Like it or not, I have to give equal time to another one of our villains in this thickening plot I’m now going to title “One Royal Mess”. What I just uncovered NEEDS to be addressed, and I’m quickly finding that this whole ordeal is not about “FAMS”, “MLM’s”, or “Card Mills” it’s looking more like “personal vendettas” from a select few of our “Retail Travel Professionals”.

Overnight, I received one e-mail and one PM (Personal Message) from someone I know on the message board forums. Little did I know how the two were related, but BOTH led me to dig a little deeper. Since I had documentation and a verifiable source of the first story I started to write about about the Travel Weekly article, an “In The Hot Seat” Interview with Lisa Bauer, Senior V.P. of Sales with Royal Caribbean International. What was so interesting about this interview for me was that “The Letter” terminating “Card Mills” was only sent to three Agencies.

Yeah…THREE! So we know that one letter was sent to YTB for sure…but who got the other two?

Please select you’re choice from the list of Travel MLM’s/Direct Sales companies listed below.

AMERICAN TRAVEL BUREAU

AMERICAN VOYAGER TRAVEL a/k/a GRAND VOYAGER TRAVEL

CASH CARD WORLDWIDE, now known as TRAVEL REACTION

CERTRAV.NET

CERTIFIED TRAVEL SERVICES

COASTAL VACATION CLUB

GATEWAY ASSURANCE SYSTEM

GLOBAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL

FUN TIME VACATION CLUB

GT TRENDS formerly PRT TRAVEL

HOLIDAY PLANNERS aka INFINITE FRONTIERS and formerly AMERICAN VOYAGER, not to be confused with Holiday Planners, Branson, Missouri

INTELETRAVEL

KE TRAVEL

PROTRAVEL NETWORK, not to be confused with ProTravel International

TRAVELOGIA already cooked

TRAVELWIZE aka CYBERWIZE

TRAVERUS

WORLD VENTURES TRAVEL

YTB INTERNATIONAL aka YOUR TRAVEL BIZ, YTB TRAVEL NETWORK and REZconnect TECHNOLOGIES.

Now, one of them is on this list, but since all I’ve been hearing so far is “rumors” on the boards, (doesn’t anybody know how to link to documented sources on these forums anymore?) and I’ve also heard from pretty reliable sources who this company is, so I’m 99.9% sure. But since nothing has been publish by the company themselves, or in any trade magazine as yet, they shall remain nameless here. (Just in case my “sources” are incorrect and I have to eat more crow.)

The second company was named late yesterday as well, and based on their own agents voicing objections to getting “The Letter” it was simply a matter of time. What I found interesting was an e-mail forwarded to me from one of my team members from our “Star Villain” in this thickening plot concerning news that a Host Agency named JoyStar had been sent “The Letter” concerning termination with Royal Caribbean. Now, if you’ve been in the Travel MLM industry for a while like I have and don’t recognize Joystar as an MLM, you are correct, they ARE NOT a Network Marketing company or Card Mill, but a traditional Host Agency.

Wait a second, am I trying to tell you that Joystar, a traditional Host Agency and not MLM are one of the three sent packing by Royal Caribbean for being a “Card Mill”?

Yes…Yes I am. Joystar is neither an MLM or Card Mill. Period.

Joystar maintains membership and business relationships with American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), International Airlines Travel Agent Network’s (IATAN), Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN), National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA), and they use both Amadeus and Sabre Travel Network as their global distribution system (GDS). (Something MLM’s simply don’t use, not in the “traditional” sense anyway.) Based on the report below, their agents are also producing at least $2000 per Agent in revenue for RCI. (Not the $40-$50 Per Agent VP Lisa Bauer told Travel Weekly a “Card Mill” does.) Nor do they have any Representatives who recruit others into JoyStar in which to earn addtional commissions. To call them an “MLM” or “Card Mill” is an absolute joke.

Then why in the WORLD did Royal Caribbean just terminate their contract?

Well, I was certainly asking the same question, especially after reading just HOW and WHY they were terminated both from the e-mail forwarded by our “star villain” and the news article I found from Modern Agent voicing almost word for word what the e-mail stated which was forwarded to me. If your calculating the revenue Royal Caribbean is terminating so far, that’s $23 Million between two Agencies. ($13 Million in revenue with YTB and $10 Million in revenue with Joystar.)

As much as I’m dieing to fill you in on this new development…I need you guys to read both of these articles before I move forward. I want you pay particular attention to Royal Caribbean’s “positioning” on these terminations, and how Bill Alverson, chairman and CEO of Travelstar, Joystar’s parent company tried to correct this “mistake” (and it is a mistake) along with his experience and thoughts on this.

Here are the two articles.

In the Hot Seat with Lisa Bauer – Senior V.P. of Sales with Royal Caribbean International

Joystar Responds to RCCL Decision to Drop Agency

Have fun and feel free to comment on what YOU think is going on.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629

Of all the home-based business possibilities, it’s hard to imagine one that’s more fun or potentially profitable than operating a home-based travel agency.

Not only do you get the enjoyment of sending people off on their dream vacation, but you earn a good commission for selling services that you do not have to actually provide yourself. What could be better than that?

If you’d like to become a home-based travel agent, and enjoy discounted or even free trips for yourself as well, then the following “Top Tips For Becoming A Home Based Travel Agent” will get you started in the right direction.

1. Affiliate with a legitimate host agency that has all of the required certifications.

The most successful home-based travel agents are independent contractors who work with a host agency. You use the host agency’s resources and established relationships to tap into their network of travel vendors and suppliers. It’s important that your host agency has the proper industry credentials and that they have a program in place that allows you to use those credentials in order to establish yourself as a legitimate travel agency.

As a home based travel agent you need certain credentials like the CLIA card. CLIA stands for the International Airlines Travel Agent Network endorses travel agents and provides the IATAN ID card, which identifies you as a U.S.- based travel sales professional.

If you are considering working with a host agency that doesn’t provide you with their IATAN/ARC number, and other required credentials, move on and select one that does.

2. Choose a host travel agency that provides comprehensive training

Even though you are an independent home-based travel agent, you still need professional quality training so you know how to operate in the travel industry as well as what you are and are not allowed to do.

Getting up-to-date on the best places to travel, tourism trends, and how to fulfill the needs of your customer is vital to your travel business. You want to choose a host travel agency that offers comprehensive training and courses on various travel services, products, marketing, etc.

For some host agencies, taking a course or training is necessary in order to be eligible for certain travel credentials. And, although it is not required to book travel, your job will go much easier and you’ll develop more repeat business, if you are well-trained and well-informed.

3. Choose a host travel agency that will help you promote your business.

Don’t choose a travel company that does not offer some assistance with marketing your travel business. The best ones will offer a turn-key website or online booking engine for your clients to use when booking their travel.

Even better are the travel companies that also provide you with automated marketing tools such as auto responders to handle email campaigns and promotions.

You’ll save money, and gain more customers, if you partner up with a host travel agency that provides ready-made templates to print business cards, postcards, flyers, etc. These are all the tools in your marketing arsenal that will help you get the word out about your home-based travel business.

4. Choose a host travel agency that handles ALL of the travel details for you.

Most host agencies handle all the booking and routine travel details for your clients, but what happens if a name is misspelled on a plane ticket or your customer wants a refund? Find out what type of customer support is available and read their policies carefully before you sign on as a home-based travel agent.

At a minimum, look for:

· How long your host agency has been in business and if they are reputable.
· 24/7 telephone support, not just e-mail or web-based.
· Clear and easy-to-understand refund and cancellation policies.
· A track record of speedy resolution to customer service issues.

5. Choose a host travel agency with a fair commission policy.

Notice that money is not mentioned as the #1 thing to look for when you’re choosing a host travel agency. Sure, the commission is important; it’s how you get paid. But the best commission policy in the world does you no good if the host travel company that you choose to partner with is not aboveboard and honest.

Once you have found a travel company that meet the requirements of items 1-4, it’s time to check their commission policy. Here’s what to look for:

· Make sure that you know exactly how much commission you earn on every travel product you offer through your host agency. Be sure to find out if you earn commissions for add-on sales like trip cancellation insurance or lost luggage insurance. The best host travel agency partners pay you a piece of everything you sell.

· Be sure you know what their commission chargeback policy is when a client cancels a trip or seeks a refund.

· Find out at which point your commission actually gets locked in. Is it when the sale is made; when the client debarks on their trip, or when they return?

· Find out how long it takes to get paid. Some agencies pay Net 30, some pay longer. Whatever the payment period is, make sure you can live with it.

6. Choose a host travel agency with the best perks for you

The opportunity to go on a FAM trip is the most appealin
g benefit to travel agents. FAM trips are short for ‘familiarization trips’. These are special trips specifically for the travel agent. These trips are offered by hotels, cruise lines, convention and visitor bureaus, and tour companies.

The intent of the trip is to familiarize the agent with the product or service so that they can then sell the service or product to their clients. By experiencing the product, agents can sell it more effectively.

These trips are either totally free or have a small cost involved to cover the expense of the trip. These FAM trips are offered at a huge discount compared to what it would cost to the average consumer. If your host agency doesn’t offer FAM trips, you should think about finding one that does.

Also, since you will be working out of home and on your own, medical insurance plans or group coverage plans are sometimes offered. Check to see if the agency you are considering has a group plan that you can buy into. Group plans are usually less expensive than buying
medical insurance on your own.

Some final thoughts

Owning your own travel business means you can take advantage of many tax breaks. Deductions are allowed for you initial investment, home office expenses, cell phone and land lines, automobile, computer, fax machine, insurance, and other equipment. In addition, when you travel anywhere in the world, it’s a business expense!

Overall, becoming a home-based travel agent has some major perks and benefits. The important thing is to find a good host agency and become familiar with your product so that you can offer the best travel experience for your customers. Doing this will keeps a consistent flow of repeat and new business coming your way.

Good luck and Bon Voyage!

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629