Just Picture It Now

I would like to clear something up that was mentioned in the comments. I do read John's blog almost every day and have for about a year. I just started commenting on his blog in the past month or around then. I am not easily influenced and I became aware of Candi through someone that sent me the link to her presentation on YouTube or one of those type, plus a link to her webpage. John had never mentioned Candi when I was introduced to her video or webpage, so John's opinion or anything else was not an issue in this as it was not known to me that he was aware of Candi. I was very suspicious only because of Seligman and I started to check things out. That was my first mistake. I am not an investigative reporter or a private eye. I am a travel agent. That is what I will be sticking with since I failed so miserably in my attempt to discredit Candi. In that process, I also became a real bitch to Doug. Yes, you read that correctly, a Royal Bitch, a Queen Bitch even, maybe even a Master Bitch. I resorted to name calling and other childish behavior, something I always taught my kids was not acceptable.I will probably never agree with the method of operations of YTB, a lot of their practices, the recruiting, and the MLM ideas. I may still inject my opinions now and again, but I have also learned a great deal from this particular experience. There are certain areas that I have no business treading. This instance was one of them.

~ Martha Burke

I’ve got to be honest; I’m blown away at what just transpired in the last 24 hours. I was ramping up for a real fight this week concerning Candi May. As much information as I shared, complete with e-mail addresses and phone numbers to contact Candi directly, it became increasingly apparent to me that I had to come up with some way of communicating that Candi was who she said she was and while I didn’t expect either John or Martha to accept what I posted on Wednesday concerning Carlson Wagonlit, or Thursday concerning Agent Credentials, but apparently it worked. (Finally)

Candi led a very simple, uncomplicated, and rather quiet life before I posted about her industry experience last month. So I felt responsible for some of harsh words and accusations that have been posted elsewhere on the internet. Because this blog gets the kind of visibility and readership it does, I brought her “out of the closet” so to speak.

While Candi and I did consider just letting the whole situation blow over, it became increasingly evident that the accusations and comments started to escalate instead of dying down. Within hours, all sorts or rumors and stories were floating around proclaiming that Candi was nothing more than some slick talking MLM recruiter whose 20 years of Travel Agent experience was nothing more than a fabrication, simply because she’s involved in MLM. Rumors and stories like this are nothing new. I’ve heard the same bogus comments about a former Minister who got involved with A.L. Williams some 30 years ago.

What I found most annoying were comments that Candi now had to document her experience FOR them, as if those making the accusations actually deserved to be spoon fed information at the drop of a hat. This small group simply couldn’t believe that a Traditional Travel Agent, especially one of her experience or success in the Traditional Arena, would even consider YTB as a viable alternative to “their way” of life. Candi found it silly and began to question just who these “posters” were and why it was so important to them. She also began to question why they were so lazy as to not even pick up the phone to call her directly, or come down to Louisville to see for themselves.

While it simply didn’t matter to her, I however was being bombarded with comment after comment, most nobody even saw because I had deleted them. I realize that I’ve been ridiculed and vilified for not allowing an open forum and that’s their right to believe that. After what happened this week however, I’m really glad I did what I do because all of the nasty, vicious, and unsubstantiated comments surrounding Candi May (among other topics) which everyone just knew were “fact” turned out to be nothing more than a limiting and false “belief”.

It certainly shed a new light on demands that you have a right to post “the truth” when you finally find out it was all a big misunderstanding doesn’t it?

So, the big mystery of Candi May has been solved, the Candi bashing has ended, and everyone can get on with their lives. If anyone has any further questions I would simply ask that you do what I did, and that’s go to the source. Candi is an open book, and more than happy to answer any remaining questions you have, if any.

Thank you Martha for allowing me to slap you around. Wait…that didn’t sound right, but I also know she has a sense of humor.

Actually, thanks for seeing the light and thank you for the apology. It means more than you know.

With that said, I’m going to be on vacation with my family next week. Frankly, after a week like this on the blog, I need one. It’s time to revamp and re-energize for the summer and it’s a place we’ve enjoyed for years as a family.

And by the way, the FREE Newsletter will still be going out as I will have both put on auto pilot to go out right on schedule and can assure you that if there is anything new or important to share even in my absence here, I’ll be sure to have it in the there. 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: Anti-MLM, Candi May, MLM Myths, Travel Agent Issues, Travel MLM

Posted by TravelPro at 4:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: Candi May, MLM Myths, Travel Agent Issues

Posted by TravelPro at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

I don’t know if any of you are old enough or maybe you’ve caught re-runs of The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-71, CBS) but after receiving a certain package, the term “Black Gold” kept running through my head. (For those of you who might not have any clue, it means that I struck oil. ;-P)

It came to my attention that I have two stragglers in my midst who just don’t want to admit that Candi May is who she says she is. Both of them have been extremely vocal about claims they have proven she isn’t who she says she is.

Now mind you, neither one of these stragglers have been able to provide a single shred of documentation to verify their claims. (We just need to take their word for it.) They claim to be “in the know” about all sorts of matters and they also have “insider information” that they hand out like it was candy with a little slip of the tongue.

I’m going to be dividing this information into two sections and I’m going to be asking some questions of these two people directly who I believe need to come up with some answers and documentation of their own. I’m getting really board with the words which have nothing backing them up.

Our first straggler, John Frenaye has been extremely public about reacting to news in one of his daily ramblings about YTB that a “Travel-Pro” has made the switch to YTB with his own spin and twist on things. John doesn’t limit his views to just his blog. Ohhh no, you can find him all over the internet and one of his favorite watering holes happens to be Scam.com and he was busy trashing Candi May there as well. (I don’t have the time to or energy to check the Travel Weekly Forum, Yahoo and Google Finance boards, or some of the other “holes” he posts on all day every day.)

Now the claim is that John has “insider information” and “contacts” at Carlson Wagonlit that disproves that Candi May was ever approached, invited, or for that matter even contacted by Carlson Wagonlit to be a part of their company. (He claims to know the CEO.) And from conversations he’s had the story is, “the only "Candi" they have in their system of prospects, was a "Candy" from Michigan.”

About the closest I got to any type of documentation from John was a copy and past from an e-mail from Roger Block which stated, “In the system, we have a Barbara May but she is from Memphis. Don't have a clue who you could be referring to.”

Now I was told by John that “It doesn’t get any more credible than that.” but after viewing a signed document from Roger Block to Candi May I would have to respectfully disagree. I’d also have to wonder how Linda Fox obtained Candi’s information, complete with address, to Fed Ex a Formal Agreement to Candi if there was no record of a Candi May in the Carlson system.

One other strange piece of documentation I found was this Agenda concerning dinner at Bucca de Beppos after the “Advisory Board” took a tour of HQ up in Minneapolis. It’s my understanding that John seems to think they wouldn’t do something like this. (Carlson wouldn’t actually fly anyone up or take them to a restaurant they don’t own themselves according to him.)

But the real kicker that makes me scratch my head was this document that I’d like some answers to. (Doubt I’ll get…but…) As part of the “Franchise Advisory Board” that Candi was in fact a part of concerning the acquisition of Travel Professionals International, she was handed a document of Agencies that were “terminated” in 2001 by Carlson Wagonlit.

Now I don’t know about you, but the word “terminated” doesn’t sound very good. I have to wonder what the terminations were for. Did they do something wrong? Did they not make any money for Carlson? Or were they just fed up with the owners?

Maybe John can shed some light on the subject since Universal Travel owned by John happened to be on this list of terminations.

Come to think of it, maybe we need to change the channel from “The Beverly Hillbillies” to “I Love Lucy” just to hear Ricky tell Lucy, “You got some splanin to do…”

Now I know all this begs the question as to why Carlson Wagonlit ever tried to recruit Candi May to join their company. Based on all unsubstantiated claims, comments and posts by John and Martha to try to discredit her, one would think that she’s just another MLM’er who will do and say anything to pick your pockets.

I’ll be back either tomorrow or Friday with a little more documentation that I’ve acquired to answer some of “Maxine’s” questions and shed a little more light on just why you can’t trust a word she says either.

Labels: Candi May, Carlson Wagonlit, John Frenaye, MLM Myths

Posted by TravelPro at 6:17 AM | Permalink | Comments

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.

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

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

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

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

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.

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