Just Picture It Now: January 2008

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Letting It Go...

I started a huge task last week when I promised John Frenaye that I would get his questions answered. ALL his questions. Over the next couple weeks due to the length of this list, I’m going to focus on each of these questions one at a time. My goal here is not only to answer the question, but also point out why this question is even asked in the first place.

This will also be an excellent opportunity and tool for anyone with additional comments about each of the specific questions to get better clarification. Use the comments section to discuss each of the questions in greater detail. I remind you that I learned how to accomplish such a huge task from Brian Tracy and his courses, which teach that you focus on the each task one at a time, focus on the solution, break it down into manageable chunks, and before you know it, you’ve achieved your goal. (By the way...I just got an e-mail from Brian regarding a New Years Coupon to Save 20% on all his courses!)

It should be a really fun debate, and for those of you in YTB, take this information and documentation and use it. Here are the questions we have gone over thus far.

Question #1 - Why a compensation plan takes 12 pages to define?

Question #2 - How YTB arrived at $226 Million in travel sold for 2006. (Still waiting.)

Question #3 - Why so little of the "training" at the annual convention was for travel. (OK, YTB only believes in training at other meetings. We can let this one go.)

While we are led to believe that there was “little” training at the annual convention, I pulled up the schedule to see if I or anyone else could spend a day or two just focused on travel. Here is a list of “Travel Related” topics from our National Convention.

Flight 150
Avoid Turbulence in Booking Cruises

Flight 675-1
Get Familiar with Your Booking Engine and Travel Portal - Know Your Product

Flight 927-1
How to Sell Escorted Tours: Emphasis on Australia/New Zealand

Flight 7889-1
What is Your Niche?

Flight 826-1
High Altitude Earnings through Group Travel

Flight 1179-2
Mastering your Booking Engine

Flight 978-1
International Consolidator Airfares–Passport to Profits

Flight 388-1
Easy $ailing: Charting Successful Group Cruises

Flight 815-1
Groups: They Do a Business Good!

Flight 8408
What’s New with Apple Vacations and our #1 Top Selling Destination Cancun

Any RTA who wanted “Travel Training” during YTBU, (YTB University) not only could have gotten it, but spent the entire time focused on nothing but “Travel Training”.

In addition, major announcements were made concerning our Travel Business during the General Sessions of the convention, including free Health and Life Insurance for those RTA’s who produce $25,000 in Travel Commissions, (just like our Directors who build teams), a travel sales contest for the Coach’s Birthday Bash, new RTA Credential qualifications and minimum booking requirements, a Two Fly Free Program for our clients, introduction of Fun & Travel Magazine with a focus on Travel, not recruiting, a new booking engine upgrade with a totally new look, and a very generous offer to all those Traditionalists out there to join YTB, one of the largest Travel companies in the country right now.

(Word has it that we’ve doubled our Travel Sales from $226 Million to $550 Million in just one year, but we’ll be rehashing that in June, don’t worry.)

Oh…and that “other training” nobody wants you to know about…
Last year YTB held two travel trade shows called Funshine. One was held in April in San Diego, and the other was held in October in Orlando. Funshine is a “Travel Show” where our suppliers conduct seminars, and it’s also an opportunity to gain first hand knowledge of vendor specific products.

Check out what an Industry Insider said about YTB’s Travel Training.

Freed said she attended YTB's conference in early October and saw more than 1,000 attendees in each educational forum. "The desire to learn about the travel business was evident even after I spoke to the general session (over 6,000 attendees) when the CLIA instructor followed me on stage and taught niche marketing," Freed wrote. "No one left the room, and in fact, the overflow ballroom with big screens set up was packed as well. These folks paid for the conference, and there were no free meals or give-aways."

Isn’t that the same Vicki Freed who just came on board with Royal Caribbean?

In addition, YTB holds two travel training calls each week, one is “Getting Started” on Monday nights, and the other is vendor specific call held on Thursday nights. In addition, YTB launched E-Campus, which was designed by Dr. Marc Mancini and built by TheAcademy.com. (Another course recently added YTB, check it out in your Travel Portal!) CRTA Training is held each weekend across the country with all the emphasis during the morning season focused on Travel.

Those who don’t recognize how much Travel Training YTB actually does doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Most of our Traditionalists are too wrapped up in all the recruiting we do, and that’s not too shabby either, growing by about 40,000 since the National Convention. Based on the massive numbers and growth YTB is experiencing, even with all the adversity they attempt to throw our way, YTB keeps getting bigger, better, and more powerful at every turn.

While “letting it go” is a good start, there is still plenty to let go of before some will realize what YTB is truly all about.

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: "Card Mill", Funshine, National Convention, Travel Agent Training, Travel MLM, Vicki Freed

Posted by TravelPro at 5:52 AM | Permalink | Comments

Friday, January 25, 2008

Still Waiting? What the....

I started a huge task on Wednesday when I promised John Frenaye that I would get his questions answered. ALL his questions. Over the next couple of days, okay maybe weeks due to the length of this list, I’m going to focus on each of these questions one at a time. My goal here is not only to answer the question, but also point out why this question is even asked in the first place.

This will also be an excellent opportunity and tool for anyone with additional comments about each of the specific questions to get better clarification. Use the comments section to discuss each of the questions in greater detail. I remind you that I learned how to accomplish such a huge task from Brian Tracy and his courses, which teach that you focus on the each task one at a time, focus on the solution, break it down into manageable chunks, and before you know it, you’ve achieved your goal. (By the way...I just got an e-mail from Brian regarding a New Years Coupon to Save 20% on all his courses!)

It should be a really fun debate, and for those of you in YTB, take this information and documentation and use it. Here are the questions we have gone over thus far.

Question #1 - Why a compensation plan takes 12 pages to define?

Question #2 - How YTB arrived at $226 Million in travel sold for 2006. (Still waiting.)

Most of us know by now that the numbers were taken directly from our suppliers who we asked to provide numbers for us. Tabulating numbers that were directly booked off our web sites is easy to track and report. If that’s all YTB RTA’s did, it would be easily tracked and verified electronically. As our company matures and RTA’s get more and more comfortable with the concept of being a “Travel Agent”, many RTA’s are stepping out and speaking with and booking directly with vendors. (Our Group Cruise page is a perfect example of needing to arrange directly with the vendor first to secure price and availability for our clients for actual bookings.)

I’ve been dealing with accusations from those outside of our company for years about what YTB actually books. All anyone looks at is our SEC filings, which everyone “should know” as commissions, not gross sales, and these commissions are not reported to the SEC until YTB actually has the commission in hand. Doing otherwise, or what we “expected to receive” in commissions from booking made in 2006 is highly illegal and would put YTB in a bunch of hot water.

While Travel may have been booked in 2006, it is not reported to the SEC until the commission is received. Again, our Group Cruise page is a perfect example of what YTB has “booked”, but until these groups or clients have paid all deposits, commissions can not be reported to the SEC until YTB physically has the commission in hand. The Frye Thanksgiving Cruise for November 2008 is a perfect example of some 40,000 7 Day equivalent cruises YTB has booked with Carnival alone for 2008. (Did you catch that? 40,000 7 day Equivalent Weeks with Carnival and it’s only January.) While Carnival reports this group as a booking for 2007, it won’t show up on our SEC filings until Q4 2008.

When YTB’s number was given to Travel Weekly early in 2007, it certainly raised some attention on their end. So much so that on January 8, 2007 Kim Sorenson was interviewed by Travel Weekly after they found out how much business YTB “claimed” they did. Apparently the $250 to $300 Million that we “claimed” raised enough eyebrows that Travel Weekly wanted to investigate further. (Can we all agree you don’t just take a “Networkers” word for it?) So we know that Travel Weekly was aware of what YTB first reported at the beginning of 2007.

A full 6 months later, on June 25, 2007 Travel Weekly reports “verified” numbers of $226 Million for YTB, ranking them at #35 overall, and all hell breaks loose. I invite anyone wishing to find out more about how Travel Weekly came up with these numbers to read the bottom of page 25 of the report. You will note that Travel Weekly “sought to confirm accuracy whenever possible”, and also “reviewed responses for consistency and used whatever resources they had at their disposal to ensure accuracy”. You may also note that BCD Travel was not certified (#4 on the list) but the $12 Billion number was one they “generally give out”. (I don’t see any huff over that number anywhere.) You may also notice after further review there are several notations throughout the list concerning other companies that did not meat or exceed the required certification needs which was noted…but nothing mentioned about YTB?

Could that be because YTB satisfied all of Travel Weekly’s requirements concerning accuracy of $226 Million in Travel Sales?

October 22, 2007 Arnie Wiessmann described how over 8000 RTA’s flooded our Funshine Travel Training which had suppliers “gushing” about what YTB is doing concerning travel. (However, none would be willing to go “on record” for fear of the backlash they would get from Traditionalists in the market.)

November 2, 2007 Vicki Freed was quoted “It has been published that they [YTB] sold over $13 million of business with another cruise line and I can assure you that we also have millions of dollars in cruise revenue generated as well”

October 24, 2007 Kim Sorenson interviewed again by Travel Weekly as HE explains that the numbers were “gleaned” from many different sources, and they were “verified sales”. It should also be noted that Kim specifically addresses that these numbers come from travel and not “net revenue” from our marketing side. (Why should a Travel Publication even consider networking revenue?)

November 20, 2007 I went into great detail how these numbers were acquired, verified, and totaled.

November 20, 2007, (Same day) Kim Sorensen was named one of 33 “Most Influential” and warns that suppliers are now forced to decide if they want our business or not with a Top 50 Travel Agency.

December 7, 2007 Kim Sorensen was again interviewed, this time in Travel Trade, again quoting a $226 Million dollar figure in Travel Revenue and warns that 2007 numbers will reach approximately $550 Million in sales. (Putting YTB in the Top 20 overall.)

January 9, 2008 Carnival saves face AND its YTB business with a brilliant move by imposing new booking requirements for FAM’s. Clearly Carnival does not want to follow the Royal Caribbean lead made months earlier.

January 17, 2008 John is still waiting for an answer.

With all the sources and documentation out there concerning the $226 Million YTB sold, I if find it hard to believe that anyone is still waiting on this answer. If there is any question about the validity or accuracy, maybe those that want to contradict or discredit this number need to ask Travel Weekly and not YTB RTA’s?

Labels: "Card Mill", Power List, Travel Bookings, Travel MLM, Travel Trade, Travel Weekly

Posted by TravelPro at 6:44 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Let's Begin, at the Beginning

Have you ever looked at a task and at the outset it looks really daunting? Probably the best example I can give anyone at this time is our Directors program. When someone new comes into YTB and they don’t have even their first person in the business yet, anyone would wonder…”How the heck am I going to get 500 RTA’s?” I recently took an Ultimate Goals Program written by Brain Tracy, (I’d highly recommend any of Brian Tracy's courses by the way) and he’s about the umpteenth person who has told me to “break it down into manageable chunks”.

Last week I promised John Frenaye that I would get his questions answered. ALL his questions. If you take a look at this list you might wonder as I do, how in the world can someone come up with so many questions? That’s part of John’s design, it’s meant to overwhelm you in the hopes that so many questions will cause you to just give up, allowing him to win the argument, and also allowing his positioning and views to remain out there on the internet unanswered. I’ve seen this for years, but John happens to be very unique. He’s very intelligent, and he’s done a ton of research on the YTB business model and Multi-Level Marketing in general. Unfortunately, most of what he’s researching is how to position YTB and Multi-Level Marketing in a negative light.

Garbage in – Garbage out.

Over the next couple of days, okay maybe weeks due to the length of this list, I’m going to focus on each of these questions one at a time. My goal here is not only to answer the question, but also point out why this question is even asked in the first place. How the wording is uniquely used, or words are changed to define something entirely different from its original intent and context.

This will also be an excellent opportunity and tool for anyone with additional comments about each of the specific questions to get better clarification. Use the comments section to discuss each of the questions in greater detail. Again, back to Brian Tracy and his courses, which teach that you focus on the each task one at a time, focus on the solution, break it down into manageable chunks, and before you know it, you’ve achieved your goal.

It should be a really fun debate, and for those of you in YTB, take this information and documentation and use it.

Ready? Let’s begin.

Question #1 - Why a compensation plan takes 12 pages to define. (Giving up on this one. It just does.)

I wonder how many pages Vicki Freed is reading right now for her new position with Royal Caribbean concerning her compensation. Seriously! Do you think it might be more than 12 pages?

There appears to be a real fascination with the YTB compensation plan, (which everyone will clearly see in later issues) and while it appears that each of these pages are loaded with dollar signs, and ways to make money, it begs the question of what defines 12 pages.

The first page being a cover, and the last page being blank, we are already down to 10 pages of “defining our compensation”. Of the remaining 10 pages that should therefore cover “compensation” actually talk about the YTB Team Structure, that being definitions of First Team, Power Team, Dream Team and Directors Program. In addition, while I would certainly consider Group Health and Life Insurance compensation, I do not believe this type of benefit would even be recognized by most who oppose our model. (MLM’s simply don’t offer that type of “compensation” or benefit.) The last three pages, (excluding the blank page of course) defines our
UCC-1 Financing statement, filed with both the State of Illinois and New Jersey which documents our Bill of Rights, established to protect those of us who have partnered with YourTravelBiz.com.

If you are counting with me that leaves the middle of page 4 which starts with “Direct Sales Commission”, page 5 which covers Power Team and Dream Team Sales, and we finish with page 6 which cover all the Leadership Bonuses which cover $1000 and $10,000 bonuses.

I would also include our Directors compensation on page 7, but I’m sure no one would be interested in learning how to make and extra $2000 to $8000 in extra guaranteed income per month. In case anyone wants to consider an extra $8000 a month in extra income, we can therefore complete our “compensation package” down from 12 pages to just 3 ½ pages.

While John has “given up”, I would advise that you do not. The YTB Team Structure & Copyrighted Compensation Plan is an essential part in helping anyone in making an informed, educated decision about the YTB pay plan and business model. For most of you who are with larger corporations such as BellSouth, IBM, Sprint, or Microsoft, 12 pages is a simple read compared to the hundreds of pages of policies and procedures with these companies. (Right Vicki?)

As to why they do and we don’t? It just does. ;-P

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Anti-MLM, Brian Tracy, John Frenaye, Travel MLM, Vicki Freed, YTB

Posted by TravelPro at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Vicki Freed "The Magnificent"

I’ve been contemplating and also doing some reading over the weekend concerning Vicki Freed’s stunning move from Carnival over to Royal Caribbean. There really hasn’t been all that much that I can find concerning the subject at this time, which isn’t surprising since this news came late Friday afternoon and most of the world is spending time doing something else on the weekend. I’ve always noticed a big drop in readership during the weekend, Saturday’s more so than Sunday, so it’s not surprising that there isn’t much out there right now. Besides, it’s Championship Sunday!

Dahhh!

To say that this move from #1 Carnival to #2 Royal Caribbean by Vicki isn’t news however couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s a real shocker to most, (including me) and the few comments and posts I’ve seen have people stunned. Everyone who’s been in this industry for some time, or is passionate about the cruising industry certainly knew that Royal Caribbean was looking for a new Sr. VP of Sales after moving Lisa Bauer over to Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations. Vicki Freed however, a fixture with Carnival for 29 years, was probably the LAST person anyone would have predicted to fill this void. It came as a big surprise to just about everyone, most of all Carnival.

I saw one quote that expressed very well what Carnival has done in the cruise industry. “Carnival basically took the formality out of cruising, and made it available to the masses. They revolutionized an industry, all from very humble beginnings as the underdog. It was history in the making and Freed was a part of it.” and someone else continued with “She is as much a part of Carnival as Ted Arison, Bob Dickinson, Micky Arison, Maurice Zarmati, Roger Blum, Roberta Jacoby, Cherie Weinstein, and Meshulam Zonis. These individuals were truly the "rat pack" of Carnival Cruise Lines.”

This is BIG – BIG news in the industry.

Some Industry Insiders have already posted predictions, speculating, or forecasting what all this could mean for the Cruise Industry as a whole. I’ve posted about my belief in “predictions” or speculation recently and based on this move of Vicki’s being such a stunning move only adds validity to my belief that no one can accurately predict the future. Especially in this industry! What you need to understand about people who make predictions like this is that this speculation is based on what they “want” to happen, not necessarily “believe” will happen. It’s anyone’s guess, both positive or negative at this stage of the game, (Vicki doesn’t move into her new digs officially until Tuesday) and to make any assumption about what Vicki, Carnival, or Royal Caribbean will do without being Vicki, Carnival, or Royal Caribbean is foolish.

With the changing of the guard at Carnival with CEO Bob Dickinson now retired after 35 years, and new CEO, Gerry Cahill now “in” the time was right for Vicki to make this move. It’s no secret that Vicki is both widely admired and loved by just about everyone in the industry. Like Lisa Bauer being “The Face” of Royal Caribbean back in October, Vicki Freed was “The Face” of Carnival for 29 years. While researching for this post, I found that many thought Vicki was upset about NOT being named CEO and President. After all she’s the one who’s been driving sales with Carnival for years. Some “speculated” that she would be the next obvious choice to move into Dickinson’s position once he retired. But instead, Vicki was overlooked and the responsibility fell to CFO, Gerry Cahill.

I laughed at this comment: “Hell hath no furry, like a woman scorned. Can't necessarily say I blame her after putting in 29 years. I'll bet some of the higher ups at Carnival are kicking their collective butts right now.”

Cahill being a finance guy, (bean counter?) admitted to knowing very little about the Travel MLM and “card mill” issues that have been debated so heavily in the industry in recent months. When I was first introduced to Cahill as CEO and President back in November he was asked point blank about his understanding of “card mills” and if he would follow Royal Caribbean’s lead in terminating Carnivals relationship with, and I quote “questionable travel selling organizations”. Cahill answered "I have no understanding of what the distinction Royal Caribbean is making." and he did emphasize he wanted to “learn more about it”.

Cahill DID learn more; and Carnival is NOT following Royal Caribbean’s lead in terminating Travel MLM’s. Cahill may have looked with Vicki concerning “the numbers” when the question came up at Carnival Corporate. Remember Vicki is quoted in Modern Agent “Your statement of YTB not being in the business of selling travel is interesting because our revenue production suggests differently. It has been published that they sold over $13 million of business with another cruise line and I can assure you that we also have millions of dollars in cruise revenue generated as well." After Cahill was also assured just how much business a company like YTB produces for their brand a CFO mind concluded that terminating a relationship like YTB, financially did not make sense. However to keep everyone happy a mandate of new minimum booking requirements were handed out two months later on January 9th.

Problem solved.

So with Royal Caribbean out at sea all by itself after 3 months, and the #1 Cruise Line, The Most Popular Cruise Line in the World, telling Royal Caribbean in so many words that they may not like the model, but they certainly like the money it generates, what can you do?

I could make a case that Royal Caribbean fell flat on its face by terminating its relationship with YTB and Joystar. Sure they expected the industry to follow, but very few if any of the big names actually did. Now with Carnival upstaging Royal Caribbean with a way to curb the FAM’s AND keep the sales, Royal Caribbean not only needs to back peddle, but is in desperate need of smoothing things over with the largest Travel MLM in the industry. Who better to bring on board someone who not only knows how much YTB actually does in sales, but has publicly expressed support for the YTB business model as the perfect fit to fix their Royal Blunder.

Oh I could certainly make a case that Royal Caribbean is in desperate need of a "Royal Makeover".

But I won’t. (;wink ;wink)

Besides, I have more important things to do at the moment…

Like Championship Football!

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Carnival, FAM's, Royal Caribbean, Travel MLM, Vicki Freed

Posted by TravelPro at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments

Friday, January 18, 2008

Vicki Freed Jumps Ship to Royal Caribbean

Who would have predicted this? I got to tell you, right now the travel industry has more twist and turns and is moving faster then the Kingda Ka rollercoaster these days. It’s making MY head spin.

If you recall, Lisa Bauer, then Sr. Vice President of Sales with Royal Caribbean sent out 4 letters to Travel Agencies terminating their agreement in October. Lisa then moved to Vice President of Hotel Operations just a few short weeks later in early December.

Today we find that none other than Carnivals Vick Freed has filled the void left by Lisa to take over Sr. Vice President of Sales for Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean International today named cruise industry veteran Vicki Freed as the company's senior vice president, sales.

Freed joins the company after 29 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, where she spent the last 15 years as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to that, Freed served in a variety of sales management positions within the cruise line.

From 1998 to 2000, Freed also served as the first, and only, female chairman of the Cruise Line International Association, the marketing and travel agent training arm of the North American cruise industry.

"Vicki has an outstanding and proven background within our industry and we are very pleased to have her join our team," said Adam Goldstein, president and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean International. "Vicki's passionate support of travel agents has been well chronicled and recognized. She will be a great asset to our brand as we continue to grow."

In her new role, Freed will take charge of the company's 345-person sales force, the largest sales team in the cruise industry. She will also manage the company's Trade Support and Services division, which includes Reservations, Group Sales, Customer Service, and Loyalty Programs. Freed will report to Goldstein.

Freed earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Colorado, and holds a Certified Travel Counselor designation. She also serves as a trustee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County.

Vicki has always been a great supporter and team member to YTB and I wish her well. She understands our model and recognizes how our large numbers of small producers can create impressive sales for a cruise line. She was present during the Funshine show in Orlando awarding YTB it’s third Pinnacle Award, and attended one of the largest, (if not THE largest) crowd for a single CLIA training on record. It will be interesting to see if we have lost a true ally in this industry, or if this ally can knock some sense into a very stubborn cruise line.

I don’t know Vicki personally, but what I do know of her, is she is a very warm and decent person. She could also hold her own with the Travel Agents who ridiculed her when she publicly supported YTB and the MLM model.

Makes me wonder if she could do the same with RCCL?

Hmmmm.

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Vicki Freed, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

YTB 101

When I first introduced everyone to John Frenaye back in October, I mentioned that I cut my teeth debating real honest to goodness Anti-MLM Zealots. If you’ve ever spent any time at all with the fine folks on Scam.com it makes some of our Travel Agents look like Saints. (Okay, Saints might be pushing it as you will soon find out, but you get the idea.) There are a couple of key features about Anti-MLM Zealots that I’ve learned over the years, which I need to clarify for everyone before we begin.

They selectively use evidence that supports their case and throw away (or ignore) anything else that doesn’t. They work by categorizing, separating, hiding, judging and condemning, attacking and rejecting. When they’re in trouble like they were with me, they try to distract everyone from all the good news, all the company and personal success of folks like me. They blow the whole situation out of proportion. By making a lot of noise, they think everyone will miss what is really going on.

I was first introduced to John back in August, after being sent an article he wrote about Travel MLM’s. Knowing nothing about John, I simply labeled him another one of the Zealots and wrote him off as “clueless”. I was then re-introduced to John here on my blog when he made the mistake of posting a few comments on my blog. I’m sure by now; most of you realize that I can certainly handle my own with anyone who attempts to promote myths and misconceptions about YTB. However, unlike most, I can also recognize, acknowledge, and admit YTB’s shortcomings, (few as they are) and to John’s credit, he has also recognized some of the benefits of YTB.

I also have the benefit of experience with YTB. My last post regarded my 3 year Anniversary with YTB. I’ve seen, heard, and experienced far more than most in this company. When I joined the company in January of 2005, YTB was just over 8,000 active RTA’s. Because of this history, I happen to know a considerable amount about the company, and I would imagine that certain points I’m about to make concerning our company may not even be known to those in YTB. For this reason, I think I might have a unique perspective as to why John has been so frustrated in not being able to find some of his answer to questions he HAS posted on his blog several times.

I’m also going to call a spade a spade concerning some of the questions John claims he does not have the answers to just yet, and that’s the tricky part even for me about all this. I really like John, he’s extremely intelligent, and we have become good friends, he can still play a very clever devils advocate simply to promote his positioning that Travel and MLM’s don’t mix. To be completely fair and honest however, he does this because of his positioning and underlying belief that the two subjects “Travel” and “MLM” do not mix.

Travel for him and other traditionalist take a high level of expertise and service in order to work in the industry. As a promoter on the other side of the fence I do it too. I point to the $40 Billion in Travel that was booked by average consumers making many reservations right over the internet without any formal training what so ever. His job is to promote all that is bad about the YTB model (this includes ALL travel MLM’s), and my job is to promote all that is good.

To our credit, we have both been willing to recognize and admire what each brings to the table in this debate as individuals. I firmly believe that our friendship has enabled us to focus on the real issues concerning what’s happening in our industry, rather than on the person.

I wanted to set the stage before I got into these questions. You will notice that neither one of us resort to name calling, or belittling each other. He knows that I respect his position and ideals, as he respects mine. That does not mean that we agree with the perspective or position however, and there is a difference. We both have very strong convictions in what we believe, and each of us bring a considerable amount of personal history and experience in our fields to form these beliefs. We are grown men and can handle the criticism. If we didn’t feel we could, we certainly wouldn’t leave this type of debate and conversation as open for everyone to view as we do.

John has a very long list of questions which I have taken to task to answer. From the looks of it, I’ve got my work cut out for me.

Oh, Yee of little faith…that’s what documentation is for! I’ll also be pointing out when these questions have been answered (and backed with documentation) here just to give you a little taste of how all this works. It’s a neat little trick the other side uses to keep doubt and discontent at the forefront. Trust me, it’s been going on for years, and while I don’t expect anyone to read through 2 ½ years of posts (July of 2005) in a single thread rehashing the same topic over and over without any resolution after 62 pages and 2460 comments. (Well, not entirely accurate. Some do get it and make that 2461.)

I have been able to show a very few what’s what. We do have one Zealot however who was shown the door, but then simply created another screen name and to start posting the same questions again just to save face. What’s so incredibly strange and sad at the same time for this individual is that he has not one lick of experience in either the Travel Industry or Network Marketing, and the subject of YTB controls his life that he is posting on average close to 4 times a day simply to trash our company.
While the thread on Scam.com has gotten boring and old for me, I do find debating the issues fun and while John certainly has a number of traits similar to Anti-MLM Zealots at least he’s intelligent and respectful. (Just like I’m a YTB Yahoo who drinks Kool-aid that’s intelligent and respectful.)

My My My…look at how far we’ve come.

Stay tuned…this should be fun!

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: John Frenaye, Scam, Travel MLM, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 6:32 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

100th Post Brings Expansion on Anniversary...

Today I celebrate my three year anniversary with YTB. On January 16, 2005 we pulled the trigger and joined a little known company that was a completely new concept to me at the time, but certainly intrigued me enough to not only find out more but make the move to “get in this game”.

This also happens to be my 100th post on this Blog so we need fast forward three years to today, and we find that on my anniversary YTB announces its expansion into International Markets. (Just for me and my anniversary I might add. ;-P)

I’ve stated in both my one year, and two year anniversary postings that I’ve always had to deal with those who oppose Network Marketing in general. I’ve endured all the blanket statement about scams and pyramid schemes from individuals who neglected to consider doing any independent research, or provide documentation to back it up.

This is the first year however that so much attention has been made about YTB specifically, and we have two key factors this past year to thank for all this fuss. First is our Travel Weekly ranking, being a #35 Agency in the country. Second, because of this ranking it appears that it has shocked the Traditional Travel Agent community and they certainly aren’t going to give up even more market share without a fight.

Beside, were just a bunch of Network Marketing Yahoo’s and they can take us right?

Well…maybe not.

While I have stated here many times that I both respect and admire many of the Traditional Agents I have met and speak to publically and privately. Unfortunately, while I may get some respect, YTB does not. There is a belief for most that a formal education and training is required before anyone can be qualified to sell travel, a perception that this career can only be done by those working full time in order to provide service and support that’s required, and a notion that YTB can’t be as competitive or offer the products they do.

There also seems to be an obsession with the amount of money each of us make and while claims that no money is made in this company selling travel, we are also required to recruit our friends and family into the business in order to make money. And while the “friends and family plan” is done by everyone in the company, we are also reminded that if we do recruit everyone, who will we be selling travel too?

I tried to put this as put this as delicately and eloquently as I possibly could last year at this time, and I guess that either some things never change or it may be appropriate to bring up once again a year later…

“What – A – CROCK!”

Fact of the matter is, while others read about it, study it, write about it, talk about it, I live it. I got myself in the game, and if any of you can get past the hype and propaganda being spewed about our company you see that YTB is a Top #35 Agency, (verified sales by the way) company President Kim Sorenson named one of the most influential, Suppliers are coming to bat for our model for producing impressive sales, and Travel editors from both Travel Weekly, and Travel Trade think YTB’s making a HUGE impact in this industry. Heck, even out SEC filings are showing signs of profitability.

And now it looks like YTB is only going to get bigger and stronger with this International expansion.

Bahamas opened on January 11, and YTB is now recognized as a bonded travel agency in Canada. Kick-off meetings are scheduled in Vancouver on February 9th, and Toronto on February 16th. YTB's executive and legal teams worked diligently with the regulatory bodies in each country to ensure that the Company meets or exceeds the standards in each region.

Has a sweet ring to it don’t you think?

Well maybe not for some. For those that so adamantly oppose YTB and the Network Marketing Business model, this certainly doesn’t look good. Of course some will ignore this expansion and continue with hype and speculation. You don’t spend this much time with one company without getting to know how both YTB “responds” and Anti-MLM’ers always seem to “react”. (By the way, there IS a difference.)

I want to leave everyone with this.

In March of 2007 Barry Minkow of the “Fraud Discovery Institute” (FDI) put out a big nasty paper charging that the MLM Company Usana was a Pyramid Scheme. Minkow also “shorted” Usana stock and managed, somehow, to get the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Usana. In addition there were several lawsuits filed against Usana including a shareholders class action suit.

The doom and gloom concerning Usana was all the rage and everyone had an opinion and predictions about what was going to happen. The two sides went on and on about this for months. Eventually the dust finally settled and the air was clear of all the talk, most giving Usana up for dead.

Imagine my surprise to find on Friday of last week that the SEC inquiry over the alleged allegations concerning the Usana Health Sciences scheme closed without enforcement action.

I don’t know how many you even knew anything about that suit let alone kept up with it all this time, but as a Network Marketer and a participant in this industry, I did and I believe it’s prudent to bring this to light at this time. Things aren’t always as they may first appear when it’s all said and done.

So another anniversary is here and almost gone. I meant to have this posted early this morning. I’m glad I got distracted long enough to find this news about YTB for you however. A good day, eh?

Part of my distraction today was snow here in Atlanta which is a rarity for these parts. From the looks of it, the kids will be home with me in the morning and we already have plans for a snowman in the front yard. (In fact, it was all I could do to hold them off until morning!)

After three years in YTB, I now have that option!

Thank you YTB.

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Labels: MLM Myths, Travel Agent, Travel MLM, YourTravelBiz.com, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 8:53 PM | Permalink | Comments

Monday, January 14, 2008

Birthday Bash Announcements

For those wondering what went on during the Birthday Bash here are some of the highlights.

Recruiting:

A) Not ONE Lime Green T-shirt was seen during the Birthday Bash with the quote "I got here for FREE as me how!"

B) To our knowledge, not one person was recruited to joining YTB during the entire sailing.

New products and Affiliations:

A) New 17 minute video on on-line fundraising-"Passport to Giving" for prospecting non-profits, will not change the price or destination but the way they book to raise funds for travel they are already doing.

B) "Two Fly Free" backed by Thomas Cook , the oldest and largest hotel and airline consolidator.

C) Hunting and Fishing.Biz is live. Trips and products with similar prices to Bass Pro Shop, and going from 8,000 to 30,000 products as we expand.

D) YTB cars expanding to local markets and will be offering any brand and at as reasonable prices as any where else you would buy.

E) RTA incentives; adding UPS over night mail at up to 50% savings.

F) Spring Tour International, the largest tour operator in China, is offering YTB exclusive tour packages to China, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Especially exciting are a series of tours to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing which include hard to get Olympic event tickets. Packages offer a 25% commission.

International Expansion :

A) The Bahamas-Went live in the Bahamas on 1/11/2008 .

B) Bermuda-opening 2/8/2008 .

C) Canada-opening 2/8/2008 (Saturday 2/9/2008 2:00 til 4:00pm Vancouver, British Columbia, meeting at convention center.)

Saturday 2/16/2008 2:00 til 4:00 pm Toronto/Ontario (location TBA)

Travel and Marketing Updates :

A) New owner Stuart Johnson of Success Magazine will have a new format in 2008 will be the best in the industry on Network marketing, not just one company and we have structured an arrangement with the owner for a special edition 8 page story on YTB and an insertable disc on the company.

B) Founders tour for 2008 coming to all areas 26 stops already scheduled with Coach, look for e-mail to be sent today.

C) 2008 on the travel side goal is to be #1 with #1 Carnival. We have 40,000 active cruises booked, need 100,000 to be #1, everyone get in the game and book a group cruise. Goal is to sell 3000 Olympic packages to fulfill our responsibility to Spring Tour International. 2007 booked over 5 hundred million with goal to book over a billion 2008. (Which only 12 companies have done.)

D) Income Disclosure Statement for 2007 will be sent out attached to an e-mail today.

E) California requirements for credentials are standard for everyone.

Coming in 2008 - One presentation for everyone, CRTA training updated with streaming videos. Travel booking engine state of the art updating Communication updates to the field, more trained RTAs in travel than all other companies put together.

"If it ain't right don't do it and if it ain't true don't say it" ~ J. Lloyd "Coach" Tomer