After a week of listening to the MLM crowd say that what they offer is no different than Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity, I found a great article on Travel Weekly that sort of spins it a different way. Seems that Orbitz is migrating away from the "go to our website and book" mentality and are providing service. Just Picture That! Did you hear about Expedia opening a brick and mortar cruise store in Redmond? Hmm, Just Picture That!
As the TTAs have been saying for the past year, consumers are getting tired of the websites. They are looking for service and are migrating back to agencies. For those opposed to agencies, they will migrate to customer friendly websites that offer service. Unlike this one. FYI, all of the big online agencies have always had trained support for the customers. The MLM crowd seems to overlook this fact. Seems that MLM is just making one mistake after another when it comes to travel, but I guess that is to be expected when most of the recruits and all of senior management has no background in the business.Orbitz said each of its specialists has completed training and spent significant time in their select locations.
Destination experts are currently in place for the Hawaiian Islands and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula (Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel). Orbitz plans to add specialists for Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, the Dominican Republic, Orlando, Miami, the Florida Keys, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Las Vegas, Southern California and Puerto Rico.
"For new visitors to popular places like Orlando, Las Vegas, Hawaii or Cancun, access to a travel expert with local insider knowledge can be invaluable in helping make decisions that will ensure a memorable trip,” said Tom Russell, Orbitz Worldwide’s group vice president of brand marketing.
Of course they get it. Their business is travel.
ReplyDeleteBut but but....YTB thinks online booking is the wave of the future! Oh wait that furture went past them many many years ago. I just don't get why YTBers keep acting as if booking online is something "new" that YTB came up with.
ReplyDeleteYTB is a small player in a big mans game...and they are lost...they have no identity, they make money from selling websites not travel. So what's next...."Crotch" will say , wait I was wrong...the TTA model is the way to go! Umm yeah ok..keep....so when does "Crotch" get into the ISP service...I'm sure that's the next "BIG" thing around the corner.
(TTA)little mice in the corner fighting for some cheese
ReplyDelete"(TTA)little mice in the corner fighting for some cheese"
ReplyDeleteIt's always entertaining how you RTA's have to resort to name calling and deflection. Anonymous above I think you are in need of some serious help. Ever hear of borderline personality disorder? Google it. That's you. Get some help please.
Who needs a travel agent anymore?
ReplyDeleteFewer of us do, apparently. Just eight years ago, there were 124,030 travel agents in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2006, that number had fallen by about 30 percent, to 87,600 agents.
The government’s outlook for the business is downright depressing. It projects “little or no growth” for travel professionals during the next eight years, as market share gains made by online giants like Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity are held in check by a small bump in demand for specialized travel advice.
Sorry.
Don'r be sorry. It's not true.
ReplyDeleteAnd, see...the government doesn't consider RTA's to be travel agents either!
As a real travel agent, I think the decline in the amount of us is evident. More and more B&M agencies are closing or are already gone. That isn't because of YTB or the other online sites, it's because the airlines want everyone to book direct and do e-tickets. That used to be a huge amount of our business. 9-11 was the downturn and now it's the economy. Just look at how the cruise prices have dumped. It's a progression and I personally don't think booking online has that much of an effect if it's a tour or cruise. The agency I work for has their own booking engine for air and just about everything else, but the majority of our bookings are in person or over the phone. People want that personal touch and recommendations.
ReplyDeleteTo the anonymous poster that quoted the BLS. Stop taking what you hear from YTB as gospel and do some investigation on your own...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos124.htm
Just some points from that link:
Agents face increasing competition from travel and airline websites for low-cost fares, but travelers still prefer using travel agents who can provide customized service and planning for complex itineraries to remote or multiple destinations. To attract these travelers, many travel agents specialize in specific interest destinations, travel to certain regions, or in selling to particular demographic groups.
Employment of travel agents is expected to change little through 2016. Travel agents who specialize in a travel destination, type of traveler, or mode of transportation will have the best chances for success.
Employment, 2006 101,000
Projected employment,2016 102,000
Change, 2006-16 1000, 1
Funny, but YTB claims to have 131,000 agents out there. Apparently they don't count when it comes to the BLS. Maybe YTB needs a new press release. Put Kim on this--see if he can "legitimize" YTB to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Agents/Agencies that have gone out of businesss by and large were of two types" those ready to retire anyway and those that could not adapt to the new envirnmont and were consequently, losing money. Those of us who are left, are for the most part, the best and themost successful.
ReplyDeleteBut it is a fact that this is not the most attractive business for young people and that the overall population of TAs is aging.
CTA in MD
Very interesting from same report - reinforces that actual training/education is necessary and highlights the "high touch" of real Travel Agents vs. RTAs/Booking Engines:
ReplyDeleteTraining at a postsecondary vocational school, college, or university is increasingly important.
Travel agents increasingly specialize in specific destinations or by type of travel or traveler.
Nature of the Work [About this section] Back to Top
Travel agents help travelers sort through vast amounts of information to help them make the best possible travel arrangements. They offer advice on destinations and make arrangements for transportation, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and tours for their clients. They are also the primary source of bookings for most of the major cruise lines. In addition, resorts and specialty travel groups use travel agents to promote travel packages to their clients.
Travel agents are also increasingly expected to know about and be able to advise travelers about their destinations, such as the weather conditions, local ordinances and customs, attractions, and exhibitions. For those traveling internationally, agents also provide information on customs regulations, required papers (passports, visas, and certificates of vaccination), travel advisories, and currency exchange rates. In the event of changes in itinerary in the middle of a trip, travel agents intercede on the traveler?s behalf to make alternate booking arrangements.
Travel agents use a variety of published and computer-based sources for information on departure and arrival times, fares, quality of hotel accommodations, and group discounts. They may also visit hotels, resorts, and restaurants themselves to evaluate the comfort, cleanliness, and the quality of specific hotels and restaurants so that they can base recommendations on their own experiences or those of colleagues or clients.
Many people want and need travel agents. And lucky for us experienced and knowledgable TA's it's mostly the people that spend the most money that want us.
ReplyDeleteI thought I would share my experience with 3 booking methods. I worked for AAA for many years and while I was there I worked the internet bookings, I worked in the call center and I worked in a couple of district offices. What i noticed was that the people that booked online spent the least and were most often shoppers or just curious about what their dream vacation would cost. The people called were more serious and spent more money. But many of them still wanted to be able to work face to face. I eventually decided to go back to working in a district office as that was where I started so that I could make more money. This is were the clients spent the most money. Many of these people would indeed use the internet but they use it for research. These clients that spent the most were also the most loyal and serious. After getting to know their TA many will just call or email for future trips but what was really important to them was to actually meet the person they were giving their money to.
TA's do not hate or fear the internet. We use it everyday and our jobs would be more difficult without it. Besides the majority that gets booked online is domestic air, car and hotel which is fine with me. I don't know of many or any leisure TA's that have domestic air, car and hotel as their niche. No what we hate are uneducated wannabe's that are giving us a bad name by calling themselves travel agents!
Travel agents need ZERO training. Coleman said a monkey can do it. Scott Tomer told us that ANYONE can do it and that you don;t need to be smart to do it.
ReplyDeleteObviously the report is mistaken because if Scott said so, it must be true----Yale or Jail!
anon who posted at 11:55am......in response to your post.....
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to understand the history of travel agents in regard to commission cuts in order to fully understand the decline in the number of travel agencies. It's unfortunate, but many of us have managed to stay positive and realize there is a value to what we do. It's all good.
The bottom line is "only the strong will survive and have continued to survive"
And thrive!
ReplyDeleteHow come all you TTA's have so much time on your hands? Or is it you really aren't needed that much. AA and the main stream media are not talking about any of your heroistic efforts.
ReplyDelete"American on Friday was asking customers booked on MD-80 flights to check their flight status on the airline's Web site, AA.com. Filers can also call the airline's standard reservation telephone number, 800-433-7300.
American also urges customers who were forced to stay overnight due to a cancellation to request compensation by filling out an email form."
Funny, they are not referring the pax to their travel agents. Maybe they don't want any screw-ups. Their pax a pissed off enough at them.
They don't have to refer anyone to their TA because those who booked with a TA have already been contacted by thier TA and most likely already taken care of.
ReplyDeleteAre TA's the only people that know how to multitask?? Apparently so.
More (TTA's) in the corner fighting over old cheese. Fresh cheese at YTB for everyone!
ReplyDeleteAnon said:
ReplyDelete"Fewer of us do, apparently. Just eight years ago, there were 124,030 travel agents in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2006, that number had fallen by about 30 percent, to 87,600 agents.
The government’s outlook for the business is downright depressing. It projects “little or no growth” for travel professionals during the next eight years, as market share gains made by online giants like Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity are held in check by a small bump in demand for specialized travel advice."
You might want to give credit where credit is due. This exerpt is from Chris Elliott's April 1 msnbc column (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23851142/) titled Four Secrets for Finding the Right Travelpro. Read the entire article.
My AAL clientele is all taken care of because AAL gave REAL Travel Agents the instructions/waiver code to go ahead and protect/re-book the client ourselves. My clients have not waited on hold for hours and all this week, I've dealt with these the first hour of the morning. Not so difficult - but it is what the client paid a fee for. And, in fact, they're quite happy that they DID pay a fee.
ReplyDeleteI'm plenty busy - after I've completed 2-3 bookings with commas in the commission, I give myself a treat and peruse a blog or a Forum....
Our RSS Rep was here today - they are experiencing very high booking for '08 - almost the entire year was over 90% by the end of Feb. And they are seeing higher than usual booking for '09. On the high-end, no one seems to hurting yet.... it may come, who knows? But I remain busy.
CTA in MD
Travel Agency's Closing!
ReplyDeleteASTA Not Supporting MOM & POP?
From a Travel Agent : "We were ASTA members for several years but finally realized they had no intention of helping the agency community. Take a look at their track record - the debacle of the agent vs. airlines lawsuit, the continued commission cuts, the testimonies in congress.....the list goes on and on and on.
Our single greatest reason for getting out of ASTA? Ask the board of directors where they hold their many, many meetings. Do they convene at ASTA headquarters in lowly Virginia? Oh no, try Jamaica, France, Switzerland - ALL AT ASTA MEMBER EXPENSE! We decided that if trips to exotic locales would be funded from our pockets, it should be our own trips! Sorry, ASTA, you could never prove to us that you were using membership fees for anything that would benefit our agency."
And the TTA's have the gall to complain about YTB purchasing a 28 year old biz jet for legit business use.
yes the mansion fly by was very practical
ReplyDeleteI'm not a member of ASTA either. So what does that have to do with anything? I am a member of IATA and ARTA tho.
ReplyDeleteAnd I bet Coach really wants ASTA membership as just about every travel-related article on-line advises that you choose an ASTA member as your Agent.....
ReplyDeleteCoach can't get ASTA, they already shot him down and issued a white paper on YTB.
ReplyDeleteAs for the comment about the BLS...yes if you read Chris's column a little further down--and we all know YTBs have a problem with that, he begins to actually talk about you! I bet you are feeling Proud To Be YTB right now eh?
The other side of this equation is do-it-yourselfers — people who have paid hundreds or thousands of dollars to become “instant” travel agents. These amateurs give other agents a bad name largely because they’re untrained. They’ve just paid someone for a card that says they’re real travel agents, but they often don’t know the difference between a stopover and a layover. Instant agents are more victims than anything else, though. They’ve been scammed into thinking they could become real agents by writing a check.
Johnny said, "Seems that MLM is just making one mistake after another when it comes to travel."
ReplyDeleteYeah, just like this one!
Travel Agency Closing Unnerves Clients
By Bethany Fuller
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Edith Hager was supposed to be coming home from Niagara Falls this weekend.
Instead, she filed a complaint with the Mooresville Police Department Thursday against her long-time travel agent Steve Young and his company, SonShine Tours and Travel.
Hager’s complaint is one of many the Mooresville Police Department is trying to sift through.
The complaints accuse Young and the travel agency of a variety of things - including fraud.
No formal charges have been filed against Young, but they are expected later this week, said Mooresville Police Detective Gerald Childress.
Young’s lawyer Greg Whitfield said there is an ongoing investigation, but his client hasn’t been charged with anything, so he has no comment at this time.
The complaints have become so numerous the Mooresville Police Department has asked the FBI Financial Crimes Unit to join the investigation, Childress said.
For days, several of Young’s clients and the police have tried to get in touch with the travel agent without much luck.
Hager received a letter Wednesday from Young stating that SonShine was closed effective Aug. 14.
“This was a very hard decision. As you know, we have always tried to provide the very best value and service to all our clients and have made good friends along the way,” Young wrote.
“We have had several companies, including three cruise lines and two vacation companies, go out of business owing us large sums of money.”
According to police, Young’s landlord has evicted SonShine Tours for past due rent.
Childress said a number of people have come forward claiming they booked tours or cruises with Young, only to find out the trips weren’t booked.
He estimates around 99 percent of the complaints are from people 60 and older.
Hager said the $500 Young owes her is just a flash in the pan compared to the $15,000 another couple is owed.
Many customers never received the requested refunds, and some have received bad refund checks, Childress said.
A few people have complained that Young used their credit card numbers to book trips for clients, he said.
“These cases are walking a very thin line between civil and criminal,” Childress said.
Childress said he spoke to Young and Whitfield this week about the investigation.
He said Whitfield has instructed his client to cooperate, but not to talk to the police without him present.
“He did not made any kind of comment to me,” he said.
The accusations against Young don’t sit well with some travel agents in the community, who say it hurts their business.
“I’ve been getting so many calls from clients of his,” said Kelly Atwell with Travel Services. “It makes us look bad."
Atwell said the same thing occurred when the police investigated Barbara Herrington earlier this year.
People need to make sure when they book a cruise, a tour or any kind of trip that they get an itinerary or some type of receipt and confirmation code, she said.
That way, the client can be assured their money is going to the proper place, she said.
“If the money never goes to the vendor, the client doesn’t have any recourse,” she said.
Chris said, "These amateurs give other agents a bad name largely because they’re untrained."
ReplyDeleteOh, the kettle is calling the pot black!
"The accusations against Young don’t sit well with some travel agents in the community, who say it HURTS their business. “IT MAKES US LOOK BAD."
Now thats a laugh. A TTA making other TTA's "look bad".
Interesting, it was a Christian travel organization - guess it makes Christians look bad too....
ReplyDeleteWell lordy be! Is that the same Steve young that just signed up with YTB? He is so blessed!
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding? Is it the same guy?
ReplyDeleteWell it sure looks like it might be. Steve Young is a popular name, but the YTB one is from NC and that is where the other "criminal" was. Yale or Jail...Wonder why YTB is bothering with this petty stuff now when they have Chris Paraldi Illegal Gambling Kingpin in their midst!
ReplyDeleteBut what is odd is that that is the same town where the other TA was located. The one that was finally arrested in Maryland...and she was in that TAN mlmesque thing.
Maybe YTB can take her too!
Anonymous said..."Interesting, it was a Christian travel organization - guess it makes Christians look bad too...."
ReplyDeleteNice try but the Christian agency is not the same one as your peer Steve owned. Also not the same Steve Young in YTB.
“I felt like when I see him I could kick his fanny,” Kathleen Phipps said."
She told us she’s most upset because she’s spent her whole life working and waiting for her retirement to travel.
Next time Kathleen, book on line! You never know when a TTA will take the money and RUN. Better yet, get your own YTB site!
Travel Agency's Closing!
ReplyDeleteASTA Not Supporting MOM & POP?
ASTA has never been a travel agency organization. They are merely a "mouthpiece" for the airlines.
It IS the same Steve Young! He's one of the turncoat TTA's you are so fond of bragging about. i don't know about any Steve Young but Steve loves the travel biz and desperately wants to stay in and earn a living and take paycations!
ReplyDeleteYTB Travel Network - Sonshine Travel
Please! Liva and let live.
Give us the link to his YTB site. Only then will I belive you. I doubt you can come up with it.
ReplyDeleteTo the TTAs -
ReplyDeleteIt has to be painful to hear of a TTA going bad. It is just hard to believe that it really can happen.
Their intentions are pure as the wind-driven snow. Superior customer service is what compels them to be all that they can be.
They will leave no stone unturned in doing what is best for their customers. Come Aloha, come ATA, come AA . . . nothing will stop them from completing their assigned duties.
They would rather die by the sword then send a customer to an online booking engine.
They are connected, they are wired, they are the epitomy of highly trained. They are, simply put . . . Travel with a capital T.
This deeply saddens me to see someone so fine go so bad. I hope I awake tomorrow and this was all a bad dream.
Carry on, TTAs. Don't let this one agent discourage you from charging those fees and giving the high touch service that your clients want, need and expect.
They NEED you and their travel life will not be the same without you.
Moral to the story: Put it in the headlines when a YTB RTA goes bad. Expect it to happen and hold the host agency responsible for their actions and any damages.
But when it happens to one of your own, well . . . let's not talk about that.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
Anonymous said...."Moral to the story: Put it in the headlines when a YTB RTA goes bad. Expect it to happen and hold the host agency responsible for their actions and any damages.
ReplyDeleteBut when it happens to one of your own, well . . . let's not talk about that."
That is not true. We all suffer when something like this happens. It usually makes the trade papers also. It's no secret that there are crooks everywhere. I just can't understand why the YTB followers aren't concerned with the owners being crooks and liars.
ASTA is a dead organization as far as our agency is concerned. They don't do anything for the travel agents and they have no clout. You can't compare YTB with ASTA by any means. We have a choice to be members and pay dues. YTB members have no say in what your cult leaders do. They say it, you do it. If ASTA recommends we do something, we give them the finger and no money. Our agency dumped them over 7 years ago.
Martha, Martha -
ReplyDeleteYou may not like Lloyd Tomer, Scott Tomer and Kim Sorenson and that's fine. I am not exactly enamoured with you due to your viewpoints of my business.
But to say "I just can't understand why the YTB followers aren't concerned with the owners being crooks and liars"
Pretty strong words, Martha.
Crooks should be put in jail and serve time. Are you ready with your evidence that the YTB owners are involved in illegal activities?
Let's hear about the illegal acts. All of us should be concerned about about people who break the law.
Not liking someone and comparing them to felons are two separate things.
Does YTB have you so flustered that your professional judgement is clouded?
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
I am unaware of any felonies from the executive team. Now some of the Directors is a different story!
ReplyDeletean insider who blows -
ReplyDeleteLet's hear about them.
Let's also hear about your past. I hear there might just some skeletons in your closet.
Chris Paraldi. Level 2 Director Convicted for a multi million dollar illegal gambling ring
ReplyDeletePhil Piccolo former level 1 director convicted for fraud several times.
OK your turn
Hey Anonymous picking on poor Martha. How many people have you re-booked from the airline fiasco? Did you personally handle it? Or, did you tell them to call the airlines. Do you even have a GDS?
ReplyDeleteI rest my case.
YTB and Travel NOT a good mix.
annonymous -
ReplyDeleteJust challenging her on her assertion that the owners of YTB are involved in illegal activities. She got a little carried away on that one, but, then again, I think she can handle herself.
All my customers were taken care of with the help of a tremendous home office at YTB Corporate. It's one of the great benefits of having a YTB travel business. They help whenever we need them.
an insider who blows -
If someone did a crime and served their sentence, I have no problem with them having a YTB travel business. In the case of Paraldi, he was working for a financial institution right after his release. It did not seem to be a problem with his employer.
Back to you. What about the rumors that I hear about your background? You avoided that one.
anonymous -
I agree with your last tag . . .
YTB and Travel NOT a good mix -
Not a good mix, it's a GREAT MIX!
NO skeletons in my closet..but if you want to think so...that's ok with me.
ReplyDeleteDon;t know about Paraldi's financial background. But I would question why he is not still there? Hmmm?
Also, I agree that if you have paid your debt to society you should be able to move along, but with some restrictions. Paraldi ought to have nothing to do with anyone else's money. That is not too big of a stretch is it?
Just like a child molester should not have anything to do with children. Or are you ok if a convicted 1st degree child molester is taking care of your kids. I mean it is ok if he went to jail and is out right?
Hey, and that whole "insider who blows" thing....did you really come up with that on your own? Boy you are one smart cookie!
For some reason it would not let me post the comment under Insider...but it is me
an insider who blows -
ReplyDelete(Don't let your mind wander aka Bill Clinton . . . blows as in "blow hard")
YTB Directors do not handle people's money. Unless he is operating as a TTA and personally selling extensive travel beyond the booking engine, he is not handling money. All transactions are done electronically on a secured website.
I'll give you Piccolo. Coach thought he could change him. But that is one zebra that will not change his stripes. I cringed when he was brought on board. But he was sent down the road rather quickly.
Anonymous Doug said...."Martha, Martha -
ReplyDeleteYou may not like Lloyd Tomer, Scott Tomer and Kim Sorenson and that's fine. I am not exactly enamoured with you due to your viewpoints of my business.
But to say "I just can't understand why the YTB followers aren't concerned with the owners being crooks and liars"
Pretty strong words, Martha.
Crooks should be put in jail and serve time. Are you ready with your evidence that the YTB owners are involved in illegal activities?
Let's hear about the illegal acts. All of us should be concerned about about people who break the law.
Not liking someone and comparing them to felons are two separate things.
Does YTB have you so flustered that your professional judgement is clouded?
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!"
Doug, Doug, Doug, you silly, silly man. Just looking and actually reading the financial statments was enough for me to make an intelligent decision about the crooks in YTB. I did that before I read it, but it confirmed it for me. If you read it, and John pointed out the main discrepancies, you will know exactly why I came to those deductions. Before I could answer your remarks, someone else pointed out the scammers that have been exposed in YTB like Paraldi, Piccolo, and the fake Seligman promo, etc. Your founders didn't know about them in advance? The founders have no experience in travel but start a MLM travel biz? Wake up and smell the "Crotch" aka Coach.
Yes, crooks should be put in jail or at least punished, but as history has proven, that is not always the case. I do believe that what goes around comes around and these scum will get theirs...maybe. It depends on how much cash they've stashed away to pay off the politicians and law enforcement people. Am I jaded? Of course I am! I'm not some Republican that can overlook everything and say such is all well in the world.
Yes, YTB does have me flustered and you fluster me even more. It has not clouded my judgement in the least. You yourself say you are a travel pro and a travel agent, tout becoming a travel agent on your bog, and you have no problem selling this garbage to the under-educated and stupid. That makes you a user. As a travel agent, have you ever done an MCO or even know what one is? Have you spent countless hours on the phone with the total idiots at NCL because they always screw up a group booking? Have you ever received a debit memo from an airline that you have to challenge? Of course not. I know travel agents and you Doug, are no travel agent.
What flusters me the most about you and your type is that you are a total coward. You have stated that you can't continue this blog because of the negativity and here you are every day posting anonymously. Why is that? Let us not forget that you have banned me from responding to anything on your bog also because you "can't help me."
Just Picture it Now! - Doug with a real job and some ethics!
I apologize to everyone for making my reply so long. I was taking after Doug's bog that goes on and on and on and on and on and on....But hopefully mine said something.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you even bother commenting to or about Doug? He's just another blind fool, in a pool of mush. I've been to his blog once, and that was enough. Recruit...recruit...recruit that's all it's about...nothing about selling travel.
ReplyDeleteAnon--
ReplyDeleteRead these comments and unless all the RTAs are lying (now therew woudl be a stretch eh?) they ARE handling clients directly. Doug has told that tale about some river cruise he booked in 1900 and the paeople are traveleing in 2020. A ton of anons have also said how they are doing so much for their clients on a personal level; and not the web.
Paraldi collected cash from RTAs to attend Coach's seminar , he likely has access to his clients credit cards if he is selling travel at all andd doing it direct. Even the one person on here a while ago said she discovered a way to beat YTB out of their 40%.
SO don;t tell me there is no access. And to be honest, someone that could mastermind a gambling ring can certainly figure a way to scam YTB and the people that book with them.
Martha--doug can not "ban" you from commenting on his blog. The software does not allow it. He can not approve any of your comments and he has chosen for his blog to be moderated. It is his choice if he wants to only allow comments that further his position.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I prefer to read all the comments on both sides of the issue, but it is his blog and his choice. Unfoprtunately for YTB and the other MLMs there have been very few persuasive comments on my blog to support their position either..a few but not many.
If you want to comment on his blog, by all means continue to do so. It is up to him if he agrees with you and if he decides to post it.
But you are welcome to post here--uncensored, unmoderated, and either pro or against my position!
martha -
ReplyDeleteThanks for making my point for me! You said "As a travel agent, have you ever done an MCO or even know what one is? Have you spent countless hours on the phone with the total idiots at NCL because they always screw up a group booking? Have you ever received a debit memo from an airline that you have to challenge? Of course not. I know travel agents and you Doug, are no travel agent."
Yes, Martha. I am not a TTA. I am a RTA. And I have a wonderful support staff at YTB Corporate that helps out 15 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Wait until we acquire HTS. Things will get even better and even more efficient.
And, yes we recruit. And yes, we sell travel. And we will sell a whole lot more travel in 2008 than we did in 2007.
Martha . . . we are both in the travel business. We both sell travel. You do it hands-on with high touch (as you say, the Nordstoms way) I do it the YTB way . . . same seat on the plane, same room at the hotel, same cabin on the cruise (sorry, I sense your blood pressure is rising)
You sell all you can sell. I sell what I sell and am leveraged with many other RTAs and their sales. And the sales keep coming in even when I am enjoying a cruise or all-inclusive myself. It's a beautiful thing.
Vendors get some great business and, yes, they do like us. YTB gets the high-volume commissions, gives me 60% from my own sales and 10% from my team of RTAs.
I'm really happy. I don't need to read this blog full of whiners and "glass half empty" posters. I just do it and respond to some of the nonsense that the "glass half empty" throng say about YTB. Because I love my company and defend it.
By the way, Martha. Find a financial expert that really knows how to read Annual Reports. You will find that there are really more than 366 stockholders in YTB. (That was a classic from the resident blogger himself. Not 366 stockholders . . . 366 employees!)
When you find that financial expert and he or she walks you through the Annual Report, you will be able to throw away the number to America's Most Wanted that you have next to your bedside phone. You won't need it to turn in those "crooks" at YTB.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
Oh . . . and, by the way, I am not DOUG.
Just another great American who loves his YTB business.
I'm really happy. I don't need to read this blog full of whiners and "glass half empty" posters. I just do it and respond to some of the nonsense that the "glass half empty" throng say about YTB. Because I love my company and defend it.
ReplyDeleteThen don't. Then leave!
AS to the number of shareholders that is accurate. It is as of 12/31/07 however and it is NOT employees--it is shareholders. YTB did not have 366 employees at 12/31/07 and even if they did are 100% of them shareholders?
Doogie says he knows and his info came from his "cross line" that is the blind leading the blind--or the ignorant leading the ignorant...not sure which.
BUt if you ask any competent financial guy you will see that it does indeed say 366 SHAREHOLDERS...not EMPLOYEE SHAREHOLDERS and unless it is a type, that is the number to be reported. The total number of shareholders!
Anonymous AKA Doug...
ReplyDeleteYou need to reread the financial report it does IN FACT SAY "366 SHAREHOLDERS". But then again I wouldn't expect anything from someone who joins a company that is happy to say "You don't need a education to be in YTB". And that's coming from one of the execs. That's pretty sad, and that anon post above just cements the fact that you are clueless. Keep promoting the recruitment drive, because you sure ass hell can't sell travel, that is proven as well.
an insider who blows -
ReplyDeleteI've got to keep you "glass half-empty" posters honest! I hate to see you good people messing on yourselves. Plus it is fun to let people know how great a YTB business really is.
I have approximately 70 people on my Team alone that own stock.
And I'm not a top leader "yet". So I am confident there are more than 366 stockholders.
As far as your expertise with stock analysis, you must have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
ytbscam -
ReplyDelete"You don't need an education to be in YTB".
So what are you waiting for?
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
Anon--when did these 70 buy their stock?
ReplyDeleteDoogie has hit a recruiting brick wall. Look at the last time he got the PTL bonus--that was in early 2007. So I suspect that is the reason for all of the other things he is promoting. I hear YTB is hiring a real JOB looking for BDMs...Doogie might be good for that!
You are not a top leader yet? Why not? I thought YTB was so simple even stupid people could do it. If you are not doign it, what does that make you. Wait, let me ask Scott!
Scott is about as smart as Doug...that says plenty.
ReplyDelete"All my customers were taken care of with the help of a tremendous home office at YTB Corporate. It's one of the great benefits of having a YTB travel business. They help whenever we need them."
ReplyDeleteYTB Home Office couldn't help a dog with fleas let alone clients that needed to be re-booked.
Travel and YTB NOT a good mix!
formerrtawhokwowsnotthetruth -
ReplyDeleteOh, contraire, former . . . they helped me just fine with my 3 ATA customers. If you couldn't make it as a YTB RTA, it speaks volumes about you.
an insider who blows -
Not the top leader that I plan to be. I'm only up to 600 RTAs. But many, many more to come. Pretty happy where I am at, but even better days ahead.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
Dear YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!...So you say you're not Doug. Then who are you? Alan, aka Olescorekeeper aka Doug? Just the remarks you post on here are quoted directly from your own bog. I find that to be more than coincidence.
ReplyDeleteYou may also sell the same seat on a plane, the same cabin on a cruise, and the same tour as I do, but I make more than you in commission and I have had the same clients for years and most of my business is by word of mouth. Do you have nearly the business as me? I work at being a travel agent full time and live comfortably. That will probably change soon if the economy doesn't turn around. That won't affect YTB though because according to them, the travel industry is a 130 gazillion dollar business or some other bull like that and EVERYONE travels.
John...I realize that Doug can't ban me, but it's pretty much the same thing when he won't post my counter opinions. I posted 2 or 3 times and then got the unwelcome message. I'm a lost cause because I'm an evil and stupid "traditionalist" and he says he can never get through to a traditionalist. What a crock. Should you ever censor him, I could see him kicking and screaming about unfair treatment. It hasn't stopped him from posting on here several times daily although this blog is all negativity towards YTB (according to him).
Picture it Now - Doug with a fair and balanced bog.
Well, by definition a blog is not really fair and balanced. This one is not. I have my own opinions and I have people that read it who agree and I have readers that don't agree.
ReplyDeleteI am not obligated to accept any comments but I believe that is the way that everyone will learn. If my position is correct or if Doug's is correct, people on both sides can learn from them both.
It remains to be seen whose position will prevail.
Just to set the record straight, I'm not Doug, I'm not Alan, I'm not Babs, and I don't care what anyone's gender is. I'm just the wise ole Scorekeeper. ;>)
ReplyDeleteOleScorekeeper
Anonymous said..."Just to set the record straight, I'm not Doug, I'm not Alan, I'm not Babs, and I don't care what anyone's gender is. I'm just the wise ole Scorekeeper. ;>)"
ReplyDeleteI'm not buying it. So who are you really? Why not always sign with "OleScorekeeper" then? I'm afraid I'm also going to have to dispute the "wise" part. Sorry.
Just Picture it Now - I don't know who I am!
"Anonymous said..."Interesting, it was a Christian travel organization - guess it makes Christians look bad too...."
ReplyDeleteNice try but the Christian agency is not the same one as your peer Steve owned. Also not the same Steve Young in YTB. "
Actually, you are incorrect on at least one count - the Steve Young who is in deep trouble is the owner of "Sonrise Travel" - a Christian-inspired Agency.
As to whether he's the same Steve Young with YTB? Hard to say.....
Sorry, but I am correct.
ReplyDeleteWe were not talking about the YTB site "Sonrise Travel" We WERE talking about "SonShine Tours and Travel", Steve Young of Mooresville, NC.
The Christain based agency is "Sonshine Tours" of Hendersonville, TN operated by Jimmy Smith. I'm guessing he has the YTB site based on the same name, "Sonshine".