This Is What It's All About

There is an interesting conversation going on over on WAHM.com right now. It started off talking about how online travel bookings increased by 17% in 2008. It was started by a Traverus agent, who did not note that the article also stated that while bookings increased, satisfaction decreased by a comparable percentage. He also didn’t note that TTA’s use the Internet on a regular basis to make bookings via supplier websites. But that is not what I want to talk about here. What I want to discuss is what the discussion has evolved into. It has gotten to be a discourse on what to call a person who works in the travel industry. Is it an agent or a consultant, and what do you call a person who is just starting out.

There are many differing opinions, all of them good. Personally, I call myself a consultant. Webster’s defines a consultant as “one who gives professional advice or services”. That’s what I do. I offer my professional advice to a client on what would be the best options for them, and then I service them by making the booking, and handle all the business transactions that arise from that booking. But what really caught my eye in this “sub-topic” was a quote from someone involved in a travel MLM, WorldVentures. He stated:

”Agents” shouldn’t be used at all in MLM UNLESS they have met the criteria to actually be agents. This is why WV took “agent” out of the terminology of its members titles until they actually were able to meet the criteria. We went from “Referring Travel Agent” to “Leisure Travel Consultant” which was a great move IMO. I do sell travel, but I just point them to my site. I make no bones about the fact that I don’t want to deal with getting certified and all that. For me, having a team is what I prefer. Kudos to all of you that choose differently. That is what makes America great, we can choose what avenue to take.”

This person admits right here, that while he is involved in a travel MLM, he has no desire to get any type of travel certification or “all that”. He’s all about “having a team”…..in other words, recruiting.

So, the conversation goes on a bit, bantering back and forth between “agent” and “consultant” when this person chimes in again with this

“It is splitting hairs at this point. Dies it really matter seriously? Traverus has taken the step to do the right thing by changing the agents to consultants. (RTA to RTC) The thing is that the traditional agents will never be 100% happy with any change short of the mlm companies being shut down. Getting hung up on what to call yourself is kind of silly don’t you think?”

This, is exactly the point that we are fighting about; one point of this blog. This “right of entitlement” to all of the privileges and perks afforded to travel agents. The perks given to people who work in the industry actually selling travel, people who work at it. Here is a person who, admittedly, says he sells travel, but doesn’t work at it, he only gives people a web address and tells them to do it themselves. He doesn’t consult, he doesn’t act as an agent, and says he has no interest in doing so. When confronted with this, he states that he is “in the business to build a team, not in the business to try and get travel “perks””, yet when pressed a bit further, admits to getting and taking them.

This person states that the TTA community will never be happy until all travel MLM companies are 100% shut down. I say not true. I say that traditionalist and MLM’s can co-exist, but within the MLM’s there has to be a complete and total separation of the travel side and the recruiting side. If you want to be a marketer for the MLM company, fine and dandy. But don’t expect to receive any type of travel perks. Don’t tell a supplier that you are “affiliated” with a travel company and expect or accept any type of discount, unless you are actively selling travel. If the travel MLM’s of the world want to be truly accepted by the traditional community, then this is the change that must come about. Yes, there are those out there in MLM’s that are all about selling travel, and want to be treated with respect, but as long as they are in the MLM’s that have not made the changes sought, then they will remain tainted. Unfortunately, it’s called guilt by association.

A lot of this also falls onto the vendors. Until the vendors stop offering perks to any and everyone affiliated with these companies, the problem will remain. TTA’s need to make a stand. TA associations need to make a stand. Those in travel MLM’s that are serious about selling travel need to take a stand. Because the scenario I have described above is what the fight is all about.