During my second full year with YTB, the company launched what was known as a Regional Travel Training. The tour hit several of the major markets around the country where vendors and suppliers came to us, instead of requiring us to come to them. At the time, YTB had grown to a size that enabled suppliers to hit strategic cities in conjunction with YTB to offer information, support, and additional training for the field.

I remember sitting in the large audience at the time, taking notes, and thinking that YTB was well on its way to being a major player in the travel industry. It’s not that vendors don’t do this kind of training for other large Host Agencies, they do. But they don’t do it for just any Agency. (Maybe a BDM would, but not the President of the Company.)

The trainings inspired me to research more about the companies that spoke during the day and what they had to offer. I left with new tools and ideas on how to promote my travel business. Because of the training put together, I knew YTB was serious and I needed to get serious. It tools were always there, I just needed to take the time to go do it.

What also impressed me during that day was how excited the suppliers were about being with us. I’ve seen it for years. YTB happens to be a real breath of fresh air for most suppliers because of our passion and excitement. I remember seeing a vendor just last year up at Red Carpet who just raved about our Company. I believe the exact words were “Completely blown away”. It was such a shame to see that sour because Travel Professionals couldn’t accept the partnership. Anyone who actually catches our enthusiasm and passion are soon trashed by this group who’ve never seen or experienced the passion or enthusiasm they see when it comes to travel.

Remember Robert Dickinson? If you don’t, I sure do. (Wrote about it here.) That was another example of someone who saw the vision of YTB and was excited about being on YTB’s Board of Directors only to suddenly “decline” less than 24 hours later.

Regardless of the number of times I’ve seen individuals or companies pressured or harassed to drop YTB there are companies who see the fears and phobias that traditionalists have about MLM’s and support us anyway. (They’re just a little quieter about it publicly to keep from being spit at.)

If you want to know more about how vendors really feel about our company, go watch some of the videos in the Media Center in your back office. (Sorry, you’ll need to log in to see it.)

Or, you can show up at one of this year’s Travel Training Roadshows that kicks off this weekend in Costa Mesa, California.

President and Founder Kim Sorensen will be hitting cities, including here in Atlanta later in March, to offer travel training from some of the industries most respected suppliers in the travel industry. It’s your opportunity to see for yourself why suppliers and vendors appreciate YTB Travel Network, and why we as a company should support them. They’ve all got some great product and the proper tools to help you succeed in the travel industry.

The biggest advantage I’ve found in Regional meetings like this is more face time with the vendors. Funshine is great, but it’s also very crowded. With the country split up into regions there are fewer people, giving you a better opportunity to ask questions, get additional information and develop relationships. Heck, I ran into one of the supplier from the first Regional Training a year or more later and she remembered who I was.

Check your travel portal for cities, dates, vendors and times and make one of these roadshows this spring with YTB. I can tell you from personal experience, it inspires me to this day when I get around other passionate travel agents with a hunger to learn and grow their business.

It’s there for those who want it – and I know plenty who want to build this side of their business.

So go out and get it – starting this weekend.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

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.

Fact 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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

After the close of Funshine last weekend, YTB launched a new training program on Sunday for Reps and Associates – Regional Product Marketing (RPM) Training. YTB is very proud of all the training programs they provide, as they should. The trainings I’ve attended and produced by YTB rivals any trainings I’ve ever participated in for content and curriculum in any industry let alone travel. I’ve been with YTB for several years now, and with every new training YTB creates, they take what they’ve been able to learn from the past to enhance the new trainings and curriculum with better features, content, and presentations to ensure what’s being taught is relevant, fresh and current.

The new RPM curriculum takes the best aspects of the live trainings such as the old CRTA that YTB once held across cities all over the country and has enhanced it’s mission and purpose.

The mission of this program is to educate and equip our Reps to effectively sell the YTB suite of products and to build a successful sales organization.

Don’t mistake this for another version of the CRTA however. There are several key aspects of the RPM Training that set RPM apart. With all the changes, enhancements, and upgrades YTB has experienced over the last two years the company has created a training program that provides information and how-to’s for YTB 2.0. What’s even more impressive, RPM is designed to be updated and enhanced on a weekly basis to provide the participants with the most relevant information available at that time. The only common thread between the CRTA and RPM trainings are they’re both live, and they’re both local.

There are four major categories with the new 4 1/2 hour RPM training that will provide a little insight into what this training program is all about.

1. What we sell – travel, shopYTB.
2. How to sell it
3. How to build a team
4. Compensation and how to get to Coach’s Corner.
   

With the advent of First Class Training last year, the completion of E-Campus this summer, supplier seminars provided at Funshine this past weekend, and the plethora of travel related webinars, Seminars @ Sea, and live trainings provided by the industry and various associations, RPM is designed for the new Associate and Rep in our business. While RPM provides an overview of hundreds of suppliers YTB partners with, this new training is not designed for the Travel Store Owner, but for the Associate and Rep.

Nor is RPM designed for anyone outside the company. In the past, the CRTA trainings were a great way to show prospects our product and company culture free of charge. Not so with RPM. For each RPM, participants not only need to register in their back office for the local Trainings, but also pay a $45 registration fee in advance for the 4 1/2 hour trainings. That being said – I can’t think of a better way to get a new Associate off on the right foot with a $45 investment to provide the proper product knowledge and effective marketing techniques.

The goal here is to provide current and relevant content for anyone who wants to learn how to build an organization. YTB will follow this new training program very closely, with pre and post meetings, participant surveys, and continued trainer and field input to ensure accuracy and relevancy. With YTB’s Franchise Model just over the horizon and the opportunity it provides, YTB has been proactive with RPM with this key component in the transition to a Franchise model. The new RPM training not only updates Associates and Reps about YTB 2.0, but is flexible enough to provide both effective communication tool and the proper training program as the Franchise model begins to roll out in 2010.

Case in point. The first RPM training course was held in front of 300 registered participants last Sunday in Orlando. Participants have already enrolled in two more RPM Trainings this upcoming weekend in Irvine and San Fransisco, California. Based on company, field, and trainer input, close to 20 slides have been updated with new information for the trainings this upcoming weekend. As YTB continues to roll out RPM later this month in Kansas City, St. Louis, Atlanta, Detroit, and Newark NJ, and additional RPM trainings scheduled for November in Tampa, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, and Denver, more changes will be made as YTB updates it’s systems and processes.

The best part about RPM…it’s live and in living color.

Don’t get me wrong, I love technology and how easy it is for us to learn and obtain knowledge remotely. The First Class Training launched in October of last year, The Academy’s E-Campus courses designed by industry veteran Marc Mancini, and the regular Thursday night Training Calls with suppliers were all designed to provide training for our Travel Store Owners. While I find each of these training modules both effective and well done, it can’t compare with “live” events YTB once held via the CRTA’s or currently do with YTB University or the supplier seminars conducted at both the YTB Convention and Funshine.

These live events provide interaction and the ability to ask questions that you just can’t get via the remote trainings. (Although there are ideas to address that shortcoming.) RPM will also provide participants with a class of Certified Company Trainers (48 currently) who have gone through a the proper certification process to ensure that RPM will maintain it’s high standards and mission as it moves forward. With all due respect the the CRTA trainings once held by YTB, some of the trainings provided by a few Directors were not up to company standards. I’ve seen a big movement in trainings across the board on what has become known as “Train the Trainer” and YTB has picked up on this idea for it’s own RPM trainings to ensure relevancy, accuracy, and the proper information designed for the field by the company.

I’m also looking forward to the smaller venues that should provide better retention and interaction between the participants and the trainers. While it’s impressive to see a room filled with 1000 people, the size of RPM has been shaved to possibly 100 registrants after this first wave of trainings roll out across the country. RPM will also look at a few secondary markets like Austin, TX and Montgomery, AL to provide easy access to these emerging markets within YTB.

My hats off the Founders and Executives in the company and especially Derek Avera for this new RPM training. Like most of the new trainings YTB launches, Derek was key in the design and launch of the new RPM training. He first came on the scene with a viable answer to our Travel Training with First Class for new TSO’s last year. With RPM now launched for Associates and Reps in the field with it’s new design and content, it should prove to be a major component in YTB’s dominance in the industry.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

Scott Tomer was in town a couple weeks ago and I had a chance to sit down with him in a small group setting the night before the Saturday training. One of the other members of the group asked the question “Why don’t we [YTB] hand out more travel awards at Convention?”

What Scott told us, was the idea of Travel Awards did come up for Friday’s afternoon General Session at this years Convention. If you recall, Friday afternoon unleashed the industries best commission contracts and benefits in the industry, the upgrades for “Steals and Deals” and the enhanced Great Escapes packages for both Travel Store owners, and clients. With Friday afternoon dedicated to Travel it just made sense to offer Travel Awards. However, when they called the travel leaders in our company to ask if they would be at Convention, every one of them said “Yes, I’ll be at Funshine.”

The “Convention” our travel leaders were talking about begins today at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. Funshine provides two days of seminars and a trade show floor with some 60 or 70 suppliers who are soliciting their products and services for your clients next vacation.

Funshine will also hold a General Session tonight to hand out awards for our travel leaders who have produced significant travel sales. There will be other upgrades and announcements; one of which is a new “skin” with additional features which you can get a feel for from with our Golf site. (Sorry, couldn’t hold back on this one, but since it’s already live…what the heck.)

The trade show floor of course is free, and those of us who have completed the Marc Mancini’s E-Campus series of courses also receive a complimentary upgrade to all the seminars offered by our preferred suppliers. (We also get to call ourselves “Travel Agents” and are upgraded to a 75% commission contract without quotas after completing the E-Campus courses.)

Here is a list I was able to obtain from the Home Office of the seminars and descriptions.

American Destinations
“Significantly grow your YTB Business with Educational Student Travel” Content for beginners and experienced agents alike.
ADI specializes in all-inclusive, multi-day group tour packages with an emphasis on Educational Student Travel.  YOU can have a hand in shaping our Nation’s youth and work toward your YTB $5,000 Matching Travel Commission Bonus!

Carnival Cruise Lines
(Friday) “Getting Started Selling Cruises – What you really need to know” – Beginner
(Saturday) “Super Sales with Carnival Cruise Lines” – This all-inclusive seminar will touch on the keys to great success selling cruises.  It’s a must attend event! – All levels are encouraged and welcome!

CCRA
“What’s new with CCRA”   This seminar speaks to those mostly already familiar with their product but they would love to include anyone wanting to learn more about who they are.
We will show you how to book hotels and other services – make more money and save time!

CLIA
“Cruise Vacations: an Introduction” This seminar is 3 hours and worth 15 CLIA credits once you have passed the test.

Collette Vacations
“How to make the most money in Travel Today!” For all levels of experience.
Deluxe escorted tours to all 7 continents, door to door transportation from the passenger’s home to the airport.  Our unmatched cancellation waiver protects your passenger.

Costa Cruise Lines
“Have you seen Costa lately?”  For both beginner and experienced agents.
Costa, Europe’s number one cruise line, offers an experience that is delightfully different in service and cruise.  In an atmosphere filled with love, laughter and La Dolce Vita.

Globus Family of Brands
“Globus Family of Brands; Product, Groups and Marketing” Balanced for beginners and experienced agents.
With more than 400 vacations to over 60 countries worldwide, the Globus Family of Brands offers a variety of travel styles to fit anyone’s budget or desire.

Holland America Line
“How to understand & sell Holland America Line, including in depth training on our Alaska vacations”  Balanced for beginners and experienced agents.
We invite you to sail with us and discover a world of elegant, mid-sized ships, award-winning service, intriguing onboard enrichment programs and sophisticated five-star dining.

Honeymoon Wishes
“The Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Market is still growing – Learn how to be a part of it.” For both beginner and experienced agents.
Clients can have any part of their honeymoon as a wedding present!  Earn commissions form their gift registry and market your business.

Pleasant Holidays
“The World of Pleasant” For both beginner and experienced agents.
Since 1959, Pleasant Holidays has sent over 9 million travelers on dream vacations.  Pleasant Holidays features hundreds of specials and value-packed vacations.

Princess Cruises / Cunard Lines
“The World of Princess Cruises” “The Legendary Voyages of Cunard Lines”
Escape completely with Princess Cruises to over 350 destinations and 105 unique itineraries.  Show your clients the world!

Silversea Cruises
“Selling the World of Silversea” Learn the value of selling an all inclusive luxury product and earn higher commissions. For both beginner and experienced agents Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard five intimate vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance.

Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises
A unique cruise line navigating through the lands of the Bible, the Steps of the Apostle Paul and the Holy Lands.  Fundraising plans for your church groups.

Travelocity Partner Network
“Travel, Travel, Travel – Trends, Industry Knowledge and more” For both beginner and experienced agents.
A division of Travelocity, the industry leader in offering scalable and private label online travel solutions.  It builds your brand, not ours.

Travel Guard
Travel Insurance… How it benefits you and your customers
Travel Guard Insurance Regional Account Manager Nancy Mallek from Stevens Point WI, is curious if you know how easily you can increase your revenue by recommending travel insurance.  Join us for an informative session that will help you sell more.  Learn various tips on how to sell, why your customers should purchase, and ways to overcome objections.  Plus, everything you want to know about what is covered in a travel insurance policy.

Other suppliers who I don’t have course descriptions for but will be at Funshine to educate TSO’s who want to learn include Epic Tours, The Mark Travel Corporation, Worldwide Golf Vacations, MSC Cruises, Cunard Lines, Worldwide Tours, Inc., and Carey International.

When you take a look at the list of seminars above and then compare it to the Home Based Agent Show and Conference in Atlantic City in a little more than a week, it’s shocking to see how a single company like YTB can attract a similar segment and number of suppliers for its conference. I’d also be willing to bet that YTB will provide a larger crowd for Funshine compared to the Home Based Agent Show designed for an entire segment of the industry.

It should be a fun weekend with our peers who have a legitimate desire to learn and grow in the travel industry from suppliers who see YTB for what it truly is – the 25th largest Seller of Travel in the industry. 

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

Over the years I’ve read how my travel training is sub-par simply because I’m involved with YTB. In all the years I’ve seen those comments I’ve wondered two things.

One…how in the world would anyone outside of YTB even know what kind of travel training is available to those involved in YTB?

And two…can CLIA, TAUniv.com, TheAcademy.com or supplier specific training be any different from what other host agencies are able to acquire?

In my weekly newsletter I write each week for TSO’s, a good portion of that newsletter is dedicated to the subject of travel training. When I see folks like CLIA, Travel Agent University, The Academy, and a number of suppliers and vendors who promote training courses and webniars, it makes me wonder if I’m missing something. Are the Traditionalist getting something through osmosis that I’m not? It’s especially interesting when these trainings are live (like CLIA’s this summer) how this happens.

I consider myself somewhat observant and a smart enough guy. How this specialized training and knowledge has slipped past me all these years is very odd. It could be a case of more mud that’s thrown up in the hopes that it will stick for anyone who is looking into becoming a Travel Agent. If you find it via Google, it’s got to be true right? The tag line here is: because it’s YTB, somehow, you just can’t get the same type of quality training because it’s MLM. 

Truth be told, it’s not the lack of training that’s available in this industry that’s the problem. The problem for those that are caught up in all the “issues” with YTB is that the individuals involved in our company don’t appear to have any interest or care to participate in the training that’s available. What we have come to understand over the years however, is the “issues” are more or less “illusions”. Remember, the mud thrown up is to make it look like the majority care only about “recruiting”. Yet, the last two years of Income Disclosures document a very small number recruit. (Fact is, about 10% actually do.)

So what’s available to the other 90% who got involved with YTB?

When writing a newsletter like mine, a key to it’s success or failure is knowing what your readership likes. What pushes thier buttons. A big reason why I put so much travel training information in my newsletter is because my readership responds to it. I not only track, but I pay close attention to open rates and click rates to see how effective my information is. (It’s all part of proper marketing and building trust.) Every week, without fail, travel training consistently ranks very high in clicks.

For example, I mentioned CLIA’s TrainingFest which will tour 12 cities this summer. While I’ve promoted this in my newsletter for several weeks now, each week this live course for Cruise Counselor Credits ranked extremely high from my readership. (Out numbered 2 to 1 over any other piece I wrote the first week I promoted it.) They, like me, have a keen interest in learning and growing in the travel industry.

In addition, new 2009 CLIA applicants are required to be enrolled in, or to have achieved a designation (ACC, MCC, ECC, ECCS) in CLIA’s Cruise Counselor Certification Program. Attainment of an ACC designation requires a program of mandatory and elective training options as well personal cruise experience, shipboard inspections and 25 cabin sales within the two year enrollment period.

What about Travel Agent University? US Airways is offering a Vacations Specialist Course this week through this program that looks to be the same course offered to Traditionalists. These “home-study” programs by the Education and Training Division of Travel Agent Magazine offer a wide variety of programs and courses for anyone interested in learning about destinations and suppliers. There are dozens of programs and courses to choose from within this particular training program. Since these courses are designed by the staff of Travel Agent Magazine, again, I can’t imagine a special course just for YTB, and another for Traditionalists.

Another high click rate the past two weeks have been Apple Vacations and their Agent Academy now in year two of the program. These 10-unit educational course on selling Apple Vacations expands on what we learned in year one. Of course, those who are new to YTB and Apple Vacations have an opportunity to take year one, and then move on to year two in order to get you up to speed. I can’t imagine how or why Apple Vacations would have one course for Traditionalist and another course for YTB.

We can’t forget OneSource from Princess and Cunard either. This Travel Agent Training center is most likely the strongest from any supplier in the industry. (At least ones not offered through programs like Travel Agent University or TheAcademy.com) I’ve heard many times over how much others have learned through this course, and how the curriculum found there can lead to more cruise sales across the board.

And of course there’s YTB E-Campus. While E-campus appears to be an exclusive YTB training, it’s not designed by YTB at all. Instead, we left that up to the most respected and well known trainer in the industry, Dr. Marc Mancini. 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. While there has been quite a bit of speculation that all 10 courses would never be rolled out, YTB is currently in need of one final program, (Course 110) to complete the entire library of training.

E-Campus is a considerable investment for our TSO’s who desire to become “Travel Agents”. Word is with the completion of this 10 course series, we’ll be able to drop the “R” from “Referring Travel Agent” and be considered “Travel Agents”.

There will always be a few stragglers who simply won’t accept anyone involved in YTB as “Travel Agents”. You need to keep in mind that these are the same people who won’t accept YTB as a seller of travel period. If they want to get caught up in the myths and spin surrounding a company like YTB, I’d simply allow them to do so. What I’d recommend instead is getting yourself plugged into something like my newsletter to keep you up to date on the abundance of travel industry training available.

You’ll quickly learn that the industry is an “equal opportunity trainer” and most suppliers, training centers, and specialized courses offered in this industry could care less about who you might be tied to as a Host Agency. It’s apparent to me that there’s an abuandance of training available if you simply know where to look.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

It’s official.

YTB 2.0 is now live.

There were some who guessed we’d fold and never make it to this day, but we’re actually here now and the sites are up. Over the next couple of articles we’re going to discuss the features, advantages and benefits of YTB 2.0. Because YTB now has to make a clear separation between our business models, we’re going to split the opportunities here into two separate articles.

Before we begin on what’s new with the launch of YTB 2.0 I need to clarify that some of the more stubborn critics will more than likely promote that YTB is not following the new guidelines and rules based on the settlement that we reached with California in the middle of May. About all I can say is, let them.

Let them vent, let them report, let them turn in everything they find on the new sites into whatever authority the see fit. What YTB has is compliant and as we move forward, we’ll notice very little has been modified or changed in regard to content. While critics like to throw the word “pyramid scheme” around, we’ve seen how successful that turned out to be. I don’t know if any of them will come to grips with what’s transpired with YTB 2.0, but that’s not our concern.

It’s theirs.

Today we’re going to focus on my first true love, what got me into YTB in the first place…the travel business that I bought some 4 years ago. The new business presentation can be found at www.justpictureitnow.info. You’ll notice a short introductory video that provides just enough information for someone to want to find out more. If you do want more, you need to submit a simple e-mail address and verify yes or no that Douglas and Ronda referred you to the site to take a look.

If you agree to submit a simple e-mail you are then taken to the next step that provides information about running a home based travel business on the internet. A turn key web site, that provides all the all the resources you need to run a successful travel business.

A side note here about the term “successful travel business”. Is that a guarantee that by buying a travel business through YTB you will be successful?

Because success in YTB also depends on what you actually do with the tools offered and how you implement what you’ve learned in the process, that would be “no”. If someone earns $0, and another person earns $26,966 in commissions (according to YTB’s TSO Income Disclosure Statement) the one variable here is YOU.

If someone wants to get caught up in “averages” or “median” incomes are in the Income Disclosure that’s available, I’d probably just let those poeple go. Anyone concerned with being “average” doesn’t have the right mindset or belief in themselves, and are already looking for excuses to fail before they even get started in the business. If average works for you, great. I’m not one, nor am I looking for anyone who wants to be average.

I love what Scott Tomer said a couple of years ago when he told everyone that we’re looking for “Travel Agents” not “Secret Agents”. Meaning if you keep the fact that you actually own a Travel Store a secret and don’t tell anyone, the likelihood of earning anything in this business is slim to none. But because very few want to take personal responsibility for why their not making a dime, it’s YTB’s fault.

Sorry, try again.

What you find on our sites are the same seats on the plane, the same room at the hotel, the same cabin on the cruise for a comparable price. The difference is that when friends, family, co-workers buy from you instead of the other sites, you get paid.

When 4 of the top 10 Agencies in Travel Weekly’s Power List are nothing more than booking engines that point people to sites to combine for sales of over $45 BILLION in travel, that’s a big clue right there that you don’t need to know everything, just how to point poeple to your site. A good starting point would be opening up your mouth and telling someone you own a site they can book travel from 24/7/365.

In the new launch with YTB 2.0 there are 4 video’s for anyone who wants to find out more about owning a Travel Agency with YTB including a “Test Drive” of all YTB has to offer. “Great Escapes” are also explained that are exclusive to YTB. In addition we cover the hours and hours of “Training” that’s provided, and and lastly more about the “Opportunity” that exists with owning a Travel Store. What I like is that everyone has the opportunity to view a live working site, to check what’s offered, compare pricing, and see how simple this puppy is to use. Anyone who’s been on Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, or Priceline (the same sites that combined for $45 BILLION in travel in 2007) and booked travel with them, will certainly know how to navigate the YTB Travel Network.

The new site is clean and rich with content via the videos that are available. A picture is worth a thousand words, and when you get to see what’s offered in the videos, hear testimonials from real Associates and RTA’s about their business, and a clear, concise explanation of how our model works compared to everyone else out there, the answer is pretty simple.

You’ll also notice that it’s all about the product. What you get for less than $500 to start and $49.95 a month. If you wanted to create something like this on your own and come up with a cost, you’re more than welcome to. I can’t even begin to imagine what that cost would be when you factor in design, hosting, and securing contracts with all those vendors you get for $49.95 with YTB.

Take a look at the new YTB 2.0. What you decide to do is up to you. We have all the tools, training, and information available to help you make an informed, educated, business decision about our model. 

What you do with the informaiton and the tools is entirely up to you.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

I enjoy Trade Publications. I subscribe to a variety of publications in both electronic form and in traditional print. I’ve always enjoyed reading and learning about the industry, and have promoted learning as much as you can about any subject that interests you. There has never been a time in our history when so many mediums are available for someone to learn and develop a skill or a trade.

I’ve enjoyed the way suppliers and trade associations have embraced training, enabling me to learn about the industry. From seminars and webinars; from a training call or port of call via ship inspections, the variety of ways to learn and develop in this industry is abundant.

I’ve seen many changes within the industry over the last several years when it comes to doling out credentials in the industry. I’ve also supported the upgrading of requirements for FAM eligibility from both suppliers and associations.

One thing that hasn’t changed much are the Travel Agents who think they “own” the industry.

I was walking home with the kids and my neighbor on Thursday and we stopped in the culdesac to chat a bit longer. While talking, I opened up my mailbox to get the mail with my monthly issue of Travel Agent Magazine in the mix. I typically look forward to each and every publication and wanted to see this months “cover”. When I saw the cover, I smirked, shook my head and commented “Good grief”.

My neighbor who was standing in front of her mailbox ask me what the comment was for, and I held up the front of the publication to show her. She asked “What’s that all about?” and I simply commented that the man in the mask…is supposed to depict someone like me.

She laughed and asked “That’s suppose to be YOU?!” and I responded, “No, not me specifically, but someone like me because of the company I work with.”

I told her of the issues Travel Agents have had for years concerning “card mills” and downright phobias regarding MLM’s and what we have presumably done to disgrace, embarrass, and ruin their reputations as “Professionals”. You wanna know her reaction?

“And that’s their answer?”

Yep, afraid so. I went on to tell her about forums and blogs these “Professionals” hang out on to discuss all the wrongs, all the injustice, all the problems they can think of on a daily basis. How at one time I had befriended some of them, and because I’m not willing to change host agencies or simply get out all together, I’m now an outcast and seen as the man in the mask. (And then some.)

“How does that make you feel?” she asked. I thought about it, for say… a nanosecond, and replied with “How’s it suppose to make me feel?” I went on to ask a couple of more questions, like how someone I don’t even know, or more importantly doesn’t know me, should own any feelings one way or the other? I asked if she see’s any connection to me and the man in the mask. Do I look and act like that to her?

She thought that was a strange question based on the look on her face, because we happen not only to be neighbors, but friends. To think an article or even this cover will cancel out years of friendship does sound a bit over the top. I’ve heard that if you join and MLM that you can kiss your family and friends goodbye, because you have to hound them about joining the MLM you’re involved in, (any MLM) and they eventually get fed up with the constant badgering and eventually disown you.

It’s been over 4 years now, and I’m still waiting for THAT shoe to drop.

It’s not that I haven’t heard story after story about MLM’s destroying friendships and families. There are those who can’t fathom being unemotional or unattached to an attack like what’s depicted in the picture. Family especially, would want to protect those they are closest too from being “stained” in this way. I might be the same way when I was far less secure about my own abilities and worth.

But I have to wonder, why after all this time, all this energy, all the “talk” about how bad things are, just why a professional publication would even think that an article like this is a good idea. What some in our industry have categorized as “card mills” have been around for over a decade now, and the industry is only a small fraction closer to resolving this so called problem and embarrassment than they were back then.

There have been suppliers, (who by the way are the ones who grant these FAM’s and perks not the Agents or Associations) who have taken a stand in some form or fashion. Sandals for example, was one of the first I can think of who would provide a complimentary night or nights based on production. Doesn’t really matter which host you’re associated with; if you produce, you’re rewarded. The concept isn’t much different from a frequent flier program, which provides anyone who supports a particular airline is granted perks like free airfare. It’s also why I like the Carnival requirements that came out a year ago January. A minimum of 5 full paying cabins (double occupancy) are required, BEFORE you’ll be considered to partake in a FAM with them.

But for some reason, that’s not good enough for some, as you can clearly see in the comments section of the digital format of this cover story. There are those who simply can’t get over their own hang ups about “their” industry to see that someone is there on a FAM because they earned it. We’re participating in an industry seminar with them because we have a desire to learn. We join in on a summit because we want to expand our knowledge.

Instead, they snub their nose at the supplier because they welcome anyone who produces, regardless of what Host Agency, or so called “card mill” they may be associated with, as if the supplier would even care who they consider “worthy”.

We’ve run into the same problem most recently with Debbie Maier and Mailpound. Ms. Maier took the time to come to a Red Carpet Event to roll out a new private labeled e-marketing site for YTB to help our company promote and sell more travel to our clients. While the site does have a listing of FAM’s associated with it, the main purpose of this site is to enable Travel Agents to send out promotional e-mails and marketing materials to clients to actually sell travel. When she came to the Home Office she was, and I quote, “completely – blown – away” over the passion YTB has for this industry.

And because she now provides this service to YTB, and has seen first hand that YTB is a real travel company, she and her company have now been black listed. There are “Professionals” who are not only promoting that other agents send her an e-mail that “they know” who she’s working with, but if any of the e-mails or comments are like the ones I’ve seen…she’ll need to shower after being vomited on by this outspoken and obnoxious group of “legitimate agents”.

That’s the game plan, to make life as uncomfortable as possible in the hope that they just throw in the towel because the backlash isn’t worth it.

Based on a webinar that I know happened last week, there may be more of this kind of tactic coming from this group. The same day YTB was promoting Princess Cruises, (a Sail-A-Thon to sell full fair cabins, not FAMS) another group was planning how to get more of these types of “cover stories” out there to media outlets to warn the public about the masked men and women who are involved in what they’ve deemed to be undesirable Host Agencies. I know that these Associations are the be all and end all for some, and there have been Agencies associated with many of them to add credibility. (We saw how well that worked out, didn’t we?)

While I was invited to this little gathering with these very prominent and important people and associations in the industry, I declined the offer. I asked the question of how this type of behavior would make me a better person, a better Travel Agent, and a better Leader, but like most of the questions I ask, they were left unanswered. (Ignored was more like it.)

They are welcome to do what they do, and I’ll do what I do. That’s promoting a rebroadcast of the Princess Sail-A-Thon this afternoon at 4:00 pm Eastern to sell more cruises. It’s far more productive, supports the hand that feeds me, (and them) and helps bring the truth to light.

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!

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?