More “Inc.” For YTB
At the end of yesterday’s post I asked the following question.
What do the following companies have in common?
- Carlson Wagonlit Travel
- Choice Hotels
- CruiseOne, Inc.
- Discovery Map International
- Hotel Indigo
- Microtel Inn
- Passport Health Communications
- Thetravelacademy
- Uniglobe Travel International
- Your Travel Biz
They’re not all host agencies, but they are all travel related in some form or fashion. No big deal, until you go pick up a copy of the November issue of Inc. Magazine and take a gander at the middle of page 138. There you will find “Candee’s Picks” for Leading Travel Franchise Opportunities.
“Ask Candee” is a column written by Candee Wilde specifically written about the franchise business and you can find some of her former columns on the internet where she has featured other franchise opportunities.
Q. In these rocky financial times, is it wise to purchase a franchise in the travel industry?
A. There are few barriers to entry, in terms of cost or past experience, and even when people are tightening their belts, they continue to take vacations.
Travel is a solid industry, and the cruise business in particular just continues to grow. An investment in travel can be lucrative and, not to be underestimated, fun.
It’s important to note here that the actual article is written around CruiseOne, Inc. and the opportunity it has to offer. I could note here what some of the similarities and differences are for you here concerning CruiseOne and Your Travel Biz, however, I’ll let you pick up a copy on your own to decide for yourself.
What I would like to highlight and find interesting to say the least is that Candee noted Your Travel Biz with these other companies. To be listed among and associated with names on this list is a nice feather in the cap, especially when you consider the credibility of a magazine like Inc.. In addition, you can’t consider this listing one of those “paid endorsements” that YTB is accused of all too often. Nope, this one was even a surprise to Home Office.
Speaking of accusations, I have to wonder how critics will take this listing now that it’s been made public. I can just hear the ranting now.
Don’t they know what’s going on in California?
Have they not looked at the Financial Statements?
Have they not seen the stock price?
They’re not a “franchise”.
What does “Inc. Magazine” know about travel?
About all I can say about the excuses that are bound to come up, is this.
Not everyone has to agree with the negative perceptions and obsession about Network Marketing the way the critics do. Inc. Magazine is written for the entrepreneur, the business owner, the capitalist in this country. What a couple of broke critics who do nothing but post all day long on message boards, forums, and blogs with the intent to malign and slander a company they have never been associated with, nor never will have any involvement in, isn’t something the editors of Inc. are all that concerned with.
Furthermore, if in fact Candee was not fully aware of all the trappings some critics are concerned with, they might not doing a very good job in getting the word out. (Remember our Underground Shopper yesterday?) While I agree that Your Travel Biz is something critics seem to be up to their eyeballs in, very few people take it to the emotional extremes they do.
I can (and will) contend that the excuses brought up to minimize this association with other Leading Franchise Opportunities are just that, excuses. I’ve written about Pre-Paid Legal before, and it’s 31 lawsuits totaling $745 million back in 2002. I’ve also written about USANA and Herbalife in more recent issues and while our critics simply ignore how these companies not only overcame the obstacles set before them, they’re all thriving today.
While some would like to point out that profits from Your Travel Biz are not common place with the company, digging into the financials does show substantial purchases in land, support systems, technology, training, expansion into International markets, and a very large home office where they will reside when my kids have kids.
I have serious doubts that a publication like Inc. Magazine would even consider reading comments on some of the boards and forums out there to collect data for its publication. Although entertaining, smart business people don’t associate, nor do they care about this type of information. There’s no substance, it lacks verification, and it reeks of spinning.
It’s good to see a publication like Inc., and a writer like Candee picking Your Travel Biz as a leading opportunity.
Hummmmm, wonder what they know that the critics don’t?
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Tags: Candee Wilde, Franchise, Home Based Business, Inc. Magazine, Your Travel Biz
November 5th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Doug,
Here is the page link to Inc. Magazine.
http://incmagazine.coverleaf.com/incmagazine/200811/?pg=138
Great post again!
On John’s blog our friend Steve posted some more old news from old YTB non-approved sites. I tried to comment but the comments arent’ working today.
November 5th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I had several people forward this link to me Josh and now have it linked above as well.
Thank You!
I wouldn’t worry about Steve’s rants. All YTB needs to do is supply copies of the 1099’s we send out to our Rep’s and RTA’s. Although I can’t remember if the checking accounts were different, (I’ve been using the Paycard for years) I seem to recall they were also written on separate accounts. I will tell you the 1099’s have been under the two companies since 2005, the year I joined.
Trust me, the legal system won’t allow California to “play dumb” like the folks over there.
November 5th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I agree, but we still need to get all of those non-ytb approved sites either corrected or eliminated
November 5th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Do these people saying these positive things about YTB KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!!!
I tried to comment to for several days but for some reason the critics corner won’t allow posts. Guess that’s unless they are just blocking us. lol. Or maybe blogger is cracking down a bit?
I agree, the non-approved stuff needs to come down.
FYI Doug, the comments that are outlined in the dark blue are hard to read with the black text.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Doug. Someone told me about the article and I picked up Inc. to check it out and read to my flight to California yesterday.
Your post is pretty accurate, however, you forgot to mention that on top of the “article” is says “SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION”. And on the bottom it says “TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 212-655-3220, http://www.venturedirect.com”
If you got to Venture Direct, you can see that the “article” was not anything that Inc. created or endorses. Here is what the venturedirect.com website says:
VentureDirect Worldwide provides premium print advertising opportunities, in a range of industries and interest categories. We exclusively manage the Direct Response, Marketplace and Special Advertising sections in some of the United States’s premiere publications. Long-standing relationships with more than 600 national magazines and newspapers provide unique targeted, cost-effective advertising opportunities that deliver the right audience, at the right price for our clients. Major advertisers in industries such as distance education, fitness and nutrition, health and beauty, fine jewelry, travel, franchises, technology products and services, small and home-based business services, computer software and hardware have all utilized our service.
Our print brokerage experts analyze the market and your message, to identify the best publications for your product or service – procuring the best possible rate and position in each publication. As the broker for hundreds of print advertisers, we are able to leverage our buying power with publishers to secure much lower rates – sometimes as much as 70% below rate card. We also identify remnant space, and negotiate added-value items that can complement your print campaign. Added-value items may include free or reduced pricing on subscriber mailing list usage, supplemental online ad components and editorial mentions.
Over twenty years of print media experience ensures exceptional value, strategic positioning and guaranteed placement.
So it seems that this is a PAID placement. And I am also sure that you realize that YTB is not a franchise.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Would you like to write and thank CruiseOne for paying for this “advertisement” or should I?
YourTravelBiz was a company picked to add “other opportunities” for the readers of the advertisement for CruiseOne, which they paid for, not YTB.
If you have a problem with YTB being labeled a “franchise”, you are more than welcome to contact Candee herself to inform her of your findings. To contact Candee you need to go to the Inc.com home page (not Venture Direct) and look for Franchise Inc.
Thank you.
PS – Told you the excuses were coming folks. ;-P
November 6th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
“PS – Told you the excuses were coming folks. ;-P”
Didn’t take long but longer than I had expected.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Scam;
Please read the following page @ http://www.justpictureitnow.com/rules.
We do not accept the type of comments you have submitted here.
I will however answer your question as you appear to be unable to look at this list in a logical manor.
Please follow along…
A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K….
My first grade daughter has homework each week that requires her to take words and put them in alphabetical order. If you look at the list above and the list from the article, you will realize how this list was organized.
There really isn’t anything more to it than that.
Thank you.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Well, one thing that shows that this is a bad article in that it has misinformation in it, and not everything in it can be believed. Carlson Wagonlit Travel isn’t in the franchising business anymore. Seems like if you’re going to highlight something, even something headed with the words “SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION” you’d want it to have accurate information in it.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Doug,
Did you see John’s post on this today? Is this guy serious? What are your thoughts?
November 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Sigh, yes I read it.
I told everyone that the excuses were on the way and I’m disappointed to report that I was right on mark.
Look, take the emotion out of all this and look at the subject logically as let’s say, someone on the outside looking in; with no idea who or what YTB is or isn’t. Wouldn’t you question the validity or intelligence of anyone who claims they purchased advertising to speak or write about someone or something other then themselves?
Yet that’s exactly what’s being spun, and I’m the one who has been told to go sit in the corner, and now labeled a…
Whatever…
If you would like to believe YTB paid for this advertisement to highlight and talk about CruiseOne, then John might be able to sell you a cruise out of Phoenix, AZ as an added bonus for anyone who is gullible enough to fall for such nonsense.
This “Hail Marry” attempt by John and the others simply shows how desperate and obsessed they are to contradict and discredit anything positive associated with YTB. All logical thinking and intelligence is thrown right out the window. Likewise, all focus and discussions squarely land on YTB (and yours truly) no matter how many other entities could or should be associated with the subject at hand.
It’s a sickness, or at least a dysfunction that I’ve never been able to grasp. I just let it go, not worry about it, and attempt to associate with individuals who have some comprehension of reality and understanding of simple marketing concepts and business basics.
While they claim the sky is purple, everyone who looks up can clearly see what color the sky is. Yet these are the same people that spend the day arguing trying to prove who’s right and who’s wrong instead of attempting to make a living.
I have better things and bigger plans (like selling a cruise out of a REAL Port) in mind than to worry about a couple of overzealous critics.