Sorry I haven’t been around the last week. We’ve been working on a kitchen and bath makeover here at the house that was behind schedule and over budget. The project is now complete and turned out better than either of us had envisioned.

Just before the project got started, I received an unexpected call from Jeff Scott of First Alliance Travel and a request to hook up while he was here in Atlanta.

Our hour long meeting was very informal, and quite candid. I can’t get into everything, and I don’t want to overstep my boundaries or speak for Mr. Scott in regard to the company’s direction and plans – but there were two main topics I came away from this meeting that I wanted to share.

First and foremost – “he gets us”.

I would venture to guess that we all at one point or another fall victim to the bizarre myths and perceptions associated with MLM. (Jeff was no exception.) We’ve seen time and time again that those who take the time to truly study our model and get to know our Founders and our people don’t just change their perception- they’re blown away.

Instead of cult like – he found genuine.

Instead of greedy – he found caring and compassionate.

Instead of lazy – he found driven.

Instead of dumb – he found business and marketing savvy.

Second – this was absolutely the best move for our company and those of us who are passionate about travel. We both laughed at how the travel bug never leaves you. It’s by far the most romantic, sexiest product on the planet. First travel Alliance has the ways and the means to offer more product and the best possible prices.

We couldn’t go over all of the upgrades and changes in a single hour – and there’s no telling when this transformation as a true powerhouse Host Agency will be complete. When it’s all said and done however, not only will YTB Travel Network have the best product offering, but we’ll have most competitive pricing the industry (and your clients) have ever seen.

This can and will be a reality.

Furthermore, there were real issues with really dumb people who could never grasp the concept that YTB Marketing and YTB Travel Network are two separate companies. That myth or idea is going to be a lot harder to pitch now that we have a veteran core consisting of true Travel Professionals running the Travel Department. (Under a completely separate roof I might add.)

New training – the likes the industry has never seen will also compliment our opportunity to attract a new breed of Travel Agent. The Travel Agent industry is not only aging – how travel is sold changing at a rapid pace. Gone are the glory days of “order taking” and making money despite any lack of business smarts or sales ability. (A big reason why so many Agencies went belly up over the last decade and why those who are left don’t want us around.) Not only is YTB a new bread of Travel Agent – we’ve proven we can change and adapt to the current economic and technological times. We don’t fight it – we embrace it.

And that’s what this industry truly needs.

Not everyone currently involved in our company will take advantage of the new features and benefits associated with travel. However, if you’re like us, and have a real passion for travel and a sincere desire to excel – this is it. I firmly believe Jeff Scott and this new partnership with First Alliance Travel has all the makings of lighting striking twice for another history making run.

In closing – I can’t tell you how impressed I am after meeting Jeff face to face. His willingness and desire to find out more about who we are and what makes us tick is stimulating. He also strikes me a one of us – and someone we can trust.

Hold on to your hats folks – while these upgrades and benefits will take some time to launch and implement, it’s going to be one fun (and extremely rewarding) ride!

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I’ve said for years that travel isn’t rocket science. If the average person can book their own airline ticket, hotel room, car rental or cruise – there’s really not much to being a travel agent. The most difficult part about the entire process is driving potential clients to YOUR agency instead of someone else’s.

It’s by far the easiest “sale” anyone can make if you can get a potential client to at least look at you instead of someone else.

That’s where YTB Travel Network as a whole really excels – and why our model works better than any other out there. Every single “Agent” YTB has reaches out to family – neighbors – and co-workers who would at least consider looking at us when it comes to booking travel. If the price is comparable, which it always is – who are they going to book with? You or some Roaming Gnome?

Because YTB not only figured this out, but executed this philosophy – it sent shock waves throughout the industry. For an MLM, you can’t find a better, more romantic and sexy product than travel.

It’s really pretty simple.

The problem that I’ve seen over the years when it comes to YTB and travel isn’t really the process or the model. The real issue here are those in this industry who attempt to complicate this very basic model. I’ve never seen an industry get so side tracked in an attempt to justify what they do.

Case in point – YTB’s new partnership with Sixth Scott.

Last month, YTB issued a press release that in part stated the following:

According to the Agreement, Sixth Scott agrees to assume contracts, agreements and licenses previously held by the Company’s subsidiary, YTB Travel Network of Illinois, Inc. Sixth Scott will independently manage all travel content and provide the customer support function as well as handle all group travel booking.

Pretty basic when you read it right?

Sigh…Not for the travel industry. Some were certain – emphatic as a matter of fact – that the “Scott” in Sixth Scott has some tie to the last name Tomer. This was one of those “bait and switch” tactics they dreamed up because nothing an MLM ever says or does is this straight forward. There’s always got to be something fishy about anything that involves MLM. As I assured you back then – and true to form, these crazed lunatics had the spare time and did in fact spend the energy and resources to get to the bottom of who Sixth Scott really was.

In addition, YTB International also filed this Definitive Agreement and Financial Statement with the SEC that in part stated the following:

 On October 25, 2011, YTB International, Inc. (“YTB”), YTB Travel, Inc. (“YTB Travel”), YTB Travel Network of Illinois, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of YTB Travel (“Seller”), and ZamZuu, Inc. (collectively with YTB, YTB Travel and the Seller, the “YTB Parties”), entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Agreement”), with Sixth Scott, LLC (“Sixth Scott”), a non-affiliated third party, and First Travel Alliance, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sixth Scott (“FTA” and together with Sixth Scott, the “Purchaser”). The YTB Parties are currently in the business of creating, selling and supporting online travel booking websites to subscribers through websites and otherwise selling travel through various means (the “Business”). Pursuant to and accordance with terms of the Agreement, the Seller agreed to sell, assign, transfer and convey to Sixth Scott the contracts, agreements and licenses held by the Seller in relation to the Business (the “Assets”), and Sixth Business agreed to assume the debts, obligations and liabilities related to the Assets.

While this is worded more like a legal document, the premise is still very basic. Sixth Scott will now handle the travel portion of the YTB Travel business.

As a matter of fact, this whole thing is about the travel side of our business. Nothing more – nothing less.

But as we’ve learned over the years – because the travel industry has this phobia and fear surrounding MLM and the word “recruiting” this whole partnership became an MLM issue. Once again something that appears to be crystal clear was muddied and misconstrued into Sixth Scott now owns YTB.

But why?

Because some in this industry either simply can’t read at an elementary level – don’t have a firm grasp how business actually works – or more importantly simply want to spin this to justify what they do as a “travel agent”.

Here’s a classic example of what I mean. Take the following comment in Travel Weekly from one of the minions who thinks he has it all figured out:

Interesting. So bottom line is – if you read between the lines – “our model simply does not work for travel” AND “it certainly was never going to work being run by people who knew nothing about selling travel” AND “we really screwed up early on by not training agents and not demanding any sort of professional behavior from them” AND “now we’re going to focus on selling the kind of products MLM really works with – things people don’t really need but perceive that they want”.

Read between the lines? Why on earth does someone need to read between the lines here? What’s the matter with what’s actually written?

I’ll tell you what’s wrong with it. What’s actually written either contradicts – or simply doesn’t support the fantasy of the reader.

That my friend is called “spin”.

Now here’s what I find fascinating. Take a look once again at the YTB press release and the SEC filing. Read what YTB stated about this new agreement weeks ago.

Then go out and read how the travel industry made a complete mockery of the press release and the SEC filing over the last two weeks. Inserting speculation here, how they tied the MLM side of our business into this mix to muddy the water, and their overbearing fear and ridiculous perceptions of who we are and what we do.

It’s a complete JOKE!!

And the best part? YTB provided the following clarification for the travel agents sales force to get everyone back on track and separate the facts from all the fiction that the industry has created. And because these Anti-MLM Zealots are never wrong – THEY have it all figured out – YTB is now “backpedaling”.

I swear – these pompous, arrogant pin heads will never realize that the one finger they have pointing at YTB actually provides three fingers that point directly to the source that created this monstrous mess.

And they can’t admit or let it all go.

These people aren’t Rocket Scientist – they’re not even smart business minds.

They’re morons.

Tell you what…instead of reading all the spin and hype about this deal we have – why don’t you get the information from the best source around? Direct from the guys who struck this deal. No hype, no spin, no smoke and no mirrors.

There’s more than enough of that going on right now in this industry – which is exactly why the travel industry “experts” haven’t been able to figure us out.

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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I’ve become accustomed to others sharing our blog and newsletter when it comes to YTB. The vast majority of people who use our articles respect us enough not only to ask if they can use what we’ve written, but link to the original source and use our entire article.

It’s unfortunate that not everyone carries that same type of character and moral fiber. Zealots who hide behind an alias in order to gain access to our communication is something I’ve accepted as being completely powerless over. There’s really nothing I can do to control that type of activity – no matter how wrong or unethical it appears to be.

Last week, one of the children in the industry who continues to have issues with YTB and MLM’s took part of last weeks newsletter and posted it on his blog. I’m not terribly upset about this finding because is was the first time I can recall he actually comprehended what was written.

I do however take issue with two points. One, he’s not an RTA or a Rep with the company, and our rules have clearly stated for years that our subscription requires a valid website and Rep number. I’ve been required to do this because overzealous Attorney Generals seem to think that this communication is a “recruiting tool” and existing websites and Rep numbers put the kibosh on that idea. (Kinda hard to recruit existing members – you know what I mean?)

Two, the piece didn’t use or link to the entire article. (Which truthfully, is understandable, because the part that was omitted hinted to his years of bizarre and dysfunctional behavior and outlandish speculation.)

With all the attention and news surrounding YTB Travel the past two weeks, we’ve seen a considerable amount of deflecting, spin and justification from the other side of the fence in an effort to save face. Our featured article in this weeks newsletter covers part of that activity – but also points to how the rest of the travel industry is looking at YTB. This news stings for the other side – and I have a sneaky suspicion that what we’ve written will be twisted and taken out of context out of desperation to keep opposing views and perceptions in line.

Therefore, we have taken our entire article and posted it for your review.

We simply want to provide the entire article – and allow you the reader to formulate your own opinion and view. You have a mind and can think on your own if our view is valid. You don’t need someone else telling you how to perceive what we’ve written.

That’s called “brain washing”. ;-P

Enjoy…

~~~

We gotta admit…we’re absolutely LOVIN’ all the attention over YTB the last two weeks.

What better way to show the nay-sayers, cynics, and anti-MLM zealots that any speculation pointing to YTB getting out of the travel business, or that the company would just whither away to nothin’ is -

Well…

Wrong – AGAIN!

When news broke week before last and we saw how vague the Press Release and the SEC filing was – we were giddy in knowing that the travel industry simply wouldn’t rest until it figured out the mystery of Sixth Scott, and just who was behind a potentially $7.5 million deal.

Read this industry and these zealots like a book. ;-p

While some remain “stuck on stupid” – grasping at any excuse they can come up with or attempt to deflect attention to something they think could possibly disrupt this wave of positive news – YTB continues to show this industry how significant and valuable we are.

We have to give a shout out to George Dooley of Travel Agent Central. Those who were with us at the 2009 Convention, may remember that name. George interviewed us and posted an amazing article on YTB a year after the California Attorney General set his sights on shutting down the company.

While Sixth Scott was still a mystery to the industry at the beginning of the week, George was kind enough to print our side of the story once again to help educate the industry that what was happening to YTB would benefit everyone.

The most amusing part of the week was how some were certain that the “Scott” in Sixth Scott had some connection to the last name Tomer. Typical of how lazy, and sloppy they are – not knowing who to ask, or where to look – this new deal ended up looking really fishy to the usual cast of characters who ended up looking more like clowns when the real “Scott” turned up.

This news does after all involve an MLM. Therefore, a cynic automatically assumes that it can’t be a legitimate business deal. MLM and business after all, are a bad mix.

Finally, Travel Weekly set the record straight, and let everyone know that “Scott” wasn’t a first name – but a last name. Jeff Scott turned out to be exactly what we said he was. A long time veteran and top executive in the travel industry.

More amusingly, “unrelated third party” actually meant “unrelated”. (Imagine that??!!)

Here’s the thing…And we’ve seen this time and time again. Take a look at Jeff Scott’s comments about the Founders – and about YTB.

“Being a consultant in the industry, I’ve watched as YTB developed over the years and I’ve always been impressed by how they’ve taken all this controversy and changed things and made it effective,” Scott said. “Once you meet the founders and the people running this business, they are very impressive. We thought there was a huge opportunity with the numbers and a distribution channel like no other out there.”

Every single industry veteran who took the time to sit down and get to know our Founders and our people were not only impressed with what we have, they were blown away at what our model could do.

Those who incessantly slam our company and hang their hats on dwindling threads of justification and outlandish speculation have never taken that step. Frankly, they’re either too lazy, too scared – or more importantly, any real and open look at our company (instead of some fantasy swirling around inside their head) would change their perspective and therefore, destroy their identity.

We’ve said it time and time again. Time always has a way of shedding light on the truth. Predictions and speculation to the contrary are always ego driven. (And the travel industry appears to have it’s fair share of overly inflated and arrogant ego’s.)

If you’re smart enough – diligent enough – and have any true business sense (or even common sense) about you – you’ll always come out the other side victorious.

YTB continues to capture the spotlight – even today. But, you may be giving all the credit to YTB – which is only partly true.

Part of this spotlight goes to all the overly emotional and arrogant cynics, anti-MLM zealots, and nay sayers who speculated and predicted a totally different outcome. They picked this fight – we didn’t. A fight based on perception, myths, false claims, and rumors they have mistaken as reality instead of pure fantasy.

Frankly, we can’t think of a better way to say (or better yet – show) “I disagree” than someone like Jeff Scott who just put his money were his mouth is.

Please know those who wish to continue fighting don’t have to agree with it themselves.

They don’t even have to like it.

They do however, have to continue to deal with a travel MLM as part of this industry. It’s not only a very viable – but a very legitimate model that when run the properly and correctly, works in any industry it chooses.

With the news and attention YTB has received the last two weeks, it’s become quite obvious -

YTB chooses travel.

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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If you keep up with YTB News, you’ve probably seen the plethora of posts highlighting a press release concerning YTB Travel Network and their new alliance with Sixth Scott. Those who were at Convention this summer heard about what was coming down the pike from YTB Travel Network. As it turns out, the key players for Sixth Scott were also at the Convention to check out the company structure, the numbers, the Founders and the culture they’ve created with thousands of RTA’s and Representatives all in one place.

As with any true business mind who takes the opportunity to really look closely at what YTB has – they liked what they saw. A distribution channel that only pays when that channel produces. With YTB’s incredible size and enthusiasm about travel, they didn’t just like what they saw – they loved it. For Sixth Scott, it was a very smart and strategic business move that will help expand their influence and objectives in the travel industry.

For long time Travel Agents in YTB like me, it puts me right back where I was prior to 2007, but with one major difference. I have years of experience under my belt not only selling travel, but in marketing that will benefit me and my travel business greatly.

You’ll always find a group of clowns in any industry who don’t have the proper tools and skill set to handle change or a new competitor. Because they can’t handle this change or increased competition, they end up making a lot of noise and do cause a disturbance with all sorts of shenanigans and stunts to distract the average onlooker. The problem with that type of hype and slandering is that it’s based on pure emotion instead of fact and logic. People can and do say all sorts of crazy things and make outrageous claims and predictions that you’ll find on the Internet.

I can assure you, these type of arrogant pin heads will not be happy with this new partnership enabling a Travel Agent such as myself access to all the product, benefits, and accreditation they have in the industry.

What they want is nothing short of pure annihilation.

On the other side of the coin, we have smart, savvy business minds in the travel industry that understand the power of a large sales force. Companies like Carnival Corporation, Pleasant Holidays, and Sandals resorts. Industry publication like Travel Weekly who has listed YTB Travel Network as a Top 50 travel company the last five years. Leading industry trainers like Marc Mancini who created our e-campus program for us several years ago and the late Phil Davidoff, a former ASTA President who offered support and training to our organization before his passing. Business owners like Debbie Maier and Mailpound who created a fantastic opportunity in marketing travel to our clients after visiting a Red Carpet several years ago. Debbie was completely blown away by our enthusiasm and our passion for travel. And of course we can’t forget Vicki Freed while she was with Carnival who participated in CLIA’s largest on sight training that industry accreditation had ever seen.

Both Vicki and CLIA were once again blown away by YTB’s enthusiasm and passion for travel.

It’s a shame that in every instance above, those who took a stance to support and help YTB Travel Network, were promptly slandered and attempts to shame them into submission was the order of the day by a bunch of overzealous Anti-MLM zealots who couldn’t handle an opposing view or perspective.

Makes me wonder if this new entity Sixth Scott who will now handle our travel bookings and travel support knows this and that’s why I can’t find any information about them?

I have to admit here that I’ve not had time to properly research this Sixth Scott company. An initial search on the Internet and a couple of phone calls turned up virtually nothing about this LLC. Maybe – just maybe, this could be done on purpose? An LLC is easy to form. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that these guys want to focus on expanding business, and not get mixed up with a bunch of crazed lunatics who I can assure you will have the spare time and most certainly spend the energy and resources to get to the bottom of who these folks are.

I however have a number of businesses I need to run – and frankly don’t have the time.

I’m willing to bet however – the overzealous crowd will make it a top priority because it produces a fear that YTB Travel Network and guys like me will continue to sell travel to the general public.

I’m also looking at the fact that this move is like all the slandering and brain washing that’s been done for the last four years has been completely washed away. We’re right back to where we were prior to the fall of 2007 when YTB Travel was taking the industry by storm with all the perks and vendors they’ve always had.

For those of us in YTB, this new partnership will have plenty. It will completely separate the marketing program we have from the travel program – enabling our marketing arm to focus on marketing (what it does best), and leaving the travel aspect of the business to industry veterans and experts.

Along with a sleek new look to the web site, with all the bells and whistles including group access, we’ll gain access to even more travel vendors including all the major cruise lines, tour operators, hotels, airlines and charter organizations, and best in class package deals at higher commission percentages.

We’ll also have a new specialized, in-depth training, that can show you exactly how to be successful – even if your new or have limited experience in the travel industry. The new entity will also help market your business, when to sell what, how to use CRM and client data, as well as sales techniques to create a more profitable business.

Industry perks will also be back in full force with IATAN accreditation just like before. (As always, reserved for those who actually earn it.) Access to FAM trips, inaugural cruises, and ship positioning cruises where available are all a possibility. A new A-list program will also be introduced in the near future for those Travel Agents who produce the travel required.

Yep, there’s no question this is great news for someone like me who loves travel and loves to promote travel and gets paid for doing just that. All the handcuffs and limitations the industry attempted to saddle me with because they can’t comprehend or get past the word “recruit” has now been washed away. As with any position or opinion, there will always be a different side. Thing is, I adapted and survived because like Sixth Scott – I understand good, basic business concepts.

That my friends is something that you can’t shame into submission, can’t slander with false claims and outrageous predictions, and can’t destroy simply because you’re too stubborn or too stupid to realize a legitimate, long term business model.

Consider this a reset – a way to go back to the future and show the entire industry how good and dominant a travel company can be.

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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1. Make Money.

2. Be Happy.

That’s really all there is to it.

I’m bringing this up because I’ve caught wind of news that should be announced in the next 7 to 14 days. Exactly what it is – I can’t say just yet. It was however hinted at during this years convention, and from what I’ve been told – it’s been signed off on by all parties.

Know this. It’s going to tick off the already emotionally unbalanced and irrational Travel Agent community. Likewise, it should illustrate how they react and plan via how they feel and percieve – rather than thinking logically or by basic business sense.

There will be more to come in the next week or two.

Stay tuned! ;-P

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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Today, I wanted to give anyone interested a heads up on a service that I think is not only important, but primed to make the smart entrepreneurial mind and marketer money.

If you’ve done any research at all in this arena, you should know that Mobile Marketing is on the way up. If you don’t know about Mobile Marketing – what it is – and how it’s poised as the next boom, do your own independent research on the subject and you’ll certainly see what I’m talking about.

The smart players certainly will, while the pretenders won’t bother.

One of the first things you can do concerning this research is hop on a free webinar tonight provided by my company, YTB International. There’s no question this company knows marketing. It’s one of the biggest powerhouses I’ve ever been a part of in my professional career. It’s made some serious money for the seasoned marketer, and it’s taught the not so seasoned marketer (like me before I hooked up with them) how it’s done.

A few weeks back, at their National Convention, the company announced the launch of a new product called Z Mobile. A week later, it was live and running. At this point, everyone is on the same level playing field in finding out what this service is all about and what it can do. The webinar tonight will cover the features, advantages and benefits of this service for both the end user and the Representative who wants to market the service.

Here’s the real kicker. If you see an opportunity to market this service, like I do, you can sign up as a Rep with YTB and sell this product for no money down, and no annual fee. It’s absolutely free. The company did the same thing 10 years ago when they broke into the Travel industry selling travel websites. Within 5 years of marketing this Travel Company, the Representatives who sold the sites amassed a massive amount of home based travel agents. As a result, it enabled the Travel Company to become one of the top fifty host agencies in the country. Some, (certainly not all) attained great wealth by joining the company as a free Rep and selling these turnkey Travel Stores.

There was one glaring flaw back then when the company took the travel industry by storm.

It ticked the existing travel agents in the industry off. (A few are still incessantly whining and crying about it to this day.) Some were simply stuck in their time warp or fantasy and wouldn’t adapt. While others never dreamed that a simple marketing system with no real travel experience to speak of would really work. Within time, they realized how wrong they were in underestimating the power of our marketing system, and resorted to pulling out every trick in the book to regain control – including lawsuits designed to destroy the company. Some to this day still lay claim that it’s an illegal pyramid scheme – stating incorrectly that the Reps who sold the sites had to pay to participate.

Fact is, it did work. And while some of the chapters in that story over the last ten years have been mired in bickering and fighting to regain control of their industry, YTB Travel Network is still around and still selling travel. (And still in the top 50) I’m a proud Travel Agent myself to this day.

Now here’s the beauty of this new product and service that YTB has just launched with Z Mobile. There’s no real player right now in this industry. You’re not going to hurt somebody’s feelings, or tick someone off for taking business away from them like we did to the Travel Agents. It’s all virgin territory and the market is wide open to blaze your own path and your own marketing story. The Rep position is still free, just like it always has, but you’ll be selling to an end user that’s a little more business minded. (Unlike the travel agents I’ve seen bickering on the internet.)

True, this product is for the “early adopters” at this point in the game. The way I look at it, it simply gives me a little more time to wrap my arms around this product and the potential it has to change the way we market and communicate with clients and customers.

Also, true that there is no guarantee that Mobile Marketing will be as big as some are predicting. It costs you nothing to take a look, and it costs you nothing to become a part of the company to find out. If it does take off – great. If not, well – nobody who signs up for free loses out.

If you want to change your financial picture, you have to change what you’re doing and thinking. If you’re not where you want to be right now financially, then you’re current form of thinking and doing simply isn’t working. (If it was, you’re circumstances would be different.)

I know that may sound a little in your face – but sometimes the truth happens to be just that – in your face.

I’m not here to mock you, or make fun of you. I’m here to help you. I’m here to give you a dose of reality. Which is a lot more than I can say for some of the “experts” I’ve seen on the Internet.

Hop on tonight’s webinar and at least check it out. There’s no high pressure and we’re not even going to ask for your name, nor have you subscribe for a link. It’s open to anyone who wants to take a look. The smart players (who are the actual people we’re looking for here) will find a way to contact either me or someone else who invited them to find out more and get started.

Oh, and if you miss any part of it, it will replay every hour on the hour all night. It all starts at 8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 pm Central, 6:00 pm Mountain, 5:00 pm Pacific.

I sincerely hope you like what you see. Not only in the product but in the company and the way we market. It’s been a real game changer for me over the years – and it could be for you too.

But only if you take that first step and find out more.

See you tonight?

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!

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UPDATE: It’s a miracle!! The witch is not dead. Actually – I think the proper word right now would be “irritated”. (By yours truly.) Within two hours of posting this – our boy John pulled up a month and a half old rant he never bothered to publish to save face. (Hell, even my wife warned me that what would happen.)

Not too upset. He’s supplied some of the best content and some really great laughs over the years. Based on his history, and the outdated rant, I see no evidence that will change.

~~~

Honestly, I never thought this day would come. I’ve run into my share of zealots and cynics over the years, but have never seen the likes of anyone so obsessed and disturbed as the “Coach” of the Anti-MLM Travel crowd. By default, anyone in YTB would know that person to be John W. Frenaye. One of the most arrogant, confused, and condescending dolts I’ve ever witnessed during my tenure with YTB.

I first caught a glimpse of John’s irritation with YTB back in 2007 with an article he wrote using MSNBC as his platform. It was his last article for MSNBC. You can only imagine how unamused the editors of MSNBC were with anyone “double dog daring” folks like John did for that soap box article. His last rant on MSNBC however was only the beginning of the type of outlandish and eccentric stunts pulled over the next 3 to 4 years of a one man battle to rid the industry of Travel MLM’s.

A few short months later John showed up as a commenter on our blog in an apparent attempt to educate me on his “issues” with Travel MLM’s. I still remember the coy attitude and the intimidation tactic – as if he had it all figured out. It was to become a trademark of the almighty Frenaye. At the time however, I did see John as both a challenge and an opportunity to correct not just misconceptions and misrepresentations the industry had about MLM – but bold face lies about our people our Founders, and our company.

I’ll always give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Call it an asset or a fault, but I did befriend John because I did agree with a few minor points and issues that needed to be cleaned up in our industry. One of those issues being a love of travel and service to others. Perks in our industry known as FAM’s are a privilege and a tool to sell more travel to paying customers – not a right simply because you call yourself a “Travel Agent”. MLM is a business, not some discount program or get rich quick scheme.

And that’s how our discussions began.

When it was my turn to clear the air that nobody actually paid for the opportunity to recruit others, or that gross travel sales were actually 4 to 5 times the amount of travel website sales – that’s where we ran into problems. See, John, like so many other zealots who think they’re the bees knees find it difficult to communicate, learn, and educate themselves to find a resolution. I suppose the reason for this is that if they actually did – there wouldn’t even be an issue. Zealots need controversy in order to maintain their charade.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the movie Network. It’s a 1976 film that takes a cynical look at TV networks exploits that stars a very deranged ex-TV anchor. The film has one very famous quote that I’m sure you’ve heard of: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.“

That’s John Frenaye in a nutshell. What John saw in YTB at the time, was the biggest – baddest Travel MLM out there. Remember, nobody was able to do what YTB did – they all folded before YTB Travel came along. Sure, other Travel MLM’s were a nuisance and frustrating – but since they were so short lived – they weren’t any real threat.

YTB was a different animal all together – it had legitimacy attached to it. Carnival Pinnacle Awards and listings smack dab in the middle of Travel Weekly’s Power List aren’t something Travel MLM’s are even capable of doing in the eyes of an anti-MLM zealot. And because YTB was morphing into a host agency powerhouse, the only thing John could do was go on a rampage for the next couple of years, finding (or fabricating) any issue he could dream up to shame YTB into submission.

I can’t complain too much because he gave me some fabulous content to show how you should never just walk – but run from zealots like John if you want anything close to sanity or the truth.

Some of my favorites include:

• An amended Class Action suit John dubbed was “powerful” yet was thrown out of court just days later for being “redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter”. (Boy – does that shoe fit huh?!)
• The claims that Candi May couldn’t possibly be a legitimate Travel Agent, or had been courted by Carlson Wagonlit only to find YTB as a better alternative.
• When CLIA slapped John with his hands in the cookie jar over claims that CLIA was playing favorites with YTB and not abiding by the rules set for all agencies.
• The church parsonage which Coach Tomer and Chris donated to a church – which John conveniently spinned into a “lease”. (The idiot even provided the court documents himself to show it was a legitimate donation.)
• The perfect “Gotcha” turned sour. An outdated 32 year old law in Rhode Island which John dug up that required all Agents to be bonded. That is, until John brought attention to it – and instead of enforcing it, Rhode Island repealed the outdated law.
• And of course we can’t forget John’s hopes and the dreams that were dashed in both California and Illinois shutting YTB down and ending our existence all together.

I’ve lost count how many times we were warned that Coach, Scott, and Kim would ride off into the sunset. The warnings of bankruptcy. How the stock was being manipulated. And the ultimate dream – how YTB would get out of the travel industry all together.

Aside from being proven wrong and outed for outlandish and false claims so many times over the years – probably the straw that broke this dolts back was the revelation that John really wasn’t the saint he claimed to be was made public.

Look – nobody’s perfect and we all make mistakes. Lord knows I’ve made my share in my lifetime and so has YTB. The key difference between someone like me and a company like YTB is that we can at least acknowledge we’re not perfect and either make amends and/or correct the mistake.

And it’s that type of acceptance and humility that enables me to keep writing here and YTB to keep selling travel during events like we had last night with Sandals.

John, on the other hand has apparently moved on. While his charade and escapades will be documented on the Internet forever, like the comments section that he was once so proud of haven’t been updated in almost a month. Best I can tell, he’s found another hobby with yet another startup and another site called Eye On Annapolis. It has nothing to do with travel or MLM’s thank goodness. It’s more like a city beat type thing and frankly – I’m pulling for him that it works.

I honestly don’t know if John will ever come to terms with the MLM model. A good portion of these types of Zealots never do because emotion often overrides logic and common sense. In that same vein however – logic never changes like emotions do and that’s why MLM and Direct Sales has survived for more than a Century.

Letting go of a three or four year obsession however is a step in the right direction. The daily rants and spinning have finally come to an end for both John and YTB. The end of another chapter in our journey together in an industry I still love and respect – both MLM and travel.

John’s relevance in the travel industry started to erode with his “double dog dare” in 2007. It’s been a very slow and arduous process over the years. I’m not going to speculate his escapades are completely dead like the Wicked Witch of the West (although it’s a fun title) but the further we get away from this type of behavior the better off the travel industry as a whole will be.

It’s a bad mix nobody really needs.

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