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 AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

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 AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

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.