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?

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

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

It was mentioned on Coach’s Saturday Morning call that this “consideration” of Franchising was meant to be a “Soft Rollout”. However due to all the focus and obsession right now squarely on the company everyone is talking about, there was nothing “soft” about it. When Coach said “soft rollout” I honestly laughed out loud. I immediately thought about what I learned in school many, MANY years ago when I did a report on Teddy Roosevelt, and remembered the phrase “Walk softly, but carry a big stick”.

With all the attention, talk, and accusations concerning a proposal that hasn’t even been officially released, let alone outlined, manuals produced, training implemented, pricing arranged, and compensation laid out, it makes me wonder what all this fuss is about.

At one exact moment last week, 10:21AM on Tuesday, July 15th, an 8-K Regulation FD Disclosure was filed with the SEC. A Directors call followed with Scott Tomer informing our Directors of this filing, and a Press Release was issued Tuesday afternoon with our “consideration” of franchising.

I feel it’s important to updated and inform you about this proposal from the PROPER sources. Scott has agreed to share a Directors Letter in the Biz Report and I want to make sure you have this communication directly from Scott.

Now just why would Scott have to do something like this? Amusingly enough, and Scott addresses this specifically in his communication, about our competitors and skeptics who make inaccurate, deceitful, slanderous and outright fraudulent statements about YTB. This obsession with YTB is so consuming, that by 10:27AM a post was up on a blog stating that YTB has turned its back on RTA’s. (Note: only 6 minutes after the SEC filing!) Likewise, as soon as the Press Release was issued it was commented on a financial forum that the stock would crash , and one brilliant critic posted Scott’s letter in it’s entirety on another Anti-YTB thread incorrectly assuming that this would cast doubt instead of clarifying our direction in becoming a dominant player in the Travel Industry.

This company can’t sneeze without someone painting some negative spin about it.

With the stock price actually rising following both days of outrageous claims and spin, we can’t help but laugh at the egg on the face of these obsessed critics who think they have YTB all figured out. Clearly the scare tactics used to distract and worry those of us in YTB didn’t take hold or we just didn’t care to listen.

I mentioned some of my reasons why on Friday, but I also like Scotts reasons, and I’d like to document them here as well.

“We became a publicly traded company in 2004 and the skeptics said we would never make it. People said we were crazy to introduce a Reps’ “Bill of Rights” at the 2005 “Your Time to Build” national convention. It was unheard of in our industry. No one had ever guaranteed earnings for its Reps prior to the 2006 “Business of Champions” YTB convention, but that didn’t stop us from introducing the Success from Home Magazine program with its $6,000 Guarantee. We became members of the Direct Sales Association in 2007 and added the “First Amendment to the Bill of Rights” at the “Cleared for Take Off” National Convention to the dismay of our detractors.”

Here is what you need to know about this consideration before the coin has even been tossed to guess heads or tails, and this comes DIRECTLY from Scott Tomer and no one else. I figured here is as good of place as any to get the truth out about what’s in the works, and what we have to look forward to.

“We know how to recruit, build a sales force and sell products and services using the direct sales or network marketing approach. We are convinced this is the best marketing system ever created and we are ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED to continuing the use of this system with YTB. While there will be changes to the process as it relates to the sale of franchises, the downline genealogy and network marketing division will remain intact.”

“We believe a franchise model of our existing business will be easier to comprehend and more readily accepted by the general public. Since franchising is recognized as a traditional business model in virtually all developed countries, YTB’s timeline for global expansion will be accelerated.”

“We anticipate everything that currently exists for RTAs will be in the franchise model and any additional products offered through the franchise will be available to RTAs should they elect to become franchisees.”

“If RTAs elect not to become franchisees, they will be able to continue with no change to their status with all income opportunities and privileges they currently enjoy.“

You can clearly see that this is not all the doom and gloom that some would like you to believe. While there are questions yet to be answered by many, I’m confident they will be answered in time. If the program even launches, it won’t be until next year, so we have plenty of time to get our ducks in a row, take the proper time, and make an informed, educated business decision. Honestly, I don’t think 6 minutes is ample time to base a decision on much of anything, let alone an opportunity like the one proposed.

Thank you Scott for stepping up and making this available to us to answer the plethora or questions and accusations that are out there on the Internet. Scott Tomer is a clear leader and one of three Founders in our company. It would not surprise me to see as a result of this announcement and the way Scott handled it, to see a report that Scott Tomer is now being nominated for President!

Can you imagine? Scott Tomer, from President of YTB International, to President of the Untied States!

Roosevelt who?

Editors Note to the goofballs who would like to take this idea of Scott being President seriously: Be our guest! We’d LOVE the publicity and also love to show the world just how gullible you critics really are.

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.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629