There is a contest for CCRA bookings, and here are the details. Now in the latest YTB Compass, it indicates that the leader has made 7 bookings in the last month or so. Not bad. Not good for having 138,000 agents but good for Jasmin Cordova.
Now, YTB is apparently running this contest and they are awarding points for different bookings. Mind you there is no minimum number of points to earn--the only requirement is one booking per month and cancellations don't count.
But here is where I am confused. It appears that they are rewarding the RTAs (or perhaps encouraging them) for booking NET rates. They assign 1 point for GDS rates (presumably commissionable), 2 points for Internet Discount rates (also presumably commissionable but at a lower rate) and 5 points for NET rates.
This merely encourages the RTAs to book a NET rate for themselves (and family) and earn nothing. Or maybe they are marking it up significantly but for some reason I am not sure YTB woudl allow theiur RTAs Carte Blanche to mark up hotels on the whim.
So maybe someone can expound on that for me.
A lot of RTAs are not to the point where they are selling travel to the public. So,. YTB is encouraging them to learn about HOW TO BOOK (you are talking training right??) themselves and rewarding them. And a net rate is a better financial benefit than 60% or 70% from 10% or 5% commission. Plus, it is tax deductible!
ReplyDeleteFYI.
ReplyDeleteNET RATE = NO COMMISSION
Unless you add a FEE.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteA lot of RTAs are not to the point where they are selling travel to the public. So,. YTB is encouraging them to learn about HOW TO BOOK (you are talking training right??) themselves and rewarding them. And a net rate is a better financial benefit than 60% or 70% from 10% or 5% commission. Plus, it is tax deductible!
_____________________
You're kidding. So the more they book for themselves or family and friends at net the more chance they have of winning? Amazing! Most companies that focus on travel wouldn't even include bookings at net in the contest. What a royal joke!
One more thing, haven't all these YTBers (OleScoreKeeper et al) been preaching that people wiull buy from them BECAUSE they do NOT charge a fee?
ReplyDeleteJoe--I understand that. But I am not sure if YTB has the capability of adding fees since they simply refer to their websites.
ReplyDeleteThis is just a very strange contest in my eyes. It would be fine to say hey all bookings through CCRA for the prize but the whole NET thing is odd to me!
I think back when Proud used to visit us (I miss her) and she did not know the difference (initially) between sales and revenue.
John, my FYI was for the RTA's benefit.
ReplyDeleteThe CCRA Travel Portal does allow fees to be added at the time of booking....
If you go to CCRATRAVEL.com, you can view a 34 minute recorded traininng video which explains how to use their system.
ReplyDeleteYou will have to provide your name and e-mail address to view the video.
It makes sense to me that Net rates have the highe point value since Net rates have the highest restrictions, non-refundable.
ReplyDeleteThe only people booking net are postive there are not going to be any changes.
"Rod said: It makes sense to me that Net rates have the highe point value since Net rates have the highest restrictions, non-refundable."
ReplyDeleteYes, BUT, unless you are told to add a fee to that Net rate, YTB isn't making any money from that booking!
$0, zilch, nada, nothing!
Joe,
ReplyDeleteIf that's true, YTB definitely would not be encouraging RTAs to book their own travel at Net Rates now would they?
Net rates are non-cancellable and non-refundable. That's why they have a higher point value.
Rod,
ReplyDeleteThe point of Net is you get nothing. Its non commissionable..period! In order to make money on it you would have to mark it up with your own fee. Net does not mean non-cancellable/non refundable.
Rod,
ReplyDeleteYou would think so, right?
From http://www.hometravelagency.com/dictionary/net-fare.html
Define net fare or net rate
net fare or net rate. 1. The wholesale price that is marked up for sale to the customer. 2. The fare after commission. 3. The price at which a consolidator sells a ticket to a travel agent.
From the CCRA FAQ:
"What's the difference between Net, Preferred and Promotional rates?
Using our pre-paid Net Rate, you can set your own commission at the time of the booking and you are guaranteed to get paid with commission within two weeks. Using any other options, such as Internet Discount Rates (Hotels.com) or the CCRA Preferred Rate, your commission mark-up is limited to 6%."
I've used net rates with CCRA and done very well. They ARE non refundable so if an RTA is booking one for a client and that is not made absolutely clear the RTA may find themselves eating a non refundable hotel cost. This feature is NOT for amateurs, unless you can cover a possible loss. In any case, YTB HQ wins and if there's a problem it's not YTB HQ that ends up holding the bag.
ReplyDeleteTL,
ReplyDeleteCCRA set their policy that Net fares booked on CCRA are non-refundable and no cancellations.
I understand that, maybe I mis-understood. However, Net still means that there is no commission unless you put it on yourself (ie mark up/fee).
ReplyDeleteRegardless of their refundability---Net Rates are non commissionable and require a mark up if you are going to make anything. Has YTB instructed the RTAs to mark them up? Or are they selling to themselves just so YTB can say they sold X rooms with CCRA?
ReplyDeleteRTAs get the training direct from http://wwww.CCRATRAVEL.com and are trained the net rates mark up at the RTAs discretion.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lot of discussion on travel 101 level work.
Rod said "are trained the net rates mark up at the RTAs discretion."
ReplyDeleteIn other words, YTB could run this contest, and sell hundreds or thousands of rooms with CCRA (cough cough), and not make ANY money ??
Joe, obviously a RTA is not going to mark up his personal travel, but obviously, a RTA is going to mark up, at his discretion how much, the net rate on his clients. Quit being so juvenile.
ReplyDeleteRod, this is a legitimate question. YTB does not have a mechanism to sell to it's RTAs at net rates correct?
ReplyDeleteIf you book a cruise for a client $1000 the commission you earn is $96 (16% of $1000 X 60%).
If you book that same cruise for you, you do not pay the full price, you pay the price less your commission or $904.
Either way YTB gets their money. 40%
This was an issue several months ago when an RTA was dealing direct with the vendor and cutting YTB out of the loop.
So, and not that you are in YTB any longer, can you please explain this contest to me. YTB is offering more reward for selling less travel--or so it seems to me!
CCRA is a YTB Preferred Vendor and registered YTB RTAs have an account.
ReplyDeleteThe CCRAtravel.com booking portal is the mechanism for RTAs selling at Net rates.
For the RTA To access the CCRA booking portal takes a username and password.
Selling Cruises and CCRA is comparing apples to oranges.
You are correct there are no mechanisms for net cruise bookings.
RTAs can book Net through Airline consolidators.
OK so Mr. Non-YTB RTA, tell me why on earth woudl YTB want to devise a contest to encourage people to book NET rates where YTB earns zero dollars and ultimately will have to pay out the $1000 awards?
ReplyDeleteThis make absolutely no sense
The above post was from me...but I just noticed something....
ReplyDeleteThe comments are WAY down today ad Doug is on vacation supposedly swearing off the computer, so I am venturing to guess that old fake tan might be old scorekeeper and all the other anonymous posters. Whaddya think?
What I want to know why is a former YTB RTA handling this?
ReplyDeleteHere's your answer which should finally clear all this childishness up.
This is not a YTB contest. This is a CCRA International contest. YTB is not paying the winners prize. CCRA is paying the winners prizes.
All current YTB RTA members can enter and BOOK TO WIN!
Simply book rooms through CCRA (located in your travel portal)
You can access the best rates at over 70,000 hotels worldwide!
Any questions, please contact person'snamedeleted@ccrainternational.com
So today I got a call from a family who want three rooms at the American Club in Kohler Wisconsin - the total cost for them would be $4650.00. The American Club does not pay commision - ever. So I explained that I would charging her $50 a room to take care of that for her - vs. the let's say $300 I would get if they commissioned just 10% on the amount before taxes. In this case she is opting to book on her own instead - no big deal. I have bigger and better things to do than work for free or earn a piddling $150.
ReplyDeleteOh, that contest.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was somethine exclusive to YTB. Sorry for my mistake.
Insider said, "I am venturing to guess that old fake tan might be old scorekeeper and all the other anonymous posters."
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint you Insider, but this is the first post of the day for OldScore.
I must say, this one is pretty funny though...how YTB has got some of you folks in a quandary again.
John - "But here is where I am confused."
John - "This is just a very strange contest in my eyes."
TravelLisa - "..maybe I mis-understood."
John - "..can you please explain this contest to me."
Anon - "This make absolutely no sense"
Insider - "YTB earns zero dollars and ultimately will have to pay out the $1000 awards?"
If you guys keep scratch'n your heads on this one, you won't have any hair left if that isn't already the case. Then Old Score will have to sell you some of my new MLM hair restorer products.
OleScorekeeper
Insider,
ReplyDeleteI would bet a good amount of those anon posts are in fact Doug. But you know, he is smarter than everyone else. We couldn't figure that out on our own. I think the fake tans fried what is left of his brain.
And as to why YTB would encourage selling less travel, that's easy. Crotch and the cronies (wow that sounds like a movie title), could really give two shits about you now. They have lined their pockets, and if recruitment continues, they continue to get the money from that end.
"could really give two shits about you now"
ReplyDeleteThe above quote by ytbscam.
That's how we feel about you, ytbscam.
You are not in YTB.
You are not a TTA.
No skin in the game on either side.
Your opinions are . . . worthless.
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
(Just want to let you know I'm here)
I'm confused - don't most of the ytb people say they just point their friends and family to their website to book their own travel?
ReplyDeleteIf so - how in the world is this contest being held? Is CCRA on the website?
How would the RTA mark it up?
For sure CCRA is holding the contest - net rates are the best deal for them (especially since it's mostly your own travel)- no accounting to worry about and they are non-refundable and non-changable.
I guess they figured out how gullible all of you are as well!
Whatever. I just saw the updated results and it looks like they are losing bookings.
ReplyDeleteLast week the top people had a cumulative 38 bookings and 122 points
This week they have a cumulative 31 bookings and 125 points.
Several names on last week's leader list are not included on this week's list and their numbers indicate they should be.
Last week David Hancock had 4 bookings for 20 points (these are net so they are non refundable as you say) yet he is not on this week's list. Last week there was a Brian Marshall with 11 bookings and 2 points (YTB Math)?? Last week there was a David Fender with 8 bookings and 22 points and he dropped off.
What's happening here? Are these books being cooked?
Just how are you coming up with these results, John?
ReplyDeleteAre you now an RTA?
Can Someone Explain This Contest To Me?
ReplyDeleteMuch Ado About Nothing -
William (Billy) Shakespeare
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteJust how are you coming up with these results, John?
Are you now an RTA?
YTB posts them on the internet:
http://www.yourtravelbiz.com/archives.html
Read the updates on the Travel Compass from 6/5/08 and 5/29/08
Ahahaha...
ReplyDelete"Only 24 Days Left to
Register for $150 per person!
Don't delay! Register now for YTB's most exciting event of the year! Registration increases to $200 on July 1, 2008.
Register before July 1, 2008 to Receive These Benefits:
You will receive a pre-registration mailing including your Name Badge and Lanyard, with your upline Director listed in a "Passport" format (General Session seating assignments are based on your upline Director), and you will also receive your Claim Ticket for your Freedom Backpack to be picked up from the Baggage Claim area."
Now that's some funny stuff.
What an obsession!!!
ReplyDelete