Just Picture It Now: May 2008

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Some "Light" Reading...

After a busy week last week, I was doing some reading in some of the Trade Journals. I came across several articles in Travel Weekly concerning Agent Issues that I found interesting.

The first that caught my eye was an article about the ARC Accreditation Mark and the VTC (Verified Travel Consultant) Mark, which accredited travel agents, can use to promote their ARC credentials to consumers and suppliers.

I found the Accreditation interesting several fronts. First, you may recall, that IATA terminated YTB’s Accreditation back in November of 2007 for violating its standards. Why YTB was singled out for doing exactly what any other Host Agency has done, is yet to be answered by IATA's U.S. agency commissioner, James Johnstone. Any Outside Agent dealing with a Host Agency has the IATA’s numeric code either on file or on their ID Cards.

After reading this article I wondered if YTB’s ARC number was back up after winning its bid to keep the number that ARC assigned. (Not assigned by IATA) I checked to see if YTB’s numeric could be accessed from the Check Code page. (If you know the number, you can input it here. I’m not at liberty to post it for you.)

Second, it’s been said that IATA is the “be all and end all” when it comes to verifying and accrediting Agencies, however, I have to question why IATA’s new policy of eliminating paper tickets, which goes into effect in just a few days, (June 1st) doesn’t effect US Agencies? Could it be that U.S. Agents settle through ARC, which continues to process paper?

While ARC continues to thrive and grow, IATA continues to make waves in what has been deemed as “unfair competitive advantage” of agents by refusing to deal with them when e-tickets are not an option in for Canadian Agencies. (Sound familiar?)

On another front, I know many of you have enjoyed the Training Seminars and Webinars available by our vendors and suppliers that I post in my free Weekly Newsletter. Many of you have gained valuable information from CCRATravel in recent months, and I’m sure you will be pleased to see that Net, Preferred, GDS, and Promotional Rates will be increasing to include not only more than 70,0000 Hotels, but Car Rentals with Avis and Budget.

I’m sure an overview should be available soon on how to capitalize on this expanded service available in your Travel Portal.

One last note before I head out today. June is Carnival Month for YTB and next Thurday’s training call will feature both President and Co-Founder of YTB Travel Network J. Kim Sorensen and Mike Julius, Regional Vice President of Carnival Cruise Line on Thursday June 5, 2008.

With the Directors meeting today in Dallas set to release all kinds of new announcements, the stock on the rise again, and less than a month away from finding out just were YTB places in the new Travel Weekly Power List, (June 23rd.) it looks as if it’s going to be a HOT Summer for YTB!

If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

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: ARC Sales, CCRATravel.com, IATA, Travel Agent Issues

Posted by TravelPro at 5:23 AM | Permalink | Comments

Monday, May 26, 2008

In Remembrance of Those Who Serve

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers.

During the first national celebration, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there. This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years since the Civil War. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities had begun to observe Memorial Day, and after World War I, it became a occasion for honoring those who had died in all America's wars.

Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. Several southern states, however, have an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas; April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 in Louisiana and Tennessee.

We must never forget and always honor those who have sacrificed their lives for the FREEDOM we enjoy today in our lives and our YTB business.

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

Posted by TravelPro at 5:21 AM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Where's The Beef?

I know I haven’t been around much lately, and honestly, I thought I’d have a post before now but my “new source” has failed to come through on a number of occasions. I don’t know if you read the comments section of my blog, but I was told by one of the “Travel Agents” that she has documentation for me. You may remember the “Real Travel Agent” I posted about a couple of weeks ago. Apparently there are claims that Candi May isn’t who she says she is, and at this point, I have to wonder if any of them can verify that their own mother exists. From what I’ve been reading via the comments on this blog, posts on other forums, and e-mails sent to me over the last couple of weeks there is “something” out there.

Exactly what they claim to have is still unknown.

On Wednesday May 15th a challenge was posted by “Martha” which stated:

“I have documentation that I would be willing to share with you BUT ONLY if you would post it on your blog.”

You know me, I’m always interested in documentation, and I’ll share a little more with you momentarily why I was so interested in this particular documentation. The story is that these Travel Agents sniffed out “red flags” and all agree “things don’t add up”.

So here I’ve been sitting for over a week now when I was promised that “proof” would be provided several times, so I’ve just been waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting…

Aaaand waiting….

If you don’t know “Martha”, be truly thankful. She’s one of the most obnoxious individuals I’ve had to endure here. You don’t see her very much over here because she admittedly “vomits” every time she reads my blog. (Her words, not mine.) And I never find much value in anything she has to say, with her tone and temperament being incredibly nasty I simply delete most comments to save the rest of you from being sprayed. (Collective “eww” here.)

I really don’t know Martha at all, she hides behind a rather anonymous name and I really haven’t had much of a desire to attempt to figure out just who this woman is. I will admit this however; the image I have of her is this blue hair named Maxine from Hallmark.

So “Martha” offers up this challenge to me to post the documentation she finds here on my blog. I decided that this would actually be a fun challenge when she made the following comment:

“She [Candi] said she did the bookings for KIVA. They have never heard of her and use a B&M agency in Louisville. I could go on but it's not necessary to prove something that you won't take seriously because you believe everything that YTB and it's sponsors have to say.”

I wonder what “Martha” would do if she found out that not only does KIVA know of Candi, but if she goes straight to the top she’ll find the Director of this program. Imagine her surprise when she finds out that this Founder, Director, and this “Coach of the Year”, also happens to be Candi’s sponsor in YTB? Why the Director of the Association books with a B&M instead of his own site is strange, don't you think?

In Martha’s defense she did add:

“Do you recall when I told you I wasn't "conventional?" I'm not. I only post facts. I cannot say that KIVA said this and said that because the person did not want to be identified. So rather than put that as fact, it's off the record. Hearsay isn't something I go by.”

Makes you wonder just who Martha might have spoken to? Maybe a 9th Grade Forward on the volleyball team?

I’ve also heard that that the timeline Candi mentions and events that happened in the Travel Industry with Travel Professionals International being bought by ByeByeNow.com, and then being purchased by Carlson Wagonlit doesn’t add up. Maybe we can call Regis Philbin to see if he can shed some light on the subject. We all know and trust HIM right?

See, links like the ones above are exactly what I’m looking for from Martha and the others, but all I get is junk like “believe me”, or some insinuation that they know the “truth”, when it’s nothing more than mud thrown up without any documentation or links to back it up.

So I’ve got to ask: What’s the deal?

Well the problem is two fold.

Number one, Candi’s now with YTB and nobody in YTB can ever be trusted according to them, and number two, they don’t want you knowing that the Travel Industry has been in turmoil for many many years and these types of acquisitions, bankruptcies, and mergers have been on the rise since the Airlines cut commissions leaving them high and dry.

Even with the turmoil in the Traditional arena I find some pretty interesting stuff on the internet from what little I know about Candi. When John for example inquired about Candi, he could have checked out the domain listing of her e-mail address when he wrote to her and she responded. For most like me, (and you) that would only ad validity to what she’s talking about. Travel-Pro.com was registered in 1998 with a physical address being a retail location. In John’s defense however, maybe he found out that the person who registered the domain back then is also a member of YTB now.

Another “Travel Agent” ruined by the scourge he knows as YTB.

"RAT’s!"

So all they CAN do right now is simply throw up some mud and hope that what they’re telling you is “believable” like finding Candi’s home address on Google Maps to offer proof that she never operated a “Brick and Mortar”, while information of her domain name sits somewhere on the internet the whole time.

A couple terms like “smoke and mirrors” or words like “deflect” and “misinformation” start to emerge in my mind right now, what about you?

I am conventional, and I’m not talking about words, I’m not talking about “believe me”, I’m talking about actual documentation that supports what these knuckle heads claim to know. So far, what I’ve been able to dig up on my own doesn’t support any of the trash talk I’ve been reading about either here or on other forums.

In fact, the more I dig into this and discuss with Candi about what is being said, it’s astounding to me how I’m beginning to realize that none of them have a thing in regards to documentation. You can’t produce what doesn’t exist, and that’s exactly why I’m requiring documentation.

Are you beginning to get the picture as to why I don’t allow trash like Martha’s and the others infiltrate this blog? Why post it if there is nothing to verify or document one shred of proof or documentation to back it up? Talk is cheap, especially with these “non-conventional” types who get upset because they can’t vomit here.

I read somewhere…

"If it aint true, don’t say it.
If it aint right, don’t do it."

So Martha…here’s your chance. Here’s an opportunity front and center to offer the “proof” that you claim to have. It’s not buried somewhere, and I’m giving you center stage right here, right now to offer up what you have in actual documentation that everyone can verify on their own.

It’s time to prove to me and everyone else that I’m the liar, coward, and asshole that you claim that I am. (By the way...part of her latest comment to me that I simply deleted, and didn’t feel appropriate as “proof”.)

Can she do it?

Doubt it. But we shall see.

If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

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: Candi May, Travel Agent, Travel MLM, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

Friday, May 16, 2008

Know Your Market...

Referral Marketing appears to be a huge mystery for some people. It’s probably one of most often asked questions I’ve heard during my years with YTB. More specifically, on-line marketing appears to be a major interest for most. (We ARE an “On-Line Travel Agency”)

I wrote a post some two years ago about 5 ways to market effectively on-line, and for anyone new to the industry, this is a fantastic foundation to start marketing your business. These marketing techniques are not only effective but if done properly, in time you will have extensive exposure to all kinds of customers, ready to purchase products from you that relate to them. In fact, these techniques are so good; I still use them to this day and I actually reuse this very same article in my Newsletter for new team members in my 7 day training program.

One of the key components of effective Marketing is “know your customer”. If you know why people visit a particular site and what the major motivation is, and match products that relate to them, you will be amazed at how easy and profitable referral marketing really is. Mike Dillar in his Magnetic Sponsoring program gives fantastic insight in one of his his free 7 Day Boot Camp videos.

When someone goes to buy a drill, they don’t care about the drill; they care about making a hole.

To many people focus on the features and advantages of the program, company, whatever, but what they should be looking for is the end benefit to the customer.

Since most of my readership here is already in YTB, let me give you one of the best marketing tips I’ve ever come across that’s easy to do when it comes to selling travel. I’ve had albums of my vacations on a site called WebShots for years. If you take a look at any of the pictures, in any of the albums, you’ll see my BandBVacations.com logo on the bottom left hand corner of each and every picture.

At the present time, these 400 photos have had over 161,000 views and I get anywhere between 1000 to 1500 views per week.

Now think about this. Who is viewing these photos? What is their major motivation for visiting this site? Based on why I was there before I got involved with YTB, I wanted to find pictures of ship layouts, layouts of buildings, how white and fluffy the sand was, and because pictures say a thousand words, how someone else enjoyed their vacation on this ship or at this resort.

Because my logo is at the bottom of every one of those pictures, some will see that logo, wonder what that site is, physically type it in and low and behold what to they find?

My booking engine.

I can’t tell you how many times I find flights, hotels, vacation packages, and cruises booked on my booking engine from people I don’t even know. It just shows up!

Another cool little trick I learned was writing articles about our experience during our vacation. I did an article three years ago about one of our first FAM trips down to Sandestin Resort and Independent Traveler posted it on their site.

These are just two examples to simply “refer” people to your travel web site. There are a ton of resources for both articles and pictures that you can find on the internet.

Here’s the best part of all this guys. I took those pictures and wrote that trip report three years ago. Do you know that I’m still being paid via Referral Marketing for posting these pictures and writing this trip report?

Harv Ecker talks about the difference between rich people and the poor and middle class. The middle class and poor believe that they have to work hard for their money. You have to actually have to “do something” every time you produce income. Rich people focus on something called “passive income”. Streams of income that pay you over and over even when you aren’t producing anything for that income at the time. (If you’d like to find out more about Harv’s differences between rich and poor, he has a free teleseminar next week on May 22nd that will explain more.)

Here is one of the most critical factors that I believe is very important. Notice, I’m not sending people to my marketing site with these pictures. Notice I’m not trying to recruit anyone into my YTB business as a team member. Reason being is that the people who are looking at these articles and pictures are not looking for a business; they’re looking for a vacation. (Go back to why you buy a drill, to make a hole.) You have to keep in mind who the primary customer is and if you can match a product with the primary need or benefit, you’re likely to get sales.

The key is to understand your market. Take the market here on this blog. It’s changed over the years, and currently, most of my readership here is already in YTB so why bother trying to recruit you into a business you’re already in? But I can capitalize on helping you build your business and become more knowledgeable and successful right?

Here are just a few examples of how referral marketing has worked for you using the exact same principles we’ve learned from Coach, Scott and Kim in YTB.

Last year I did a write up on saving money on taxes via a home based business. Now I wrote that article last year, but this February and March got paid for that article over and over again. Something you in YTB wanted to learn about.

Something else that I found you wanted to learn about was Marc Mancini and the E-Campus. Do you know that I sell entire sets of his books each and every month?

You also gobbled up Brian Tracy’s Success Principles like crazy when I was entertaining the questions our TTA’s had about YTB.

No poking, no prodding, no “Join Me Know”, but very simple referral links and if you found it relevant and of value, you bought the products I recommended.

Speaking of the TTA’s, how many 6 in 1 travel blankets do you think they sell on their blog? How ‘bout Star Trek figures, or Urban Fashion accessories? If I were that blogger, I’d be selling FitzPatrick’s “Pyramid Nation”, to make up for all the time I spend writing on that waste of cyberspace. Problem is, FitzPatrick doesn’t understand referral marketing either and would never promote his books to gain better exposure in that way.

Stuck in a “Catch 22” sorry to say.

Guys, travel is just one example of how the Internet has changed things. E-commerce is a HUGE business and industry and if you learn to play the game right using “referral marketing” the right way, you’ll find yourself working less and enjoying more of this game we called life.

It’s not wrong, it’s not lazy, it’s a simple fact of the way we do business these days. Gone are the days of the Petroleum Distribution Engineers that we had when we were kids…we pump our own gas these days in the world of self service.

It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s convenient, and it can make you extra income doing the same thing you’ve already been taught to do in YTB.

If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

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: Affiliate Programs, Harv Eker, Magnetic Sponsoring, Referral Marketing, YTB E-Campus, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 6:53 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Chiefs, YTB International, Inc. Launch Innovative Travel Partnership

I normally wouldn’t allow any other NFL Team but my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers to be featured on this blog. (It is my blog!)

I however have to make an exception at this point in time, and I like Herm Edwards, and Pittsburgh does kick KC’s butt when we do match up so, I’ll allow this exception.

For now.

For those looking for anything from the Chiefs themselves you can find it here.

I happen to be partial to the release by YTB and although I’ve been covered up, I’ll just post the release "as is" below.

Chiefs, YTB International, Inc. Launch Innovative Travel Partnership

Fans Already Book Travel Online - Now Chiefs' Travel Site Provides Competitive Rates and Allows Loyal Fans a Unique Opportunity to Make Dreams Come True

ST. LOUIS, May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Kansas City Chiefs have launched an innovative travel partnership with YTB Travel Network, Inc. -- a wholly owned subsidiary of YTB International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: YTBLA) ('YTB' or the 'Company'). YTB will administer the Chiefs on-line and fan-based travel. The Chiefs travel website, www.ChiefsTravel.com, will provide the Chiefs loyal fans with the opportunity to book all their business and personal travel while offering multiple entry opportunities to win Game Day Packages, a 'Suite Experience,' autographed memorabilia, the opportunity to become a 'Chief for a Day,' a cabin on a Chiefs celebrity cruise and more.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080513/NYTU007 )

'Fan support at home and also on the road has been a vital ingredient in the success of this franchise over the last 20 years,' said Chiefs President Carl Peterson. 'Moreover, with this new travel program we can reward our fans for that support, as each time they book travel -- whether business or personal, related to Chiefs games or not -- they have the opportunity to win any number of special prizes from watching a preseason game from a luxury suite, becoming a Chiefs player for a day and enjoying other fan friendly experiences.'

The Chiefs Travel Web site offers competitive rates on the top airlines, thousands of hotels and many rental car companies, as well as a wide selection of offerings by leading vacation package providers and cruise lines. Site visitors will still enjoy the ability to earn airline miles, rental car and hotel points that they typically receive. In addition, the Chiefs will be offering celebrity cruises, featuring Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Bobby Bell, current players and special guests.

Also, the site offers options such as exclusive tour packages to China and Europe, limousine service, restaurant reservations, golf tee times and vacation packages, flowers, gift baskets, concert tickets, passports, airport parking and much more.

Each purchase will qualify a fan to enter the Chiefs giveaways.

'We at YTB and our outside representatives are excited by our partnership agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs and the opportunity to enhance the fans' travel experience throughout the year,' stated J. Kim Sorensen, President, and CEO of YTB Travel Network, Inc. 'There are Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holders across the country and Chiefs fans throughout the world. We welcome the opportunity to serve all the travel needs of every Chiefs fan and to further strengthen the Chiefs relationship with their loyal fans.'

With Coach and I being such HUGE Steelers fans, could they be next?

If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

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: Kansas City Chiefs, Kim Sorensen, NFL, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Blow Me Down

Be very careful. You could blow me over with a feather right now.

I heard rumor that the words “I apologize” actually appeared on a blog, by the blogger himself. I’m very glad that the person who forwarded me this information told me to sit down, because I think I might have hurt myself if I wasn’t sitting.

Don’t get too excited about this miracle however. The author is still waiting on some sort of company press release concerning YTB acquiring American Destinations, Inc. in order to make all this believable. I don’t know if a Press Release will be released but once the DVD that was shown at the Regional Travel Training in Richmond and the 16 page catalogs are available from our back office, I’ll post John’s PO Box for any of you who care to send him a copies.

I don’t know how much time it will take for any type of press release or documentation to materialize to settle this acquisition for him, but I wouldn’t worry about it. If I were him, I’d talk to YTB or ADI Executives directly, but apparently that is not an option he chooses to accept. It could resolve the issue, and what fun would it be not being able say, “here’s mud in your eye” in attempts to slow us down and keep people from finding out the truth?

The truth always materializes, always. So I wouldn’t get too worked up about the naysayers not coming to grips with YTB is doing or not doing.

From what I understand, John is busy trying to verify my post about Candi May on Tuesday. I wanted to call Candi yesterday, but she was spending time with her Grandkids, and didn’t want to bother her. I’ll catch up with her later today.

By the way, I’ve decided to delete the comments attached with Candi’s post. The purpose of the post was to show that there are traditionalist’s in the industry who find YTB not only viable, but attractive. Instead, the comments turned into a shouting match from one side of the fence to the other.

My bad, and I apologize if it offended anyone. I’ve been growing tired of all the justification, accusations and speculation being thrown around all over the internet. With the Annual Report, investor interest, the upgrade to the OTC, and our new Board of Directors being named, the rhetoric and mud slinging seems to have just gotten worse, not better.

Not surprising. All the news last month moves YTB in a positive direction, and it’s showing our critics signs that YTB is planning on sticking around.

Just keep the main thing the main thing and don’t worry about helping those who don’t appreciate what YTB is doing. The numbers are very few and with all the documentation from last month alone is enough to focus on.

If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

Make it a great day!

PS – Thanks for the post John.

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: ADI, Annual Report, Candi May, Travel Agent Issues, Travel Agent Training, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 6:26 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

No "Real" Travel Agents??

Since the beginning of the year, YTB has had a new Level One Director with the company. This isn’t any ordinary Director however, and I wanted to share her experience with you to help you and the others who are willing to gain some sort of perspective what a 20 year travel industry veteran saw in YTB.

Candi May has been an entrepreneur all her life, and she actually owned several Brick and Mortar Agencies back in the day. Something came along that caused a dramatic market shift in her industry. That something was the Internet. Very quickly things began to change. Candi soon realized that the masses no longer needed a “travel agent”. In 2006 over $40 BILLION dollars was spent on line, and that was just with 4 of the top Internet Based Travel Companies. (Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, and Priceline.)

She made an effort to “reinvent” herself and her travel business. She spent large sums of money on Internet marketing and ads. She started working with large group travel because it was harder for groups to book online. But she quickly realized that there was no way to compete with the HUGE Internet travel companies.

One night at an Industry awards show, she began to ask her peers how things were going, and wanted to find out what they were doing to compete or how they were doing in regards to the market shift. None of them appeared to be phased by what was going on.

“Things couldn’t be better!” was the common answer she got, and she began to question what she was doing and why nobody else seemed to have the same problems she was having. What was she doing wrong?

Then when the awards started to be passed out and when she was the one who was winning all the awards, she looked out to her peers who just told her moments before “Things couldn’t be better” and wondered…

“If my business is struggling, and I’m the one up here winning all these awards, what does your business REALLY look like?”

That’s when Candi started to look for something else, anything else, even a fast food franchise to get out of the sinking ship she was tied too. The others she talked to didn’t want to admit it, but she knew the signs and wanted out.

A former client then asked her to take a look at a business, not for her, but for him.

Here’s the thing, knowing Candi the way I know Candi, I don’t think she even went to Scam.com to see what everyone was talking about there. I don’t think she posted something on Yahoo Answers to find out if anyone heard of this new Travel Company. I also seriously doubt she even went to the Travel Weekly forums to see what was going on there.

What she did do was look at the public numbers, she looked at our Founders, and she looked at what other successful people were doing in this business. She also went up to meet the Founders personally.

YTB was a company that was actually capitalizing on the very same market shift that was causing her Brick & Mortar business to loose all this business.

Candi did eventually close her Travel Business, after replacing what she was making in about 90 days after joining YTB. She’s now a Level One Director, and while she’s one of only a handful of former Travel Agents who are now Directors with the company, I wanted to share her story specifically.

Why? Even though she’s cross line to me, she’s a total team player, and I value what she offered me in regards to what she knows about the Travel Industry. This isn’t some rookie off the street who knew nothing about Travel. This isn’t someone who was like me and only just passionate about talking to everyone he knew about a cruise being the best vacation money could buy.

This is someone who has experienced the changes in the industry first hand and found her answer in YTB. While I know of other Travel Agents who are now in YTB, several of them on my own team, Candi has worked both sides of the YTB business and is successful.

There’s no phobia about who we are and what we do like you find with so many other Travel Agents. It’s not dirty or bad…it’s a way to work smarter, not harder. It’s business.

And as a business person, this company makes sense.

Both Candi and I have FREE Newsletters that we offer our teams to help them build a Team or their Travel Business. We both shared the Virtual Home Based Business Expo with our team this past weekend that offers dozens of vendors, tour operators and supplier information and training for those that want to learn more about their Travel Business.

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: Candi May, MLM Myths, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Issues, Travel MLM, YTB Travel Network, YTBLA

Posted by TravelPro at 4:14 AM | Permalink

Friday, May 02, 2008

After Further Review...

It appears that Bob Dickinson wasn’t ready for all the attention of becoming a member of YTB’s Board of Directors. A short little “blurb” was released by Travel Trade late yesterday afternoon which simply stated:

“Bob Dickinson today said that upon further consideration, he has decided to decline his appointment to the YTB International board of directors, which YTB announced yesterday. YTB had not returned a request for comment at posting time.”

Amazing what peer pressure can do isn’t it?

To think that someone like Bob, a former CFO, CEO, and President who spent a vast amount of his life building “The Most Popular Cruise Line in the World” didn’t consider what an appointment to a company like YTB would look like certainly is something that is very difficult to grasp.

When news broke on Wednesday, Bob was interviewed by the same publication that announced his “further consideration” and it really makes one wonder what caused this sudden change of heart.

On Wednesday, April 30th Bob was quoted in Travel Trade:

“Dickinson told Travel Trade that the YTB model is a logical progression for cruise sales that very much resembles direct buy organizations that are popular with consumers for a whole range of products.

Dickinson likened YTB to Mary Kay, the multilevel marketer in cosmetics, and said that while YTB has the structure of a multilevel marketer it is also a Host agency providing a significant amount of training and marketing support, including Web sites.

YTB also incorporates a subtle form of viral marketing with its referral agents marketing to friends and relatives and people they know in their social spheres.

Asked about criticism of YTB from the agent industry, Dickinson said that any new model in terms of distribution, and of cruise distribution in particular, always has been criticized by the status quo. But in time all new models have been accepted once they have proven to be productive, said Dickinson.

He recalled the time when cruise-only agencies were pariahs - "They were illegal, immoral and fattening," said Dickinson.

There was also a time when the industry railed against at home agents who are now accepted because they have proven they can produce, as have Host agencies, said Dickinson.

A YTB model, he added, will get more than its share of criticism because it is new to travel in this iteration.”

My guess is, and it’s only a guess, is Bob didn’t expect so much personal criticism from the industry for hooking up with YTB. Bob is still very well connected in the industry, and also happens to keep a Board Member seat with Carnival even after retiring last year.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my experience with YTB and the Network Marketing Industry over the years, it’s you have to develop a thicker skin to deal with all the sling and arrows that are directed towards this model we call MLM. With all the attention YTB is getting from a few ignorant people who have an emotional attachment towards an industry they never have been or are no longer involved with, you learn to put attitudes and opinions in its place.

Some like me take the myths and misconceptions about MLM head on. Others just laugh and ignore it. While still others fall victim to all the twisted thinking that’s out there or simply don’t want to put up with the pressure and criticism.

I don’t know if we will ever know the real reason as to the sudden turnaround or what prompted the change of heart. It’s certainly resembles the days of a John Kerry “Flip Flop” back in the 2004 Presidential race.

And the story of “As YTB Turns” continues.

Bob would have been a great addition to our Company, and while he would have been the most well known figure head on our Board of Directors, we still have other Travel Industry veterans both employed by and consulting with YTB to guide us to the Billion dollar mark in Travel sales in 2008.

From what I have seen and also understand concerning YTB (and I hope members of YTB fully understand as well) that YTB is very hard at work taking YTB to the next level. While Mary Kay is still criticized at times, some 45 years after it was first founded in 1963, it is one of the most respected and recognized brands in the world. Tupperware and Avon also come to mind.

Coach, Scott and Kim spent more than 20 years with A.L. Williams before Coach retired, and then was convinced by Kim to start YTB back in 2001. You have leadership with close to 30 years each in the Network Marketing Industry. They not only understand what this model can do, I hope you as an RTA, (or potential RTA) understand that YTB will be a house hold name like Mary Kay, Tupperware, and Avon before it’s all said and done, with or without Bob Dickinson.

Sure was nice while it lasted huh?

All 24 hours of it! ;-P

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

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