I’d love to have a seat in the Edward R. Jones Dome this morning, just for a chance to watch all the activity going on in preparation for this year’s National Convention. Of course we all know who the star attraction is at this point, and that’s our very own Lady Liberty.

I mentioned a week or so ago about how much media attention this year’s convention is getting because of Lady Liberty, which certainly hasn’t changed with five communities vying for its final resting spot after the Convention. Originally, Crown Point was the front runner, but with so many communities in Northwest Indiana ready to take her in, the anticipation of just where this near life size replica would end up became an event in its own right.

As early as July 25th The Times announced that the 8 foot sections of Lady Liberty were finally finished and ready and preparations had started for St. Louis and the Edward R. Jones Dome. Then a few days later, The Post Tribune begins to anticipate its return to the region and just where she might stand tall and proud. This weekend, The Times attempted to be the first to announce just where Lady Liberty would finally end up, but all we really knew as of Saturday were plans for the big party and parade scheduled for those who wanted to see the sendoff.

It wasn’t until late last night that the Nation found out via WGN America that the final resting spot for Lady Liberty would be July 4th, 2009 at Wolf Lake, in Hammond, Indiana. I have to wonder at this point if Lady Liberty will be facing towards or away from I-90 when it’s complete.

This week however, all focus is in St. Louis for the 2008 National Convention for more than 20,000 people to get the first glimpse of this beauty Friday morning at 9:00AM Central Time. If there has been this much attention going into this years Convention, it’s likely that the announcements made at the Convention will cause an even bigger stir in the weeks following.

Being in the public eye like we are, does have its advantages. ;-P

I’ll be leaving with team members from here in Atlanta first thing Tuesday morning. (Some have already started in that direction.) The Disney commercial with the two little kids keeps running through my head with the line “I’m too excited to sleep!”

With classes and training starting first thing Wednesday morning and ending on Thursday evening with more than 160 classes being conducted and seating from more than 230,000 over the two days, scheduling will be at a premium. General Sessions for all the announcements and awards will begin Friday morning and conclude Saturday afternoon.

That being said, I will have my laptop and camera with me and will certainly be taking notes and pictures with a keen interest in our companies direction and the tools that will be unveiled during the week. Like last year, there will certainly be plenty to write about.

I don’t know at this time however, just how much free time I’m going to have to dedicate to this blog with “Reports from the Field”. While I would certainly like to, (I do enjoy writing here) my schedule with break out meetings, team meetings, and others who want to hook up while in St. Louis might prohibit me from writing as much as I’d like.

Some may know that part of my Newsletter is written on behalf of Tim and Georgia Dominey, Level 2 Directors with the company, and close friends. While discussing the upcoming events of the week, we have discussed the possibility of a couple extra Newsletters to be sent out to the field, which is an easy copy and paste for those that subscribe to the free Newsletter here. This may be the best way to get any updates and news concerning the Convention until I return home a week from today.

For those of you who want to hook up during the Convention, I’d LOVE to meet you! I’ll be staying directly across the street from the America’s Center and the Convention at the Renaissance Grand. Those that have registered for YTBU classes should have a couple of courses at this location, as the courses this year have been expanded. This historic location should be quite a scene this week.

It’s going to be a busy day, so I have to get going. Packing, picking up the passenger van, printing out confirmations, and last minutes phone calls for our teams departure at 6:30am in the morning begins the week of training, seminars, news, and just a little bit of fun with my fellow YTB’ers.

Hope to see YOU at the Convention!

I don’t know how many of you were at last years National Convention. I was, and I absolutely loved it! I’ve really been looking forward to all the announcements which in years past have nothing short of blockbuster. The Success from Home Magazine two years ago with the guaranteed income was such a big help for many who wanted to learn what it takes to be successful. (Working your business each and every day.)

Last years National Convention brought us the new booking engine and marketing site designs were nothing short of incredible. (Both of which have been improved even more.) We had also posted our first Quarterly profit just before the National Convention, (HINT) and with our first listing in Travel Weekly at #35 made YTB stand strong and proud as we should.

Going into this years Convention, I’ve never seen so much media and trade publicity concerning our company. I mentioned on Tuesday that our “consideration” of moving from a Referring Travel Agent model to a Franchise model was the most viewed news story in Travel Weekly. (It’s also the most e-mailed article on the Travel Weekly servers.)

It’s really very impressive if you think about it. The focus and attention on YTB right now is at a frenzy and our biggest event of the year is still two weeks away with even more good news for all those who can’t get enough concerning YTB. We’ve clearly moved beyond these silly blogs, message boards, and YouTube videos that are plastered all over the Internet attempting to spin and create their own stories about what they want to project with pointless opinions and spin.

I mentioned here many times that the truth always has a way of coming to light. The truth started to surface back in April when our Annual Report provided YTB its first yearly profit in just 6 short years. This gave way to investors who actually know something about company growth and success to speculate that YTB could be the next Travel Darling in the Travel Industry. Financial analysts such as Benchmark Journal and Bellwether Report also jumped on board offering their take on this growing company.

I was also extremely proud of Travel Weekly this year, which singled out YTB in their Power List publication of the Top 50 Agencies when they quoted:

“YTB has to be singled out because it faced another year of controversy because of the structure of its business – losing IATA and Royal Caribbean accreditation. Editors checked with the company multiple times to ensure that its reported total represented only direct travel sales, not referrals or any other nonqualified revenues.”

To have the Travel Weekly editors inform everyone that the $414.5 Million in travel sold is in fact travel, should certainly draw a distinct line between those who can read and comprehend and those who simply want to spin in their continued downward spiral. To have YTB singled out and answers concerning all the meaningless questions thrown out since last years publication were certainly put to rest. (Though a few critics persists with even more questions in hopes that someone other than YTB or Travel Weekly will answer.)

ABC News picked up an affiliate story a few months back and aired it on Good Morning America and now has our Lady Liberty on their servers. WGN also aired a similar story a few weeks back as their Cover Story. The thought of having our Lady Liberty dedicated to fallen Police, Firefighter and Servicemen for my children’s children children to visit and look at for hundreds of years really says a lot about a company who appreciates and acknowledges the sacrifice these brave men and woman paid for the safety, freedom and liberties we enjoy today.

It’s not the first time YTB, Beryl Martin, and UPS have teamed up for the local community, but it looks like this time it may be viewed on a national stage when they start to transport Lady Liberty which is only a week and a half away.

The hot topic right now IS YTB and we are still two weeks away from the opening of its National Convention in St. Louis. I personally can’t wait to see the after effects of what will be announced when we actually get there.

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Television station WGN AMERICA decided that YTB’s amazing Lady Liberty being built for the 2008 YTB National Convention was important enough to make it their Cover Story. The video is now available via this direct link and it’s something that those of us in YTB should be proud of.

If you made last years National Convention, you’ll know that Beryl Martin is the same company that put together last year’s event and from the looks of it, this year will be even better than last. While no one really knows, it’s been reported that bids have come in for this stage costing $8 Million.

While this is purely speculation at this point, I have to wonder if UPS will take advantage of being the “Official Transporter” of Lady Liberty from Lake County to St. Louis with a 3 mile long caravan of 80 UPS trucks the first week in August. (The plans of 40 semis have been changed.)

This isn’t the first time Lady Liberty has made news. Back in April, ABC news gave us our first glimpse of what she would look like, and to our surprise, it was also aired on Good Morning America the next morning.

It won’t be the last either, you can be sure of that. A documentary is being filmed as we speak concerning the creation of Lady Liberty for the National Convention, and as much as I’d like to see it culminate there, it’s my belief that our story will end at Lady Liberty’s final resting spot. The front runner at this point is Crown Point, Indiana for a tribute to fallen Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and Soldiers.

There is already word of all three Major networks having press boxes at the Convention along with more than 20,000 Reps and RTA’s. Twice the amount of last year and from the looks of it, in 5 years, YTB won’t even be able to fit in the Edward R. Jones Dome.

It going to be the don’t miss, must see event of the year!

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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Television station WGN AMERICA (Chicago WGN show News at Nine – local, satellite, and cable) will air a story on YTB’s amazing Lady Liberty being built for the 2008 YTB National Convention.

(Story and video air on Chicago’s local WGN station show News at Nine, but broadcast nationwide on WGN America)

SEE IT TONIGHT
10 pm Eastern, 9 pm Central, 8 pm Mountain, 7 pm Pacific

Check your local listings
DIRECTV Channel 307
DISH NETWORK Channel 239
CABLE Channels vary by provider

The story and video will be available at http://wgntv.trb.com/ after the show airs. Alert the team, the neighbors, and the family about tonight’s broadcast and tell them to check the WGN TV website later if they missed it or to see it again. (Keep checking – the video will be posted tonight or in the morning).

The number of video hits on the WGN website will determine to what extent WGN will air something special about YTB’s Convention. (There is already word of all three Major networks being there with 20,000 Reps and RTA’s.)

This is a not to be missed opportunity to increase national exposure to our fast growing company – on our way to becoming the largest online travel network in the world!

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!

Book Your Travel & Vacations With