Since I have been accused of constantly digging up "old dirt", I figured why not let my accusers be happy on a Monday. So here is Rhode Island AGAIN.It seems the Rhode Island issue might not be dead after all. The other day, I was reading the Google Finance Forums and came across this post regarding YTB and Rhode Island:
I haven't followed it too closely lately...but yes, I d o live in Rhode Island. And there hasn't been any word about the sites coming back up. Many RTA's here were refunded up to $600-$700. From my experience, when a company starts making refunds for that amount of revenue, there is definately an error/mistake on their end. For them to fullfill the refunds without any effort to retain the RTA in a different cappacity displays the lack of hope that the sites would be returned to their active status.
After a bit of googling myself, I discovered that the Rep sites in Rhode Island are indeed up and running. Makes sense as they do not fall under any travel requirements. But I could not find a single RTA site available for booking travel. You can check out the Rep site like this one; but when you click to book travel, you get the dead page.
In late February, there was an article in Travel Weekly which discussed the possibility of the state legislature considering a repeal of the bonding requirements. But so far no word on if the measure passed or failed.
So, were the RTA sites all pulled in order to comply? Are they planning on reinstating if the repeal is successful? Did YTB really refund the money to the RTAs? And if this is indeed factual, is anyone surprised that YTB is operating on the fringe yet again?
Before all the YTBers jump up and say I am wrong; I contacted a Rep via his Rep site and asked about how I could go about booking an airline ticket to Florida., Here is the response:
We are ahning a licensing issue in RI. I would like to tell you more about the travel beusiness.
I was wondering John what your last name is> I looked for your email in my files and I could not find it.
I could not find your phone number either.
Sincerely yours;
Jorge Muralles
401-849-5323
401-855-1335
www.locopro.com
Jorge@pronewport.com
www.locopro.com/rentals
Wow. I think that email kinda says it all. Poor guy.
ReplyDeleteSo he can't sell you a ticket or use spellcheck? Nice.
ReplyDeleteRemember, you don't have to be educated OR smart to be in YTB.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many of these people in RI there are, but how much would you like to bet that they are counted as "active" RTAs in all YTB's reporting?
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't they? They count people who aren't even active. So why not count those that can't sell travel. I bet YTB HQ doesn't even know the answer to this. Hell they can't even figure out how much travel they are selling.
ReplyDeleteFinally, I don't see one remark from a YTB person. How often has that happened?
ReplyDeleteI thnk they're boycotting the blog now....
ReplyDeleteOh well, just keep exposing the foolishness, they apparently think it's a better strategy not to fight....
Yeah, they are over on Dougs blog trying to figure out how to make themselves appear legit. Doug is going to round up all the 'real' agents that have joined YTB and show us that those agents make YTB a legitimate venue for booking travel.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone whos worked this biz for years settle for 60% tho...
unless no other host would have them?
And the stock closes below 80 cents, now at 76 cents. Hrmm...gonna drop below 70 cents quicker than I thought.
ReplyDeleteAnd with the economy like it is, I doubt they are going to get thousands willing to dish out $500 and $50 a month. If it was up to me cut backs would start with that waste of $50.
Eddie, I think you may have hit the nail on the head. No other host will have them!
ReplyDeleteThey're also stinging over the fact that the stock closed today at a new low of 76 cents, and Vicki Freed came out in SUPPORT of the RCCL ban of them!
You said you were looking for a plane ticket and he wants to talk to you about the travel business? Hmmm...I wonder what about...? You should play along...
ReplyDeleteRealtors are big into this YTB deal...they must have a lot of free time. A realtor put on the show I went to and there were a lot in the audience. Insurance agents, too.
Now Vicki is saying no to YTB. Hey YTB Zealots where did you go? Those of you saying Vicki would fix RCCL by getting them back with YTB. Oh the same people that were saying IATAN would be reinstated by the crack pot legal team at YTB. You people are a joke.
ReplyDeleteI'm going out on a limb here, and I went out on a limb about the stock and it was almost on the dot.
ReplyDeleteYTB HQ will call it quits, claim that the anti-YTB people and the economy, was the reason why YTB failed. The CEOs will live their final days full of money, because of the countless people paying them money while making nothing.
So now that they didn't reinstate IATAN like they said, and Vicki will not look to mate with the CEO of YTB, what's the next excuse? The next big news? This is about as funny as it gets. YTB is the enquirer of the travel industry.
You need to work in the Tibetan Monks had a severe impact on those Olympic packages.
ReplyDeleteEddie said, "Why would anyone whos worked this biz for years settle for 60% tho..."
ReplyDelete1) What is the commissions Apple Vacations pays you? Apple pays YTB RTAs even entry level 15% commissions.
2) YTB RTAs can have the monthly website licensing which includes E&O insurance reimbursed by just recruiting six RTAs.
3) YTB RTAs who have reached the Power Team earn 10% of the travel commissions paid from every RTA in the Power Team.
Eddie, like it or not, that's better than 70%, 80%, 90% or even 100% of one person's commissions.
Rod---if you are Platinum with Apple and YTB is telling you they are earning 15%, they are outright lying to you. I know many Golden Apple Agencies that are in the 16% to 17% range.
ReplyDeleteAnd Rod, all of those overrides are only valuable if someone sells travel. Have the RTAs under you (the ones you said have not made anything) providing you any additional income in the YTB program?
Going back to the Rep disclosure, 82% make NOTHING. So unless you have that 18% in your downline, you are not going to make anything at all.
Rod said...
ReplyDeleteEddie said, "Why would anyone whos worked this biz for years settle for 60% tho..."
1) What is the commissions Apple Vacations pays you? Apple pays YTB RTAs even entry level 15% commissions.
2) YTB RTAs can have the monthly website licensing which includes E&O insurance reimbursed by just recruiting six RTAs.
3) YTB RTAs who have reached the Power Team earn 10% of the travel commissions paid from every RTA in the Power Team.
Eddie, like it or not, that's better than 70%, 80%, 90% or even 100% of one person's commissions.
Ok, let's work on the premise that YTB gets 15% from Apple. 60% of that 15% is the equivalent of getting a 9% commission from Apple. A new agency signing up with Apple would get 10% off the bat on their bookings. Immediately you're ahead.
And as already stated, your downline needs to actually be booking travel in order for you to make 10% of their commissions as well.
So those of us getting 70% to 100% of our commissions, are doing better than most YTBers will ever do.
Eddie, I have not been able to achieve what I am about to tell you; however, for the travel business professional, it is happening in YTB: dozens even 100s of people in your power team all booking travel plus your 60% with many of the travel vendors paying top of the market commissions.
ReplyDeleteThat means one person getting 70% to 100% of the commissions can't compete with 10% of let's say 100 people plus your own 60%.
I repeat I am not in this bracket, but a lot of people are. Business professional people who see this know what leverage is all about and know you can't leverage one person's efforts.
John said, "Rod---if you are Platinum with Apple and YTB is telling you they are earning 15%, they are outright lying to you. I know many Golden Apple Agencies that are in the 16% to 17% range."
ReplyDeleteI just heard the Director in charge of YTBs weekly Monday night travel call state the Apple is paying YTB 15% commissions. I also just checked the YTB listing in my online backoffice and it still states Apple is paying YTB 14%.
I agree with you it's a rare professional that achieves dozens or 100s of people in your power team booking a lot of travel.
However, many people are. The opportunity is there for the travel professional to earn a lot of money using leverage of other people's commissions in addition to your own.
I'm just giving the answer to Eddie's original question, "Why would anyone join YTB and work for 60% of the commissions?" This is one of the reasons.
Someone help me here - If there are no RTA sites active in Rhode Island, but all the REP sites are active.... Doesn't that = pyramid? At least within RI?
ReplyDeleteAnn--there are no territories for YTB so a RI rep can sell to a Florida person just as easily as they can sell to a Canadian or a Bahamian.
ReplyDeleteI imagine the individual states have their own laws, and since you can be a rep without being an RTA, I imagine there is a legal precedent there. Probably having to do something with no money invested. It cannot be a pyramid if you invested no money.
John said... "It cannot be a pyramid if you invested no money."
ReplyDeleteAnd since money is only paid if someone wants to become an RTA with a REAL website that books REAL travel and supplies acces to REAL travel training from the REAL suppliers... YTB cannot be a "Pyramid"
Like was stated many times before... YTB is 2... COUNT THEM... 2 Businesses!!!
If a person does just the marketing side and gets nothing out of it, they really lost absolutely nothing!
If a person only does the travel side, then they get out of it what they put into it. If they get clients to book from them, then it's all worth it. If they book their own vacations, it's all worth it! If someone makes absolutely nothing, it's their own fault! How hard could it be to get someone to book off your website? Not hard at all... especially with competitive prices. Eventually, some people will see what you have, and actually want it. There, you now have a new RTA! So you lose a client... but you gain a 50%match! There's more clients out there. It's quite simple. You hear someone talking about going on vacation... you start a conversation... age to asking whether they book online. If they do, walk them through your website. If you know your business well enough, you won't even need your computer to do so. Just jot down notes for them on how to navigate. Give them your card and number so that if they need assistance, they can call you. BINGO! You got a new client!
I'm sorry Proud, but anyone with web skills will know the the YTB RTA sites are not exactly the best places to find the best prices and values. There is just too much that is not included or not available. All of you do a disservice to the customer by promising it to be so. I know that doesnt concern you much tho. Nor does the fact that most RTA's sign up to buy travel for themselves or for the so called perks. The fact that they are set up to fail is of no concern as ling as YOU get your money. That, and that alone, is my issue with YTB. YTB makes our industry look like a toystore for wannabes, and it's not. Travel selling is a serious business and YTB treats it like a game that can only enrich the top players. Why don't you just sell poker tables and online gambling? It wouldn't be as romantic but it would be more truthful.
ReplyDeleteEddie, we tell people that we are COMPETITIVE. We are NOT discount travel. Sometimes, we do cost more. Fine! There's other ways around that. I could call the suppliers directly to get a better rate for my clients if my site is a few pennies more. I can also book on the suppliers sites for my clients and submit a commission claim form (if that way would be more cost effective for my client). I have a user name and a password set up with the suppliers to acces their sites... just as you do. On top of that, I DON'T charge my clients any kind of fee for doing their booking for them.
ReplyDeleteYou go ahead and keep on thinking that "Stinkin Thinkin" you believe in. I have a business to run.
Your an RTA for heaven's sake! You don't NEED to know anything and I truly believe that you don't. You sell websites. You are not a professional as long as YTB is your host. Sorry, but nothing you say will change that.
ReplyDeleteBelieve what you want to eddie. Your ignorance is truely bliss.
ReplyDeleteI sell travel as well
SURPRISE!!!!
Sure you do.....in your dreams maybe.
ReplyDeleteRequirements to become a traditional travel agent:
ReplyDeleteTravel agent certification requirements
Added: 11/18/2005
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Travel agent is now very popular occupation. To become a travel agent you will as minimum have a high school diploma or equivalent. There is many different courses and travel agent schools that offer full-time travel agent programs that last several months, as well as evening and weekend programs. Colleges also offer courses. A few colleges offer bachelor's or master's degrees in travel and tourism. Those courses rarely relate directly to the travel industry, but there are few exceptions.
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Travel agent is now one of the most popular occupations. No wonder, that there are many courses and special trainings existed. The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) offers a correspondence course that provides a basic understanding of the travel industry, travel agencies also provide on-the-job training for their employees.
Even experienced travel agents can find something that will reflect their needs. Something like advanced self-study or group-study courses from the Travel Institute, which lead to the Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designation.
Becoming a travel agent many skills gained from preceding travel experience will be useful. The reason is that knowledge about a city or foreign country often helps to influence a client's travel plans. Travel agents, generally, must be well-organized, accurate, and meticulous to compile information from various sources and plan and organize their clients' travel itineraries. Nowadays with the Internet becoming an important tool for making travel arrangements, more travel agencies are using Web sites to provide their services to clients.
Officially, there are no federal licensing requirements for travel agents, but it is better to have travel agent certification. The first way to gat travel agent certification is to find a good travel agent school.
Travel agent schools are not as numerous as they once were, but there are still many of them. Travel agent certification of those schools is a major draw for students and many sign up without thinking too much about it. Before you start looking into, it is a good idea to determine what, exactly, you hope to gain from enrolling.
Probably, you are looking for employment. In his case you should be aware that travel agent schools can seldom guarantee that you will immediately find a job waiting for you once you complete their training.
Travel agent schools, of course, teach people who finally will get travel agent certification. But it is important to realize that travel agent schools are designed, primarily, to train low-paying, entry-level employees for travel agencies. Consequently, travel agent schools pay much attention for comparatively dull, rote tasks like using the GDS (Global Distribution System, sometimes called a computerized reservation system or CRS). Travel agent schools are very good at this and if you want to learn how to use a specific GDS, then turning to one of the travel agent schools might be a good choice.
Be aware that none of travel agent schools will teach you how to think like an agency owner or how to get out in the community and sell travel. These institutions are created mostly to serve the needs of storefront travel agencies, providing them a steady stream of entry-level employees who will sit at a computer screen all day and enter orders.
Travel agent schools due to their popularity are rather expensive. It is possible to save thousands of dollars and prepare for the travel agent career you really want by skipping travel agent schools altogether and taking some home study course.
To be a travel agent it is not absolutely necessary to have travel agent certification, but it is desirable. One can get travel agent certification from online-education internet courses, as an alternative to traditional way.
The majority of the courses introduced in the Internet are certified by partner institutions of higher continuing education. These accredited institutions include such prestigious schools as Ohio University, Coastal Carolina State University and Trident Technical College.
The travel agent certification program is designed to ensure that students receive the most intensive, up-to-date and practical preparation for careers in today's travel industry. Students who successfully complete the five core courses gain the travel agent certification. There are different courses: travel agent certification program, tour operator certificate, airline certification program, cruise line certification program and even hotel certification program. Successful completion of each course must be verified by the instructor, as well as the internship supervisor, before getting a certificate.
The travel agent certification provides comprehensive training necessary to become an effective travel professional. The course will include instruction in travel reservations, fares and tickets, leisure travel products, destination geography and travel sales and customer service.
It is now rather easy to become a travel agent. But people should first decide what exactly they want to get from working as an agent. And after that it will be simplier to find the most suitable tuition program and gain the travel agent certification.
Notice how it says that only a H.S Diploma is required to become a traditional travel agent. Then to further, you have to take college courses.... paying thousands of dollars! Guess what? I get trained for FREE from the vendors! Not by some yahoo professor in a college that has never been a travel agent!!! These are what you call "book smart" people.
I can do EVERYTHING you can! The only difference is that I only paid $500 to do so... and that pisses you off! It took me a much shorter time to get a ROI than it took you to.
Yeah eddie, I am laughing at you... bigtime! Yo probably bring home half the pay I do per year... if that! Yeahm you're probably struggling with bills and trying to juggle your mortgage payment... as you lay in wait for your next client to come to you for a travel reservation. How many weeks go by before you actually open the mailbox and find a paycheck? I get them every single Monday... unless it's a Holiday. Then it's every Tuesday. Do you know what I did this weekend? I took the family to Disney, Universal, Sea World and down International Drive and to Wet N Wild!!! Next week, we may try that new waterpark Sea World opened up. It's great to not only earn a living, but to actually have a life and not have to worry about bills!!!
Proud, calm down. No you don't make more than I do. Yes, I am probably better educated. Okay, I paid for earning my CTC designation. I am quite sure I outsell you and about 50,000 of your friends put together. I have an IATAN card. And I can't think of a worse vacation than what you mentioned. No worries on the finance front but thanks for the concern. I don't have to sell websites to eek by either. And being the boss, well I don't have an HQ to answer to or bow down toward twice a day. You are bordering on the ridiculous so I will end this here. Good luck with you living.
ReplyDeleteThank you eddie, and good luck with yours.
ReplyDeleteIf the info you are posting on this "rag" of a blog of yours is true, then why can someone from Rhode Island sign up as an RTA right NOW? I just tried it! I signed up. I am from Rhode Island. Hey, whats $500 just to prove you WRONG! I can even send you the link to my travel site if you want to see it. Lies, lies lies. I think you must be in bed with these guys who are shorting stock in YTB! My hat goes off to you. You have probably made a killing!
ReplyDeleteSure post a link. And direct your anger to Jorge the RTA that said there was a "licensing issue"
ReplyDelete