Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Travel Weekly Summit Announced

I’ve got to thank my upline Director, Tim Dominey for sending me this little gem on Travel Weekly. Most of the time, I send him stuff but today, he’s outdone himself.

Travel Weekly has set up its very own Virtual Leisure Summit slated for October 20th and 21st. Among the presenters of this summit, Travel Weekly has acquired Peter Yesawich, the nations leading seer on leisure travel trends, and Marc Mancini, Ph.D, the industry’s most prominent educator to conduct presentations during this two day event.

Those who register for the webinar sessions can ask question, interact with the presenters, and even contribute their own insights on this online conference.

In addition to the educational sessions from these two industry leaders, Travel Weekly’s Editor and Chief Arnie Weismann has also invited a few others to participate in this highly focused tradeshow, which has been limited to 25 relevant exhibitors and industry leading suppliers. Among those invited to participate as industry figures include Americas Vacation Center co-President Van Anderson, NACTA President Scott Koepf, Vacation.com CEO Steven Tracas, and Ensemble CEO Jack Mannix.

And for those that can’t seem to find the time to get themselves to Wood River, Illinois, you can thank Arnie Weissmann of Travel Weekly for giving you a stage with YTB Travel Network President, Kim Sorensen from the comfort of your own home.

Notable names missing from this list are Frenaye, Ainsworth, and Holmes. It could have been just a simple oversight, but my guess it’s more like a snub. Not to worry however, I’m sure these individuals can find the time in their busy schedule to at least participate in such a highly focused and relevant summit like this.

Spending time online is all they do.

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
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Posted by TravelPro at 12:36 PM |

Heads Up!

I know many of you subscribe to my Newsletter. My Monthly issue will be out tomorrow and I wanted to give you a heads up.

You DO NOT want to miss this issue.

I have acquired some very valuable insight as to what has been going on up at the home office, and in California that I will share with you tomorrow via my Newsletter.

I’m not at liberty to post here what kind of enhancements are being rolled out, and will let the company release this information to the public.

What I can tell you is this…

It’s going to put our critics into a frenzy, because what they thought was going to happen is actually making our company much more attractive and stronger to a wider audience who may be looking into a Home Based Business.

This would include even more Traditional Travel Agents.

Contact your team, send them to my Newsletter opt-in page and please make sure they know that I will be verifying both that they are an existing RTA and the e-mail matches what they have registered with YTB.

Until then…

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
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Posted by TravelPro at 7:03 AM |

Monday, September 29, 2008

Stop Worrying and Get to Work

I get a kick out of negative people. How they can ALWAYS find something negative in ANYTHING they look at is a real gift. What they don’t get is that while they focus on the negative, what do you think shows up?

More negative stuff.

There has been plenty of news lately for people to focus on the negative, especially in this economy. Washington Mutual was big news late last week, and I read that many are very nervous about 3rd quarter results that will be out soon. (As if their looking for more reasons to be negative?)

This weekend I ran into a man with a very nice smile. I also read what he wrote, and I couldn’t agree more with what he has to say. I’ve also taken some of his advice and started working on a number of niche trips for people that I know which include romance, the great outdoors, and some golf trips.

Makes you wonder what we can do when Ultimate 5 Adventures goes live!

With the new CLIA requirements for 2009 set and in place, it’s put a renewed interest on my travel business, and it’s turning out to be just the ticket to turn this lemon concerning the "economy" into lemonade.

John Peters is one of the good guys in the Travel Industry in my book. Why? Because he’s come up with a solution, and like me, doesn’t want to participate in all the doom and gloom going on in the industry and the country.

Thank you John for not only being positive, but offering all of us a solution.

Stop Worrying and Get to Work

Okay, sure, the economic outlook is bleak. What is an agent to do? Are people going to take vacations this year? Will they stop traveling all together? Is travel doomed?

Stop. Breathe. Relax.

My father, a Greek immigrant who came to the US in 1948 and started one of the largest travel agencies in the country, always says to me: "I've been through a lot of horrible things in my life... and most of it never happened."

What does that mean? We humans tend to focus on the negative and in our minds we always imagine the worst. Well, cut it out! This industry is full of nay-sayers and frankly, it's what brings us all down. The glass is half full, you know.

As I see it, you have a couple of choices: you can sit around and wallow in the unknown or you can get cracking and drum up some business. How? For starters, stop doing the things you've always done and try something new. This is the time to "think outside the box." Take calculated risks. If the government can come up with a gazillion-dollar Band-Aid, you surely can come up with some unique ways to find new customers.

Here are some facts.

September is shaping up to be one of the best months ever at Tripology and this is a good indicator of what's going on in the market. Why? Well, consumers are looking for travel specialists, not generalists or "run of the mill" travel agents. They want real expertise, first-hand knowledge of the destination they're going to visit. They want passion. Start selling yourself for the professional that you are. Stop saying, "I can book anything," and start focusing on your specialty. I actually met an agent at a trade show who said she didn't have a specialty! What? Well, what are you most passionate about? Consumers can find agent generalists on every corner and about a million places online.

Consumers come to our site and enter detailed trips requests (over 45,000 in the past 12 months). That's right: 45,000-plus people looking for a travel specialist. We then connect them with up to three specialists. Of the three, guess which agents invariably get the business? The agents who can best sell themselves and prove they're a real professional with personal experience and a passion for what they sell.

Here's an idea. Put together five sample trips - each with a twist. They don't have to be too crazy, but they should be unique. Forget the commodity, price-driven stuff, too. You'll never win selling on price. Then, come up with some neat names for the trips: "Kid-Friendly Saint Lucia" or "Go Topless on Mykonos." As far as products, pick some unique ones. Everyone is selling hotels, so sell vacation rentals. Everyone is selling cruises, so sell small ship cruises. Everyone is selling tours, so sell educational tours. For heaven's sake, do everything you possibly can to stand out from the crowd.

Need help? There are dozens of tour operators and specialty travel companies that would gladly help you. If you belong to a consortium or marketing organization, your preferred supplier list is a great place to start.

Then, when you put your new portfolio of product together, have someone professionally create a teaser flyer. Mail it to every one of your customers with a personal note. Yes, a personal note to each of them. In the note, mention the ONE trip they should focus on. They'll read all of them anyway. You should already be using something like ClientBase or have given your mailing list to your consortium's marketing team, so this shouldn't be difficult. If you're not, you should at least be using some sort of database program.

This is just one idea. There are many others that you can get from your associates. Ask around for ideas. If you're Home Based, have you logged on to www.hbtacommunity.com yet? This is a great place to start.

After you've mined your own list again, it's time to find NEW customers. There are lots of ways to do this. I'm partial to Tripology.com, but hey, that's just me (and 8,500 other travel specialists).

(John Peters, CTIE, is president and CEO of Tripology.com, an online travel referral service that connects travel specialists to consumers seeking their expert knowledge and travel planning experience.)

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
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Posted by TravelPro at 6:07 AM |

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Butch Cassidy has Died...

To this day, one of my all time favorite movies is the 1969 hit “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid”. I was only 5 years of age at the time, but can still remember the theatre I had seen this movie in with my father. I remember leaving with the question “what happened?” after the closing cut of the movie when Robert Redford, and Paul Newman ran out to escape the entire Bolivian Army. (I was five, give me a break!)

I have just been informed that “Butch Cassidy” has died at the age of 83. I read the press release in it’s entirety and I can’t think of another actor who has made more of an impact, has more credentials, or has affected more generations as this one.

A generation later, my own five year old son has come to know Paul Newman as Doc Hudson, in the Pixar hit movie, “Cars”

While Paul Newman's legend will live on in the movies he's made, the man will certainly be missed.

PS – I wonder how many will show up at HIS funeral?

WESTPORT, Conn. - Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money" — and as an activist, race car driver and popcorn impresario — has died. He was 83.

Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, publicist Jeff Sanderson said. He was surrounded by his family and close friends.
In May, Newman had dropped plans to direct a fall production of "Of Mice and Men," citing unspecified health issues.

He got his start in theater and on television during the 1950s, and went on to become one of the world's most enduring and popular film stars, a legend held in awe by his peers. He was nominated for Oscars 10 times, winning one regular award and two honorary ones, and had major roles in more than 50 motion pictures, including "Exodus," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Verdict," "The Sting" and "Absence of Malice."

Newman worked with some of the greatest directors of the past half century, from Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston to Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese and the Coen brothers. His co-stars included Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and, most famously, Robert Redford, his sidekick in "Butch Cassidy" and "The Sting."

He sometimes teamed with his wife and fellow Oscar winner, Joanne Woodward, with whom he had one of Hollywood's rare long-term marriages. "I have steak at home, why go out for hamburger?" Newman told Playboy magazine when asked if he was tempted to stray. They wed in 1958, around the same time they both appeared in "The Long Hot Summer," and Newman directed her in several films, including "Rachel, Rachel" and "The Glass Menagerie."

With his strong, classically handsome face and piercing blue eyes, Newman was a heartthrob just as likely to play against his looks, becoming a favorite with critics for his convincing portrayals of rebels, tough guys and losers. "I was always a character actor," he once said. "I just looked like Little Red Riding Hood."

Newman had a soft spot for underdogs in real life, giving tens of millions to charities through his food company and setting up camps for severely ill children.

Passionately opposed to the Vietnam War, and in favor of civil rights, he was so famously liberal that he ended up on President Nixon's "enemies list," one of the actor's proudest achievements, he liked to say.

A screen legend by his mid-40s, he waited a long time for his first competitive Oscar, winning in 1987 for "The Color of Money," a reprise of the role of pool shark "Fast" Eddie Felson, whom Newman portrayed in the 1961 film "The Hustler."

Newman delivered a magnetic performance in "The Hustler," playing a smooth-talking, whiskey-chugging pool shark who takes on Minnesota Fats — played by Jackie Gleason — and becomes entangled with a gambler played by George C. Scott. In the sequel — directed by Scorsese — "Fast Eddie" is no longer the high-stakes hustler he once was, but rather an aging liquor salesman who takes a young pool player (Cruise) under his wing before making a comeback.

He won an honorary Oscar in 1986 "in recognition of his many and memorable compelling screen performances and for his personal integrity and dedication to his craft." In 1994, he won a third Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, for his charitable work.

His most recent academy nod was a supporting actor nomination for the 2002 film "Road to Perdition." One of Newman's nominations was as a producer; the other nine were in acting categories. (Jack Nicholson holds the record among actors for Oscar nominations, with 12; actress Meryl Streep has had 14.)

As he passed his 80th birthday, he remained in demand, winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the 2005 HBO drama "Empire Falls" and providing the voice of a crusty 1951 car in the 2006 Disney-Pixar hit, "Cars."

But in May 2007, he told ABC's "Good Morning America" he had given up acting, though he intended to remain active in charity projects. "I'm not able to work anymore as an actor at the level I would want to," he said. "You start to lose your memory, your confidence, your invention. So that's pretty much a closed book for me."

He received his first Oscar nomination for playing a bitter, alcoholic former star athlete in the 1958 film "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Elizabeth Taylor played his unhappy wife and Burl Ives his wealthy, domineering father in Tennessee Williams' harrowing drama, which was given an upbeat ending for the screen.

In "Cool Hand Luke," he was nominated for his gritty role as a rebellious inmate in a brutal Southern prison. The movie was one of the biggest hits of 1967 and included a tagline, delivered one time by Newman and one time by prison warden Strother Martin, that helped define the generation gap, "What we've got here is (a) failure to communicate."

Newman's hair was graying, but he was as gourgeous as ever and on the verge of his greatest popular success. In 1969, Newman teamed with Redford for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," a comic Western about two outlaws running out of time. Newman paired with Redford again in 1973 in "The Sting," a comedy about two Depression-era con men. Both were multiple Oscar winners and huge hits, irreverent, unforgettable pairings of two of the best-looking actors of their time.

Newman also turned to producing and directing. In 1968, he directed "Rachel, Rachel," a film about a lonely spinster's rebirth. The movie received four Oscar nominations, including Newman, for producer of a best motion picture, and Woodward, for best actress. The film earned Newman the best director award from the New York Film Critics.

In the 1970s, Newman, admittedly bored with acting, became fascinated with auto racing, a sport he studied when he starred in the 1972 film, "Winning." After turning professional in 1977, Newman and his driving team made strong showings in several major races, including fifth place in Daytona in 1977 and second place in the Le Mans in 1979.

"Racing is the best way I know to get away from all the rubbish of Hollywood," he told People magazine in 1979.

Despite his love of race cars, Newman continued to make movies and continued to pile up Oscar nominations, his looks remarkably intact, his acting becoming more subtle, nothing like the mannered method performances of his early years, when he was sometimes dismissed as a Brando imitator. "It takes a long time for an actor to develop the assurance that the trim, silver-haired Paul Newman has acquired," Pauline Kael wrote of him in the early 1980s.

In 1982, he got his Oscar fifth nomination for his portrayal of an honest businessman persecuted by an irresponsible reporter in "Absence of Malice." The following year, he got his sixth for playing a down-and-out alcoholic attorney in "The Verdict."
In 1995, he was nominated for his slyest, most understated work yet, the town curmudgeon and deadbeat in "Nobody's Fool." New York Times critic Caryn James found his acting "without cheap sentiment and self-pity," and observed, "It says everything about Mr. Newman's performance, the single best of this year and among the finest he has ever given, that you never stop to wonder how a guy as good-looking as Paul Newman ended up this way."

Newman, who shunned Hollywood life, was reluctant to give interviews and usually refused to sign autographs because he found the majesty of the act offensive, according to one friend.

He also claimed that he never read reviews of his movies.

"If they're good you get a fat head and if they're bad you're depressed for three weeks," he said.

Off the screen, Newman had a taste for beer and was known for his practical jokes. He once had a Porsche installed in Redford's hallway — crushed and covered with ribbons.

"I think that my sense of humor is the only thing that keeps me sane," he told Newsweek magazine in a 1994 interview.

In 1982, Newman and his Westport neighbor, writer A.E. Hotchner, started a company to market Newman's original oil-and-vinegar dressing. Newman's Own, which began as a joke, grew into a multimillion-dollar business selling popcorn, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce and other foods. All of the company's profits are donated to charities. By 2007, the company had donated more than $175 million, according to its Web site.

"We will miss our friend Paul Newman, but are lucky ourselves to have known such a remarkable person," Robert Forrester, vice chairman of Newman's Own Foundation, said in a statement.

Hotchner said Newman should have "everybody's admiration."

"For me it's the loss of an adventurous freindship over the past 50 years and it's the loss of a great American citizen," Hotchner told The Associated Press.

In 1988, Newman founded a camp in northeastern Connecticut for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. He went on to establish similar camps in several other states and in Europe.

He and Woodward bought an 18th century farmhouse in Westport, where they raised their three daughters, Elinor "Nell," Melissa and Clea.

Newman had two daughters, Susan and Stephanie, and a son, Scott, from a previous marriage to Jacqueline Witte.

Scott died in 1978 of an accidental overdose of alcohol and Valium. After his only son's death, Newman established the Scott Newman Foundation to finance the production of anti-drug films for children.

Newman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the second of two boys of Arthur S. Newman, a partner in a sporting goods store, and Theresa Fetzer Newman.

He was raised in the affluent suburb of Shaker Heights, where he was encouraged him to pursue his interest in the arts by his mother and his uncle Joseph Newman, a well-known Ohio poet and journalist.

Following World War II service in the Navy, he enrolled at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he got a degree in English and was active in student productions.

He later studied at Yale University's School of Drama, then headed to New York to work in theater and television, his classmates at the famed Actor's Studio including Brando, James Dean and Karl Malden. His breakthrough was enabled by tragedy: Dean, scheduled to star as the disfigured boxer in a television adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "The Battler," died in a car crash in 1955. His role was taken by Newman, then a little-known performer.

Newman started in movies the year before, in "The Silver Chalice," a costume film he so despised that he took out an ad in Variety to apologize. By 1958, he had won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for the shiftless Ben Quick in "The Long Hot Summer."

In December 1994, about a month before his 70th birthday, he told Newsweek magazine he had changed little with age.

"I'm not mellower, I'm not less angry, I'm not less self-critical, I'm not less tenacious," he said. "Maybe the best part is that your liver can't handle those beers at noon anymore," he said.

Newman is survived by his wife, five children, two grandsons and his older brother Arthur.

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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
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Posted by TravelPro at 10:35 AM |

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Funeral

I had this forwarded to me via one of my Newsletter Subscribers yesterday morning. Yesterday started very early for me with my son needing to have a couple “sugar bunny’s” (cavities for us adults) filled, and it didn’t stop until late last night. I had planned on another post, but didn’t even have the time to start what I wanted, but when I saw this, I thought it was appropriate with all the trash talking going on over the internet.

I realize this can be easier said than done, even for me, but this puts everything into a great perspective. It’s not surprising that this came from one of YTB’s Top Directors, and a female to boot.

Juliet St. John.

The Funeral Story

Many years ago I was a sales manager for a company in Baltimore, Maryland. I would pull my team together from several states every quarter for a day of relationship and team building exercises as well as general sales training.

The company we all worked for was a business services company, and our model was not a networking company in any way. We were a business calling on other businesses, or "B to B" as it is often referred to today. All the same, the sales people who were paid a large base salary, given a company car and an expense account, still had some of the same challenges that our teammates, or perhaps you do in YTB.

You see, as part of their job description, there was a large amount of "cold calling" involved. This of course refers to making contacts, setting appointments, and making presentations for the purpose of securing a new account with someone that they did not know. Sound familiar?

During one sales meeting in the fall of the year, I closed out the meeting with an article that I had read in a national publication. The article was written on of all things, funerals. You see, the writer of the article had conducted surveys of many funerals across the country and came up with some interesting statistics and facts. "And exactly how am I going to tie this into YTB?" you say.

The first thing that I read said that on the average, at a funeral, approximately ten people cry. That struck me as quite odd. Ten people? No more? Ten? In other words, after I spend my entire life, hopefully into my nineties, working with thousands of people in my business, volunteering for several organizations, donating my time and money, laughing and living life with relatives and friends thru all of the ups and downs, that only ten people would cry?

What's that about?

Now, get ready, because here is where it gets even better. You know that after the funeral, there is of course the burial, right? The article said that the number one thing that would determine how many people would go to the actual burial was determined by one thing and one thing alone: the weather! The article said that if it rains on the day of my burial, that at best case, only fifty percent of the people at the funeral would go for that last ride with me to the actual burial.

The other fifty percent might really, really love me. But they would still prefer not to get wet. So here is my point. I told that sales team and I am telling you today that I had a realization when I read that article. It was quite liberating. I got freed up.

If only ten people are going to cry and less than fifty percent won't see me off if the sky opens up and rains, that what kind of sense does it make for me to care at all about what other people think?

Now I didn't say that I don't care about other people. I do, very much care FOR other people. But you know what? I don't give a hoot what other people think about what it is that I am doing.

Period. End of the story.

Why would I (or you) be afraid of rejection? Why would I be concerned about what so and so thinks? Why would I ever be worried again about someone passing judgment on me because I am doing "one of those things"?

It really is very simple. If you talk to enough people, some will come into YTB, and some won't. If you talk to enough people, some will book travel with you, and some won't. If enough people come into your YTB Business, some will become Power Team Leaders, and some won't. Of the PT Leaders, some will be productive, and guess what? Some won't.

The only variable is whether or not you are going to talk to enough people...And as you are trying to muster up the courage to approach your relative, your friend, or a complete stranger about YTB remember this: chances are, they won't cry at your funeral and they won't get rained on to say goodbye. And most people live a lot of their lives all cooped up caring about what the other person thinks.

On a final note. There are a handful of people who have many, many people cry at their funerals and have long funeral processions no matter the weather. JFK Martin Luther King, Jr. Gandhi John Lennon The list goes on.

These people, the "Difference Makers", and others like them, they have thousands that show because they spent their lives not worrying or caring about what other people thought.

What are YOU thinking?

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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
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Posted by TravelPro at 4:13 AM |

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

MythBusters To The Rescue!

Have you ever seen or heard something and went…"Shut – UP"!? I don’t mean shut up like close your mouth shut up; although what PhoCusWright has now clarified for us will do that as well. No, I’m talking about “Shut – Up” meaning, “No Way!” or “I don’t believe it!”

You know...“Shut – UP!”
That’s exactly what came out of my mouth when I found this gem in Travel Trade last night. The reaction stems from the bonehead Traditionalist who's been trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes for the last year and that guys like me wear these "rose colored glasses". We couldn't possibly have a better understanding than he does. Nor could online sales even remotely come close the kind of dominance he and the others spout off because of the "service" or the "knowledge" they provide.

It appears that PhoCusWright has dispelled their misinformation-and debunked the online travel myths we see all too often from our Traditionalists during the first-ever Analyst Forum, held September 10 in New York City.

Oh how our Traditionalists have been reaching for something…anything…that would substantiate their claim that market share is moving back to them. Well, sorry folks…just not happening and the jig is up.

I’d like to introduce to you our MythBusters…AKA: PhoCusWright.

Enjoy, and see if you don't say the same thing. ;-P

6 Online Travel Myths Unmasked at PhoCusWright Analyst Forum

Myth #1: The number of online travel buyers in the U.S. is declining. In fact, that number is on the rise, as documented in The Consumer Travel Trends Tenth Edition recently published by PhoCusWright Inc. In 2007, approximately 70% of online travelers (that is, adults who have taken a commercial air trip and stayed at a hotel for leisure in the past year, and used the Internet in the past 30 days) bought travel online, compared to 63% in 2006.

PhoCusWright dispelled this piece of misinformation-and debunked five additional online travel myths-at it’s first-ever Analyst Forum, held September 10 in New York City.

In addition to the misconception that online travel buyers are declining, The PhoCusWright Analyst Forum corrected these five other online travel myths:

Myth 1. The number of online travel buyers in the U.S. is declining. In fact, that number is on the rise, as documented in The Consumer Travel Trends Tenth Edition recently published by PhoCusWright Inc. In 2007, approximately 70% of online travelers (that is, adults who have taken a commercial air trip and stayed at a hotel for leisure in the past year, and used the Internet in the past 30 days) bought travel online, compared to 63% in 2006.

Myth 2. More and more online travel shoppers use supplier sites than online travel agencies. While this belief is widespread in the travel industry, it is simply untrue, according to PhoCusWright, the travel industry research firm. In terms of popularity, online travel agencies are making a comeback (source: The PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey Tenth Edition or "CTTS10").

Myth 3. Travel agencies are experiencing a resurgence as travelers return to traditional purchasing channels. Not so. In reality, even many formerly exclusive offline buyers are migrating online for travel shopping and buying, according to CTTS10.

Myth 4. The next generation of travelers prefers to do everything online. The truth is, less than half of what 18-28 year olds spend on travel is spent online, according to The NEXTgen Traveler(TM) report, jointly published by PhoCusWright and Ypartnership.

Myth 5. Social networks and travel reviews have the greatest influence on travel decision-making. The NEXTgen Traveler(TM) report reveals that while social media is widespread, destination Web sites and online travel agencies are favored by nearly half of next generation travelers during the travel shopping process.

Myth 6. Online travel markets need high credit card and Internet penetration to succeed. The structure and ambitions of the travel marketplace are even more important drivers than infrastructure. Case in point is India, one of the most dynamic online travel marketplaces today, where roughly 98% of the population does not use credit cards or have access to the Internet.

The sold-out Analyst Forum provided attendees with a clearer understanding of the realities of the online travel marketplace, offering facts, figures and insights for strategic planning and decision-making, especially as attendees find themselves engaged in 2009 budget planning.

"Nobody wants to make strategic errors based on bad information," said Lorraine Sileo, vice president, research for PhoCusWright. "Through this Analyst Forum, we were able to educate attendees about online travel myths and the realities in consumer behavior and to paint a picture of the new distribution landscape so that they can better assess their channel partners, such as travel agencies.

"PhoCusWright's Analyst Forum will continue to take place on a quarterly basis in New York City featuring research and analysis on a variety of travel, tourism and hospitality topics.

Aint THAT somethin’?

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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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Posted by TravelPro at 5:11 AM |

Monday, September 22, 2008

Fear Factor LIVE!

It appears that someone is still frustrated with me because I won’t let him spout off here on my blog. So in order to make this person feel better about himself, I’m going to highlight his entry for everyone to see.

Please note, that he’s sworn off writing about me on his own blog so that’s why you find it on this forum. (Not really, but I really wish they would for their own sanity.)

The spin, ignorance, and flat out lies are getting old and rather worn. However, the man obviously wants an audience, so I’ll oblige at this point. And I'd like to ask my own question not only to the poster, but all posters who like to hide behind thier computer keyboards. (Later)

I have to wonder why everything I post needs to be commented on these days. It was my understanding that nobody reads this blog any longer, but every time I post, somebody’s commenting on what I’ve said. They just HAVE to respond with some sort of rebuttal to correct what they believe to be gross errors and lies that I post here in my own little corner of cyberspace.

In contrast, do I need to correct some of the gross errors I’ve seen out there made by some of the same people who think they have a better vantage point than I do?

Not really…

Keeping up with John and all his posts is a full time job in its own right. How the man makes any money with all the time he spends reading and posting on the internet is a complete mystery. A bigger mystery for me is how this man formulates some of the ideas he has.

Like most people, he takes what he’s heard as actual fact, but never seems to check to see if it’s even remotely accurate.

I had a good laugh over his assumption that R&B Marketing stood for “Rick and Brenda”, and even went as far as stating that he checked the Nevada registration.

Not that it would matter if Phil & Doris Davidoff are REP’s or RTA’s, he’s convinced that they are because of the Freedom Awards we handed out to during the National Convention. Not comprehending that Frank Brummett, Bob Federico, and UHY, LLP are also Freedom Award winners.

And, what does it say about someone when other Zealots need to help him out and start correcting him?

None of these false, misleading or at the very least deceptive claims however appears to stop the man from spouting off all day, every day over his obsession and illusions about YTB.

I could follow behind with a shovel and dump truck cleaning up all the crap this guy posts, but I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it’s never going to stop, and I honestly, it’s not much fun or profitable working the garbage detail.

What is amusing to me however about this rebuttal is how much time he spent trying to justify his position.

Let’s not forget that this poster laid claim that he couldn’t find ANY positive press on Coach. I could care less if I found 1 or 10 positive articles; it’s four more than he even cared to admit.

I LOVED the looooong drawn out explanation about a phone book. Maybe he spent all the time he did on this because he didn’t want anyone to look at why Rhode Island repealed its Travel Agent Bonding law? (That would be a 40% decline in Travel Agencies over the last 5 years.)

Nor do I recall ever posting here this notion about 80% of all travel being booked on line. (I’m not going through three years of posts however to make sure.) I do find it odd that he conveniently missed my post less than a month ago on actual on line booking stats, or the type of client demographic that make these purchases.

I would like to answer one question John asked in his post which was directed specifically at me.

“But what about this Doug...the next time you are in the Corner, why not ask Coach to host a series of meetings to address his critics.”

You don’t have the guts do you John?

Why is it up to me, Firemedic, or any other YTB’er to do that? Dude, you’re the one with the problem with YTB, not us. I find it very odd that you took the time to see Scott Tomer, was in the same room with the man, but didn’t say word one to him. I find it odd that you know the e-mail address of the CEO, but can’t send a simple e-mail to ask yourself? You have the address, and the phone numbers, heck, you claim to get calls from inside the Home Office, but can’t ask them to forward a message to Coach to arrange such a meeting?

I wish I could say I was kidding, but sadly, that’s how lame this guy really is.

John, I’m sorry buddy, but I just can’t condone or help someone who doesn’t have enough of a spine to take advantage of all the opportunities you’ve had to set this up on your own. So I’ll have to decline your request and state that the only reluctance I see is your own.

What has become very clear, is that you, the other Traditionalists, and the Zealots you have following you are scared to death about what you might find when you actually come face to face with a man who has more integrity, more character, and more ethics in his pinky finger, than whole lot of you combined.

If we have a problem, we pick up the phone like Von Nickleberry, or maybe someone like Regina Osei and at least attempt to straighten things out like an adult. But not you John, you’re too good, you’re too busy, you’re too special, you want it handed to you on silver platter because you’re the great and powerful John Frenaye.

Great and Powerful Oz is more like it.

If it meant that much to you, it would have been done. But instead, you hide behind a keyboard and type away with all your little insults and spin about how YTB is destroying your precious industry, and you want us, meaning the field of YTB, to make it better for you.

I’m done with this “get a clue” idea.

I now have to up the ante to “get a spine”.

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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

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Posted by TravelPro at 4:33 AM |

Friday, September 19, 2008

Steeler Fans Unite

Want a tip on how to get a new prospect in front of Coach when he comes to town? All you have to do is wear a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. ;-P

Coach was in Atlanta last night for one of those “recruiting meetings” at a packed room in the Sheraton Gateway down by the Atlanta airport. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a Founders Award, and while others were handing out the awards, Coach made sure HE had the opportunity to hand me my award once he saw #7 walking down the isle.

He joked with me to see if my shoulder was okay for this Sunday’s matchup against the Eagles at the time, but we had an opportunity to talk for a few minutes personally after the meeting.

During our talk, I mentioned how I started this nasty rumor about him buying the Steelers, which we both had a good laugh about. It amazes both of us how desperate some people are to taint our company and our model. He mentioned something last night which I wish I could actually do. He said that if you take a phone book from 5 years ago and count the number of Travel Agencies, and then compare it how many are in the phone book today, you’ll see why their so desperate.

Problem is, I got a new phone book yesterday and it’s already in the recycling bin because I can’t remember the last time I actually used a phone book to look up a number. (Maybe that’s why Telecommunication MLM’s are hated too?)

His message was clear however, even without having any phone books in the house. Brick and Mortar Agencies are in decline. Rhode Island is a perfect example of that, with a 60% decline in the last 5 years, and why Rhode Island reversed the Agent Licensing. (No money in it.)

Coach is fully aware of the pot shots people take at him. Honestly, I don’t think it bothers him one bit. If you think about it, why should it? Why should the opinions of a small group, who have never met him, and or even spoken to him matter one iota? Did the few that are so angry at him stay at a Holiday Inn last night or something? None of them have ever met the man or even remotely spoken with him to form any type of recommendation about who Coach is and what he stands for.

In a January 2007 interview with Travel Weekly Coach was asked how he answers the critics, and based on our discussion last night, he hasn’t wavered one bit from what he said almost 2 years ago.

“With network marketing companies, people call them all the same thing, pyramid schemes. You beat that by proving yourself. We just keep doing the right thing. The business is growing, but the travel sales are growing per RTA, too.”

Later that year, YTB ranked #35 in the US with $226 Million in travel, and YTB made one of the largest jumps, 9 spots which ties with another agency, to number #26 this year with $414.5 Million in travel sales.

These critics can spout off all they want, but this kind of documentation speaks volumes about who we are and what we do…and that include one “critic” in California.

We’ve been asking these “critics” to actually meet Coach, even as late as this week. It’s amusing to see how they can be so bold about what they would tell the man in front of his face, but as soon as the opportunity is given, they run with their tails between their legs with all kinds of excuses.

See, instead of resolving the issues they have, their content with being angry and bitter towards a man they honestly know nothing about. It’s much easier to keep the illusion they have, because it’s the only thing they have left to blame in regards to why their business is suffering.

Remember the story about the lost keys in the house, but looking for them outside under the light? Coach is the most visible light they can see, and that’s why so many are focused on him. What they don’t get is that what they’ve lost resides in their own house, not outside were all the attention is right now. Nobody wants to take responsibility for their own actions. I know, it’s a tough pill to swallow. During the course of this year I had to evaluate what I was doing spending so much time on the internet. My business suffered. But that’s not the fault of the TTA’s or YTB it was mine.

I’ve never met anyone more calm and centered as Coach. Well, maybe T. Harv Ecker, but I don’t know Harv the way I know Coach. I’ve spent hours with this man, I listen to his calls on a weekly basis. I’m being mentored by him in Coach’s Corner via e-mail and private conversations. I looked him dead in the eyes last night and I saw a man who’s never waivered, never said a cross word to anyone, and never changed his conviction to take YTB to the top. All he’s looking for is people that are “All In” like he is.

Now I could go the route of some of the “critics” and become bitter, angry, and resentful. Or I could go with a man who sincerely wants to help me. And for the record, no I don’t give him money each month to do that. Just the opposite, he gives me money for following the very simple principles and business advice he’s teaching over 100,000 to do. Some take his advice to heart, some don’t. That’s their choice.

Bottom line for me this week. If you think you know Coach better than I know Coach, have at it. You’re more than welcome to your opinion. We all know what they say about opinions. Everybody has one.

Some are just bigger than others. ;-P

So guys, I’m proud to tell you that YES, I drink the Kool-Aid. I’m a recovering alcoholic, and I know from experience it can be toxic. Kool-Aid however, keeps my mind clear and my head sharp.

I’m also proud to tell you that YES, I’ve been brainwashed. My mind has been cleansed of all the negativity and stinkin thinkin that I was taught about what I can achieve in my life. It’s been replaced with self worth, self respect, and a desire to achieve more for myself and my family.

I enjoy the journey with a man I call "Coach".

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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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Posted by TravelPro at 7:36 AM |

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Executive Corner

Would it surprise you that Coach is well respected in the Network Marketing Industry? During his years in A.L. Williams, 21 years in all, Coach became very successful with A.L. Williams (now known as Primerica Financial Services) and became financially independent. I know that upsets some people, based on many of the myths out there about rich people being greedy, scamming others in order to make this money…

Whatever…

Truth of the matter is Coach is an Executive. Just like any other Executive with any other company out there. You might want to head out to your local news stand this week and read his “Executive Corner” article in the Network Marketing Business Journal this month.

What I find especially gratifying at this point in time is that those of us who truly understand the features, advantages, and benefits of Network Marketing know that any successful company that’s making strides in the industry the way YTB is aren’t the least bit fearful about what’s going on right now.

Others would like us to be, but we see this more as an opportunity; or a right of passage if you will as not only a key player, but dominant force in the Network Marketing arena and industry leader in our product. (That would be Travel.)

If you did your due diligence about the industry, you’d recognize that most of the major players out there at one point or another went through what YTB is just now heading into at this point in time. Amway is probably the biggest winner out of all of them, winning a case thrown at them by the FTC in 1979. In 1986 California brought a Permanent Injunction against Herbalife. Nu Skin had Attorney Generals from 9 States hammering away at them in 1991, they even made Newsweek for being one of them pyramid things.

I know the Network Marketing Industry has had “critics” who were so fearful they spend and exorbitant amount of time attempting to shut industry leaders down. What’s funny about each of these cases is that part of the claim is that each of the companies will run out of “suckers”, one of those endless chains that we hear so much about.

Well, each of the above companies are still enrolling new distributors to this day, so when do you think they might run out?

Hello? Anyone?

Today, based on what they went through, you don’t get very many people out there who just dismiss the above mentioned companies as one of those “illegal pyramids”. History has proved the critics wrong by overcoming the objections place before them by Government Agencies.

I’ve heard it said, “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”
The few critics that are out there concerning YTB keep throwing up Kim Sorensen’s comment about “legitimizing” our company. I’ve got to ask at this point, what’s going to happen when the claims made by the California AG are proven to be unfounded and YTB is still standing strong? What’s going to happen when the tide turns and we can use this complaint as an asset on the other side?

Amway, Herbalife, and Nu-Skin can now use documentation to combat any knuckle head who wants to throw the words “pyramid scheme” as an excuse.

If someone wants to tell you that YTB isn’t at that point just yet, just politely smile and agree for now. But fully understand that the ASTA attempted to shut down YTB via the FTC with a complaint back in 2005. The Florida AG “investigated” back in 2006 and never found enough to even file a complaint. And we can’t forget what YTB did for all Agents in Rhode Island, who because of the critics who wanted to “blow the whistle” on YTB helped eradicate a law on the books that had been in place since 1972.

History has already given us a glimpse of what we can expect, and that’s probably why Coach is the featured “Executive” in a leading Network Marketing Publication this month.

Welcome to the Big Leagues Coach!

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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

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Posted by TravelPro at 5:58 AM |

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Community Awards

Yesterday I posted about Coach’s involvement in the church. Today, we’re going to post about his involvement in the community at large. Last October, Coach was honored for his community involvement with YTB at a State of the River Bend Luncheon, an event organized by the Growth Association of Southwestern Illinois.

“YTB International Inc. was honored for its community involvement. The Internet-based travel agency that has its headquarters in Wood River has seen a 300 percent jump in sales and the creation of 134 more jobs between July 1, 2006, and June 30 of this year.

Lloyd Tomer, owner and founder, received the award — and was the only honoree to put on the ship captain’s hat, which is presented to each winner along with a plaque.”

A few days later, an entire article was written up in The Telegraph about YTB and pictured the man honored at the luncheon.

YTB International keeps growing

WOOD RIVER — Rapid growth and achievement have earned YTB International in Wood River a Growth Association Captain of the River Bend award for community enhancement.

YTB, American Water, Riverbender.com and The Telegraph will receive the awards at the Growth Association’s State of the River Bend luncheon at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at The Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College.

YTB has seen a 300 percent-per-year growth the last four years, said Andy Cauthen, president and CEO of YourTravelBiz, which is part of YTB. The company employs 277 in Wood River and Edwardsville.

“I’m so happy they have come back to their roots in the River Bend,” said Monica Bristow, president of the Growth Association. “They were in Alton for a while. They outgrew the space and (were) in Edwardsville. They blossomed in Edwardsville.”

“Things are going well at YTB,” Cauthen said.

The Internet-based company, founded by area residents Lloyd Tomer, his son, Scott Tomer, and colleague J. Kim Sorensen, began renovating the former Kmart store on Illinois Route 143 in Wood River last year and moved into 20,000-square-foot renovated office space in December. The Wood River building is still in the process of renovation, with even bigger plans to come.

“YTB is currently working with the Wood River City Council in acquiring land for YTB’s corporate campus,” Cauthen said.

The campus will include four office buildings, lakes, a hotel and conference center and an employee recreational park. The project will take three to five years to develop on about 50 acres at an approximate cost of $150 million.

“Our building will be built under LEEDS (Leadership and Energy Environment Design),” Cauthen said, “with more efficiency and environmentally friendly. Even the furnishings are ‘green.’ It’s a growing trend in forward-thinking businesses. It costs more upfront but is more profitable.”

Cauthen credits the company’s leadership for having vision and integrity. He said they have taken the firm to where it is. The company was in the old Meridian Bank building in Alton from January 2001 to July 2005, when it moved to Edwardsville because of the need for space. Success and growth made the move to Wood River desirable.

“We expect to employ 350 at the end of the year,” Cauthen said.

Lloyd Tomer is chairman of the board. Cauthen said the Tomers and Sorensens want to keep the company in area. The company has 125,000 referring travel agents.

“We were just short of $300 million in travel sales last year,” Cauthen said. “In 2007, projected travel sales will be $1 billion.”

YTB assists or trains people to start their own Internet travel businesses.

“We developed the booking engine,” Cauthen said. “The technology is personalized for each. We provide technical and administrative support.”

Cauthen said YTB has agents all across the country, in the U.S. territories and Puerto Rico. He said the company founders have “great heart” and want to help people succeed in individual business. He credits the Tomers and Sorensen for the company’s success.

“We are about to go into Canada, target the Canada market,” Cauthen said.
YTB has an open house almost weekly, inviting national distributors to come to Wood River to visit the corporate offices and attend training.

“We anticipate the number of guests in this area being around 40,000 for the year ending 2007, 90,000 in 2008 and upwards of 150,000 in 2009,” Cauthen said. YTB plans to lease space in East Alton for January occupancy to accommodate up to 225 additional employees. Current and future renovation and new development, including project costs, employee payroll and visitor spending over the next three years could exceed $400 million.

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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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Posted by TravelPro at 5:44 AM |

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Pay It Forward

One of the things I admire most about Coach is his generosity. YTB has teamed up with the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, and the Chicago Metropolitan area called Feed The Future to provide a meaningful day that honors those children who may otherwise be forgotten during the holiday season. Something YTB has supported since 2004.

That wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for Coach. It’s a program he’s very proud of. To reach some 20,000 children every year to make a difference is just the tip of the iceburg in what YTB and Coach have done for communities.

Another example of Coach’s generosity was demonstrated in today’s article. Back on Super Bowl Sunday two years ago, Coach gave a gift of $1.8 Million to his church to pay of its mortgage, and then some.

Growing up in the church, as my father is a retired Minister, I know how a gift like this can make a huge impact on what a ministry can do. To have a mortgage like this paid off enables the church to give of it’s time and money in other areas, which I can only assume based on my experience, encompasses many outreach programs locally and abroad.

What’s most impressive to me is how he mentors us to do the same. By making as many of us financially free as possible, we get this crazy idea that we could do the same. What’s most impressive is how it’s already happened. I met a Director who used every penny of his YTB earnings to completely furnish a brand new Day Care Center at his church.

Remember the movie “Pay It Forward”? Read this and see if you don’t want to do the same thing….

Businessman pays off church’s mortgage

An Alton church is debt-free thanks to a local businessman’s generous donation on Sunday."

It’s Superbowl Sunday, and it’s going to be a Superbowl service for us today," Pastor Daren Carstens told the congregation.

J. Lloyd "Coach" Tomer scored a touchdown with his congregation at New Testament Fellowship Church, 3303 Homer Adams Parkway, after he gave more than $1.8 million in stock that will be used to pay off the church’s mortgage.

"Isn’t it great to be part of a church doing all these great things?" Tomer said.Standing before parishioners, Tomer told everyone that Sunday would be a day they would remember forever, not because it was Superbowl Sunday, but because of what happened in church.

"You’ll remember this service," he said. "I’m excited."Tomer, chief executive officer of YTB International in Wood River, presented Carstens with a stock certificate worth more than $1.86 million.

Tomer, his son, Scott Tomer, and colleague, J. Kim Sorensen, started the company nearly six years ago in Downtown Alton. They moved the company to Edwardsville to accommodate the growing business and in December 2006 moved into a newly renovated facility in the former K-Mart building in Wood River.

The company operates three divisions -- yourTravelBiz.com, REZconnect Technologies Inc. and YTB Travel Network and is publicly traded under the name YTBL.PK. On Friday the stock closed at $11.69 a share.

The company is an Internet-based travel business. It runs a booking engine and develops, sells and supports the online Web sites of referring travel agents.

Tomer said he made a promise to the church several years ago that if the company’s stock ever reached more than $10 a share, he would pay off the mortgage.

"This is one of the greatest days of my life," Tomer said.Tomer received a standing ovation from the congregation."You know it didn’t come easy," he said.

Tomer shared the joys and sorrows of starting a new business. He said to make it work he and his wife, Christine, sold their dream home, the River House, built in Fairmont Estates in Godfrey in 1927 by John Olin.

"It was our dream house before we were married and even when we were broke," he said.He said they purchased the home back again last fall.

Tomer said after he and his family moved into the house, they began to search for a place to worship."We were looking for something very spiritual," he said.

He said they found it at New Testament."We could go to church, then to the (St. Louis Rams) football game," Tomer said jokingly.

He said he and his family fell in love with the church. Tomer served as pastor of The First Church of God in Benton, Ill., during the 1970s.

Tomer said he encountered many roadblocks along the way to success.

"It wasn’t always easy," he said.He said the one thing he never gave up was his faith and his love for God."Over the last few years God has blessed me," Tomer said.

Carstens thanked Tomer."Oh my goodness!" Carstens shouted. "Is it OK that I jump?

"Carstens said the church has seen many ups and downs, but with Tomer’s gift it will be able to give more to others. The donation will pay off a $1.7 million mortgage and the remaining funds will be used to pay for other debts, audio-visual equipment, programs and charities.

Debbie Butler said Tomer’s gift was wonderful. "It’s very exciting," Butler said.

Butler, who works as Carstens’ personal assistant, said a few members of the congregation knew about Tomer’s plan to donate stock to pay off the church’s debt, but few knew that it would take place Sunday.

"He really is a wonderful man," she said. "This will be a day everyone remembers."

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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

Labels: , , ,

Posted by TravelPro at 5:26 AM |

Monday, September 15, 2008

"Coach" Tomer, A Man and His Vision

I get a kick out of how much attention is focused on YTB these days. Over the last month, it’s escalated to a degree I’ve never seen before. I realize YTB has been “front page” news for what’s going on a year now, which all started with Royal Caribbean shipping more marketing materials than any other vendor to our annual Funshine show last year, but instead of showing up, sent a form letter to YTB informing the company that they change their mind.

At the time, it was speculated that supplier doors would soon close on YTB, we found 17 MORE vendors this past weekend then last year at our Funshine East show.

That got me wondering…what’s going on with the growing majority of these vendors, that a couple of the “critics” don’t get?

While we all know that the driving force behind YTB Travel Network, (that’s the travel side of our business for those who don’t know) is J. Kim Sorenson, we also know that the man most associated with YTB in general is our very own, J. Lloyd Tomer, also known as “Coach”.

It pains me to see Coach maligned and ridiculed the way he is by those who fall for these myths about rich people being greedy, or doing something wrong in order to make the millions that they do. What’s even more aggravating is how some take exception concerning his faith. I come from a long line of Ministers in my family and so does Ronda. To speculate that Coach would be anything less than the members of my immediate and extended family is completely foreign to me.

Knowing Coach the way I do, I can tell you that the man has more ethics, morals, and integrity wrapped up in his little pinky than the whole lot of “critics” who are attempting to shame him into submission. I know that’s not saying much, because there really aren’t that many “critics” out there, but you get the idea.
I wanted to take this week and highlight just a few of the “good” articles I was able to find on the internet concerning Coach. For those that have never met Coach, I hope these articles might give a better picture of just who this man is, and what he truly stands for.

A couple of ground rules before we get started. One, none of these are in the form of press releases by the company. Nor are any of these articles any type of “paid endorsement”. These are people that have actually met the man they are writing about, and I challenge anyone to give me an negative article who has actually spend any length of time with the man they are maligning so horribly on the internet.

Just so we’re straight here.

The first article was found in the Saturday Evening Post in the July/August issue. While I wish I could find the 1983 interview when Coach was with A.L. Williams, obviously that was a little before the age of the internet. This article however, does offer a nice background into just who Coach is.

Enjoy!

A man and his vision: J. Lloyd "Coach" Tomer has a dream—to build his company, YTB, into more than just the world's largest travel agency

Although J. Lloyd Tomer may be the chairman of the board to a publicly traded company, you wouldn't know it upon meeting him for the first time. Underneath the easygoing demeanor, he harbors a powerful vision to change the world. And it all started with his mother's prophecy nearly 59 years ago.

On Christmas Eve before Tomer's 16th birthday, his mother called all her children into the parlor for what would be the last time. She looked at each one of them.
"She told my brother John to stay on the farm," said Tomer. "He's still there."

She then turned to Tomer's sisters, Roma and Faye.

"She told them they were going to college to become teachers," said Tomer. 'Whey have both retired from that field."

When she came to Tomer, she paused for just a second. As she looked him in the eyes, she told him that God had something special for his life that would help transform the entire country. He just had to go and find it.

Tomer's mother passed away the very next day. Since then, he hasn't stopped searching for what would fulfill his mother's dream. Through the years, the search led him in several different directions. A former 82nd Airborne paratrooper, Tomer was called to the ministry in the small town of Benton, Illinois. Of the 44 people who attended his first service on Easter Sunday, 14 were family and friends. Flash forward a few years later at the dedication of the new church building, a former theatre, and over 2,000 people were in attendance.

However in 1980, the year after he lost his wife and ministry partner to cancer, Tomer found himself unemployed. He left the church believing he wasn't serving it as he once had. His next stop on his journey led him to a company that said if he could build a team to sell their products, it would compensate him in direct proportion to the results. Tomer accepted the challenge. His sons, Scott and Frank, were first to join their dad's team. Together they built a thriving business with more than 250,000 clients in A.L. Williams, a company that promoted the novel idea of buying lower-cost term insurance and investing the difference (between that and the cost of whole life insurance) in a high-interest savings plan.

As a senior vice president at A.L. Williams, Tomer's 1982 income was more than $175,000. Ultimately, his wealth grew to millions in earnings.

"Everything is so right and honest and moral at A.L. Williams," he declared in a 1983 Saturday Evening Post interview, "that if I were to build my own company from scratch, this is exactly how it would turn out."

What Tomer was really saying was, when he builds his own company, it will share the same principles of honesty and morality as A.L. Williams.

After retiring and selling his A.L. Williams business to his son, Frank, Tomer quickly discovered that he missed his longstanding role of coach and mentor. And he still hadn't fulfilled his mother's dream and began looking for something else. In 2001, at age 67, Tomer came across an opportunity that he simply couldn't pass up--a business that combined Internet travel and referral marketing. Together, with his son Scott and longtime friend and business associate J. Kim Sorensen, the Your Travel Biz (YTB) Travel Network came to life in the small town of Alton, Illinois.

Today, Tomer is going stronger than ever and credits his energy, health, and longevity to a life of balance and staying busy. Of course, it doesn't hurt that his positive vision of the future inspires everyone from family to field leaders to employees to travel industry associates around the world. Earning the esteemed title of "Coach" from his "team" of more than 170,000 referring travel agents (RTAs), field leaders, and marketing reps, Tomer is enjoying his lifelong passion of mentoring others to success in life and in business.

Although YTB becomes more successful every day and though many believe he found the answer to his mother's dream, Tomer is still searching. He believes the search will end with the kickoff of his 10,000 Millionaires program in January 2009 on his 75th birthday.

"My father is 74 years old, and he is looking forward to the fourth quarter of his life when he turns 75," says son Scott. "He knows he will accomplish more in the fourth quarter of his life than all the other years combined."

Tomer's Guiding Principles

"Hundreds of people have come up to me at our conventions and said, 'Coach, YTB saved our pension, saved our home,'" Tomer says. "And I think of this multiplied hundreds of times. We have a chance to do something that's never been done in the history of this great country of ours, and this is only the beginning."

The 10,000 Millionaires program is Tomer's main vision for the fourth quarter of his life. He wants to build 10,000 millionaires in 10 years based on the 10 principles that he has followed in his own life. The new program kicks off with the release of his debut book, The 4th Quarter, where Tomer shares his story for the first time and talks about each of the principles that guided his life. He is also working hard on the infrastructure of other programs that will be available to YTB's reps and RTAs.

Throughout his life, Coach Tomer inspired many people. Bill Charlton, a retired 26-year Tennessee truck driver, had to return to work as an 80-hour-a-week driver for a pharmaceutical company to make ends meet. "Coming out of retirement can be a familiar scenario for 'seasoned citizens' of the baby boomer era," says Bill and his wife Ro. "Boomers are running out of options to make ends meet when their retirement funds run out."

Their friend, Rick Ricketts, first introduced them to YTB. "We found out the financial rewards were excellent," says Bill. "But the best part of this business is helping other people gain financial freedom."

YTB offers two different opportunities. The first is owning a YTB travel Web site. By referring friends and family to your Web site, the owner, or RTA, earns commission through the travel booked. The other opportunity is to become a rep and sell travel Web sites. YTB reps earn commission when they sell travel Web sites, and also have the ability to earn overrides on the sales made by other reps in their team.

Wise men have said that if you want to become a millionaire, find one who will mentor you and do exactly what he tells you to do. Here's where Tomer really shines. On his weekly "Coach's Call" conference calls, he talks about such topics as goal-setting and attitude, offering inspirational insights harking back to his days as a pastor. The calls attract thousands of listeners each week as Tomer shares steps to success in business and in life and inspired the 10,000 Millionaire program and his book.

YTB also hosts Red Carpet Days almost weekly at the company's home office, where hundreds of eager YTB prospects and new RTAs can meet the home office staff that serves them every day in various ways. Visitors are offered tours of the facility and treated to lunch, followed with a presentation by Tomer and his cofounders. The Red Carpet Days are now a very popular event and great way for reps, RTAs, and prospects to learn more about the heart of the company.

With Tomer's willingness to always credit field leaders and reps of YTB and a powerful vision to build 10,000 Millionaires, YTB is well on its way to becoming the number-one travel agency in the world.

"The abilities and successes of our reps and RTAs never cease to amaze and inspire me," Coach says. "I'm extremely excited to mentor people in how to be successful, not only in business but also in life."

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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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Posted by TravelPro at 5:13 AM |

Friday, September 12, 2008

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

It’s that time of year again! Funshine East!

I LOVE Funshine because many of the travel upgrades are announced during Funshine East, and often times, I get to put a face to a name or a voice that I’ve been either reading via e-mail correspondence or via the Thursday and Saturday training calls. I was blown away by Ann Sedgwick two years ago when Ronda and I did a Seminar @ Sea with her on Carnival just before Funshine. I also remember getting my first taste of American Destinations, Inc. that year, and have been promoting that business ever since.

It’s odd to me that our list of vendors and suppliers keeps growing. I’ve been told that suppliers and vendors don’t like us. Yet, the bigger we get the more suppliers take the time to not show up but want to be part of the largest Travel Trade Show in the industry. Last year, YTB had more than 6000 in attendance, compared to another Orlando show this week, which estimates only 2000 travel agents world wide.

Money talks.

It’s also nice to have industry leaders like Marc Mancini and Davidoff Associates seeing the value of YTB and stepping up to the plate to offer their experience and knowledge of the industry. When the best our critics can come up with is that these industry leaders are paid, that speaks volumes. Not because our critics don’t understand what it means to be “in business”, but because that’s the best complaint they can come up with. I’ve researched Marc Mancini extensively and have taken the E-Campus courses he’s designed for YTB, and there’s a reason why he’s so well respected in the industry.

I guess he can live with the asterisk next to his name – “Bought and paid for by YTB” as he’ll be at Funshine with his industry famous “Geography Bowl”, which I hear is extremely challenging.

Davidoff Associates seemed to have liked what they saw at the 2008 National Convention, and are providing their services with a Seminar @ Sea with 3 courses taught while at Sea.

More than 17 new suppliers and vendors will be on hand this year, and the opportunities to expand our travel business have increased dramatically. I just saw a snippet in our Travel Compass, (the one that focuses on travel) concerning a new addition to our booking engine with Wyndham Worldwide & RCI e-certificates, found under the Hotels Tab of our booking engine for 7 Night Resort Vacation Certificates starting a $379.00.

Ultimate 5 Adventures will also be there, and I’ve got to tell you, while the sky diving scares the daylights out of me, the Indy Car offering looks mighty appealing.

I also saw a snippet on Modern Agent this week from Branson Online, who will also be at Funshine this year. Personally, I’ve never had an interest in Branson, Missouri, but the heart of our country (or is that Canada?) sure is making quite a name for itself the last couple of years.

But the vendor or supplier that has caught my eye more than any other, are the private sailings in the Abaco Islands, complete with crew and chief. (Although I need to find out which one!) It’s not uncommon for our entire family of 15 to 20 to get together for a family vacation, and this puppy sounds like one heck of a family vacation!

If you get my free Newsletter you might have listened to the call we had last week with Gregg Fritsch and David Lash. Gregg and David came on board last year, and are the ones responsible for the Mancini and Davidoff trainings, and these new vendors. I know it’s been said by others that we don’t have anyone at the home office that has any travel industry experience. Honestly, it’s just another myth being thrown out there and I’m okay with letting our critics believe what they want. If you however, haven’t listened to the call, you need too. I loved what David had to say about YTB being “competitive” in this industry.

I believe the exact quote was, “We have no desire to be competitive; we want the rest of the industry to eat our dust”.

After little more than a years worth of work from these two, looks like we are well on our way, but you know as well as I do that the best products in the world don’t mean diddly if nobody knows about them. That’s why we need to open our mouths and tell someone about it!

PS – I’ll be back to regular posting again starting next week. As a matter of fact, I’ll be doing a special series on Coach next week. I heard that people can’t seem to find anything positive about Coach on the internet. Took me all of 5 minutes to find several news articles that will fill up the week, so be sure to check back.

I may even post an update on Funshine. ;-P

PPS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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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Posted by TravelPro at 5:00 AM |

Monday, September 08, 2008

The Confession

I normally don’t even open these so called chain e-mails. You know the type, the ones that are sent around from list to list, and often, due to computer illiterates who don’t know how to “blind carbon copy” their list, you end up reading pages of e-mail addresses before you actually get to the message they want you to read.

I don’t know why I muddled through the pages of e-mail address to actually read this message, but I’m glad I did. I guess part of it is being somewhat of a Ben Stein fan. What’s so odd is that the man is incredibly dry, but I find him humorous, and more importantly, very intelligent.

Before I decided to post this, I checked out one of my favorite web sites called Urban Legends and sure enough, they had a write up on this particular e-mail. “The Confession” as it’s called, isn’t all Ben Steins. I hope you take the time to find out on your own what is and what isn’t. I’ve hyperlinked some of the myths and rumors below in the “added” material.

So why am I highlighting this e-mail with some false information? Two reasons actually. One, it’s a good lesson in not taking what you read on the internet as fact. (I could write a book about the crap I’ve heard and read about concerning YTB.) And two, I think it’s a good message on a couple of levels. It’s sad that any type of believe in God (or Company in our case) is condemned.

I see far too many times that people focus on the messenger instead of the message in an attempt to discredit the entire message. In my view, that’s not all that smart, especially if you can figure out what the truth really is.

That being said, this message hit home for me and my hope is that it does for you as well. I also hope that if any of you may have had this forwarded to you and you took the entire message as fact from Ben Stein, you can now have a better understanding between what’s fact and what’s fiction.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

[end of Ben Steins original comments, the rest added below.]

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; its not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.

How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.Are you laughing yet?

OUR country is supposed to have freedom of religion, so why do we let atheists take that freedom away from us. They can go to some other country where they do not believe in God (God in any religion). We may not all believe in God the same way, but we all believe. People from all over the world come to OUR country so they can practice the freedom of their own religion, and they believe. Don't let the atheists take that freedom away from us and control our country! If they don't like it THEY CAN LEAVE......or live with the same freedom the rest of us have......the freedom to choose what to believe. But don't let them dictate to the rest of us and take away our freedoms no matter what religion you believe in. Don't let them make our country a communist country. Tell them WE BELIEVE and we feel sorry for them that they don't.

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards,

Ben Stein

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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

Posted by TravelPro at 6:14 AM |

Monday, September 01, 2008

For The American Laborer

I have to take some time today and think about what my life would be like without a labor force in this country. As I look at my day ahead, I can be thankful for those who service in labor. I’d be changing my own oil in my car today, I’d be growing my own corn and watermelon for the meal we have planned, and I’d be shaking frantically two stories up on a ladder while painting my own home. (To say I don't like heights is an understatement!)

These are some of the laborers that have affected my life in a positive way on this Labor Day.

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership and the American worker.

PS - 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 food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.

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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Posted by TravelPro at 5:00 AM |

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