Like last year, there has been a flurry of media attention surrounding our Convention. The week got kicked off by an exclusive report in Travel Agent Central and how despite the legal attacks and negative media coverage, YTB still grew from $414 million to $425 million in travel sales. While the coverage was released in a Travel Publication, critics have only been able to focus on the recruiting side. Recruiting after all is the core of their fears and phobias. Some still can’t comprehend, even with all the attention and exposure concerning this very subject.

Based on the positive exposure in the Trade Publication, and the additional realization the this years Convention is indeed being held a year after accusations of a gigantic pyramid scheme was launched, both local media and the BBB felt is necessary to report the old, outdated news along with speculation that we’re down to 34,000 active RTA’s. We have no idea where the number came from, but since it’s been reported via the media, we’ll wait until our Q2 filing comes out to correct that overly exaggerated claim. In addition, while YTB did release an 8K this morning and announced that we expect a profit this quarter, we’ve seen very little in the way of comments concerning this “good news”. (Wonder why?)

Furthermore, we’re not sure how the local BBB here could have missed the news surrounding the California settlement or the malicious class action that was eventually thrown out for being redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous. Apparently neither the media nor the BBB have been able to uncover the truth about YTB in several areas. Not to worry however, our Legal Team is aware of the false claims, and YTB will be working on setting the record straight with the local BBB and the media on Monday. But for now, YTB needs to focus on the Convention that is currently under way.

This years theme as you know is Taking Care of Business, and the convention got off to a ROCKIN’ start with none other than the fabulous Tina Turner, who still has legs any man, (or woman for that matter) would die for. Later, during the afternoon session, Elvis came back from the dead, (how Coach pulled this off we’ll never know) to shake, rattle, and roll the entire Convention floor. I’m sure some realized this would be a Rock-n-Roll atmosphere but to have two top named performers get everyone pumped and ready to rock was certainly a sight to see.

The convention got down to business pretty quickly with a very moving speech from Co-CEO Scott Tomer. It’s no secret that Scott has gone above and beyond what anyone could or should have expected of him. The legal allegations and surprise attack that rose up just one day before last years convention has now come full circle. What Scott has guided this company through in the last year, and to come out the other side alive is a credit to this mans dedication and leadership. Critics never expected YTB to be around this time last year. Some even said he would put on a gallant front, but eventually run off leaving everyone high and dry. But because of Scott’s vision, determination, and willingness to go to the mat for Reps out in the field, (a position he Coach, and Kim once held for 20 years with A.L. Williams) we celebrated a new beginning with him. We were also able to thank Scott this morning for guiding us through.

We started this morning’s General Session as one type of company, and have come out this afternoon stronger and more valuable. In February of this year, the company created what is now known as the 2020 Vision Group. Napoleon Hill called it a “master mind” group in his now classic book “Think and Grow Rich”. Because of the efforts of the 2020 Vision Group created from the field, and the willingness of YTB to sit down and listen to what the field wanted and needed, we had some BLOCKBUSTER releases and announcements today.

Below is a list of all the Blockbuster Announcements made during today’s General Sessions.

The first of which was a new payment plan for new Website Owners who may not have the initial $500 to get a business started. For as little as $99.95 anyone with a desire to start an Internet Business can now get started with YTB. YTB has devised a payment plan to spread the payments over a 7 month period while new Internet Business Owners learn and potentially earn. (Results of course are based on their own efforts and can not be guaranteed by YTB.)

Last year, YTB release the Enhanced Marketing Site and have a brand new and vastly expanded upgrade in the form of the YTB Success System. The YTB Success System manages the entire sales and team building process in one powerful package. YTB Success System comes to us from Pinnacle, and the founder is the former President of the DSA. Pinnacle has provided platforms for DHL, EcoQuest, Homemade Gourmet, and the leadership of Avon. This is a killer system and I can’t wait to get my hands on this. (Something, I’ve wanted for years! Thanks YTB!)

Coach’s Corner Members were given special recognition this year, and were also given some nice performance bonuses for their continued efforts and leadership. In order to become a Director with YTB, you must first get to Coach’s Corner where you then receive special recognition and leadership training from the Founders of YTB. This group is YTB’s next generation of Directors with the company and they were thrilled to recognized and rewarded for their dedication and leadership abilities.

You heard about our efforts to reactivate former Travel Site Owners. We will flip the switch back to the “on” position for anyone who used to have a travel site with YTB, but stopped paying the monthly hosting fee. This new initiative will not apply to those individuals who actually called in to cancel their account, but will affect all those individuals who simply stopped paying their monthly $49.95 fee.

In Addition, Scott described a commission roll-up plan — if products are purchased downline and the TSO due the commission has not reactivated, those commissions will roll up to the next qualified TSO.

YTB will also send out a campaign to these former site owners that we have not only survived the storm of negativity and speculation, but are very much alive and well with new products and services. (Some announced just this weekend!)

The new Deals and Steals newsletter will be smarter than ever! Site Owner’s customers will receive a weekly email featuring travel destinations that leave from their departure city, the hottest deals in retail, and featured destinations!

YTB will also be focusing efforts on helping the Site Owner grow their client base and make more sales with a new marketing campaign via E-Marketing and Mailpound!

Great Escapes were once exclusives offered to Site Owners only, but customers will now be offered the same trips at an incredible price as well! (Just not as incredible as ours!) This new catalog is available on the YTB E-Marketing site for Site Owners to send to customers.

Starting August 31, 2009, all new Site Owners will start by earning 50% of the commission paid to YTB for products sold through their Internet Business Center. (Current TSO’s are grandfathered in at their current contract of 60% or 70%)

Now valued Travel Store Owners who are serious about selling travel have an opportunity to qualify and earn up to 100% commission on all Travel Sales. (This excludes shopYTB.com commissions with qualifying sales are for Travel Sales ONLY) Upon reaching the 80, 90 or 100% commission level, Site Owners will receive company paid group health insurance as well as one-time bonuses of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 respectively.

These one-time bonuses are only paid when a Site Owner reaches the 80, 90 or 100% commission level for the first time. There will also be a 10% Management Bonus paid to qualified Coach’s Corner members on each of these bonuses. Site Owners must re-qualify every 12-month period to maintain their current commission level and continue receiving group health insurance.

In order for YTB to be the finest shopping experience anywhere on the Web, YTB has launched a brand new technology platform that will open new doors in our ability to search, select, sell and earn! Our friends at Aisle 19 have been a great partner and will still play a role with their current and future featured products and services. All YTB Aisle 19 accounts are being transitioned to the new shopYTB.

This incredible new site can be reached by going to shopYTB.com and entering your current Aisle 19 user name and password.

New Site Owners earn a $50 Quick Start Bonus when they have 25 customers register for shopYTB in their first 30 days! The 30 days starts on the day a prospect purchases their Internet Business Center.

You could win $5,000! Qualify for a new drawing August 1- 31, 2009! Any Site Owner who registers at least 25 new prospects into shopYTB between August 1-31, 2009, will be entered to win $5,000 in cash! Plus, we will also be drawing five more $1,000 cash prizes. Only one entry per Site Owner with a minimum of 25 new registrants in shopYTB.

Site Owners earn $50 when a customer requests a quote for insurance on your shopYTB.com web site. Health, life, auto, home – A completed Quote Request equals a $50 referral fee.

Remember those 25 customers you’re going to register between now and August 31st? When they submit information for insurance you get $50 when they do because you sent them to shopYTB.com. There’s no selling, no convincing, no questions to answer. Just show them the companies offered and have them request a quote!

Looks like YTB is back with some killer programs and announcements that has this years convention a buzz.

We’ll be back for day 2 at the close of convention with more updates, LIVE from St. Louis!

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

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

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Tags: Home Based Business, YTB National Convention, YTB News

This entry was posted on Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Home Based Business, YTB, YTB Marketing, YTB National Convention, YTB News, YTB Travel, YTB Travel Network, YTBLA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.