Archive for the ‘Agents at Home’ Category

Congratulations to YTB’s new “Travel Agents”

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
18
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Since day one with YTB, I’ve considered myself a “Travel Agent”. Not because I had any special training, achieved any special credentials, or aligned myself with any specific host. It was an attitude that I had when I joined. I was about as green as they came when I joined YTB, but I did have a passion for travel and a desire to learn that got me to the point that I am today. I’ve heard over and over that unless I align myself with one of those legitimate hosts out there, that I’d never be considered a “Travel Agent”.

Yet, the folks with all the arrogance and attitude – haven’t actually experienced the service and value I bring to my clients.

Funshine_geobowl6Fact is, anyone can become a “Travel Agent” with the proper mindset and willingness to learn and it doesn’t matter what company you align yourself with. Other than my family, 99.9% of our clients have no idea who or what YTB is. All they know is Doug and Ronda with BandBVacations.com. If a client has a change in schedule, a problem with a booking, or happen to need assistance with arrangements, the “Agent” they call is us, not the Home Office.

That being said, having the mindset of “Travel Agent” isn’t going to cut the mustard when it comes to servicing our clients. We could have all the love and passion in the world – but without the proper knowledge to actually assist our clients, mindset alone is moot.

It also takes knowledge and training to drive this business and make it a success.

When YTB launched the E-Campus training two years ago with theAcademy.com and Dr. Marc Mancini, I was ecstatic. At the time, it was a major advancement and move towards training our sales force. The move was also “pro-active”, being launched before all the attention and fuss in the news and media publications came out about YTB being some sort of “card mill”. (A term and definition we still don’t answers for two years later.)

Like Carnival Corporation, Apple Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Collette, World Choice, Globus, and other preferred suppliers who do business with YTB, Dr. Mancini saw something in YTB that lead to this training to help the company achieve its long term goal of being a dominant force in the travel industry.

If you’re going to partner with someone, they might as well be the best. Here’s a little bio that I picked up on Dr. Mancini two years ago.

What’s even more impressive is that the YTB E-Campus program is designed by Dr. Marc Mancini, one of the travel industry’s most highly respected speakers, educators and consultants and authors of such books as Conducting Tours: A Practical Guide, Cruising: A Guide to the Cruise Line Industry, and Selling Destinations: Geography for the Travel Professional. Dr Mancini and his firm are the creative force behind some of the best-known and most successful training programs in the business including training programs for CLIA, AAA, and NTA.

What YTB did was land the industries leading authority in travel to design and implement a very intensive and thorough training program that covers the following 10 segments.

  • Course 101: Overview of the Travel Industry
  • Course 102: Lodging
  • Course 103: Tours / Groups
  • Course 104: Cruising
  • Course 105: Air Travel
  • Course 106: Rail, Car Rentals and the Rest
  • Course 107: Travel Sales, Service and Marketing
  • Course 108: Destinations: North and South America
  • Course 109: Destinations: Europe
  • Course 110: Destinations: Africa, Asia and the South Pacific

And for doing what we as “Travel Agents” should do for our business and completing this course, what do you think YTB did to reward those who took their travel business seriously?

  • The ability to drop the “R” from RTA and the title of “Travel Agent”
  • 75% Commission Contract
  • Monthly YTB Special Promotions
  • Entry For A Free Cruise
  • Exclusive YTB FAM Trips
  • Training Events & Trade Show (Funshine was comped)
  • The Fun & Travel Magazine to help you grow your business

Not too shabby for some rinky-dink MLM that has no interest in Travel huh? Fact is, those who claim YTB doesn’t offer training haven’t been paying attention to the facts. Instead, they choose to ignore any type of training to keep their fantasy over YTB being less than legitimate alive.

We posted a list of those who completed the E-Campus training this past weekend in our newsletter. If you’re a YTB TSO or Rep and you’d like a listing to view, please get signed up on our list. I don’t think it’s appropriate to post this list publicly. With all the attention and animosity from a very small and childish group in the travel industry who have nothing better to do it will simply create more spin and turn this significant accomplishment into something it’s not.

For those who did complete this training, you know who you are. You know the value of knowledge and learning. I commend you for taking responsibility and ownership of your travel business. You can now not only call yourself “Travel Agent”, but earn an above average commission percentage found in the industry. (Industry average being 74%.)

Congratulations!

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
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

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No Place Like Home

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
13
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I read an interesting article this week that I wanted to share it with you. Before I reveal the source of the article, I’d like you to read it in it’s entirety. It highlights many of the benefits of owning a home based business including income opportunities, tax benefits, personal growth, and risks.

While you can take this “Top Ten” list and fit it into just about any home based business, it’s clear from the very beginning of the article that the author is speaking of a home based “travel business”.

Take some time to read this article and I’ll be back at the end, to enlighten you just who this intelligent, articulate and successful author is.

Enjoy!

ruby_slippersAs the economy continues to top the news, along with the constant doom and gloom that the media projects for the travel industry, some home-based agents may wonder what the future holds for them. However, judging by the number of calls that I get each week from people who are excited at the prospect of getting into the travel business, I would have to say that our future is bright.

It certainly is refreshing to see new agents discovering the benefits of running businesses out of their homes. If you’re looking to get out of the rat race, to spend more time with family and friends, and to live a more balanced life, a home-based business may be the right decision for you. Here are 10 reasons why it pays to work from home.

Personal freedom. If you’re used to spending hours in traffic every day to and from work, some of the most exciting advantages to starting a home-based business are your newfound freedom and the retrieval of lost time. The average American spends 348 hours each year commuting, according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. With a home-based business, you have those extra hours to regain control of your personal life. Plus, there are no bosses, no dress code, no set work schedule and no office politics. All you will need is personal drive, discipline, marketing and time-management skills.

You get to keep the money you make. It’s a simple principle: The harder you work, the more money you can make. Your earnings potential is directly proportional to your performance, so you don’t have to wait for a raise or a promotion. You’ll also save money on gas and food. Preparing lunch at home is more cost efficient and offers a nice break in your work day.

Increased opportunity. With so many corporations and industries in slumps, starting your own home-based travel agency means you can create your own income-producing opportunities. Good job prospects can be scarce in some industries, and promotional opportunities within major companies are also shrinking. With many workers now opting to take early retirement packages, becoming a travel agent is an excellent chance to take a passion for travel and turn it into a second career.

Less risk. Running a travel business from home takes much less startup cash than starting a storefront business or even a franchise location. Since there are no inventory or products to purchase, and the business is located where you reside, you don’t have the additional monthly expenses of rent or utilities.

Tax advantages. There are a number of tax advantages to having your home and office under one roof. Check with your tax advisor to see if he or she recommends deducting operating and depreciation expenses on your home as business expenses. This can be a percentage of your mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and/or the expenses of household maintenance.

More time for friends and family. This is especially important for parents of school-age children. You can see the kids off to school and on most days be home when they return. Also, if someone is sick, it’s easier to leave your desk at home than in an office.

Less stress. It’s a little less stressful to juggle the demands of work and family when you know you can stay home to care for a sick child and generally make appointments according to your own set schedule. Also, you can schedule new appointments on the same day as other events on your calendar. For example, if your weekly networking meeting is on Tuesday, set as many other appointments on that same day, even if it’s just a trip to the dry cleaner.

Opportunities for professional growth. Being your own boss gives you the chance to wear a lot of hats: sales director, marketing professional, strategist, business development manager and more. This gives you experience with all aspects of running a business.

Increased productivity. Now that you no longer have to budget time and energy for commuting or a succession of useless meetings, you should have a lot more time and energy to make your business a success.

A creative outlet. Your home-based agency can be an opportunity for you to give birth to your passion and create a money-generating opportunity. You can try out new ideas, take risks and run the business in exactly the way you want.

Now if this sound like a big MLM pitch, you could be right. Not only have I written about many of these subjects here over the years, I’ve seen several ads and articles that relate directly to MLM promoting the same features, advantages, and benefits of running your own home based business with YTB. (Or other MLM Business)

But before you go writing this entire article off as some lame MLM pitch to get you to fork over a bunch of money to an MLM opportunity, or think the tax benefits and income opportunities are somehow misleading or deceptive, I’d like to introduce you to the source and the author of this wonderful piece.

Anita Pagliasso is not only the author of “No Place Like Home” found in the September issue of Agent @ Home, but is also the author of a book called, “How I Made a Small Fortune as a Home Based Travel Agent“, which includes a CD that contains Anita’s tool box for Home Based Agents loaded with forms, letters, disclosures, disclaimers, and templates for the Home Based Agent. In addition to her articles and book, Anita is an Executive Board Member of PATH (Professional Association of Travel Hosts) and also hosts a very informative web site surrounding the Home Based Travel Business called Ticket 2 Travel.

I got to ask…do you see any real difference between what you’ve seen on this blog or in my Newsletter and what’s in this particular article? Can you find anything in this article that you can’t find in YTB or another general MLM? (Taking the “travel aspect” out of the equation of course)

Makes you wonder why Anita gets a pass and MLM’ers get all this flack about being misleading and deceptive doesn’t it?

Keep this article handy next time you see another emotional outburst about the benefits of owning your own Home Based Travel Business.

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
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With


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The Love Boat

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
9
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Love, exciting and new
Come Aboard. We’re expecting you.
Love, life’s sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.

Okay, so Jack Jones I’m not, but I LOVED this show when I was a kid. Princess Cruises agreed to have their cruise ships featured in the television sitcom The Love Boat, which debuted in 1977. The ship was the stage for this popular show (actually it was filmed primarily on sets in a production studio) and coined the term “Love Boat” which was heavily used by Princess Cruises in their marketing, and became synonymous with the Pacific Princess.

The Love BoatThe success of the up-beat television show, which remained on the air until 1986, is largely credited with the increase in popularity of cruising. I can tell you without question that my initial interest in cruising was because of this particular show. (Although my first cruise was not until many years later.)

So what do you say? Would you like to set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance?

Have I got a deal for you! But don’t think for a second that today’s cruise experience is anything like the old sitcom we grew up with. A lot has changed in 30 years, (Yes, the show is THAT old!) and YTB is inviting you to see first hand what Princess Cruises is all about tonight, during a live webcast right on our booking engine from 6:00PM to 8:00PM Central Standard Time with J. Kim Sorensen, President, YTB Travel Network, Shelly Coppersmith, Vice President of Marketing, YTB Travel Network and Amy Alford of Princess Cruises.

Tonight marks the launch of a two week sale with Princess for some exceptional savings, (as if there aren’t incredible deals out there right now) including a reduced deposit of $100 per person, and a coupon book worth $325 while your on board for a wide assortment of onboard products and services. This combined with some very aggressive sale prices could be just the ticket to get you on board one of their many ships to experience what I’ve called “the best vacation money can buy” for many, many years. (The reason I wanted to become a Travel Agent to begin with.)

This isn’t the first time YTB has done a webinar like this. We tried it out just over a year ago with Carnival and then again this past December and I can only assume that Carnival not only liked what YTB was able to do for them, but have started to spread the word to some of the other cruise lines owned by the line so they can benefit from this extremely cost effective and productive form of marketing.

And why not? It works well for everyone involved. All Princess has to do is show up with their Business Development Manager, sit in front of a camera for a couple of hours, while we as RTA’s place thousands of prospects in front of their computers, in the comfort of their own home, while Princess (who knows their product best), talks about their features, advantages, and benefits. If you like what you see, you have a direct link to the product sitting right on your desktop to select and purchase the cruise the best fits your budget and time frame.

The webcast will be rebroadcast from 8:00PM -10:00PM Central Standard Time (and periodically throughout the week) and all you have to do is click this link to view the webcast for this exciting consumer event. Of course I’ll be available to answer any questions you have, (number provided below) and we will also have Agents on duty at the Home Office until 10:00PM Central Standard Time. (800 number will be provided on the webinar.)

So take some time tonight and join thousand of others who want to take advantage of a great experience, on a fabulous floating resort, to several destinations of choice, with some of the best pricing I’ve seen in all the years I’ve been looking for “the best vacation money can buy”.

Who knows, I could be greeting you as well with…

Welcome aboard it’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!

(Okay…maybe not.)

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
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With


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Brilliant Compensation

Friday, February 6th, 2009
6
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I’ve been a fan of Tim Sales for some time. I was introduced to Tim a number of years ago via a “Brilliant Compensation” CD that was given to me by my upline Director, Tim Dominey. When I listened to the CD, I already knew why Network Marketing worked, but Tim brought to light a number of key components that cemented why I believe in this industry. Tim has an entire selection of products to educate both you and your prospects in why Network Marketing works.

I highly recommend Tim’s products because he’s articulate, professional, and straight forward. In fact, Tim is so articulate and dead on, that the only thing critics can come up with to trash him is that he makes his money off selling his products. Other than pointing out the painfully obvious, they can’t come up with anything to discredit Mr. Sales, he’s that good. Tim provides a very valuable service to the Network Marketing industry and why he shouldn’t be paid for that service is beyond me, but it is what it is for those who can’t get past their own misconceptions about sales, service and promotion.

distribution1After my article on Wednesday and touching on why suppliers should follow the lead of vendors like Carnival Corporation, Globus, Trafalgar, Disney and others, I pulled out a copy of Tim’s CD to listen to it again after a couple of years of sitting there collecting dust. While I first learned how large corporations benefit from the Network Marketing industry from this CD, I wanted to see if there was anything I had forgotten or might have missed after putting the CD asside for so many years. While I hadn’t forgotten much, I reconnected with the appreciation I have for the way Tim presents the Network Marketing industry in a professional manor without all the hype. All too often we hear how you can make millions in Network Marketing while someone else does all the work. (I’ve actually been accused of doing this oddly enough!) I also like how Tim’s focus is product based, not recruiting based. (Being the “big time recruiter” is another label that I’ve seen some try to pin on me.)

The truth of the matter is, if this industry makes sense to you, than you owe it to yourself to find out more and find a product or service that you’re passionate about to actually get involved. I don’t know how many times I’ve stated this, but the reason I got involved with YTB was because I’d been telling people for over a decade that a cruise was the best vacation money could buy. I actually looked into becoming one of those “Traditional Agents” at one point but nobody I talked to wanted to give me a shot. I “didn’t have the experience” they said. I “needed an education” they said.

Blah Blah Blah Blah…

When YTB was put in front of me, I saw it as an opportunity to actually get paid when I talked about what I loved…cruising. So here I am some four years later while one of my clients referred one of their friends to me yesterday needing help for a last minute cruise for six, while I read articles and posts that I’m only concerned about lining my own pockets.

Nice!

For anyone interested in the truth and not spin, read the comments sections of my article (which some say I don’t allow) and the creative liberties taken to create my critics perception will become abundantly clear.

By the way…this new client for the cruise next week…they first called Royal Caribbean and found them to be “snooty”. Frustrated, they called a friend to get a recommendation of a “Travel Agent” to help them. Thus I got a call out of the blue and found something to suit their wants and needs. Amazing how that works, huh?

Anyway, back to why large corporations LOVE distribution channels like YTB and other Network Marketing companies to distribute their products and services. Network marketing aims at helping manufacturers and suppliers market their products to the end consumers via independent local distributors. By engaging local distributors to market the products of the company, the company is able to generate more income and save on distribution and advertising cost.

Most companies would spend thousands of dollars to promote their products through TV commercials, advertising, billboards and other forms of media. Think about the relationship between YTB and World Choice. (Travelocity) How many times do you see that Roaming Gnome on TV or in print adds? They spend MILLIONS in this type of advertising, and while I’m sure there are bean counters that calculate what the ROI is in these various mediums, they know what costs are involved when they partner with a company like YTB.

Zip, Zilch, Nadda. Money is only paid out when a sale is actually produced. It’s a win-win.

Promoting products and brands could cost the company a lot of money that a good portion of the cost that you pay for a certain product is actually added in to defray the advertising and promotion expenses. In some cases, as much as 20% of the cost of the product you buy goes to advertising and promotions. On the other hand, the distribution cost of the products would eat up to another 30% of the product cost. If you are wondering why a certain product that you buy in the supermarket could cost a lot of money, it is because of the advertising, promotion and distribution cost that is factored into the total product cost. Since the network marketing strategy does away the promotion and advertising cost by engaging local distributors to personally promote the products to the their friends, relatives and colleagues, the company will now be able to give the distributors big commissions. In most instances, the network marketing company will give the local distributors direct commissions of up to 30% of the sales generated by a local distributor.

With the new “Trip of a Lifetime Sweepstakes” YTB goes to a vendor or supplier directly and promotes their product or property with no advertising costs to drive traffic and sales via our own marketing channel, and in return YTB is able to not only able to generate a higher commission to me as an agent, but a better price to my clients.

Another win-win.

How anyone can argue this method is a mystery, but they do try don’t they? I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not about the method so much, but a fear of change and loss that drives most of the negativity associated with Network Marketing. That’s why I like Tim Sales so much. He’s able to clear up the myths and misconceptions about the industry in a concise, professional manor with no bull, no hype and no spin. Most have been trained just one way, and this IS a different approach.

Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean you have to trash it. It just means you don’t have enough information to make an informed, educated business decision about it.

Before I go…I almost forgot. I have a couple of errors and omissions to correct from Wednesday. First I mentioned that “No Moron Here” worked for Pleasant Holidays, he does not. Why he feels the need to be so secretive about himself and who he works for speaks volumes. Unlike myself who is very open about who I am, some are fearful of consequences. (And I’m the one who’s the fraud!) If he’s able to live with it, so am I.

Second, I mentioned that one of the few places to speak freely about the Travel Industry without the presence of John Frenaye was WAHM. Also found to be incorrect sadly enough. We can however look on the bright side, as his screen name is extremely telling, don’t ya think?

Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

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
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With


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Yet Another YTB Upgrade

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
23
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Did you feel that? It’s the winds of change.

The NEW YTB booking engine came as an early Christmas present and the upgrade is now official in the US. You may or may not have heard about this and I’m only too happy to update you on advancements and upgrades from the folks in Wood River, Illinois, YTB Travel Network.

I’m sorry to inform some that “Being Powered by Travelocity” is no more. Our new platform is being serviced by Convergentware, out of Canada. (Thus why the beta testing was being done there.) While the relationships we had with both Priceline in 2005 and 2006 and World Choice (Travelocity) in 2007 and 2008 were extremely beneficial in helping the growth of our company, it’s clearly time to step up and not only own the client information, but provide better services to these clients via customer profiles.

Travel Agents are typically connected to one or more GDS systems. Today, travel content can be found outside of the GDS’s and directly via supplier websites or via direct links to suppliers’ back-end systems. (Which YTB is currently working on with its growing list of suppliers and vendors as these vendors create their own infrastructure to do so.)

This new product with Convergentware not only represents multiple GDS systems, (Global Distribution Systems) but they also seamlessly combine such GDS content with non-GDS content such as Web fares, Charter fares and Consolidator fares into one interface. There are air, car, hotel, insurance, tour, cruise and net fare modules for both client and business environments.

Convergent CRS Gateway is a back-end Centralized Reservations System (”CRS”) that is capable of searching and integrating data from the following five environments:

  1. The Global Distribution Systems (“GDS”) such as Sabre, Galileo and Amadeus;
  2. Travel suppliers directly via Application Programmer Interfaces (“API”);
  3. Travel supplier Web sites;
  4. GDS New Entrants (”GNE’s”) such as ITA Software;
  5. Specialized or customized content via Convergent Publisher.

Convergent CRS technology is a global leader in automating these environments for the entire front-office to back-office reservations process which involves searching for relevant travel content, managing and attaching customer profiles to a particular reservation, and then book all the individual components of a travel reservation, including, but not limited to air, car, hotel, cruise, insurance and tour packages, ticketing specific components of a travel reservation that require ticketing in conjunction with reserving space such as air bookings.

Another nice feature I’m thrilled about is creating integrated quotes, itineraries and/or invoices regardless of where the travel content comes from. I can create and send a complete quote to a client and if they like what they see, all the client has to do is log in and pay for the trip I created for them.

How cool is that?! Talk about customer service.

The Convergent CRS Gateway powers all Convergentware front-end products such as Convergent Online and Convergent Professional. Add the power of Convergent Publisher, with its specialized content, contract and inventory management capabilities, and the Convergent CRS Gateway transforms into the leading customizable, centralized reservations system in the world. (Sorry, no more “gleaning” of travel bookings.)

Hang on…it gets even better.

You heard about the Worlds Largest Travel Party last week with the Worlds Most Popular Cruise Line in the World. This format was just a glimpse of things to come with MONTHLY Travel Party’s all across the country featuring suppliers and destinations each and every month that clients can not only book for themselves, with a Best Price Guarantee, but clients can also register themselves for monthly sweepstakes featuring a free vacation to one of these exotic destinations. Sweepstakes will range from 3-5 day weekend getaways, a 7 day all inclusive, or up to 14 days of bliss at an exotic destination that can be won only from the fine folks at YTB each and every month.

If you have not done so yet, I would highly recommend you subscribe to the Weekly Steals & Deals. (Found at the bottom right hand corner of our Booking Engine.) This is your first step in creating a customer profile and getting yourself registered for these sweepstakes. When you hit our web site, simply register with e-mail and password, and the Convergentware system will keep track of frequent flyer numbers, passport information, home/office and billing information, and other traveler information that you’ll only have to input once as the CRS does the rest.

By the way, are you as tired as I am over these “other companies” who send specials from Chicago to San Diego when YOU live in Atlanta? No longer a problem with YTB Travel Network as Convergentware Publisher will only find specials from your specified city in your customer profile. I don’t know about you, but I’m not all that interested in flying up to Chicago or finding that special to San Diego isn’t all that special from Atlanta.

And some have the audacity to claim we’re not serious about selling travel.

Hard to fathom, I know. But this is just the beginning. As other vendors and suppliers create the backbone to connect with this new platform, you’ll see more and more offerings and ways to combine great travel deals with the best prices, from one incredible travel agency.

And the cost to either RTA’s of YTB or customers for this advanced booking system?

Not a penny more. (In fact, it’s on sale right now.)

Congratulations YTB. You’ve proven yourselves to be a true innovator and leader in the Travel Industry once again.

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
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With


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Another “Royal” Blunder…

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007
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Imagine my surprise today when one of our RTA’s sent me this e-mail:

Subject: Job Listing: Franchise Development Manager at Royal Caribbean Cruises, LTD.

I saw this cool job today and thought you might want to check it out:

Franchise Development Manager at Royal Caribbean Cruises, LTD.

I found it on http://www.simplyhired.com/, the world’s largest search engine for jobs.

Am I to gather from this correspondence that while Royal Caribbean is terminating relationships with a select few Agencies they’ve labeled “Card Mills” they have a vested interest in other home based business networks?

“Royal Caribbean MAGICJohnson Travel Group L.P. Magic Johnson Travel Group is the first home-based travel agent franchise network specifically targeting multicultural franchisees and customers. We strive to cultivate organic growth in the minority travel segment and empower entrepreneurs and new travelers across America.”

I guess that includes us in YTB and Joystar? (Although they are focused on reaching out to the African American, Hispanic American and Asian American communities as new sellers and buyers of home-based travel, everyone is more than welcome to become a part of this unique business opportunity.) You will also have an opportunity to “speak to individuals and groups on behalf of customers to stimulate interest in franchise ownership.”

Since it’s focus is minorities, that makes it okay?

I’ve known about the Magic Johnson Travel Group since May of 2006, when it was launched. I was until this morning, unaware that Royal Caribbean still has a vested interest in this opportunity.

At the time, President of Royal Caribbean International Adam Goldstein stated, “Royal Caribbean International believes this venture will cultivate new sellers and buyers of travel in Urban America and fill a large void in the agency community. We share Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson’s vision and enjoy a strong partnership with the multicultural communities we serve.”

With this “Job Listing” being posted on October 20th, well after the Terminations letters have been sent out, I would have to assume this statement is still true.

Isn’t THAT “special”?

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
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With


Do You ZamZuu?
Do You ZamZuu?
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YTB to Launch Your Car Biz

Saturday, May 19th, 2007
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YTB has quietly launched new features and offerings for it’s RTA’s over the last several months. YTB Golf was launch back in October, 2006 right around the Funshine Trade show in Orlando, and YTB Flowers was launched just in time for Valentines Day in late January of 2007. We just got word that YTB will be launching Your Car Biz in June, 2007. This new addition will enable RTA’s to sell and purchase cars from their travel website for $200 below Dealer Invoice anywhere in the country. When a car is purchased through their website, the sale generates a $500 gross commission. RTA’s earn 60% of the commission, or $300. Initially they will offer new Chrysler, Dodge and Nissans as well as pre-owned vehicles. YTB has plans to expand this program, working with many other dealerships and manufacturers, of which this poster is hoping for Cadillac will be in the mix, and as we get more details we will pass them on to you.

Did you know that the average Power Team leader in YTB earns $1325 a month! Also the average Coaches Corner member earns $5465 per month, and the average YTB Director earns $29,187 per month! How do you reach these levels? You are in your Power Team once you complete your First Team with 3 personally sponsored RTA’s and a total of 6 RTA’s of any combination. You achieve the Coach’s Corner honor by having 30 RTA’s in your power team. You become a Director once you have 500 total RTA’s. Does that seem impossible to you?

Phyllis Nash is one of our newest Directors, and she became a Director in 5 months working YTB PART TIME. She said the secret to her success is she set a goal to share the YTB opportunity with one person a day. Since, December 2, 2006 she has done just that. Can you imagine if you shared YTB with 7 new people a week how much your business would grow. If your goal is to be a Power Team leader, in Coach’s Corner or a Director. Even working YTB part time you can achieve great things!

We’ve also been busy attending some local events for travel agents this past month. Attending the Atlanta Agent at Home Expo. This was a fun evening where many vendors shared with home-based agents how to promote travel to their locations and it included a free dinner. This past Wednesday we both attended a Sandals/Beaches Unveiling (also another free event that included dinner). Sandals just spent countless millions at several of their resorts in upgrades and features and they wanted to share this with their travel partners. These resorts are beautiful and they really pamper your customers. Sandals loves travel agents and rewards them well for bookings. The average Sandals booking generates $650 in commissions. Many of our team who live here in Atlanta were able to attend these events with us, and as we find out about events like this in your area we will pass the information on to you. These events are very educational and help you build your travel client base.

This summer should be exciting times for YTB. We’d love to let the cat out of the bag on some other news, but until we get word from the Home Office, “Mums the word”. You’ll just have to check back to see what other exciting features, advantages, and benefits YTB has to offer.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker

Phone: 678.458.5812

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