissions involved with group travel,” Doug adds “And now that the word is out how easy it is, it’s snowballed throughout the entire team.”

Combining the fun of travel with the speed of the Internet, multiplied by the power of referral marketing to provide the ultimate home-based business solution, YTB is taking
the industry by storm.

An advantage-rich, home-based business built around the Internet with an extremely lucrative compensation plan, YTB has become "The Choice" for over 100,000 to date. “In today's marketplace, many companies seek your time and attention, each claiming that their opportunity is the best.” Doug adds in closing. “It’s great to see that the industry is not only taking notice but agrees.”

About Just Picture It Now

Is an Independent Marketing arm of YourTravelBiz.com and primary focus on marketing on-line travel agencies through a nationwide network of independent business people, known as "Reps." Providing Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

About BandBVacations.com

Is a home based travel agency also known as an RTA. (Referring Travel Agent) a division of YTB Travel Network, Inc., who establishes and maintains travel vendor relationships, books travel transactions of on-line travel agents (RTAs, now numbering over 100,000), collects travel payments and licensing fees, and processes travel commissions. Each RTA sells travel through a personalized Internet-based travel Website.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker

Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
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Book Your Travel & Vacations With


Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450

RTA #24635

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Saturday, June 09, 2007

The Birthday Party...

One of the things I love about working from home is actually being home with my kids. I’ve always been an early riser and I’m usually sitting right here in my recliner checking e-mail, and planning my day with follow up phone calls, and meetings. Our two children, Brittany (5) and Brian (3) come right down stairs when they wake up and we spend some quality time together and they climb up into my lap and we watch a couple of shows, like Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Yesterday morning was my wife’s birthday. The kids wanted to head upstairs to sing, but my wife is not the early riser we are. I told the kids that we needed to go pick up a Birthday Cake for Mommies birthday sometime in the morning. Brittany’s eyes lit up and she then asked, “Are we going to get candles too?” I answered with “Yes, we can get candles too.”

Brian’s eyes then lit up and he blurted out “Are we going to get hats?” As a picture of ALL of us in the goofy cone shaped birthday hats with the rubber band pops into my head, I laughed “Yes, we can get some hats.”

Brittany then walked into the kitchen and ripped a page off of Mommies Grocery List and brought it back to the recliner with a magic marker and said, “Let’s make a list! You write Daddy.”

I grabbed the paper and marker, thinking this is really going to be good. Marking the list with “Mommies Birthday Party” I then asked the kids what else we should get. I have kept this list and it includes.


"Mommies Birthday List"
Cake

Bicycle
Hula Dress
Pony Movie
Plates
Party Hats
Pajamas
Cloths
Balloons
Princess Dress
Pom-Poms’
Flowers – (The pretty kind)
New Shoes
Bathing Suit
Candy


In our family, a birthday just isn’t a birthday without a Publix Birthday Cake. For those of you who don’t live in the Southeast, don’t know what you’re missing when it comes to a Publix Bakery Cake. A few years ago, I actually had them write “A Birthday isn’t a Birthday without a Publix Birthday Cake” on the cake. They got a big kick out of that, until the realized how hard it was to get that entire phrase actually on the cake.

Armed with our list, we then headed to the Publix Grocery store to get ready for the “Big Party”. Brittany was in charge of the list, and Brian was in charge of pushing the cart. First stop was the cake of course and the kids picked out the perfect cake with lots of swirling colors and icing balloons. Brittany carefully handed the cake to the baker clerk to ask her if she could write “Happy Birthday Mommy” on the cake. (It was all the clerk could do from cracking up, it was just too adorable.) Next stop were the candles, which they picked up a colorful set with sparkly flex of silver in them. And the Birthday balloons soon turned into an idea of water balloons instead of birthday balloons. We then went to pick up some flowers in the floral department. Finally, I let them pick out their own Birthday cards for Mommy, in which Brittany picked out one with Barbie on the front, which said “Happy Birthday Granddaughter” and Brian picked out one with Bob the Builder on the front stating “Happy Birthday Nephew”.

After picking up party supplies, we then headed to the store to let them pick out presents for Mommy. These items included a couple of whistles, like the Life Guard has at the pool, a button with a pink ribbon that said “Mom to Be”, plastic rings, flip flops for Brian, hula skirt, two necklaces for Brittany, and a couple of fireworks. (Which were shaped like cones and Brian insisted where party hats.)

You can’t imagine the pride each of them had, loaded up with everything they needed to make Mommies birthday the best day ever.

That’s what family is all about, and I’m so happy and grateful I could do experience and share this. It’s a morning I will remember for years to come.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker

Phone: 678.458.5812


Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
Image

Book Your Travel & Vacations With


Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450

RTA #24635

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