If the ASTA and IATA were looking to settle this matter with a minimum standard with training or requirements, I’d be all over it like white on rice. I’d love to see it, and I’ve fully supported anything that requires agents to be more accountable and more productive in our industry. CLIA’s ACC Accreditation was received extremely well, Carnivals minimum booking requirements also applauded, and Marc Mancini’s E-Campus was supported here and promoted as positive change in our industry.

Unfortunately John has stepped in and is promoting his Dumb Ass Den to the masses with ASTA and IATA support. John considers it fun to embarrass MLM’ers with Press Releases, News Media, and outlets to malign and slander the MLM industry in an attempt to give the illusion that one would indeed be a Dumb Ass to consider joining the ranks of a Travel MLM.

John also realizes that no real training or accreditation is required other than being mad as hell, and unwilling to take it any longer. That’s all the justification one needs for approval from the ASTA and IATA.

Since John, along with a few others are incapable of acting or thinking any other way, it’s the best solution they’ve been able to come up with.

Just find some mud, sling it anywhere and everywhere you can, and hope that something sticks.

That’s why I oppose what is about to transpire, and because I oppose it, I’m a member of John’s Dumb Ass Den and told to go sit in the corner with the rest of the MLM’ers.

One e-mail wants me to confront my accusers if I don’t like it. Confront? I don’t understand why we need to come from a perspective of being confrontational to begin with. That’s something people resort to when they don’t have any other options, and it rarely resolves anything and leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone involved.

We’ve been confrontational far too long. It’s old, it teaches me nothing new, and I need some actual substance to keep me interested.

Besides, you could say that I’m confronting them NOW that I don’t believe the way this is being presented (and who it’s presented by) is an effective tool for the change that they clam they want.

You can see how far that’s gotten me.

They know better. They ALWAYS do. ;-P

I’ve tried Marc Mancini, but he’s now labeled a trader. I’ve tried the Davidoff’s who attempted to educate, but their only in it for the money. I’ve tried CLIA who came out with new requirements, but all I hear about is this damn loophole. I’ve tried Carnival who came out with minimum booking requirements, but we STILL end up costing them money. I’ve tried Travel Weekly who invites Kim Sorenson to participate in a webinar, but Kim knows nothing about travel and he’s too fat to be considered credible.

Do I really need to go on? ANY voice I attempt to listen to other than what John Frenaye approves of is never good enough because unlike John, they actually attempt to work out a solution with MLM’s instead of trying to wipe them off the face of the earth.

I’ll pass this back to you John, and would appreciate an honest answer.

Regardless of how “Big and Bad” the presenters are, how will this help me or anyone attain the title of “Travel Agent”?

How will this educate me to sell more travel?

How will it enable me to better service my clients?

How will this make me a better person, a better mentor, a true leader in the industry?

If you, IATA, and the ASTA can’t help me like the names above do, I see no reason why I should have an interest. It’s doesn’t get me any closer to figuring out what type of requirements are involved to be considered a true “Travel Agent”.

I’m sorry I’m looking for a true leader in this industry.

Those who only know how to complain and create ways to belittle and condemn one another in public need not apply.

You also say that Paul Henderson has made an attempt to affect change in the industry and everyone should laud him. Yet when I attempt to affect change in the industry, you decide to classify it as attacking. Maybe you need to warn us which side of your mouth you will be speaking from.

Doug, the intent of the webinar is clear and I am glad you picked up on that. But just because it is about a topic you do not necessarily embrace, that means it is not worth you investigating? I am not losing any sleep if you are not online, but when the two largest organizations in travel are participating in a webinar that may ultimately not be good news for you, I would think there might be some level of interest. But as I said, if you prefer to listen to a singular voice while sitting in the Coach’s Corner, that is entirely your prerogative. Besides, I bet Andy will let the TSOs know what went on–of course with his own spin. WOW!

Do not attempt to spray a bunch of perfume on this pile of horse dung and call it a flower.

Read your own description of what this webinar is designed to do.

“A webinar that will turn the tide by providing traditional travel agents with effective strategies, press releases and marketing tools to educate their clients on the fallacies of the card mill phenomenon.”

How does that educate me in servicing my clients? How does that help me sell more travel? How does it help me become a better person, a better mentor, and leader to others?

Who among you have been successful (or even been involved in any MLM) to qualify yourselves as an expert in the MLM industry?

This is nothing more than a bitch session on what wrong with MLM and how to recruit more people so they too can hate the MLM industry.

If you want to resolve a problem, you don’t focus on the problem, you focus on the solution.

Change that, and I might consider spending some time working on a solution with you. But until either of you are willing to use the two ears you have instead of the one mouth, the answer is still “NO”.

You also state that I, in a “very roundabout way” got to the bottom of the issue. No, I didn’t get there in a roundabout way, as I have always stated from the get go what the issue is. If you would take the time to actually read and comprehend what I have been saying all along, you would know this.

Why did I need to go off on a “tangent”? Because you contine to state things as fact, when in reality you are putting incorrect information out there for the world to read. As I asked yesterday, why is it okay for you and your cohorts to correct any TTA, but it isn’t okay for one of us to correct you? That’s being a bit hypocritical, isn’t it?

You also say that ytb has made many changes in order to “legitimize” itself in the industry and to become respected in the industry. Why has it had to do this? Why wasn’t it “legitimate” to start off with? Why have they had to make so many changes? Couldn’t they look at successful travel companies and model themselves after them from the beginning, instead of having to make so many changes? Why did ytb for so long tell clients to call a vendor directly for any issues that may arise? Why wasn’t it the responsibility of the RTA or ytb corporate to take care of the clients? Why couldn’t or didn’t ytb have all their ducks in a row before making all the outlandish claims they have?

Another thing that you state that I find to be out there, is the fact that with ytb one must take the “proper training” with ytb or an industry association before the title of travel agent is bestowed on a ytb member. That may be the way ytb wants it to be, but you and I and everyone else knows that in actuality there are many, many people in ytb that call themselves a travel agent before any training is even thought about.

All of the changes that you have mentioned are valid and for the good, but until the emphasis within the MLM’s remains on the recruiting and selling of websites, then there will always be dissention. While the emphasis remains of building teams and not on the sale of travel, there will be issues. If ytb and ptn and traverus and world ventures want to be TRAVEL companies, then they need to focus strictly on that aspect, and have the team building as a far second. As long as members of MLM’s continue to think of and use FAM trips as personal vacations and not as work, then there are going to be issues.

In your post, you say When you enter the industry with YTB you are an Affiliate, and without the proper training via either YTB or an indsutry associations no title of “Travel Agent” is bestowed upon you.

IF YTB is not bestowing the title of “Travel Agent” on anyone, why do you refer to yourself as one in all of your communications?
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker

and then again in your link:
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Have you personally completed all of the Mancini modules to call yourself a “Travel Agent”? Somehow I doubt it because YTB has not paid for the remaining modules.

As to why you might show an interest, (and for the record, you are welcome to attend and your attendance needs no permission) some people do take an interest in their industry outside of the narrow scope of their individual companies. I have no interest in joining YTB or any other MLM, but I have taken an interest and gained a lot of knowledge about the operations of several MLM companies because of my interest in the greater industry of “travel”. If there is a bunch of bad press and PR coming your way, it might seem that it might be in your best interest to get a heads up and maybe craft a response if you disagree. But by putting your head firmly in the sand accomplishes nothing. If you feel that the industry is restricted to what Tomer tells you in the Coach’s Corner and on the Saturday Morning phone calls, that is your decision.

When something began to affect my livelihood and my industry, I did something about it–I expressed my opinion and shared what I had learned. So, that leads me to think one of two things…either that you have no true and real interest in the travel industry or that you do not consider the travel industry “your” industry.