A few weeks ago Brittany had her annual doctor check-up. During the exam, I was reading an analysis of what to expect from your typical 7 year old. I remember a specific quote in this document that stated that Brittany would show an increased desire for acceptance from both her peers and her parents. The only reason why that stood out for me was because I had already noticed this behavior and felt comforted that this was deemed to be “normal”.

I’ve come to the realization that some people don’t grow out of this need of acceptance or desire to qualify themselves as “normal”. Last Saturday I posted about our Quarterly Report that arrived with a $288K profit, much to the chagrin of our critics.

In that post I commented how the excuses would start to emerge and our critics would look at this Quarterly Report in a much darker light. I’ve spent the last week debating back and forth with a few of the better known critics, and one mystery woman, who desperately needed for me to see things their way.

I’m an optimist, and I typically find ways to look for the positive in anything I look at. I’ll give everyone and everything I come across a chance to show their good side of things. (Even our critics if you recall.) Some are not as not as open minded and frankly unwilling to see other points of view. So yesterday, the head critic decides to Even our critics if you recall.) Some are not as not as open minded and frankly unwilling to see other points of view. So yesterday, the head critic decides to post a blurb about how others outside the industry agree with his position. As if to say, “See, all these experts agree with me.”

I’m not going to belabor the fact that people are certainly entitled to view our financials however they choose. I’ve left it up to individuals to look at our company and collect a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for years. But I do have to wonder why it’s so important for some individuals to proven right all the time like this.

I also have to wonder why this use of headlines from non financial analysts means a bloomin’ thing.

It’s not that some of these articles weren’t written by some very intelligent people, one might have actually been a lawyer. But this supposed lawyer didn’t even know that there needs to be brackets at that bottom of a financial statement to show (losses). No joke, the headline read “Online travel company targeted by AGs posts 3Q loss”.

I also noticed that the first article out in the press provided the following statement:

“The filings said Friday that it plans to raise cash by selling an office building in Edwardsville, Ill., as well as its Learjet aircraft.”

The Q3 didn’t mention the sale of the One Country Club Drive location. To be fair they were possibly referring to the 8-K filed earlier in the week, and the filing did state that a decision was made to sell the LearJet, and that they were “evaluating” the sale of certain non-core assets and raising new capital for future operations. I would assume that everyone knows in this day and age that when an asset is sold, cash in hand is a nice benefit of the transaction. Somehow, the transaction for cash for an asset like a building or jet is determined to be abnormal for the likes of YTB. I found it very odd concerning what the “filing said” being regurgitated word for word in every single news article out there. It leads me to believe that very few authors who posted their findings actually read the financial report, but instead read what others said and assumed what someone else found to be correct. (Another example of that below.)

I realize that critics want to make this out to be a “fire sale” to raise much needed cash. I suspect that our new Independent Directors have suggested that it’s time to tighten belts as other companies have. (Well, responsible companies have anyway.) With YTB moving everyone under one roof at the 1901 Wood River location, a 130,000 sq foot, state of the art, facility that has 59 acres to expand on, why keep the One Country Club location to boot?

Because the commercial market is currently as soft as it is, it was thought that the Edwardsville property would be on the market up to two years. In just a few months a contract had been received on the Edwardsville building One, with a closing set for December. With plans to relocate the staff to Wood River under one roof in January 2009 YTB accepted the offer. I honestly don’t know how anyone would turn down any offer on commercial real estate, especially right now, but apparently along with all the other hats and feathers of expertise, we can now add “Real Estate Agents” to the many, MANY, credentials of our critics who obviously know better than anyone else.

I’m also wondering why some are upset about decision to sell the LearJet? It was an overly flamboyant decision to begin with according to critics, and now that the company is leaning towards fiscal responsibility, a non core asset, the decision is again ridiculed. A couple of possibilities come to mind over just why some critics would be this bent out of shape.

One, this LearJet was Coach, Scott, and Kim’s ticket to paradise when they made off with all the millions they made off RTA’s backs, leaving all of us high and dry. Unfortunately for critics, it now looks like the YTB founders will either be flying commercial for a quick exit, or there is the slight possibly that a choice was made to stick around.

Two, I find such poetic irony, especially this week, that there was such animosity over the big three Auto Execs beat our Founders to the punch as they flew into town in luxury Jets looking for a multibillion-dollar bailout. Possibly the speculation was that it would have been YTB who would be first to pull a stunt like this, but now that the Auto Execs have taken away their thunder, there is no way to pin this type of blunder for the likes of YTB.

I’m happy for John and the others that they have found these well respected financial analysts that agree with them so they can feel normal. It’s obviously important to them, and their desire to ride with the status quo has been not only noted but accepted by this YTB’er.

Me, I’ll call it what I choose, and that’s financial responsibility to ensure the viability of the company I’ve grown to know and love. No more, no less.

I’d like to close with this comical find. I was back for a short visit yesterday morning to comment on John’s blog. I was reminded when I returned last evening how far the threads there can be derailed and while amused at not only the direction of the comments, I honestly stopped to ask why people actually spend time posting there.

It’s not unusual for threads there to wonder off in totally different directions and tangents. There was yet another “outing” of an RTA to show how stupid YTB’ers are, which escalated to a couple of RTA’s who are planning a group trip to the Inauguration of Barak Obama in Washington, DC on January 20th.

Honestly, travel happens to be this small groups first love and obvious level of expertise. This group of Professionals began to discuss how much better they would have been able to organize and schedule a trip like this.

Both questions and details of the trip were discussed among the group and many pointed to the scheduling, location, and supplier. Obviously finding all sorts of problems with how the group was formed, and the potential pitfalls of a group like this at that time of year. Links of the promotion were provided to both a WHAM forum and from there Regina Osei’s post highlighting the details of the trip they were attempting to discredit and derail.

Not all that odd or uncommon for our Traditionalists to offer their knowledge or expertise on how much better they can plan trips for clients. Just take a closer look and compare the comments with the actual promotion found in Regina Osei’s post. John in his usual excitement over finding a possible trip for his vultures to rip apart he incorrectly told the group that the trip to the Inauguration departed from Frostburg, Maryland.

Typical of the group, and much like authors of all those articles John eluded to earlier, the group blindly followed John’s statement of departure from Frostburg. They spent an exorbitant amount of time discussing this and began pull up MapQuest directions of the 150 mile, 3 hour trip, and also discussed just who the trip was scheduled with. One did in fact ask if American Destinations was involved, but nobody bothered to check, and nary a soul figured out that the trip left from Fredrick, Maryland (not Frostburg) through American Destinations who schedules HUNDREDS of tours throughout the Washington DC area on a yearly basis.

I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t bring myself to ruining their fun. So I just let it be and we’ll just let it be our little secret.

How odd that these are the same people who are telling everyone that WE don’t know a thing about travel and that WE are the embarrassment to the travel industry.

Go figure.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

I’m kind of scratching my head these days wondering what in the world is going on with YTB.

I’ve been told that the California Attorney General will be shutting YTB down, and I would assume that means my days with the company are numbered.

If you look at this logically or from a legal standpoint, California can only prohibit YTB from operating in their particular state. This notion that Jerry Brown and his office has the power to shut the entire company down is nothing more than wishful thinking. Illinois, on the other hand, does have to authority, and while they are cooperating with California, we are coming up on a 3 months without any further word or action from the Illinois Attorney Generals Office.

Some are still holding on to hopes that they will. Of course these are the same people who are looking for the FTC to come around, even after the ASTA was told to go pound sand back in 2005.

Meanwhile, “back at the ranch” YTB has been rolling out marketing materials and upgrades like there’s no tomorrow. (Like that play on words don’t you…”no tomorrow”.) We’ve seen new presentations both on line and off line within the past week. We’ve also seen a brand new Travel Training Course, which enables those of us who care to, to earn 70% of the agent commission paid to YTB.

Now late last night, I see that the company has upgraded its marketing site with a brand new look.

While I’m not 100% positive about this, and I could be mistaken, I believe this is yet another “reactionary move” as our critics like to call it. It wasn’t enough for California and other critics that YTB had a marketing site that looked like all the other REP sites out there. It didn’t matter that there was never any possibility for someone to join YTB as a REP from the main YTB Corporate domain (ytb.com) the company needed to make a clear distinction between what belonged to Corporate and what belongs to the REP’s and RTA’s out in the field.

I also have to wonder if the home office flipped the switch yesterday in honor of one of YTB’s favorite critics. While there was a post yesterday on the blog that finally came up with something to spin about the new killer presentation, (although he did say it was “great”) he did lead the rest of the flock right to the YTB main domain that this new site is hosted on.

Leave it to him to break this kind of upgrade.

For the record, the home office isn’t done. I’m really not at liberty to discuss here what’s in the works, but we’ll all find out soon enough from the proper channels.

You’ll just have to check back in the next few days to find out.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

There are times when I read or hear about something, and it just doesn’t sound right. I’ve been attempting to get my head around this California complaint off and on since the Convention. Something just didn’t fit. It’s a single state, with the help of Illinois who is still on the sidelines, and we’re still doing business in California. (More business by the way than any other state in the country I might add. ;-P)

If you’ve been involved in the Travel Industry for any length of time, you know who the major players are, who gets along with whom, who hates who, and who just doesn’t amount to squat in the Travel Industry. It’s no secret that the ASTA has put together quite a propaganda campaign against these so called “Card Mills”. Doesn’t matter that YTB now has minimum booking requirements before “cards” are issued, YTB is used because we happen to be the most visible in on the internet and in the trade publications. (Legislation YTB was able to overcome and win in California I might add.)

I had an opportunity to read the complaint that was filed some time ago and one term stood out for me that made me think of one particular organization right off the bat. Since I didn’t have anything substantial at the time, I passed it off as nothing more than a logical guess. However based on this organizations educational piece (choke) the complaint read very similar to the 2005 propaganda that is now being regurgitated oddly enough based on similarities to the California complaint.

Like many now who “think” they have the upper hand now that they have a complaint, it’s not surprising that this group feels safe in promoting their position on the issue, along with a few on the internet appear to be rather boisterous.

I do have to add that I also believe that this “announcement” from this group was also predicated by a need to “out” a former President of their organization for coming over and supporting the very company and model they feel is damaging their industry. (Please note: YTB didn’t make the connection or initial statement, a seasoned Travel Journalist did.)

Oh…did you hear the Davidoff’s are now going to conduct three classes on the company Seminar @ Sea? (Check the latest Travel Compass or my Newsletter this weekend.) Like Marc Mancini and his Geography Bowl down at Funshine in a few weeks, looks like this excuse about lack of training from the other side is just that, an excuse.

Unlike the above industry leaders who offer solutions instead of a steady stream of complaints, the ASTA has a rather long history in attempting to derail the MLM business model. The majority of damage however has been nothing more than propaganda that I suppose some people have taken heed in. With such a powerful force, and I use the term loosely, you would think they would have had more of an impact on ridding the travel industry of the “Card Mills” they report to have damaged them so.

Now we have documentation direct from the horses a… err mouth that they’ve already filed one suit some time ago in California, and while not directly implied, sure looks like they feel mighty proud of the weight they are pushing around once again in California.

I caught wind earlier in the week of the ASTA making claims to have filed a complaint with the FTC back in 2006 about this ever so popular “pyramid scheme” excuse everyone likes to throw out. (The e-mail was copied and pasted in the blue response at the bottom of this post.) It wasn’t until yesterday however that I finally got something a little more substantial.

And a whole lot more.

I want to address this complaint with the FTC as to why nobody every heard a word about this from the FTC, and highlight the excuse. (It’s pretty funny actually.) Here’s the gem as it’s worded from the ASTA.

“We also complained to the Federal Trade Commission, but our request for a trade regulation rule was denied in large part due to lack of support from the supplier community.”

I find it hysterical that they blame the suppliers, the very life blood of their business for letting YTB slip through the cracks. Had nothing to do with the fact that they couldn’t come up with valid complaint the FTC would listen too now would it? Nor could it be that are mistaken or more accurately don’t have a clue what a “pyramid scheme” actually is.

You can’t fit a square peg into a round hole. I do have to wonder however why they just didn’t announce a “do over” like they did in their past election.

Did the FTC not realize that this was the ASTA? Look, it doesn’t matter how big and bad you try to make yourself, you still have to prove your case in this country, (THANK GOD) before the Government will find you guilty and actually enforce action.

Why do you think we’re still doing business in California even with such a large amount of money up for grabs?

I often find a blurb from the SEC posted on the Internet concerning the FTC’s stance on pyramid schemes. Why do they use the SEC you might ask? Don’t really know, but my guess is that it “sounds better” than what the FTC has up concerning illegal pyramids.

Again…I need to add that the graphic the SEC has up concerning more participants than the world population has yet to happen in a single solitary MLM. Many of whom have been around for decades. (But don’t let that stop you from listening to a Zealot when they post something like this for you.)

So, the ASTA fails in getting the FTC involved, (as I’m sure many other Zealots have attempted to do) and they spend the next couple of years hitting up any State that would listen and finally found one desperate enough to file a suit. Call it whatever you want. Stupidity – greed - political advancement - I don’t care, but since the FTC, Florida and now Illinois have never stepped up to the plate, what do you think ol’ Gerry has in regard to this complaint?

Nothing more than a very dry bone of contention.

While I know some laugh at this notion that a group or organization in the Travel Industry would have the kind of pull or clout to lobby Politicians. I find it interesting that we have a second article within the last week of more lobbyist throwing money at Politicians, although from the supplier end, but a cool $297K Q2 adds up to organizations getting exactly what they want through what ever Government agency (State or Federal) they think they can purchase.

Those who subscribe to my Newsletter know my stance concerning these suits being nothing more than a personal attack. A complaint filed in an attempt to slow or even destroy a company that is “growing to big too fast”. (The AG’s statement, not mine.) I realize that like terrorists, some flat out deny any involvement, and I’ve stated that I would agree some were not involved. (Not that smart, and not their mode of operandi.)

That doesn’t mean however that there is an organization that does have just enough clout (or money) to push something like this out into the public eye. Unfortunately for them, that’s about as far as their going to get based on the failures they’ve faced concerning past efforts. Which include the FTC, other states who never moved past the investigation mode and California Legislation that was merely a blip on the radar screen and clearly separated YTB from this notion of being nothing more than a “Card Mill”.

Oh, before I go. I did happen to send this “gem” up to the home office with an idea of getting everyone together on the Seminar @ Sea with the Davidoff’s and sending the ASTA a postcard from the Seminar entitled “Greetings from Cozumel”.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

While I was reading this week, I caught a couple of threads with the infamous “predictions” of what our Quarterly Reports would look like. One fruit cake actually speculated a $6 million loss…for the quarter. It’s one of the reasons I don’t like to put things like this out there, you look like a real ass when reports like ours come out.

Of course we’ve learned that “critics” like this spend all their time promoting negative information and spin, and while the “spin machine” hasn’t gotten into full swing concerning the numbers, I’m quite confident that it will be more doom and gloom. Truth of the matter is; it appears that YTB has curbed some of the spending it could in order to reduce losses from the proposed $6 million, to less the $200 thousand.

There are of course expenses that YTB could not control based on the foundation it put into place back in 2007, such as 135,000 square foot home office renovation that should be complete in 2009. It’s odd how critics who know so much about us Network Marketers like to talk about the Corporate Jet purchased that Coach, Scott, and Kim will escape in when the imaginary house of card begins to crumble. Somehow they ignore the $5.7 million in property and equipment spent this quarter alone which should be a big clue that they Founders intend on staying right were they are. Salaries and benefits increased by $2.1 million, while building overhead increased approximately $900,000 due to the increase in employees and number of locations in which YTB operates.

It’s interesting that Travel commissions and services for the first six months of 2008 increased $5,754,019 or 68.5% to $14,148,444 from the $8,394,425 reported in the comparable prior year period. While travel commission increased, the number of RTA’s has decreased.

This is a very important development, not because “the house of cards” is crumbling as some will probably predict, but because directly correlates to what I’ve been telling everyone for years. Please take note of a line on page 9 of the quarterly report that I’m very happy to see. I have to wonder if this line was specifically intended for a new critic we have?

“Revenues generated from the direct sales of travel are recorded as deferred revenue until recognized in the period the travel departure takes place.”

Meaning, travel commissions are not reported on our SEC filings until AFTER we actually have the money in hand to report as revenue. While the percentage of Marketing Commission (74.5%) and Travel Commissions (19.7%) have narrowed slightly the SEC report now states that recorded revenue from actual sales are not reported at the same time.

Who knew?

Proper knowledge of how our industry works could prove to be a very important element in California. Actually, some in California already know how this works based on the Legislation that went into effect back in January of 2007 when YTB was able to continue to offer credentials after minimum “booking” requirements were met.

Some however, must not have gotten the memo.

Overall, not a great quarter, but certainly not the horrible showing that was predicted. The key is going to be retention as it is with all companies. I do admit, it’s going to be somewhat difficult due to those who don’t verify what they’ll read from the critics. Proper education in just how we operate and what our model reports to the SEC will be key, and I’ll steal a line that our critics like to use all the time.

“The numbers don’t lie.”

Truth be told, they’ve been lying for years, and it’s my hope that when the suit is either thrown out, or YTB is found to be a ligitimate business model based on proper understanding of how revenue is reported, we’ll find out just who has been lying to who.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

I’ve been wondering all year just where YTB International would place in this years Power List and I’m very pleased and honored to announce that YTB International has jumped 9 spots to #26 overall with $414.5 Million in Travel Sales for 2007.

This large jump in the rankings from YTB International is tied with Christopherson Andova Travel as the largest increase of any of the “Power Agencies” moving up the list 9 spots. YTB’s ranking rose from #35 in last years list to #26 for the current year.

Some of the 2007 Developments about YTB in Travel Weekly Include:

- ARC sales of $29.7 million
- $211 million fulfilled by third parties, known as Referring Travel Agents
- 85% of sales from business, 10% leisure, 5% meetings and conventions.
- Admitted as a member of the Direct Selling Association.
- Launched into Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada .
- Acquired Sunrise Travel in Canada
- August 2007 National Convention in St. Louis had attendance of more than 10,000, up from 3,200 in previous year.
- Launched YTB E-Campus
- Launched YTB Cars
- Held Funshine Traval Trade Shows in Orlando and San Diego with attendance of 5,000 and 3,000 respectively.
- Acquired American Destinations, a tour operator specializing in educational travel.
- Formed relationship with Shanghai Spring Travel in China to develop China and European tour programs.

A few “critics” had speculated that the 2007 Power List was comprised of “fees” or other “non travel” related sales instead of “travel sales”. I personally tried to educate those with this illusion about the fees, sighting SEC filings, and other documentation to no avail. This year it seems that Travel Weekly was also fed up with the ignorance of those who just won’t admit that YTB Travel Network is a real Travel Company.

“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.”

And some wonder why I won’t allow comments from these same ignorant Traditionalists who claim to know everything they need to know about YTB. I’ve told everyone before here, the truth always has a way of coming to light, and I’m not going to waste any more time with those who simply want to sling mud around here or elsewhere on the internet.

These ARE travel sales, so our Traditionalists need to get over it. They also need to accept the fact that suppliers are not going to cast off these large sales simply because some don’t agree with the model YTB uses. I posted as recently as Friday how Carnival “get’s YTB”, that YTB generates considerable revenue for suppliers who support the model.

Other notable information in this list includes American Express Travel and Carlson Wagonlit who remain #1 and #2 respectively. In regards to the top Online Agencies, Expedia (#3), Orbitz (#6), Travelocity (#7) and Priceline (#8) all combined for $45.6 billion in Travel Sales, up $5.6 billion from $40 billion in 2007. Expedia also had the largest increase in sales of any of the Top 50 Power List Agencies, from $17.2 Billion in 2006 to $20 Billion in 2007.

One other note I’d like to add is that it’s now published that YTB International did acquire American Destinations, Inc. With Travel Weekly being named as a Top 50 Media Power in the trade publication category, I wonder if this documentation is enough for the formal apology someone said he would give Regina Osei for posting what she obviously knew to be true.

So there we have it YTB; our second year on the Power List and the largest gainer up the rankings. We all know our goal for 2008 is $1 Billion in travel sales and when we do, it will be another large jump in the rankings for this company.

With the National Convention just around the corner, I’d be willing to bet there will be some major announcements to help us achieve just that.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

One day a man rushed up to Socrates, saying “I have some news to tell you!”

Socrates put up his hand to stop the excited man.

“First let me ask you three questions.” Socrates said.

“Ah, er, okay” said the man.

“Is the news you are about to tell me something you personally know to be true?”

“Well no,” replied the man. “I heard it from a good source though.”

“Then let’s go to the second question” Socrates said “Is the news you want to tell me about someone you know personally?”

“Well no,” the man said “But I think you know the person.”

“I see” said Socrates “Then let me ask you my final question. Is this news positive or negative?”

“Well, it’s negative”

“Let me see now,” said the wise Socrates, “You want to tell me some news that you don’t know personally to be true, about someone you don’t know at all, and that is negative”

“Well it sounds bad when you put it like that!”

“I think I’ll pass.” Socrates said.

Socrates was a very wise man. You may have noticed in recent posts that there aren’t many comments on this blog, and I realize that I’ve been scorned time and time again for “moderating” the comments. If I don’t find any truth, value, or relevance concerning the comment, it’s simply rejected.

I’m sorry to say that I’ve had to reject a plethora of comments here as of late. When I came home from vacation, I found several comments that I wasn’t actually on vacation and I was posting “anonymously” on various blogs and forums. I couldn’t possibly put YTB or this blog down for an entire week because I’m obsessed with recruiting and I’m too much of a “fake” (my own tamed down description by the way) to actually spend any real time with family.

Before I left on vacation I was bombarded with comments concerning Candi May who some claimed was a “fake” as well. While clearing up all the myths, lies, and half truths took some time, I have to give credit to Martha for finally making amends concerning her misunderstanding.

During my vacation last week, I did something Brian Tracy calls Zero Based Thinking. I realize there are people who believe that allowing any and all comments here would be the right thing to do; I however put this belief on trail so to speak.

The bottom line for me is this: If I know for a fact that a belief is nothing more than false why should I feel compelled to post the comment that spreads this false belief?

I know all about the rumors, myths and lies, and I’ve asked point blank for years for documentation to prove what some have claimed as fact. Things like “all Network Marketing Companies eventually collapse and run out of suckers”. Yet Mary Kay, Avon, Tuperware and Fuller Brush are still going strong. (All more than 50 years old by the way.) I’ve been told that Coach, Scott and Kim are “gassing up the corporate jet ready to fly off into the sunset to go rape some other industry”. Yet in 30 years they’ve been involved with just two companies, A.L. Williams and YTB. I’ve been told that suppliers hate YTB, but it sure doesn’t sound that way to me when I listen to the Training Calls on Thursday nights or see them at industry Trade Shows.

What’s even more disheartening is how vicious, foul, and demeaning some of the comments are. Why people feel compelled to treat another human being like this is somewhat foreign to me. All I know about this type of behavior is that it’s used as a last resort when someone feels they have nothing left to fight back. They can’t attack the facts with documentation of their own, so they resort to attacking the person.

Therefore, I’m sorry to say, that I have decided to close the comments of this blog. While I appreciate the positive aspects of this blog and the people that support YTB and my free Newsletter, I simply don’t have the time or inclination to even read the other half of the comments which is nothing more than filth and negativity. My mind and this blog is not a garbage can like some others I’ve seen.

I don’t even read some of the old watering holes much any more. When I came back from vacation, I did read John’s blog and other than getting a good laugh at how I supposedly was gone and then magically appeared mid week to post “anonymously” again while on vacation, there really wasn’t anything worth reading. It was interesting how I was more topical than the actual subjects being posted all week long.

I guess I learned something from Candi May in this whole process. Why these people feel compelled to save the world from their own fears and limiting beliefs is a mystery, and I don’t have the time or inclination to find out why. Another Zero Based Thinking strategy that I concluded was their own problem and it speaks more about them than it does about me.

I’m completely powerless over what’s posted elsewhere on the Internet, and trying to educate those that have no interest learning anything new or changing their limiting dysfunctional beliefs and behavior is a complete waste of time. They seem to think that being argumentative works for them. (Who knew?)

They may eventually get a clue that YTB isn’t going anywhere and neither am I. In the meantime, my time is better served dealing with people who understand basic business practices and success principles that have been around for thousands of years. Nor can I change the past three years of my experience with this company to conform to what others outside of the industry or company are attempting to tell me how things are.

So, for those that have given positive feedback here, I sincerely thank you and I apologize for not giving you a voice here to express what you have experienced with our company.

For those that find this upsetting and unfair that you can no longer spend the amount of time you have here in the past physically typing and posting your limiting beliefs…

Too bad - So sad - Buh-Bye.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

This has been one of the most interesting weeks I’ve seen in about 6 months. For some, it may have seemed like a week long April Fools joke that lasted an entire week instead of just a day.

We are seeing things in a whole new light this week. YTB releases it’s Annual Report on Monday, complete with Total Revenue of $141 Million and $3.2 Million Net Income for 2007, and the value of travel services booked on YTB’s booking engines was $414.5 Million, an increased 84% in 2007. On Wednesday, John Gilliam asks if YTB could be the next On-line Travel Darling and the combination of the two sent the stock upward from a low of $0.65 a share on March 19th, to $3.15 a share on the close of trading on Thursday April 3rd.

Now in a very strange twist, almost as if the stars have aligned in just the right order, we find the Cruise Line that started it all just 6 months ago has its credit rating lowered to “junk status” by Standard & Poor’s. According to Forbes, Royal Caribbean’s sinks to junk due to a heavy fleet investment, financed in part by borrowing, and rising fuel costs as adding pressure to the company’s rating being lowered.

Just weeks ago, Royal Caribbean agreed to work with the Florida Attorney General and will be refunding $21 Million that it slapped on customers back in November of 2007 for fuel surcharges. Maybe they should have kept the $24 Million they had in bookings with YTB and Joystar back in October instead?

After 6 months of trading since the Royal Flush, RCL stock is down 10.77% while the late attention and surge of YTBLA stock has increased 61.53%. It’s a very dramatic turn of events to say the least.

I was over on John’s blog yesterday doing a little reading, and I saw a very interesting comment from a YTB RTA that I want to bring to light. Of course, John’s not talking about the “good news”, and frankly I wouldn’t want to either concerning what’s going on, it doesn’t support his choice in trashing YTB every single day for that last few months. (Correction – he did give us a thumbs up for the stock rebound on Monday, but me thinks he was quite certain that our financials wouldn’t turn out the way they did.)

John’s currently busy avoiding the issue of YTB’s financials and attempting to ask all of us about ATA and what we are doing about all the bookings we have with them now that they’ve ceased doing business. (If anyone knows, please fill him in. He’s dying to know, but I don’t have anyone one on that airline, never have.)

Anyway, when I saw this comment, it put a smile on my face, and it’s one of the first true signs I’ve seen in some time that YTB is beginning to “get it” when it comes to this small group, and if you look, it’s a very small group, of people.

“…if all you TAs really believe that YTB is such crap…then just let the chips fall where they may.If you are so confident that YTBs business model is subpar to yours, then let it go and eventually you will be fine.”

I realize that’s hard to do, even for me. Yes, I’m just as guilty as everyone else. I’ve gradually come to this same realization, and now that I’ve removed myself from the negativity and limited thinking I couldn’t agree more with this statement. The chips are starting to fall, and frankly, it’s looking pretty good for YTB at this point.

What happened 6 months ago was a real shock and both common sense and business sense told me that you don’t throw a company overboard who’s booking $414 Million in travel no matter how small the individual pieces of pie are. Do you think Coke and Pepsi worry about what each individual vending machine does in terms of revenue? Not particularly.

By having millions of these vending machines all over the world is a big reason why Coke and Pepsi battle back and fourth between #1 and #2 year after year. That’s how they sell 1.4 billion servings A DAY.

We’re not out of the woods just yet. We still have IATA to battle with, and we know have a clear sign that is being worked on. I just want to remind everyone in YTB of what Tim and Georgia Dominey wrote in the foreword of my new book released this week, “Keep the main thing the main thing”.

We’ve come a long way in just 6 months.

This model works folks. It works for us and it especially works for the suppliers who have tapped into the pool of vending machines that are out there. There are certainly cases when a purchase from a “Brick & Mortar” would be better suited for the needs of the consumer. No one can deny however, how technology, combined with relationships works as a very effective and stable formula for success.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

I wanted to share something that I’m personally very proud of about this company. In actually perspective, my roll in this was actually very little. It does show just what kind of people I work with and work for. To realize that I’m still in the infant stage of this company and see what is happening…the vendor awards from Carnival, Holland America, Apple Vacations, and the “Success from Home” publication, and now a new company goal for the entire year that was reached a few weeks ago.

YTB reached its Dec 31, 2006 goal of 52,269 Referring Travel Agents (RTA’S) on Oct 19, 2006.

There was celebration at the home office after the announcement was made during a record setting crowd attended Red Carpet Day Orientation where 350 visitors touring the home office witnessed the excitement of the moment as the bonus presentation was kept secret from the 129 employees until the announcement was made on Thursday. Previously, YTB home office employees were given a bonus equal to $50 for every month they have been employed by YTB not to exceed $1500.

In January 2006, when YTB had only 21,000 RTA’s, YTB founders Coach, Scott, and Kim spoke with all the employees in a group setting telling them that YTB’s 2006 goal for RTA’s by December 31, 2006 was 52,269. The whole room went silent right after the announcement was made because the employees did the math and it seemed ridiculous to them that if it took 5 years of hard work really getting with it after becoming a company to reach 21,000 RTA’s, to reach a number 2 ½ times that size in one year was not possible.

However, CEO Scott Tomer told the group that when, not if, we reach our goal each employee would receive a Christmas bonus of 3 times the amount of last year’s bonus. The employees quickly did the math.

All of the sudden the fever caught on. Signs posted on Clocks and everywhere were made with the number 52,269, even in the restrooms. It became a part of the home office culture to focus on that goal. They were saying, “What can I do today to help YTB get there?” Excitement and commitment reigned. Every employee, new and old, knew of the goal and the potential for each of them. Everyone tracked the number every day; everyone. They knew what kind of money was at stake. Instead of receiving a $600 Christmas bonus for being an employee for one year, 3 x $600 = $1800. An employee who maxed out at the $1500 bonus would get a $4500 bonus.

So when the meeting took place at the home office to announce that YTB had reached its 2006 goal of 52,269 something very surprising happened.

The top 3 RTA’s of YTB who are either at the level 4 or 5 director position were in attendance at the presentation. Each of these directors stepped up to the plate and said they wanted to contribute an amount equal to one more bonus for each of the employees, making it 4 times their regular Christmas bonus. YTB founders, Coach, Scott, and Kim agreed and all of a sudden there lots of tears and kisses, expressions of gratitude.

Over $300,000 was given out that afternoon. Throughout the afternoon people were talking, telling stories, emails and smiles among all of the 129 employees at YTB home office in Edwardsville, IL about the generosity of the leaders and sales people of YTB. All employees’ lifestyles were improved that day. Some will use their Christmas Bonus to pay off bills, fix a car, a down payment on a new house, and some of the money will go for college expenses, parents to be comforted, weddings to be planned, vacation dreams to come true. You would have to have been there to see the tears on Coach’s face. He was experiencing the joy of giving. YTB employees experienced the hearts of all who made this bonus possible by their extreme generosity.

That bonus turned 129 employees into loyal marketers, supporters, and defenders of YTB to the death. They know that YTB is the best of the best places of anywhere in the world to work.

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

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With