This afternoon, YTB filed the following with the SEC:
YTB International, Inc. (the "Company") is considering the acquisition of a wholesale travel company to complement the existing travel offerings to its Referring Travel Agents (RTAs).
At the current time, the negotiations for the potential acquisition remain at a preliminary stage and no assurances can be provided whether the acquisition will be consummated, and, if so, upon what terms (including the structure of the acquisition and the purchase price therefor).
The Company will not respond to questions or provide any further updates concerning the potential acquisition unless and until the Company enters into definitive agreements with respect to the acquisition.
It has come to my attention that the target is Hickory Travel Systems out of Saddle Brook, NJ. I have not received any response to an inquiry to YTB or to Hickory, but it makes sense in that I heard specifically that the target acquisition was a $17 billion dollar travel company. Furthermore, the jet flew to Teterboro, NJ on March 25, 2008 and was there all day. Maybe the acquisition might come with an IATAN endorsement?
Story developing and it will be interesting!
So is this a good thing or bad thing for all the traditional agents who gather at this blog?
ReplyDeleteNote on the annual report: A post regarding the annual report did appear for a few hours this morning. It was scheduled and I decided to leave the acquisition thing up for today. The 10K post will return tomorrow exactly as it was posted including the comment.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought you had taken it down to fix the error. SIlly me for thinking you would do the right thing.
"Note on the annual report: A post regarding the annual report did appear for a few hours this morning . . ."
ReplyDeletePlease admit it now, John. This is a blog is all about your negative feelings about YTB. Change the name from MLM and Travel: A Bad Mix. It's YTB and YTB all of the time. Be up front about it.
The above post confirms it. "A post regarding the annual report" What MLM travel company, John? Obviously YTB. You don't even bother to frame it otherwise.
Maybe that's because your fellow MLM's fly pretty much under the radar? Except on scam.com (what an accolade that is!) Traverus and WV are hardly mentioned anywhere. YTB is loud and boastful and consequently sits in the anti-mlm limelight. I thought you guys liked it that way? Why don't YOU bring up some of the things they do that annoy you about their place in the travel industry and post it here.
ReplyDeleteIt goes like this:
ReplyDelete1) YTB is a publically-traded company. For the most part, YTB is an open book.
2) John gives us his daily dose of anti-YTB rhetoric from his obviously biased viewpoint.
3) YTB RTAs react to John and his TTA throng.
Like I said, just change the name. If John spent a tenth of the time he spends with YTB truly investigating World Ventures or Traverus, he could come up with a lot of things. I'm sure there are meetings around his area with either of those companies that he could attend and internet offers galore. But this blog is all about YTB and he made it obvious with his previous post today.
Hickory mostly concnetrates on negotiated hotel rates around the world and on back-office systems... it is one of the first "consortia". The question here is whether the Agency members will stay with Hickory or jump ship if/when YTB acquires it. Members are mostly corporate agencies that want the negotiated hotel rates for business travellers....
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression this is John's blog. Can't John have whatever viewpoint John wants on John's blog?
ReplyDeleteStart your own blog if you have an issue. Sheesh.
Anonymous little babies.
There are no corrections to the post that showed up this morning and it will be back tomorrow with the comment in tact 100%.
ReplyDeleteFor the reasons stated above, YTB has indeed taken the brunt of the criticism on this blog. But you cannot say it is unearned. When YTB spouts how great they are for everyone and someone points out the facts that they are not--why is it poor YTB.
This is another tactic. Divert, ignore, or claim that you are being picked on. Want a clue how to not be picked on? For starters find some courage and stop posting anonymously. Control what your RTAs are saying. Know of what you speak before you speak it. And lose the attitude of "YTB is taking over the world" because you are not.
Yeah, what about the purchase of Hickory - have none of you YTBers anything to say about that?
ReplyDelete" If John spent a tenth of the time he spends with YTB truly investigating World Ventures or Traverus, he could come up with a lot of things."
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but YTB makes it so easy to focus on YTB. Again, why don't YOU give us some of the dirt on your competition and take some of the heat off YTB? What? You can't find any dirt on Traverus and WV? Is their dirt the same as your dirt? Come on now Anon! do it for the coach! Do it for YTB! Show us the difference!
I don't think that the RTA's even have a clue as to what Hickory actually does. I read somewhere else today that the RTA actually thinks that "every" travel agency uses them. Simply not true. I would venture to say if YTB acquires Hickory, that alot of their $17 billion dollars in agency accounts will move on over to Thor or other "consortia". Who knows...we'll have to wait and see.
ReplyDeleteI rest my case about John. He has tried in the past to spin that this blog is about any and all MLM travel companies. It's obvious that he already has his lineup secured in advance with his latest YTB rhetoric . . . all YTB, all of the time.
ReplyDeleteI love the anonymous comments. As if we really know who a majority of the posters are on this site. A user name really identifies them!
As a YTB RTA, I am very excited to see the possibility of YTB acquiring Hickory Travel Systems.
Sounds like a great company to partner with. I'm surprised at how the TTAs are quiet about this.
YTB and a Large Travel Agency Consortium: A GREAT MIX!
IATA approval does have its price.
ReplyDeleteUhm, please let me know what it was exactly that you "proved". That I craft a lot of these blog entries in advance? Well, I told you that a long time ago. You all were whining about me NOT commenting on the 10K and I said I was reading it. It was scheduled for today, but the acquisition was more timely, so it got bumped. And trust me, if it had been Traverus or Joystar to acquire Hickory or any other agency, the post would not have been about YTB.
ReplyDeleteSaid it a bunch before, if you all would shut up, there likely would not be that much to write. But since you are the self proclaimed poster child of the MLM travel world, you are feeling the heat. If you can't stand it, get out of the kitchen. But with 303K yahoos renting websites and 131K renting from them, I doubt I will run out of material.
Why not take the lead of Doug Bauknight and just ignore the blog. Oh, never mind, he can't either.
I only paid a few hundred for my IATAN card. Granted it was several years ago, but are they now going for $17 Billion LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
ReplyDeleteWell, we use Hickory a little - mostly for some negotiated rates, but really not that much. We use THOR a lot more.
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight -
ReplyDeleteYou host a blog where you spin things negative about YTB 98% of the time. It is obvious you loath the company top to bottom and you have an agenda.
We are supposed to come on here and be nice guys in our response.
As the new Budweiser commercials say . . . DUDE!
LUVYTB said.......
ReplyDeleteJohn said....For starters find some courage and stop posting anonymously.
OK you anti ytbers. You heard the man.
I have forgotten my name!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Beck.
B&M Travel Agent
ReplyDeleteI don't think I or anyone else said that any pro-MLM people had to come here and pretend they liked everything that was said.
ReplyDeleteI do know that I said stop telling John what you think he should not post on his own blog - that is just dumb.
I don't go to Doug's blog and post about how negative he is toward TTA's. It's his blog - he can really do whatever he wants on there.
I barely even read it anymore since it went from a discussion to a sales pitch.
"We are supposed to come on here and be nice guys in our response."
ReplyDeleteNope. You're supposed to understand it's meant as a negative blog, and not complain about it being so.
CTA in MD
Where is all of the silence from the TTAs about Hickory Travel Systems?
ReplyDeleteLet's hear about how HTS is a lowlife company just to think about being associated with that dastardly YTB.
Could it mean that YTB is acquiring a very respectable company?
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
HTS isn't lowlife. YTB is lowlife.
ReplyDeleteHTS has an IATA number. YTB does not. HTS does not need another IATA number. YTB must have one or they may jeopardize the Canada biz. YTB cannot earn their credentials so YTB must buy them.
YTB RTa's cannot sell enough to legitimize YTB so maybe HTS can? Who knows if this will ever even happen? But I think YTB needs HTS more than the other way around.
Good luck to you.
MLMs and Travel: A Great Mix
ReplyDeleteTravel like an insider! Discounted travel! Free trips! Upgrades galore! See why this is simply so true.
Explore why MLM companies are not only a great idea for the travel industry, but perhaps one of the leading indicators of the booming travel industry!
You must mean Traverus and World Ventures! I only hear good things about them from friends and family. I researched YBT, but this blog kept coming up and no way am I going to join a company with so much bad press. they are CHEAPER too! And the perks, well they are better too! Oooh ooh! I'm on my way. See you in Tahiti!
ReplyDeleteOh I guess he is gonna change his opinion because you said so and put it in bold.
ReplyDeleteEddie is 100% correct, you need HTS more than they need you. When buying that piss ass shop in Toronto did not reinstate you with IATA, I guess you needed to up the ante!
So now the logic is that you buy a company bigger than you and IATA will bow down to Crotch? I don;t think so..remember you guys (well your management) said IATA was the biggest card mill out there and that they revoked your accreditation because they felt you were the competition in travel agency ID cards? Come on. I hope they have good memories and I hope that Humberto has the balls to stand behind his decision.
Maybe sine IATAN was your biggest competitor you ough to buy them. No wat, you guys keep changing who your competition is---online biggies, other hosts, traditional travel agents, and IATAN. Which is it? Or are you going to take over the world mwahahahaha
Am I missing something here? YTB and Hickory have been partners since 2003. I don't see what the huge deal is. RezCon is owned by YTB. See article:
ReplyDeletehttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_Sept_8/ai_107398757
Hickory is a very respected name in the industry, thats why its quite odd that they would even consider the merger and muddy their name. Then again, what do they have to lose. They sell, the agencys who use them bail...what do you have left? Some airline contracts, hotel rates and maybe some staff assuming they don't quit or get fired in the merger.
ReplyDeleteThis is all of course assuming that the merger in fact goes thru.
Yes, TL - All of the "respectable" TTAs will bail . . . just like they were going to boycott Marc Mancini for helping with that dastardly YTB's E-Campus Trainings. That REALLY had an impact.
ReplyDeleteYTB and Travel: A GREAT MIX!
Training and working with are 2 different animals completely. Your talking about a company who knows NOTHING about travel taking over a company with whom many respected agencies give client information, client assistance and money to. Hickory is not a travel agency..they are not in competition with an agency's business..YTB is in the travel business (so they say), maybe its just me that thinks this way..but why on earth would I give another "agency" access to my accounts? Do you not think that YTB is not going to try to solicit more website business out of this?
ReplyDeleteI can see it now, calling all the corporations telling them to get a website..save money..get rebates..travel like the pros.
My question might be, is YTB going to know what to do with a real travel company considering none of the management have any industry experience if this acquisition goes thru?
ReplyDeleteToo bad you didn't pay for any of that training, Anon. Maybe then you would understand the consequences of this possible merger. Of course coach will discuss it with you and the significance of it in a future pod cast, which will only cost 25.00 per RTA.
ReplyDeleteJohn said, "It has come to my attention that the target is Hickory Travel Systems"
ReplyDeleteTravelLisa said.."Hickory is a very respected name in the industry, thats why its quite odd that they would even consider the merger and muddy their name."
Since John has it at the rumor stages, why not wait to see what really is the truth. You guys sure thrive on innuendo's and unsupported facts. Oh crud, I just created an oxymoron. ;>)
OleScorekeeper
Ole--
ReplyDeleteWhen you speak with people and say "I am not at liberty to comment on the status of a merger" it is a lot different than someone who says "What the hell are you talking about?"
That is my first clue. Second clue was the phone call to directors yesterday morning where it was disclosed as a $17 Billion dollar company. Well there are not too many out there that fit that bill, and look at what HTS website says:
Hickory Travel Systems, founded in 1976, is an international consortium of more than 350 partners, and part of a global network representing over $17 billion in volume.
Hmm...$17 Billion dollars.
Now look at an all day flight from St. Louis to Teterboro. Teterboro is oh 3 miles from HTS corporate offices.
So, I am merely connecting the dots.
Well, who knows? Only thinkg I know is the minute YTB announces they own Hickory, we're out of there - we'll just switch to THOR for the hotel rates - no way in hell we're going to gie YTB access to our clientele.
ReplyDeleteTo the above anonymous TTA -
ReplyDeleteLearn how to spell. It will greatly enhance your travel business.
Sounds similar to this: "When that big, bad Walmart Supercenter comes to town, no way in hell I'm going to shop there". (yeah, right)
More than likely, YTB and HTS will operate independently similar to how YTB and REZCONNECT did. It will certainly bring some great resources to YTB.
I'm sure when YTB acquires HTS, there will be some "damnit" moments muttered by the anti-YTB throng. And ytbscam will be depressed when the YTB stock goes up.
YTB and TRAVEL: A GREAT MIX!
I wonder if Ole knows what an oxymoron is? His post does not reflect that he does.An oxymoron Ole is service and YTB in the same sentence. But he is correct, it's only a guess so far.
ReplyDeleteAnon TA is right. No way I would put my client list in or near anything connected by dots or dollars to YTB. Talk about 'warm'.
Doug, if you are going to post I don't understand why you can't do it like a man instead of anonymously. You say that you left this blog yet you contradict yourself each time we read your own bog. I know it's a guilty pleasure of mine since you banned me because I have an opinion different from yours. You are a hypocrite. When you post, use your name! I won't think any less of you than I already do.
ReplyDelete"Doug, if you are going to post I don't understand why you can't do it like a man"
ReplyDeleteI'm willing to bet Martha does it like a man. Makes me want to vomit on my monitor.
Links We Like
ReplyDeleteTRO Forums For Professional Agents
Eye On Travel
Single Parent Travel
Post Secret
Travel Research Online
Scam
No Travel MLM Gear
Travel Trade
Travel Weekly Forums
Tripso
Travels With Fred
Hey Johnny, what happened to Doug's blog, Just Picture It Now? What's your excuse for leaving it out this time? Got a problem? Hehehehehhe!
There are plenty of links to his blog elsewhere. It was here for a while when he was debating the issues, but now that he appears to be selling motivational books and really offering nothing of any substance, I felt it a disservice to link to it to the folks that do read this blog.
ReplyDeleteIf you are really dependent on me providing the link, here it is for you:
http://travel-pro.blogspot.com
Doug will ban you for posting an opposing view? Well, it is his blog, and if he doesn't want interruptions to the sales pitch then that is that. I am glad you let Ole, Proud (wonder where he went?) and all the Anon family post here, John. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI said I would let the comments go in the direction they were going and I have been pretty fair about that. I am willing to take the good with the bad.
ReplyDeleteBut you are right, it is his blog and it can be run like any blog out there. As Yakov Smirnoff might say, "America, vaht a country!"
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"I'm willing to bet Martha does it like a man. Makes me want to vomit on my monitor."
What are you implying, Doug the Great? If it's what I think it is, that would be a typical cheap attack that isn't true. What's next? Why not try fat, or maybe dumb, or how about ugly? Second grade mentality. Coward.
I think that whatever YTB does concerning the acquisition of Hickory Travel, it just goes to prove what a savvy, "business-smart" company it is. YTB is positioned as a leader in its industry, and as such, it is doing whatever repositioning, reinventing, etc. that it needs to do to maintain its market share and acquire a larger share of the market. I say: "Way To Go, YTB!"
ReplyDeleteSo, just to clarify - you "professional" agents are so intimidated & threatened by "lowlife" company that you are monitoring when its corporate jet takes off to see what they are doing next. And if they do, what you fear they will do, "you are out of there and taking your business elsewhere." Boy that'll show'em. LOL
ReplyDeleteBTW, YTB stock just moved to OTC status, trading at record volume. Travel sales (by highly untrained, non-agents)are increasing at warp speed.
Maybe you should take your "professional" stand now now so you can stop this insane momentum. Go ahead, scream at the top of your lungs - they don't have an IATA number!!!!
Get a hold of yourselves. There are a lot of 17 billion travel companies, depending on how you count money. Are you or they counting travel-value or actual revenue from operations? None of you geniuses ever thought of that did you? There are a lot of divisions and pieces of larger organizations that, when broken out, are 17Bil. Even Tomas Cook at 12Billion pounds is about 17billion US-dollars. Or perhaps there are a few others. Good luck to you all. You know, I fly a lot of places for the day as do most people that run large companies. It does not mean I am buying the company I visit. Nor does any SEC regged company have to buy every company they file an intent on. This week will tell. If it’s Hickory I’m selling stock. If it’s ----- I’m glad I own it!!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun and good luck in your day jobs.
Anon--thanks for the laugh. Before you react and sell any stock, know that this post was almost 2 months old.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, we are talking about SALES, not revenue. There are FEW companies in the travel field (if any) that can claim $17B in revenue on the travel side. As a person who runs a large company you ought to know that.
There was more to confirm the intent than the placement of the corporate jet. Coach and Scott were in the Hickory Offices. But it appears the deal is dead.
And finally, I am guessing your "large corporation" is solely based it he US, because one would think that a multi national company or someone that even travels internationally might be aware of the condition of the dollar versus the GBP. 12B GBP is nowhere near $17B USD. Well give or take $7 Billion!