Just Picture It Now

Friday, October 24, 2008

Fun To Watch...

Holy cow, it’s been a busy week! Things got kicked off with First Class Training and I’m still noticing how bombarded the servers are at certain times while tens of thousands get upgraded to 70% commission. Our Directors got their first glimpse of new on line and off line tools on Monday which are up to date both in content and style. The very next day, YTB’s very own Kim Sorensen informed the industry in a “Meet The Press” style interview that the company has no intent on changing it’s business model to appease critics. I guess when you’ve double your sales with the number one cruise line in the world year over year; obviously something is working when it comes to YTB’s business model.

For all the positive moves YTB made this week in the right direction, it’s been fun to see how worked up and desperate our critics are getting. I guess they think if they yell a little louder the focus will come back to them and their side of the story.

I found it interesting that a post was made yesterday afternoon that YTB is now paying off CLIA. There hasn’t been a single comment concerning this as of the time of this writing. We’re just going to let Terry educate this “industry veteran” about how this Association works, or spank him for having the reading comprehension and mentality of a 5 year old. Personally, if he doesn’t understand how CLIA’s two year ACC Accreditation actually works when your “application” is submitted he should be kicked out of the industry, or simply put out of his misery.

I also read that Vicki Freed was “fired” from Carnival during the week I suspect in an attempt to show their disgust in how Carnival supports YTB’s model. And we’re still pitching this myth that Royal Caribbean, Perilo, “and others” (plural meaning more than Celtic.) have done away with YTB.

Of course that last comment was made by the same person who told everyone that their united movement is working. When you see these types of comments and false claims, it makes me wonder why or how they think they can claim their cleaning up the industry using the same unprofessional tactics they appear to be above and obviously upset about.

How frustrated they must be at this point to see that YTB is still making news, and it’s moved past the doom and gloom of California. I realize they’re still hanging on to this idea that California actually has the power to shut YTB down completely. However the changes we’ve seen this week in answering the concerns of this one state are making YTB bullet proof for any other state to make the same lame accusations.

Actions always speak louder than words, and if you think some are just a tad concerned that things aren’t going the way they’d like them to, the actions of our critics have them SCREAMING right now from the roof tops.

Fun to watch!

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

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: CLIA, Critics, First Class Training, Kim Sorensen, Travel MLM

Posted by TravelPro at 5:10 AM | Permalink

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Meet The Press

Kim Sorensen’s “Meet the Press” type interview with Travel Weekly Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann turned out to be very civil, even if it was loaded with some pretty pointed questions. The 20 minute segments consisted of three heads of home agent groups in back-to-back-to-back conversations which filled the hour. Participants could also ask questions as Scott Koepf, president of NACTA; Kim Sorensen, president of YTB; and Van Anderson, co-president of Americas Vacation Center talked about each of their prospective companies.

Arnie opened Kim’s segment stating that whenever he writes about YTB in any of his columns he is bombarded with e-mails and much of it is “highly emotionally charged”. I can’t argue with that point of view and have experienced the emotions surrounding our company for some time.

I do believe Arnie did articulate very well just why emotions get so charged concerning the Traditional base. The problem as Arnie see’s it, and I would agree, is that I was once a consumer of travel and now represent myself as a “Travel Agent”. The perception of course is that I don’t take travel as seriously nor have I invested the time and energy into qualifying myself to the same standards the Traditional Base did in order to be considered an equal in their eyes.

Right or wrong, and I’m not going to get into my personal views concerning this perception, that’s seems to be a very accurate description based on what I’ve seen from the most outspoken Agents but I do have to give Arnie credit for defining what the core issue is regarding our Traditionalists.

Kim did address the issue that we are not competing with the traditionalists and those of us who are “greenies” who join YTB simply point people to their web site and let friends, family, neighbors decide for themselves. If someone like myself wants to take our YTB business to another level, YTB and the industry as a whole has the proper training and tools in place to accommodate us that regard.

I think back to my first days of being a “greenie” with YTB and where I am today, and thanks to the training provided both by the company and the industry, I have a very nice niche in the travel business and do consider myself a “Travel Agent” today. I have every intention to learn and grow both my knowledge of the industry and my business. I think I’ve mentioned before some time ago, that I looked at becoming a Travel Agent at one time, but didn’t “qualify” back then either. YTB both opened the door for me and enabled me to create my own path into the industry.

Part two of the question concerned the California complaint of labeling YTB one of those “pyramid schemes” and of course questions surrounding the classic misconception of how our business model is mathematically impossible.

Kim answered this question admirably in stating the MLM model has been in existence for a number of years and pointed out that A.L. Williams started out in 1977 and is now part of Citi Company, known as Primerica. To this day they still recruit new Reps into their business. While some can’t get past how MLM is mathematically impossible I’m still waiting for someone to PLEASE provide just ONE company that has run out of people? When you look at Tupperware, Avon, Mary Kay, Amway, Pre-Paid, Fuller Brush and all the other companies out there that have not only been around for decades, but still thriving with new recruits day in and day out, you have to wonder how much longer this myth is going to continue to be an issue for some.

Kim was also asked just how many RTA’s there are. Based on our business model and the shear numbers we have at any given moment, Kim quoted 120,000. Again, I believe this stems from the fears and misconceptions of the words “pyramid scheme” and the mathematical impossibility. Those of us involved in it need to be just as focused as they are about just how many we have actually in the business.

Questions of if we would ever drop the MLM business model and become more traditional (legitimate was also used) came up several times during the conversation. Arnie even came right out and asked if YTB will simply ignore the concerns (phobias) about our marketing methods. Based on what I’ve seen over the last year, I wonder if they think we’re getting tired of being pummeled as the pariah of their industry. Unfortunately, one cruise line, a $25 Million complaint or very pointed public questions are not going to cave us or force us to change our model. The summit panel and the attendees didn't seem to comprehend that Kim, Coach, and Scott built a business with Primerica for 20 years and that same model awarded A.L. Williams / Primerica the number one spot 23 out of 25 years.

Kim did state that YTB intends on building and being competitive in a very large scale using the Network Marketing business model. It was very clear that this change has never been in question.

Next came the questions from the attendees. The first was how the company intends on controlling our Reps and RTA’s with all the YouTube and Craigslist misinformation out there. Kim did agree that there is some pretty lame postings and information out there. (So do I for that matter.) We have systems and checks and balances and dedicated staff in place to control that, and I’ve personally seen instances that when asked, people do take posts down or delete videos.

Just a matter of reference to our critics who read this by the way; when you see something taken down, or corrected, acknowledge it as a good thing and don’t ridicule the person for not having the guts to stand up to the company with this free speech garbage. Damming us if we do and damming us if we don’t isn’t how this works kids. If you want it taken down, don’t egg them on and try to be the example for once concerning professionalism and ethics.

Next came a question of how YTB could be “growing like gangbusters” if the number of RTA’s is actually declining. Again, this stems to the phobia about the MLM side of our business, and while the focus is purely on recruiting for them, I loved Kim’s answer to this. YTB has spent $30 Million in the last 30 months investing in our 120,000 square foot Home Office, purchases of surrounding land and property in the area, new technologies, new accounting software, booking and marketing platforms, booking engine upgrades and enhancements, and expansion into International markets. Furthermore, even with a decline in the number of RTA’s YTB has doubled our production with Carnival over last year and we still have almost a full quarter to go in 2008.

I realize growth only means one thing to some, and that’s how many get involved in the pyramid. Smart business people and trade magazines like Travel Weekly recognize what real growth is.

A question that was pretty cut and dry consisted of the Rep overrides of the RTA’s. That was part of the clear separation between Rep and RTA that both legal analysts and our critics have such a problem with. It was quite clear and direct, that this however is not our practice.

One comical note towards the end was one attendee question that asked why Royal Caribbean and Disney terminated their relationship with YTB. No, that’s not a typo, and yes this attendee actually asked if Disney has made the same mistake that Royal Caribbean did. Kim did note that this was news to him as well and wondered if Nadine Goodwin would be calling with some type of exclusive scoop. I think mentioning Disney was more wishful thinking much like wanting us to change our business model than a blatant attempt to misinform the audience.

And finally a question was asked, why so negative? We never got an answer to that, mostly because it was directed toward the traditionalists and not Kim. The point of this “Meet the Press” type interview was an attempt to help them relieve some of their constipation surrounding the MLM side of our business model. Kim was willing to put himself and our company on the line to help them. Not many people or companies would subject themselves to what was building up to be and certainly turned out to be a fairly uncomfortable environment.

What I am grateful for was the opportunity to get our side of the story out there without the blatant hostility. As I type this, I’m sure there are others crafting plenty of hostile remarks concerning the interview and our Travel Company President. You can count on that, which provides more assurances that some have no desire to have their phobias or personal misgivings about our model resolved.

Not everyone is going to like our model, nor does everyone have to. Direct Sales is a big industry and it’s getting bigger every single year. There’s no question that YTB is not only the biggest Travel MLM out there, but it’s also the most talked about. With our continued growth in travel, and just a little more of this kind of publicity and press from Travel Weekly, we’ll remain a clear target for critics and advocates alike. Like the Travel Weekly Power List and our #26 spot, YTB appears to be right in the middle of it for now.

For those of us in YTB out in the field, it’s up to us if we want to forge ahead or fall back. From what I’m gathering from Kim in this interview, Kim has no intent in hiding out or falling back.

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Critics, Kim Sorensen, MLM Myths, Travel MLM, Travel Weekly, Virtual Summit, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 5:43 AM | Permalink

Monday, June 30, 2008

Agent Support Part Deux

I posted last week about Carnival’s Q2 Earnings Report, and found another article in Travel Weekly this weekend which goes right to the man in charge and puts Gerry Cahill in the hot seat. We found last week that Carnival is doing less direct business and relying more on Travel Agents to keep them afloat during the wave of feul price increases and muddy waters concerning the travel industry as a whole.

If you’re in YTB, you know about the informative call we had at the beginning of June with J. Kim Sorensen, (President, YTB International and CEO, YTB Travel Network) and Mike Julius, (Regional Vice President of Carnival Cruise Lines) to kick off Carnival Month. Our RTA’s also found that Cruise Month has been extended with Carnival alongside a special booking contest that was kicked off with both Kim and Ann Sedgwick, (Business Development Director with Carnival Cruise Lines) with our widely popular Cruise Night last Thursday night and the “All About Cruising” DVD we all downloaded. (First prize will be an all expenses paid 12 Day Mediterranean Cruise with air.)

The strong foundation and technology YTB has invested into providing us the very best resources for those of us out in the field are second to none, and many outside of the company (aka: clients) found this form of getting everyone together not only exciting but a very successful way to promote cruise sales.

Just why Carnival would do something like this with YTB was found in the Q&A with Gerry Cahill when he stated: “They can help us on the marketing side. They can also have the ability to reach customers we don't reach.”

With thousands of RTA’s getting just 3 or 4 couples together last week for this Cruise Night, Carnival had the ability to reach tens of thousands of potential customers all over the country at one time which Carnival may not have been able to reach otherwise.

Talk about bang for your buck! One night, one company and you cover North America, Canada and the Caribbean to boot.

It’s good to see that Gerry Cahill’s business decisions are starting to pay off, and it looks as if he certainly knows what he’s doing as he stated in the Travel Weekly article “It’s not hard to do. We have the ability to track how much profitability we get from every channel and every agent. You don't have to be a rocket scientist for that one. I did an analysis of what I think are the most efficient ways for us to distribute things, and I made certain decisions as a result of that.”

With the Cruise Night from last year being revamped and redone to help Carnival stay profitable and keep their place as “The Most Popular Cruise Line in the World” YTB is producing large numbers for Carnival once again. Sure, last week was a little different, but the goal is the same, and that’s selling our core product with our preferred supplier who “gets it”. Terminating your relationship with a company the size of YTB can be detrimental to your business health, so you simply implement minimum booking requirements to answer the “critics” who claim all we do is take advantage of the product, while still saving your bottom line and working with a company who has been a Pinnacle Award winner the last three years in a row.

Not bad for a “bean counter” if you ask me, and certainly not what some had forecasted a few months ago.

It aint rocket science.

Carnival has been a HUGE supporter of YTB from the very start, and I'm pleased that the new management sees the value in what we as a company has to offer.

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

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Carnival, Gerry Cahill, Kim Sorensen, Travel Agent Issues, Travel Bookings, Travel MLM, Travel Weekly

Posted by TravelPro at 5:24 AM | Permalink

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Chiefs, YTB International, Inc. Launch Innovative Travel Partnership

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

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

For now.

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

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

Chiefs, YTB International, Inc. Launch Innovative Travel Partnership

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

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

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

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

What Do Critics REALLY Know?

Well, I've finally pulled it off. I've just written and released my first book entitled "What the Critics Know about YTB". This is a “tell all” book on how to handle the Critics, Skeptics, Cynics, and Naysayers out there who have nothing better to do with their time than throw a bunch of mud up on the wall to see what sticks.

I came up with the concept and “how to guide” very early on Sunday morning while reading, and when the inspiration struck, I knew I had to share this with everyone I could in YTB. You’ll find it in today’s monthly newsletter, along with some other news from the last month, travel training information, and other key events coming up. If you’re in YTB, and want to be kept up to date, please feel free to subscribe, I’d love to have you on the list.

I asked Tim & Georgia Dominey, two close friends and mentors who also happen to be Level 2 Directors with the company to write the "Foreword" for my new book and I'm making a copy available to you for today for FREE! I encourage you to take the time to read this book concerning what to do and what to say to those who are slinging mud. Many have found my message direct, to the point, and dead on concerning many of the issues and negativity being thrown YTB's way with this step by step guide on how to handle the critics.

The timing couldn't be more perfect today, as YTB filed its 2007 Annual Report with the SEC yesterday with a hefty $3.2 Million PROFIT for the year. Revenues increased a total of 177% over 2006 numbers. Other notable increases were Marketing Commission of $80.5 Million up 169% and Travel Commission paid to our RTA's reached $13.4 Million, an increase of 174%.

It should be noted that while only commissions are paid to our RTAs’ booking of travel services are reflected as a component of our revenues in our financial statements, YTB also keep track of the aggregate “retail value of all travel services” that are booked by our RTAs (which directly impacts our commission revenues). The value of such travel services increased 83.7% in 2007 to over $414,000,000, from approximately $225,000,000 in 2006. (Placing bets currently on how long this $414 Million will be spun into “fees”. Hummmmmmm)

This also marks three straight profitable quarterly reports and 2007 marks the first full year of profitability! Whoo Hooo!

In anticipation of our positive Annual Report our stock is also up considerably yesterday afternoon with 1.19 Million shares being traded after critics, cynics and naysayers had left us for dead.

I put this quote just below my dedication in my new book which I just love.

"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated”
~ Samuel Langhorn Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain, May, 1897 in a note to the New York Journal.

Speaking of the stock we are now current with our periodic reports under the Exchange Act; so we intend to have our common stock quoted on the OTC-BB once again and to thereafter apply for listing on a national securities exchange. AMEX would require a price of no less than $5 per share from my understanding.

And if all this STILL wasn’t enough for ya’ll, it appears that Mr. Kim Sorenson is firing back a couple shots at IATA through YTB’s legal department.

In a Travel Weekly report YTB has asked the commissioner for the U.S., James Johnstone, for clear permission to continue using its numeric code number, which was assigned by ARC, with the understanding that YTB agrees not to represent itself as an IATA agency. Kim Sorensen was also quoted that making the code available to contractors was "the same as what any host agency has done." By implication, he raised the question: Why was YTB terminated when others were not?

In documents filed with the commissioner, YTB offered its answer. It accused IATA of enforcing its standards belatedly "as a pretense to quash competitive activity." Please note the article next to YTB fight against IATA as the travel agency commissioner in Canada declined to uphold BNW's termination there, while IATA said it "respectfully disagrees" with parts of the commissioner's decision. However, IATA said the decision "makes crystal-clear that no person or entity has the right to display the IATA numeric code or IATA's trademarks and service marks on in-house ID-cards or other credentials."

Sound familiar?

You Bet!

Do you think you might be able to either sell some Travel or maybe put someone in the business based on all this good news?

Me too! Let’s “Get ‘er done!”

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: Annual Report, IATA, Kim Sorensen, Stock Split, YTB Travel Network, YTBLA

Posted by TravelPro at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Take a closer look...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question #4 - How nearly 150,000 RTAs can pay in the course of 9 months $79 million dollars in website sales, fees, and training; and receive $9.3 million in return. (This is huge...anyone?)

Question #5 - And for those that say I don't get the math, I did not learn how nearly 150,000 people paid in $79 million dollars and only got $64 million in return. (Hello? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?)

Question #6 - Why it is a good thing to have your top executives selling off stock. (There were no takers on this one, so I am gonna assume that it probably is NOT a good thing as everyone initially thought.)

This has got to be one of the biggest rumors going around the internet right now and I’m actually glad I’ve got a chance to set the record straight on this one. Before I begin, I need to help those that don’t understand how everyone knows that “executives” are selling off stock. Being a publically traded company, Officers, Directors, Majority Owners (more than 10%), are required to report both sales and purchases of stock. These reports are found on what’s known as “Form 4” and are public knowledge.

Of all the Form 4 documents filed with our company we find the following Executives who have sold stock.

Lloyd Tomer – Chairman of the Board (Two Sales)
Scott Tomer – CEO of YourTravelBiz.com (No Sales)
Kim Sorensen – President of YTB Travel Network (One Sale)
Andrew Cauthen – COO of YTB International, Inc. (Three Sales)
John Clagg – CFO of YTB International (One Sale)

An executive sold stock 7 times in the last 12 months. Exorbitant? Alarming? I don’t know, you tell me. Royal Caribbean had 6 Executives sell in the last 12 months, Carnival had 5 Executives sell in the last 12 months, Sabre had 14 Executives sell in the last 12 months, and Expedia had 9 Executives sell in the last 12 months. Seems to be pretty on par to me, how ‘bout you?

Unfortunately, our 5 Executives are not the focus of all the attention or who have been selling all the stock. The one who is getting all the attention is Michael Brent. Now I’m sure there are some even with YTB who are new and have no idea who this Michael Brent is. He’s not on the Board of Directors, and he’s not an Officer with YTB.

So just who is Michael Brent? Travel Weekly gave a brief explanation of the timeline of The Brent Group who owns Rezconnnect Technologies and gave YTB its first booking capabilities back in 2001. By 2004 YTB offered to buy Rezconnect in a reverse merger, and Michal Brent took over as President of YTB being a majority owner of the company. By late 2006 YTB was 10 times as large as Rezconnect and shareholders agreed to change the name to YTB International, Inc. and headquarters were moved from New Jersey to Illinois, and Michael Brent resigned his position as President of the company.

Here is what everyone needs to read very carefully. Pick any of these sales and you should read the “remarks” section of this form.

“The Reporting Person is a member of a Section 13(d) group and a party to a certain Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2004, by and among certain stockholders of the Issuer that together own a significant percentage of the Issuer's outstanding common stock. On November 22, 2006, the Reporting Person granted an irrevocable proxy with respect to all shares of the Issuer's common stock now held or hereafter acquired by him to other parties to such Stockholders' Agreement. However, because the Reporting Person continues to possess a pecuniary interest with respect to all shares that he holds, he has reported such holdings on this Form 4.”

In layman’s terms, what that means is that Michael Brent gave up his right to vote as a shareholder in the company. His stock only holds a monetary value as he has handed his voting rights over to Coach, Scott and Kim, who I know just scares the living daylights out of some of our Traditionalists.

Now that Coach, Scott and Kim are in control, I’d say we are in very good hands. We in YTB started to vote “yes” with our money by purchasing the stock, enabling the stock to start climbing in December 2006. I realize that most will point out that the stock is not doing so well a year later, which in large part is due to Michael Brent riding off into the sunset with his money. (Which is his right and choice.) YTB International, Inc. started to turn a profit by Q2 and Q3 of 2007, and we also enjoyed a 1-3 stock split for those of us smart enough to invest in Coach, Scott, and Kim.

To answer John’s question specifically, is it a “good thing” that Michael Brent is selling off his shares of stock? No.

Can Michael Brent be considered a Top Executive with the company without voting rights or control of the day to day operations of YTB International, Inc? Certainly not.

Is YTB International better off without Michael Brent at the helm considering that YTB is now showing profits less than a year after his resignation as President? I’d certainly say so. While Michael Brent is selling off all his shares, those of us in YTB are buying stock in the company while it’s on sale. YTB is profitable, the Market Cap ($101.4 Million) is starting to climb again, and YTB is growing both in numbers (140,000 Active RTA’s) and sales (an estimated $550 Million in Travel for 2007). Friday, YTB moves into Canada, our first major International market.

Now that the smoke and mirrors have been removed from the picture, I’d say YTBLA is a strong buy.

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

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

Labels: Coach, Kim Sorensen, Michael Brent, Scott Tomer, YTB Travel Network, YTBLA

Posted by TravelPro at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Mirror Mirror On The Wall....

Editors Note: I had posted about a Passenger Bill of Rights on Sunday concerning all the troubles Airlines are going through right now. It came to my attention yesterday afternoon that two more states, Rhode Island and Arizona plan to introduce the same type of Passenger Rights that went into effect January 1 in New York. Read Here.

I commented recently how I’ve never been the type of person who likes to guess at anything. Those that know me know that I have a way of digging up stuff and finding information. I’ve always been this way and it’s just part of my nature to do my due diligence to find out for myself what’s true, false, or maybe a little slanted. That’s not to say that I don’t run into others all the time that point out or provide alternate information that may contradict what I have found to be true.

What each of us focuses on expands. If our focus is finding why Network Marketing is bad, guess what, we are going to attract evidence that supports that belief. If you’re focus is on finding that Network Marketing can be a viable business model, that’s exactly why you’ve stumbled onto this blog. I’ve done some extensive reading, research and actual practice on “The Law of Attraction” over the last few years and I may expand on that later, or in a series, but not now.

While finding the report above concerning Passenger Rights, I also stumbled on Travel Weekly’s predictions of what may occur here in 2008. Based on what each of the editor's has been reporting on throughout 2007 each of them was asked to make a prediction of what they see happening in 2008.

I’m not asking any of you to take this as fact, I remind you that these are predictions and nobody has a crystal ball sitting in front of them. 2007 certainly didn’t turn out the way I thought it would, far from it. There were many twists and turns that were very unexpected.

What I do want you to look at is where we are right now in our minds. How the events of the past have formed our opinions of the future. Predictions can be very revealing as a barometer or a report card if you will as to how we are doing.

Travel Weekly asked Nadine Godwin, Editor at Large, Retail, what the “Many trends, unknowable ends” (Page 2) were for her. I found her comments revealing as to where YTB and others are right now.

“Multilevel Marketers, by whatever name, will continue to attract traveler-sellers to what are, in some cases, little more than costly travel clubs. But by aggregating the many sales of small producers, the MLMs will deliver impressive numbers for suppliers, forcing players to reconsider what constitutes a “legitimate” travel intermediary. That often heated discussion will continue to liven Travel Weekly’s pages.”

Travel Weekly gets us. They have met with and interviewed Coach as early as a year ago (01/08/2007) concerning the “Card Mill” and “Legitimacy” issues other have about us, and with all the focus and industry recognition of claiming the #35 spot on Travel Weekly’s Power List, and Kim Sorensen being named Most Influential in the industry for 2007.

Couple of key points on what they have learned in 2007 based on what they have written about and observed:

- Travel MLM’s are attractive for the average person.
- Some are nothing more than costly travel clubs.
- Our small producers create impressive numbers for suppliers.
- Others may need to change their view of what’s “legitimate”.
- It’s predicted that this attention will not go away during the current year.

It will be interesting to see what transpires this year compared to last year. I’m sure there will be hurdles and surprises around the corner. But what’s going to be even more interesting to me is how our opposition interprets some of the events we have planned.

- How will our expansion into Canada be viewed?
- How will a second consecutive year doubling travel sales of 2006 in Travel Weekly’s Power List be viewed?
- Will our new travel sales requirements for credentials actually make a difference for those that think YTB is a “Card Mill”?
- Will there be any other exclusive deals with suppliers?
- Will there be any other terminations from suppliers?

As 2007 unfolded last year, 2008 will do the same and given time, we will have our answers.

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Labels: "Card Mill", Coach, Kim Sorensen, Travel MLM, Travel Weekly, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments

Monday, December 31, 2007

Anything Special Happen to YOU This Year?

I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting this week while up in Pittsburgh about this past year. I can’t say it’s been an easy year, there have been many challenges this year, and after considerable reflection, I think “challenging” is a very appropriate word when describing my experience with YTB this year. To see and hear all the negativity concerning a company I admire, respect, and love the way I do, has been very difficult. Part of my struggle has been between my heart and my head. My heart tells me that I should be lashing out to defend all the negativity. My head and logic however tells me not only would lashing and mud slinging be of little use, but it’s not the proper way to fight ignorance. “Ignorance” is another choice word for me this year, and there is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. There are a lot of people whom I’ve come to know who are extremely intelligent, but merely uneducated about our particular business model. I also find that much of what YTB has done in a positive light has either been “ignored” or taken completely out of context.

Network Marketing or MLM in general has a stigma associated with it for a lot of people. There are plenty of broad and liberal strokes used to generalize MLM. For some, it’s visions of easy money. For others, it’s loosing thousands of dollars and being stuck with pile of product in your garage that you’ll never use. Others are convinced that in order to make it big, you have to hit up family and friends. Of course, they will all tell you “NO” because they all know someone who’s died in a cult like the “Peoples Temple” and don’t want to drink the Kool-Aid.

Any look or consideration of treating this model like any other traditional business is completely foreign to most.

That’s not to say that there have not been considerable advancements with YTB in technology, operations, and recognition that have really put YTB on the map this year. There are plenty of people out there who believe that the recognition we've received; especially in the last quarter of 2007 have been the wrong type of recognition. Recognition is recognition, and I have to site a quote in Travel Weekly back to the beginning of the year by Coach, when he commented about all the critics out there who think YTB is nothing but a card mill and/or pyramid scheme.

"You beat that by proving yourself. We just keep doing the right thing."

I've seen throughout this year, YTB doing the right thing. A press release was posted a few weeks ago commenting on some of the advancements we’ve made. Gone are the days when everyone was talking about YTB filing for bankruptcy, and we now have total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 of $95.9 million. (For those of us smart enough to invest in company stock by the way now have 3 times the amount of shares.) Gone are the days of having nobody except “our own” quoting how much travel we actually book thanks to Travel Weekly ranking us 35th largest travel agencies overall for 2006. Gone are the days of not making any impact in the industry after having YTB International President, J. Kim Sorensen, named by Travel Weekly as one of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry. Gone are the days of just a recruiting machine with our "sail-a-thon," booking more than 12,000 passengers in less than 24 hours. Gone are the days that we don’t have any training available for our RTA’s when we rolled out "YTB E-Campus", designed by Dr. Marc Mancini, one of the travel industry's most highly respected speakers, educators and consultants. I would also add gone are the days of YTB Rep’s and RTA’s running around unchecked and unaccountable with our membership to the DSA and a code of ethics.

Most who oppose our company will readily bring up a vendor or two that are now gone, namely, Royal Caribbean and industry Accreditation. To put those events into perspective, I think we might need to look ahead into 2008. While I don’t have any type of crystal ball in front of me, there have been policies, procedures, expansions, and technologies put in place that just may shed some new light on how poor that move really was back in October. YTB will require travel booking production before issuing a credentials card. (RTA or CLIA) YTB agrees that card mills (companies that sell credential cards with a minimum of any professional commitment or training,) are a problem in the travel industry, and standards must be upheld. Among those standards emphasized by YTB:

· A comprehensive, travel-specific education and training program to ensure the professionalism;
· Encourage travel suppliers to make industry perks available based on agent productivity;
· Avoid issuing agent ID cards that are designed to mislead travel suppliers;
· Incentivize agents to take additional training from associations and travel suppliers for further professional growth;
· Establish a policy that agents should not attempt to solicit or recruit at industry functions or FAM trips;
· Follow all compliance guidelines for direct sales of the Direct Selling Association;
· Focus on generating travel commissions through a significant volume of travel product sales;

I also have to wonder what the effects of our expansion into Canada and Caribbean Islands Q1 2008 will do to increase Travel Sales. YTB has double its production in both RTA web site sales from 60K to over 135K in 2007. YTB has already doubled our Travel Commission by the third quarter from $7 million in all of 2006 to $14 Million as of September, and doubled our gross sales from $226 to $550 million. (By the way, $550 Million should place YTB in the Top 20 overall for the Travel Weekly 2007 Power List.) And for those that are concerned about how YTB “gleans” numbers from suppliers to “validate” our sales numbers; that will be taken care of in March when our SAP NetWeaver® technology platform goes live as the software solution best able to support the company's growth strategy.

There have been many twists, turns, and surprises concerning YTB in 2007. I firmly believe that YTB shocked the Travel Industry with our ranking in Travel Weekly, while at the same time Royal Caribbean shocked us. Of course both events pale in comparison when you take into account that John Frenaye and Doug Bauknight consider each other friends. Yet, the world hasn’t stopped or come to an end as we move into 2008. YTB may never overcome ignorance and some who drink the pyramid and card mill Kool-Aid, and that’s their choice. We may also never be able to own up to the high standards of those who have come before in the Travel Industry, and that’s our choice. If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years with YTB (now finishing up my third year) it’s this. Everyone has their own perspective about who YTB is and what YTB does. My job isn’t to convince anyone, it’s only to inform and educate. The choices you as a critic or contributor make based on this information are yours.

One last word comes to mind concerning 2007 while we move into 2008 and that word is “resolve”. Now that YTB is on the map thanks to all the attention we’ve gotten from critics and contributors alike, 2008 should be another defining year because of YTB’s resolve to do keep doing the right things. I once heard a very wise man state something many years ago. I’ve run into him since several times and he keeps reminding me…

"If it aint true, don't say it.
If it aint right, don't do it" ~ Coach

Thank you all who have been reading this year…I’ve truly enjoyed being able to share with all of you and it’s been a real honor to have so many from both sides of the fence both visit and comment.

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Labels: Coach, John Frenaye, Kim Sorensen, Travel MLM, Travel Weekly, YTB Travel Network

Posted by TravelPro at 7:41 AM | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

More Press For YTB!

We have another columnist in our midst who believes he has all the answers and proper positioning when it comes to Multi Level Marketing. In the last few weeks James Gilden has regurgitated an article in the LA Times and the Chicago Tribune with his experience and insight into YTB in particular. Because, Mr. Gilden's piece is published in well respected publications like the LA Times and Chicago Tribune, (and from my understanding to be published as well in the Kansas City Star) Mr. Gilden MUST not only know what he's talking about, but his views and opinions should be taken as gospel.

I have to admit, I came very close to violating one of my own golden rules, which is "Never believe a word I say, without verifying it on your own to be true". In the process of "verifying" this article part of my due diligence was checking into Mr. Gilden's "credentials" so to speak. What's amusing (to me at least) about Mr. Gilden is his focus is on internet Travel specifically and is dubbed "The Internet Traveler". James first began using the Web as a travel resource in 1996, when United Airlines introduced the United Connection software for booking airline tickets online. (About the Writer) His own statistics state the following:

"The number of travelers like you who are booking travel online is staggering – more than 91 million made a travel reservation online in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Half of all travelers now use the Internet to buy – not just research – travel, according to a November 2006 survey from market research firm J.D. Power and Associates, up from 46% in 2005. Online travel spending in the U.S. in 2006 will be $68 billion, up about 15% over the previous year, according to comScore Networks."

If anyone should get that Internet Travel is changing this industry, he certainly should.

However, James, like so many others can't get this Network Marketing
aspect of YTB out of the way long enough to take a serious look at why it's not only smart, but potentially lucrative to own your own Travel Agency where these same 91 Million people made travel reservations in 2005. Because YTB has three dirty letters (MLM) attached to it's name to promote and build our business, these opportunities in Travel couldn't exist for someone like me because the model is not only flawed, but will inevitably collapse on itself.

It was my understanding that the second articles released in both the Chicago Tribune and Kansas City Star were to be a "much expanded" retort on our company. I don't see much expanded, other than a quote or two from one of the most influential in the Travel Industry, J. Kim Sorenson, and it's not all that surprising that our Company President isn't shown in the best light. Why anyone would expect anything more, given the limiting beliefs about Network Marketing in general would be asking a bit too much.

About the only other change between the first LA Times article and the "expanded" article was a note that a former RTA was actually refunded money after giving his YTB Business a short 3 month stint to see if he could get discounts. YTB cerainly didn't have to refund any money to this individual, as it's clearly stated in our terms and conditions he is limited to 5 days in order to be eligable for a no questions asked "refund". I'm not aware of any investment who will refund any money after 30 days let alone 90. If there is...let me know.

John Frenaye made a couple of comments on his Blog about the article(s) and not surprising, he's of the same limiting belief of Mr. Gilden. Apparently no one knows, (including Kim Sorenson) where the $7 Trillion a year number about our industry comes from. (Anyone, who does their own research can find this number in a report from The World Travel & Tourism Council.) This report by the way, is quite extensive and also supports other numbers of interest.

We are also directed once again to look at the company financials comparing revenue from Marketing with revenue generated from Travel. YTB currently has 575 Group Cruises "on the books" for 2008 (minimum 30 cabins per group) and not on our financials until next year when commissions will actually be paid. I've been over this so many times my head hurts from the wall that's put up by those who simply "don't get it".

Side note: I have clients in Germany this week who booked this trip with me in November of 2006. I got a card from them today expressing how much they enjoyed their first night on the Rhine looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights. However, it won't count until it shows up on the Q1 2008 financials when we have some 150,000 RTA's (instead of the 60,000 at the time of booking) who have been paid for Marketing the company, and not selling any travel.

Oh well...

We are left to assume that the "average RTA" only earns $82 per year and the following RTA's don't exist because the system is flawed.

Tina from Houston, TX. Her total earnings for 2007 are $18,777.88 or an average of $1,707.08 per month for 2007.
Ruth & Floyd from Frontenac, MO. Total earnings for 2007 are $12,995.65 with an average of $1,181.42 per month for 2007.
Carol from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Total earnings for 2007 are $11,480.89 with an average of $1,043.72 per month for 2007.
Lenore from Pearl City, IL. Total earnings for 2007 are $14,044 with an average of $1,276.72 per month for 2007.

So how did I come up with numbers like this? We have another columnist in our midst who actually took the time to ask what the travel numbers are, direct from J. Kim Sorensen himself, Travel Trade senior editor George Dooley. (George by the way is the same Senior Editor who interviewed me back in November.)

That being said, which article do you think might help in regards to helping you make an informed, educated, business decision about YTB? Who do you think might have done a better job in asking questions? Who do you think might be more credible based on what is being reported?

Before you answer, we'll take a closer look at George Dooley's interview from "The Man" himself, J. Kim Sorensen within the next day or two.

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