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TRAVEL AGENT PROFESSIONALS CREATING A GRASSROOTS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

THE PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENT'S ADVOCATE

Straight Talk Concerning The Travel Agent Distribution System by Peter Stilphen, ECC Oct/Nov 2009

THIS MONTH'S TOPICS A CHALLENGE TO TODAY'S TRAVEL AGENT PROFESSIONAL STARS BEGINS GRASS ROOTS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE STARS IS OPEN TO HOST and CONSORTIA MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES THE GRUMPY OLD TRAVEL AGENT IS REBORN YTB CONTINUES TO LOSE REVENUE AND AGENTS THE SHRIMP LADY HAS BEEN INVITED TO THE OASIS INAUGURAL OUR MONTHLY LIST OF THE MOST NOTABLE BUMS IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY THE BEST OF THE TRAVEL AGENT ORGANIZATIONS SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO THIS NEWSLETTER, IT'S FREE THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE A MUST FOR TRAVEL AGENT PROFESSIONALS Hello Fellow Travel Professionals, Welcome to my newsletter where I discuss the travel agent distribution system with straight talk, sometimes with humorous thoughts and sometimes with down right provocative comments. I have been doing this for over six years in an attempt to inform travel agents, host agencies and suppliers about what goes on in our little, but very important, segment of the travel industry. My agenda is simply to get you to think and hopefully act to make life easier in this wonderful travel business. My views and opinions are my own and are totally unrelated to my Host Agency, Coral Sands Travel. I plan to continue working for a better and stronger travel agent along with the Host Agencies and Suppliers with which they work. We will always have the bad guys in our business therefore, my self-appointed duty is to continue exposing them and providing insight to travel agents and suppliers hopefully, enabling them to make better decisions. I will discuss specific agencies and suppliers, especially the cheaters, the MLMs and the card mills. Of course we need to mix up all this seriousness with the Shrimp Lady's misadventures and some serious agent information and my attempt at a little humor. Over the years I have written about the MLMs and card mills in an effort to educate and not to 'bash' as some allege. The word is out there and many have taken up the battle. My plans are to move on to other subjects that need to be brought to the surface and discussed. This newsletter is my contribution to all travel agents who need to know what is going on around them. I generally send out my newsletter twice a month with the second version being more of an updated version of the first. I apologize to those who have to read my newsletter twice but you never know, you may have missed something the first "go round." One final note to those naysayers who live with their heads in the sand. The articles I write are to deliver a message only and to keep you informed. Much of my time goes into determining facts and a fair opinion. I do not knowingly print false statements as a few have alleged. If I am inaccurate with a statement I will retract it. I offer my own time and expense in creating these newsletters therefore, as the saying goes, "Please don't shoot the messenger." A CHALLENGE TO TODAY'S TRAVEL AGENT PROFESSIONAL Let's begin by attempting to define what is a travel agent professional. A travel agent professional is an individual who loves to help people with their travel needs; devotes the time to learn as much as possible about the product or dream that he is attempting to sell or fulfill, follows a code of ethics in his relationship with others and has the desire to improve the standards of a travel agent professional and conducts themselves accordingly. Please note a travel agent professional is not defined by the number of hours he works as a travel agent professional; nor to which organizations of which he is a member; nor to which initials are listed after his name; nor to which Host Agency with which he may be affiliated or if he is completely independent. That said, let's explore why travel agents are such a fragmented group. Using attorneys as an example, we can say they are fragmented because most lawyers devote themselves to various aspects of the law. Many are specialists and many are generalists. Yet they are brought together as a group in what we know as the Bar Association with individual states having their own association. These Bar Associations lay down basic rules as to the conduct of their members. All attorneys are members of a State Bar Association and are licensed by those States. Isn't this the same with travel agents? We have corporate agents, brick and mortar agents, homebased agents and so forth. Attorneys are licensed and have passed tests to become licensed. Why not travel agent professionals? We already have Sellers of Travel laws in the larger travel states which serve as a licensor of travel agents. The problem is that these Sellers of Travel laws need to be amended. HOWEVER, I FEEL WE SHOULD EMBARK ON THE FIRST STEP AS FOLLOWS: I would suggest that the first step to recognizing the travel agent professional is to form one strong non- profit organization that is owned, operated and controlled by the individual travel agent professional. Some may argue that we already have enough travel agent organizations. The answer is, yes we do, but none of them are owned and controlled by the travel agents. All are profit based and are primarily into just training and education. Most of these organizations offer excellent benefits to their member base. I am writing about a new kind of organization that not only serves its members but will also totally represent and promote the value of the travel agent professional. A new organization governed by its' members can establish rules as to the conduct of its membership, create a single strong voice that can contribute to amending Sellers of Travel laws, if it so desires and have a strong relationship with suppliers working out differences and unfair practices. Can you all imagine what a 25,000 member organization can do as a single voice? One might ask, how do we create such an organization and where does the infrastructure funds come from? One suggestion is to allow this writer to give to the travel agent community, without strings, an existing IRS approved, non-profit, organization infrastructure that already has over $20,000 invested in it. The organization was initially set up to give to its travel agent members. Again, some naysayers will ask, "What is the catch? No one gives something for nothing." The answer is; "There is no catch, no hidden agenda, no obligation of any kind." Peter Stilphen, ECC Liberty3675@embarqmail.com VISIT THE STARS WEBSITE STARS BEGINS GRASS ROOTS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE My Fellow Travel Agent Professionals STARS' mission is to establish an organization of professional travel agents that is owned, operated and controlled by its membership of individual travel agent professionals. STARS is about continuous training, certification and increasing the value of the professional travel agent. We are a non-profit organization as approved by the IRS. ·STARS is being recognized more and more by the travel industry. ·We have a strategic partnership with the University of Travel to provide our members with Seminars At Sea, personal coaching and other training. ·The consortium, The NEST, is supporting STARS by promoting us to their membership. ·We have set up supporting partnerships with Travel Professionals Of Color (TPOC), Travel Planners International and CruiseOne along with several suppliers. ·We are seeking travel agents, organizations, host agencies, consortia and suppliers to work with us and introduce STARS to their members and affiliations. ·STARS' membership is FREE to travel agent professionals. STARS, with its main focus on education, training and building the certified travel professionals, is a grass roots organization designed to bring the travel agent professional together creating a strong, single voice for our segment of the travel industry. I will act as the temporary Managing Director until we have at least 500 members who will then be in a position to take over the organization. I plan to donate the entire STARS' infrastructure to the STARS' membership. Travel Agent membership, if qualified, is absolutely FREE. Please see our website for benefits. . WISH UPON A STAR, click here STARS IS OPEN TO HOST and CONSORTIA MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES We are seeking Host Agencies and Consortia to join our grassroots membership drive to unite the individual travel professional. You can become a supporter and advisor to this unique group of travel agents. Our Host Agency and Consortia members will be asked to meet the same high standards that we ask of our voting individual members. The requirements to join STARS are as follows. You must be in business for at least 2 Years possessing the required licenses for states in which you do business. You must have at least 5 Independent Contractors under a written contract. You do not have a multi-level-marketing program in effect. YOUR BENEFITS INCLUDE You will be listed on the STARS website in a separate Host Agency/Consortia section with a link to your website. You will be able to write up to a thousand word description which will appear on the STARS' website. You will be able to appoint or elect a representative to the STARS' Advisory Board as well as establishing your own Advisory Committee to control standards set forth for Hosts and Consortia. The cost to join, if you qualify, is free. You are just required to carry the STARS' logo on your websites and promote the STARS' membership to your affiliates. Please go to our "HOST AGENCY/CONSORTIA MEMBERS" section of our website for an application. THE GRUMPY OLD TRAVEL AGENT IS REBORN

COMING SOON WITH HIS OWN WEBSITE

If you think the Shrimp Lady is a little nuts, wait till you see this guy in action.

	YTB CONTINUES TO LOSE REVENUE AND AGENTS

As predicted at the first of this year, I did not feel YTB would be in the travel business by year end based on their revenues and other problems from the previous year. Revenues in 2009 are down well over 50 % and still dropping. Couple this with a some bad deals, pending lawsuits and the resignations of Board Directors, it doesn't look good for the future. YTB is still alive and barely kicking. YTB agents and suppliers should make their own decisions after reviewing the recent SEC statements.

Complete Detailed summary of YTB's financial condition

	THE SHRIMP LADY HAS BEEN INVITED TO THE OASIS INAUGURAL

IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT ROYAL CARIBBEAN MADE A MISTAKE WHEN INVITING THE SHRIMP LADY TO THE OASIS INAUGURAL IN NOVEMBER, THINK AGAIN.

Apparently the Grumpy Old Travel Agent may also be on board. I see big trouble ahead.

A FULL REPORT IN DECEMBER'S NEWSLETTER

VISIT THE SHRIMP LADY

	OUR MONTHLY LIST OF THE MOST NOTABLE BUMS IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY

The companies listed below are either an MLM or a card mill. Some are both. I just cannot understand why some suppliers continue to support the 95% of these MLM affiliates when they are just consumers trying to discount their vacation. Some suppliers will say they support these companies because they can't separate the consumers from the serious agents. The solution is to stiffen the requirements for all incentives to travel agents. Of course, there are those suppliers that feed on pure greed for a sale and allow consumer affiliates to book travel and provide commissions. ( It's called "commission rebating" or throwing manure against the wall to see what sticks). It's OK for the suppliers but not the travel agent to rebate commissions. Suppliers who really care about the travel professional would not advertise on the MLM websites or display at their "smell the money" conventions.

Terminating the MLMs and card mills will not have an adverse effect on suppliers. The good agents will just move to a better Host Agency as they are presently doing and sell the products from there, just as they did when they left JoyStar.

The following companies are either MLM's, card mills or financially troubled host agencies. If you know of others please let me know and I will add them to the list. If you find that I am incorrect in listing one of these companies, I will do a retraction in the following issue.

A-1 TRAVEL-VACATION.COM
ACTIVE TRAVEL NETWORK
AMERICAN TRAVEL BUREAU
AMERICAN VOYAGER TRAVEL a/k/a GRAND VOYAGER TRAVEL
CASH CARD WORLDWIDE, now known as TRAVEL REACTION
COASTAL VACATION CLUB
GATEWAY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
GOLDRUSH GETAWAYS
EE TRAVEL BENEFITS
GLOBAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL Many hotels no longer accept their card.
FUN TIME VACATION CLUB
GT TRENDS formerly PRT TRAVEL
HOLIDAY PLANNERS a/k/a INFINITE FRONTIERS and formerly AMERICAN VOYAGER, not to be confused with Holiday Planners , Branson, Missouri.
INTELETRAVEL(terminated by IATAN)
KE TRAVEL
JOIN CRUISE TO CASH
MY LEISURE BUSINESS.BIZ, A spinoff from World Ventures. They grow like weeds in a manure farm.
NET TRAV
PROTRAVEL NETWORK (NOW PTN, INC), a piece of work (not to be confused with ProTravel International) Recently changed its name to PTN, INC so it can sell non-travel item.
QUEST TRAVEL NETWORK ( a few MLM dogs joined together)
TRAVELBRIDGE
TRAVELENCIA
TRAVELONE (Beacon Travel)
TRAVELSTAR(JOYSTAR), Chapter 7
TRAVELWIZE a/k/a CYBERWIZE, just fried
TRAVERUS
TVI EXPRESS, the latest and is really about lies & deceipt) ULTIMATE CHOICE TRAVEL
WORLD VENTURES TRAVEL
YTB INTERNATIONAL (In serious financial trouble) YOUR TRAVEL BIZ, YTBCARS

THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIERS, WE CALL THEM THE "GOOD GUYS," NO LONGER DO BUSINESS WITH YTB

IATAN
ROYAL CARIBBEAN/CELEBRITY
PERILLO TOURS
MARRIOTT HOTELS
FAREBUZZ
DISNEY DESTINATIONS
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISES
AVANTI DESTINATIONS
APTA
NCL

	THE BEST OF THE TRAVEL AGENT ORGANIZATIONS

The following memberships should be in all travel professional's portfolios. They are presented in alphabetical order and not by preference.

ASTA, One of our oldest travel industry organizations with great industry information, research and education. The industry's only link with the Federal and State bureaucrats and lawmakers. www.asta.org

CLIA- Associate Membership- Provides many of the full CLIA benefits for $99.00. Ideal for cruise specialists working under a Host Agency. The only place for cruise certification courses. Visit www.cruising.org

CRUISE AND TRAVEL UNIVERSITY- Excellent seminar at sea training, mentoring, coaching and travel agent resources including a section where you can find and sell your extra group rooms. Worth checking out. www.universityoftravel.com

NACTA- One of the great champions of the home based and independent travel agent. Great training and seminar at sea opportunities plus lots of benefits headed by Scott Koepf, CTC, MCC. www.nacta.com

NACOA- For those who specialize in cruising. An old and reliable organization offering cruise and industry education. www.nacoaonline.com.

PLATINUM SOCIETY provides seminar training on the major cruise lines including luxury sailings. They have hundreds of sailings each year. www.platinumseminars.com

SATH- Society For Accessible Travel and Hospitality; A non profit organization whose mission it is to bring awareness to the needs of all travelers with disabilities and to expand their travel opportunities. www.sath.org

STARS- The only travel organization to be owned, controlled and operated by the travel agent professional. Home to the "Certified Travel Professional." Plenty of resources and membership is FREE. www.thebrighteststars.com

THE TRAVEL INSTITUTE- The top of the line for destination training and general knowledge of the industry. This is where you find your certification courses. www.thetravelinstitute.com

TPOC- The Travel Professionals of Color is a newer, one of a kind organization providing networking opportunities for its minority based membership. Check them out at www.tpoc.org

WRTA-World Religious Travel Association; One of the fastest growing segments in faith-based travel. If this is your niche or want it to be, you must become a member. www.religioustravelassociation.com

	SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO THIS NEWSLETTER, IT'S FREE

Nothing but straight forward discussion of interest to the Travel Professional. No nonsense and carefully researched material to keep you awake and make you aware as well as sometimes to incite you.

This is our profession to build or destroy. Please don't ask, "What's in it for me?" Rather ask, "What can I do to make our profession better for ourselves and the future of the travel agent?"

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	THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE A MUST FOR TRAVEL AGENT PROFESSIONALS

If you are not reading, at least, the minimum of publications listed below, you are not doing yourself justice and will eventually fall behind your peers. Travel Professionals must continually work at their chosen travel specialties and keep abreast of industry changes. You don't need to read every single article in all these publications but choose those that are more relevant to your niche. I have not listed these in any particular order. If I missed your publication, please let me know.

AGENT@HOME*, Website:agentathome.com

VACATION Agent, Website: www.cruiseandvacationagent.com

LEISURE GROUP TRAVEL, website: www.leisuregrouptravel.com

MODERN AGENT, Website: www.modernagent.com

TRAVEL AGENT Home-Based, Website: www.homebasedta.com/hbta.com

TRAVEL AGENT, Website: www.www.travelagentcentral.com

TRAVEL WEEKLY*, Website: www.ntmllc.com

JAXFAX TRAVEL MARKETING, Website:www.jaxfax.com

RECOMMEND, Website: www.recommend.com

TRAVEL WORLD NEWS, Website: www.travelworldnews.com

* The above printed media also has an electronic edition online. Other online editions are as follows:

The Travel Pulse at www.thetravelpulse.com
E Turbo News at www.travelnewswire.com
Travel Agent Digital Edition 2.0 at www.travelagentcentral.com
Travel Mole at www.travelmole.com

SHOULD WE STRENGTHEN OUR SELLER OF TRAVEL LAWS?

I have been criticized, chastised, threatened and sued by some of my readers while the vast majority of the travel industry thanks me for what I have tried to do over the last few years. As for me, my sole purpose was to make travel agents and suppliers aware of things that are or could be a threat to the existence of the professional travel agent. The biggest and obvious threats have always been the MLMs and the card mills along with specific agencies such as the former JoyStar host agency. I'm pleased to see many agents and consumers are now aware of the differences, yet, we still have a long way to go.

One of the underlying reasons these dubious business models continue to show up as well as disappear is that travel agents are a very fragmented, naive group and certainly without definition. No one has yet to come out with a definition of what is a travel agent professional nor what credentials they should possess. ASTA would be the most logical choice but they are still trying to overcome a reputation of years ago; although with Chris Russo as their President, they have an opportunity. There are the IATAN and CLIA photo IDs used for travel agent credentials that are offered to travel agents but lack consistency in determining who is eligible to receive the card. There are other photo ID cards issued by agencies that are worthless.

I believe we should continue working to find a solution that would result in travel agents speaking and acting with a strong voice and shaping their own destiny. However, there is nothing I have seen that has convinced me that the travel agent community, in its totally fragmented state, can take control of its own future. Organizations such as IATAN, CLIA, ASTA and NACTA are doing a good job, but are a long way from unifying travel agents en masse. With the surge of the home-based travel agent and the many dubious agency models, it has become imperative to do something to reign in those who want to take advantage of the professional travel agent and the consumer.

I personally feel that the only way the travel agent professional can become unified is first, by having the States adopt or amend their own Sellers of Travel laws that can by its requirements define a travel agent. This would essentially be the licensing of travel agents. I don't like politicians getting involved with my business however, I don't see any other way out without just leaving the travel agent profession in disarray.

I would start with the State of Florida. They now have the toughest Sellers of Travel laws; it is the cruise capital of the world and one of our largest tourist states. Amending their Sellers of Travel laws is not an impossible task. The lawmakers would need to see the benefits to the consumer, the travel agents, as well as itself via more revenue. More importantly, we really need the organizations to work together with this assuming they are not against the idea of improving the Sellers of Travel laws. Although the State may provide some form of credential such as a certificate, which they do now anyways. it will not be a hindrance to IATAN or CLIA providing their own credentials with production requirements which would include a copy of the agent's state license.

I have read Florida's Sellers of Travel laws chapter 559 of the Florida Statutes and the Florida administrative Code chapter 51-9 several times. By inserting additional verbiage such as changing the existing phrase, "Any seller of travel that has a business location in Florida or that offers to sell travel related services to persons in Florida for individuals or groups is required to register" to "Any seller of travel that sells travel from any licensed location in Florida or that offers to sell travel related services to individuals or groups residing, based, temporary or permanently, and departing from and arriving to any Florida destination is required to register with the State of Florida."<

I gave you just one example however, travel agent leaders can get together and work out proposed changes to the Florida Sellers of Travel laws that, if adopted, would have many states fall in line; especially the largest tourist states. Obviously, we need to partner with one or two lawmakers who would need to be convinced that this would be a benefit to consumers and would result in more revenue to the state.

I would like to work with travel industry executives who have the same goals to unify and define travel agents which will go a long way to help eliminate those who do not really have the interests of the travel agent professional. I look forward to your comments and suggestions.

This is really a two step process as the licensing of travel agents, state by state, shouldn't hinder the professional travel agent. The crooks, licensed or unlicensed will still be there although their numbers greatly reduced. The second step is addressed in the next article below.

Peter Stilphen, ECC
host@coralsandstravel.com

	TRAVEL AGENTS HAVE ONE STRONG AND SINGLE VOICE

I'm sure the above heading got your attention. That comment is as true as there is a Santa Claus and MLMs are the good guys. We all know the travel agent distribution system is fragmented without uniformity; without any definition of what is a travel agent and subject to suppliers taking advantage of the entire scenario. You have suppliers stealing clients, playing games with your commissions, debit memos from out of the blue, and accepting anyone as a travel agent as long as they can make a sale. Greed, corruption, untrained agents and selfishness (What's in it for me?) are very common traits in this travel segment. Other than the above, I believe all is perfect.

Some of you may ask, "If you feel that way, then why stay in this business?" That's exactly the reason I am still here. I did not originally come into this business as a travel agent or in my case as a CEO of a Host Agency. I had actually retired from the hospitality business and wanted to do something else at age 63 when I started this business 7 years ago. Over my business career, I worked with travel agents and got to know their strengths and weaknesses. I even remembered when agency owners would hire agents for minimum wage and a couple of FAMS per year. Travel agents are a different breed in that they love the business so much they will work for peanuts. This has not changed. However, I can see the younger agent coming in with a different agenda and willing to battle for his/her own cause.

Beauticians, carpenters and real estate salespersons are all required to have a State license in order to work. Travel agents are totally unregulated except for a few Sellers of Travel laws. In my opinion, this has got to stop. Travel agents need to be regulated because they can't regulate themselves. The travel agent must do business as well as being a trained professional. It is now my belief that if we can tweak the Sellers of Travel laws beginning with Florida and California, we can close down many of these crazy business models and reduce the increasing number of travel agent to consumer scams. The licensed or regulated travel agents would be able to create their own organization or become part of an existing organization as long as it controls and makes the rules for its membership.

So what can the travel agent do with a 25,000 travel agent member organization? They can have a STRONG and SINGLE VOICE. Anyone who is interested, please contact me at host@coralsandstravel. I would love to hear your thoughts as well as the possibility of creating an Ad Hoc committee to explore changing the state's Seller of Travel laws beginning with Florida.

PRO TRAVEL NETWORK (PTN, INC), A JOYSTAR LOOK-A-LIKE?

As promised, I will research these controversial Host Agencies with a MLM and/or card mill business model. Pro Travel Network, is not to be confused with the notable and highly respected travel agency, Pro Travel International. Pro Travel Network is a straight forward, admitted multi level marketing host travel agency. It does not issue its own photo ID card and therefore it is not what we commonly refer to as a "card mill." It is all MLM.

Paul Henderson is the CEO and outspoken defender of this public company operating under an MLM business model. Mr Henderson's business background is network marketing and sales with little or no travel experience except "on the job" experience from his time at Pro Travel Network. It appears that none of Pro Travel Network's key executives have a travel background. One of his key executives was a former area sales executive for CountryWide Mortgage Lending; one of the key companies involved in the home sub-prime lending mortgage business disaster. The other executives have primarily network or direct marketing experience. Many executives from the MLM ranks generally lack credibility because they, as all MLMers do, work on the basis of hype, deceit and outward lies concerning their businesses. We can't say that this applies to the executives at Pro Travel Network but we can almost say they are guilty by association working under the MLM concept.

Pro Travel Network opened its doors in October 2003 soon after Mr Henderson left his business as a recruiting and sales representative unrelated to travel. PTN, Inc, as it is called today is a public company with insiders owning the majority of the common stock.

A REMARKABLE SIMILARITY BETWEEN PTN, INC AND JOYSTAR BUSINESS MODELS

While researching Pro Travel Network (PTN, Inc) I continually ran into a remarkable resemblance to the former JoyStar (TravelStar) business model. We all know now that the JoyStar business model was doomed from the beginning, as I had written about them for the past 5 years. When JS did finally fail for good it left hundreds of travel agents without their earned commissions as well as suppliers and other travel related companies in chaos. I am not saying the same fate will occur at PTN, Inc but it makes one think that one should do their own cautious research and move accordingly.

Here are a few similarities found.
PTN = PTN, Inc/ ProTravel Network
JS = JoyStar/TravelStar

1) PTN and JS are and were based in California and have been publicly registered travel companies in Nevada since the early 2000's.

2) Bill Alverson and Paul Henderson were and are the charismatic leaders of these companies, both with MLM backgrounds.

3) Both companies hype or hyped their companies growth in revenues and constantly issued press releases that focused on the future value of their stock while at the same time suffering operating losses. An apparent effort to build the stock price.

4) Both CEO's set themselves up with "golden parachutes" amidst growing company operating losses.

5) Both companies purchased retail cruise centers. JS bought the Miami Cruise Center with PTN, INC purchasing Cruise Adventures.

6) Both companies changed it's names at least once saying, in effect, their business model now covers more than just host agency operations and the new names should reflect the many ventures it now represents. JoyStar to TravelStar and Pro Travel Network to PTN, INC.

7) Being public companies subjected both to disclaimers concerning future growth and profitability of the company. PTN, Inc's financial statements were unaudited compared to JS audited financials.

8) Both JS and PTN, INC formed what they referred to as a social networking program for consumer travelers that rewarded those who participated via an MLM scheme. PTN calls it "The Destinations Club". JS named the program "TravelStar".

9) Both companies reported high sale growths in its early years despite little or no operating profits and in it's later years have shown a downturn.

10) Both companies blame the recent downturn in sales to the economy. JS blamed their failure on the economy. Henderson blames JS's demise on their business model. That's an interesting remark considering their resemblance. PTN, INC also blames recent revenue and profit downturns on the economy.

SUMMARY

We know that MLM business travel models operate in a similar fashion. PTN and JS just happened to operate in what appears to be the same business model. Hype, deceit and lies may work well with the MLMs in other industries but they will never work well with the retail travel industry because, as I have said many times, "There ain't enough profits in commission sales to make it work." That why you see these agencies working other areas by adding additional products, selling websites, recruiting other members and more recently using the social networking craze to expand the MLM model to more consumers looking for revenue and cheap vacations.

The only ones who really suffer are the professional travel agents. A fragmented and basically uninformed group that is being taken advantage of by the MLM dirtbags. When the professional travel agents decide they have had enough of being "dumped on", perhaps they will attempt to form a group. I applaud ASTA'S efforts to begin researching the idea of travel agent accreditation and proper credentials.

CONFUSED ABOUT WHICH TRAVEL AGENT ORGANIZATION TO JOIN?

There are many organizations that are bending over backwards to build their membership. Some of these travel agent organizations are out of touch with the needs of today's professional travel agent while others are very worthwhile. I hope my biased, (Yes, I said biased) remarks will take out some of the confusion as to which ones you really should be considering joining. If I ruffle a few feathers along the way, well, so be it. That's my "yob". Listed alphabetically to be fair.

ARTA
One of our earlier organizations and caters primarily to the "brick and mortar" travel agent. Remember them? They are still around and kicking. I'm not sure what ARTA does anymore other than send out an unprofessional looking newsletter and continues to lose their member base. I know of a few really good agents that are still with them. My suggestion is that if ARTA can't re-invent itself maybe it can merge with another. Its allegedly dead TRIP ID card may have been it's "last hurrah." www.arta.org

ASTA
Like ARTA, ASTA has been around a long time. However, ASTA is far from dead despite financial problems in recent years. ASTA has always been involved with the local, state and national legislative issues in efforts to protect us from the greedy politicians. ASTA purchased NACTA several years ago from Joannie Ogg which, I believe, saved ASTA's financial life. Joanie turned NACTA into a cash cow for ASTA, therefore, I feel they should erect a statue of Joanie in their office lobby.

I met ASTA's new president, Chris Russo, a couple of weeks ago. All I can say is that ASTA should be thankful for this new, young President. He certainly wants the travel agent to forget the past, and I don't blame him, and move forward with new ideas. I totally agree. Keep up the great work Chris. www.asta.org

CLIA
This is not a travel agent organization but is the marketing and training arm for its cruise line members. It's revenue comes primarily from selling its cruise training products, membership dues and a sometimes controversial photo ID card. I have written several articles over the years criticizing their requirements for membership and its photo ID card. I believe, along with others who have spoken out, that CLIA wants to do the right thing and is showing that it will do so. They made some improvements to their photo ID card requirements in 2009 and I certainly hope it doesn't stop there. I am an advocate of stronger requirements especially for Host Agencies.

Travel agents have just two choices for their travel agent photo ID credentials. The IATAN or CLIA card. All others amount to foolishness and bad judgement by the travel agent and some suppliers. I also recommend that all agents selling cruises should be, at a minimum, associate members of CLIA. www.cruising.org

CRUISE AND TRAVEL AGENTS
Not one of our larger organizations, but as far as providing quality member services, especially agent training, this organization is one of the best. Founder and one of the instructors, Charlie Dubinsky, has been around the travel industry for 17 years.They may be considered more of a niche organization because they concentrate not only on cruise and destination training but on self improvement training. Cruise and Travel University is the live training arm of Cruise and Travel Agents. www.cruiseagentonly.com

NACTA As I mentioned above, NACTA is owned by ASTA. NACTA is primarily for Home-based Travel agents delivering training, networking, Seminars at Sea and networking via its much improved website. Under the leadership of Scott Koepf, an experienced industry leader, NACTA is being led into the 21st century. It should continue to be successful as long as ASTA provides a minimum of direction and leaves the NACTA folks to make it work for themselves. I also want to thank NACTA for dumping its Travel Seller's photo ID program. It was the right thing to do. www.nacta.org

PATH
This is an organization representing several excellent Host Agencies. The purpose of PATH is to promote education, resolve Host Agency problems with suppliers and work to resolve issues plaguing travel agents and their hosts. PATH does not advocate the so called MLMs and card mills.  

  I believe all Host Agencies who qualify should consider this membership. www.path4hosts.com

STARS is different organization than the other mainstream organizations. Founded and created by yours truly, the whole idea of another organization was to create the only non-profit travel agent owned, operated and controlled entity by the individual travel agent members.

STARS is all about continuous training and education and being recognized by the suppliers and the industry at large. It created its "Certified Travel Professional" designation to enable the designations such as MCC, ECC, CTA, CTE etc to combine forces under one single roof.

I personally created STARS to provide the ultimate travel agent focused organization to give to travel agents, at no cost and without strings, in order that they may unite and determine their own destiny. One day that special travel agent(s) with a vision will contact me and be in a position to run with it. www.thebrighteststars.com and www.certifiedtravelprofessionals.com

TPOC is not as well known as the others. The purpose of this organization, like other organizations, is to train and educate. However. TPOC (Travel Professionals of Color) is also about minorities networking with minorities. They have their annual conference, to which I have been invited to moderate a panel (They know not what they ask of me). They generally have around 300 agents in attendance and it's worth attending. Check out www.tpoc.org

I know I missed a few of the organizations. Look at it this way. It may have been a good thing as you never know what I may say about you.

Peter Stilphen, MCC
liberty3675@embarqmail.com

A SERIOUS WARNING TO TRAVEL AGENTS AND SUPPLIERS

As many of you know I receive lots of email from agents and non-agents concerning my blogs about the bad guys in this business, commonly referred to as MLMs and Card Mills. Many of the emails ask questions about their own host agency or to complain about commissions not being paid or just wanting to express an opinion.

Over the past 5 years, while trying to warn agents and suppliers about TravelStar/JoyStar, I received hundreds of emails about that company. Those emails and my own research caused me to raise red flags about that company.

Well, the red flags are really beginning to fly again. I have personally blogged about the MLMs and Card Mills for the past few years and again have received countless emails while at the same time watching and researching their evolvement. I've always known that the life of most MLMs were short but the life of an MLM in the travel business was really short, simply because the profit margins in the travel business were too small. None of the MLMs could ever survive without the MLM aspect in their other programs such as recruiting, selling websites and non-related travel products.

Today's economy has even shortened their life as a travel agency to a point where that "bubble" is about to burst. I believe YTB, the largest of the MLMs, will go down first this year. MLMs are already suffering severely and are looking at other alternatives ie name changing, merging with other MLMs and bringing on more non- travel products. There are strong complaints of commissions ever more slowly being paid.

When JoyStar collapsed it caused chaos among both the travel agents and suppliers. JoyStar only had a couple of thousand agents. The MLMs have thousands of affiliated agents called ITAs and RTAs. I doubt that the suppliers, especially the cruise lines, could handle the overwhelming inquiries from agents looking for their commissions and seeking the transfer of their existing bookings as they did with JoyStar.

I have two simple recommendations. Travel agents must do their homework and seek out a new, legitimate, financially stable Host Agency and not wait for their MLM or Card mill to go out of business. See my favorite list of these scoundrels elsewhere in this newsletter. Travel suppliers must look at what they are carrying on their books with the MLMs and Card Mills and establish fair policies relating to paying commissions and transferring bookings. They also need to reduce their exposure with these pseudo Host Agencies and terminate them asap. I'm sure they all have smart attorneys to help them with any alleged anti-trust complaints of violation from these folks.

I do hope you take my words seriously. It took four years to expose JoyStar. I'm giving you fair warning before it all hits the fan sometime this year. This is not a "sky is falling" warning but one based on my career experience as a business and financial executive, carefull research, and the ability to read between the lines.

Peter Stilphen, MCC
CEO
Coral Sands Travel
World Cruising Society

A PROVOCATIVE NEWSLETTER FOR ALL OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE BELOW

THE PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENT'S ADVOCATE

Straight Talk Concerning The Travel Agent Distribution System by Peter Stilphen, MCC MARCH 2009

THIS MONTH'S TOPICS

• WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW CONCERNING THE HOST AGENCY MODELS
  
  
• AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE SHRIMP LADY
  
  
• STARS CREATES A CHOOSING A HOST AGENCY WEBSITE
  
  
• IS IT TIME FOR MLM TRAVEL AGENTS TO MAKE THE SWITCH TO THE REAL HOST AGENCIES?
  
  
• THIS ARTICLE IS WORTH REPEATING FOR OUR SUPPLIER FRIENDS."THE HIDDEN COST OF MLM" by John Frenaye
  
  
• SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO THIS NEWSLETTER, IT'S FREE
  
  
• A LIST OF THE BAD GUYS IN OUR TRAVEL BUSINESS
  
  
• I'VE BEEN FORCED TO CAP MY SALARY AT $500,000 AND I'M FIGHTING MAD
  
  

Hello Fellow Travel Professionals,

Welcome to my newsletter where I discuss the travel agent distribution system with straight talk, sometimes with humorous thoughts and sometimes down right provocative. I have been doing this for five years in an attempt to inform travel agents, host agencies and suppliers about what goes on in our little, but very important, segment of the travel industry. My agenda is simply to get you to think and hopefully act to make life easier in this great travel business.

I plan to continue working for a better and stronger travel agent along with the Host Agencies and Suppliers with which they work. We will always have the bad guys in our business therefore, my job is to continue exposing them and providing the insight to travel agents and suppliers hopefully, enabling them to make better decisions.

As usual I will discuss specific agencies and suppliers, especially the cheaters, the MLMs and the card mills. Of course we need to mix up all this seriousness with the Shrimp Lady's misadventures and my attempt at a little humor. I generally send out my newsletter twice a month with the second version being more of an updated version of the first. I apologize to those who have to read my newsletter twice but you never know you may have missed something the first "go round."

JOYSTAR TRAVEL AGENTS NEED YOUR HELP!

Many former JoyStar travel agents have joined together to force JoyStar into bankruptcy. This creates legal expenses that must be paid up front. The attorney's fees, to this day, have been furnished by the travel agents. However, it will take more fees to bring the case to a point where a court appointed Trustee will take over. Host Agencies, Suppliers and Organizations are being asked to contribute to the legal fund. We hope all of you, as well as other travel agencies, will help these agents and do what is right to bring justice to an unscrupulous CEO and JoyStar. Please send any amount to:

Checks should be made payable to:
JoyStar Agents Legal Fund
C/O Drew Axelrod
823 S.E. 18th Street
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
email:cruisegroups@hotmail.com

Only one Host Agency has donated any money. The legal costs now exceed the contributions. It was a Host Agency who created this problem. I feel Host Agencies should be willing to help out as well as those organizations who are supposed to be behind all travel agents.

JOYSTAR TIDBIT

Joystar recently filed with the court their supposedly 20 largest unsecured creditor's list. As I had written about years ago, their financials raised some red flags. One being the payroll tax liability which I reported back then. The IRS and State of California is owed almost $870,000 in some form of payroll tax liability.

It is my opinion besides the tax problems, there will be SEC questions and an investigation by both the Florida and California State Attorney General's office into both JoyStar and it's CEO Bill Alverson.

	WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW CONCERNING THE HOST AGENCY MODELS

I have written a great deal concerning Host Agencies over the past 5 years. Due to recent events with JoyStar, a large Host Agency collapsing, YTB and other multi-level-marketing Host Agencies being in difficult times along with some pure card mill Host Agencies such as Global Travel International, it is time we discuss again the various Host Agency models and the way they operate.

It is extremely difficult for any experienced travel agent, never mind the new agents coming into this industry, to really distinguish between each of the various business models of these Host Agencies. It is vitally important for new and experienced travel agents to do the necessary research before signing on with any Host Agency. We have all said that but, there the statement sets with nothing happening. I have taken the next step by creating a bi-partisan website explaining exactly what steps one should take before choosing their Host Agency. This site is sponsored by several of the mainstream Host Agencies and gives you an explanation of what is a Host Agency, the various business models, check lists and questions to ask the Host Agency candidate. You can enter the site from the link below.

Looking down the road at the future of Host Agencies, I see the necessity of making new rules by such organizations as IATAN and CLIA. Any travel agency who brings in outside agents, or as we call them, independent contractors, likes to refer to themselves as a Host Agency. The basic difference between a Host Agency and a travel agency with outside agents, referral agents, etc is how the agency is structured. Host Agencies offer a great deal of support, are accepted by all the suppliers and organizations and have technology in place. The non-traditional or non- host agencies, as I refer to them, with referral agents, certified agents and other descriptive or gimmicky names or initials generally only offer support and training selling their company and their business opportunities. They utilize simple booking websites and/or call centers.

Some suppliers have a problem with Host Agencies because they feel the less productive agents should be receiving 10% commission rather than the much higher commission paid to the Host Agency. The problem with this thinking is the Host Agencies must pay the higher rates to their agent affiliates to keep them as affiliates. The Host Agency is really an extension of the supplier as they too, provide training and marketing tools incurring a cost, while attracting more agents to sell more of the supplier products. It is when the Host Agency is providing little or no training or support when the supplier should be considered paying too much commission. The multi- level-marketing Host Agency is a good example.

I would like to recommend to IATAN and CLIA they consider some new requirements. Here are a few suggestions that won't win me any points with Host Agencies but should be discussed.

1) Host Agencies should be required to maintain a commission escrow account or insurance that protects the travel agent in case of insolvency by the Host Agency.

2) The Host Agency should eliminate the 100% commission programs. They are unfair to host agencies and suppliers and are unprofitable. The only benefit to Hosts is they build volume with the supplier.

3) CLIA should eliminate the extra photo ID cards afforded to their member agencies.

4) The word insolvency should be spelled out and applied to those Hosts that have demonstrated they are not paying their agents. Insolvency along with any Chapter 11 filing by that Host Agency should automatically allow the transfer of bookings on any reservation that as yet a commission has not been paid to that Host by the supplier. This would be a good challenge for a good attorney. Members of IATAN, CLIA and USTOA would look into creating these or similar rules and also, perhaps this would allow a bankruptcy judge to grant the transferring of agent bookings with less hassle.

5) Requirements and rules should be implemented that deals or forbids those Host Agency models that promote multi-tier commission programs.

6) Host Agencies should be forbidden to offer photo ID cards to their affiliates for any reason other than as a membership card. They should not have any numbers on the card except an internal number issued by that Host Agency.

Most Host Agencies are apathetic and reluctant to "stir the pot" as I do. Due to my strong views on many issues I receive emails almost everyday asking my opinion about specific Host Agencies or Hosts in general. Many have opened up to me with their experiences with some of these Host Agencies and I try to reply to them as impartially as I can. I rarely try to sell them on joining my Host Agency because I'm trying to remain as impartial as I can under the circumstances. Of course when a Host Agency goes out of business or is an MLM, I will try to promote my Host Agency, Coral Sands Travel. There have been many occasions when I have recommended another Host Agency because I feel the right fit is important to both parties. Of course, the ugly emails are also there, mostly from the MLM pseudo agents. I just need to remind myself about all the evil emails and blogs I used to receive from the former JoyStar agents and their CEO Bill Alverson that are no more.

I can focus on other menaces to our industry such as YTB, GTI, World Ventures and Traverus and hope I can change some minds before it is too late, again.

	AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE SHRIMP LADY

Many of you have followed the misadventures of the Shrimp Lady for the past three years. The Shrimp Lady is based on a real travel agent of whom I have been following. I first saw her in a buffet line at a travel agent conference and trade show. She, along with many other agents, were not behaving responsibly at these conference meal functions and were dressed more as tourists rather than professional travel agents. It was when I noticed this travel agent putting shrimp into her pocketbook and then coming back through the line and cutting off pieces of ice from the centerpiece ice sculpture that I had to ask her why she was doing this. Her response was, "I need to keep my shrimp cold." The Shrimp Lady was born. You can read about her previous escapades at her own website at www.theshrimplady.com.

I managed to catch up with her recently at her new home on Sanibel Island off the west coast of Florida. She was gracious enough to grant me an exclusive interview. After all, we knew a great deal about her misfortunes but did not know much of her personally. We decided to ask her.

Peter: What made you move to Sanibel Island, Florida from Osark, West Virginia where most of your siblings live?

Shrimp Lady: My travel agency has been going great and I have been making excellent commissions these last two years especially since you started writing about me.

Peter: Could you elaborate more on that for our readers?

Shrimp Lady: Certainly! I have been receiving several inquiries from affinity groups whose members were suffering from different types of food disorders and fetishes. Much as I suffer from an insatiable appetite for shrimp.

Peter: May I ask you about these groups and how they led to you earning travel commissions from booking travel for these groups?

Shrimp Lady: Certainly! First of all I want to say that Coral Sands Travel inducing me to leave YTB was the biggest change for the better in my life. Coral Sands recommended that I specialize in a real niche that encompassed my own strengths and even weaknesses. Growing up with my severe fetish for food, I felt I could work with others in similar situations. I contacted a 5,000 member group called the Burpettes and another know as FSOA (Flatulent Society Of America) which had over 8,000 members.

Peter: Can you give me an idea of who they are and what these groups do?

Shrimp Lady: The Burpettes have been around for centuries. They believe after sitting down for a great meal that they feel a loud and deep burp is a way of thanking the host for a wonderful meal. They transformed all this into a way of converting spontaneous burping into actual singing. Today's Burpette group, once completing a good meal, breaks out into coordinated sounds of burping which does sound like some popular tunes. When I contacted them about doing their semi annual conferences via land or cruise, they were ecstatic. I recently booked one cruise for them with over 500 cabins. I now also handle all their individual bookings.

Peter: That's great! What about this other group FSOA?

Shrimp Lady: Actually they were tougher to work with but we have had success under certain conditions. For example, with regard to cruises; we have to book them only in balconies and they must have their meals in the open air, usually around the pool decks. We once tried inside cabins but that was a disaster. The Board of Directors, who were in the campfire cast of the movie "Blazing Saddles," has been great to work with. They really give a toot.

Peter: That leads me back to the question, "How did you obtain your shrimp fetish and why do you dress as you do when attending travel agent conferences?"

Shrimp Lady: My shrimp fetish probably comes from my father who was a shrimp fisherman out of Fort Myers Beach. He worked on a shrimp boat all of his life. We were a poor family and lived off the shrimp that he would bring home. I can't let a day go by without having my shrimp and as you have written about, I will go to great lengths to find it. I moved to Sanibel Island because this area is where my roots are in addition to being near my beloved Host Agency, Coral Sands Travel.

Peter: What about your colorful style of dressing at these travel events?

Shrimp Lady: I suppose the colorful clothing and heavy makeup comes from my mother who was, what she called, a self employed service technician. She worked the night shift and her uniform was a bright red dress. When I got a little older I would ask questions about why the red uniform, why she only worked the night shift and why all the loose change on her bedroom bureau? Her explanation was that the red dress stood her apart from other technicians such as the TV or washing machine technician; the night hours was because she could attract more business at night rather than the day and the loose change was just that, change from the dollar bills she charged for providing her service. I accepted these responses but I'm still not sure. I loved my mother's colorful clothing style and adopted most of it. The red sneakers, rather than spiked heels, allowed me to get away after my shrimp capers.

Peter: Speaking of your shrimp capers, could you explain to our readers why, when attending these events, you seem to be always chasing somebody? At the Atlantic City Conference you chased two show executives out of the hotel and down the Boardwalk.

Shrimp Lady: The reason I tend to pick on these travel industry executives and end up chasing them while throwing shrimp at them is because they were responsible for reducing and sometimes eliminating the shrimp on the buffet lines. I really get "ticked off" when they advertise free shrimp and end up substituting "pigs in a blanket" just to save a few bucks and embarrass me and my family. Rest assured that if Terry Dale tries to eliminate shrimp from the upcoming CLIA3Sixty Conference ACC/MCC/ECC function he will answer to me, my boyfriend Oscar and my siblings.

Peter: I really appreciate you speaking with me. Where are you off to next?

Shrimp Lady: I'm planning to go to the CLIA3Sixty Conference, as I mentioned above, in early April. I understand they are putting out a great shrimp buffet per Terry Dale. In addition, I have some unfinished business with my old friend Jim Smith who also loves shrimp. I want to say Peter that you are my favorite writer and Host Agency.

Peter: That's so nice for you to say that. Take care!

LINK TO PREVIOUS EPISODES OF THE SHRIMP LADY

	STARS CREATES A CHOOSING A HOST AGENCY WEBSITE

Peter Stilphen, MCC, the acting Managing Director, of the newly created STARS has created a new bi- partisan website in hopes of helping new and experienced travel agents make better, more informed decisions when choosing a Host Agency.

The site located at www.choosingahostagency.com is partnered by some well known Host Agencies who feel that the travel agent should be more knowledgeable when choosing a Host Agency. All Host Agencies are invited to join us and there is no cost involved. Host Agencies should go to www.thebrighteststars.com and complete the application for Host Agencies. Again, there are no fees.

The website also has a forum, where anyone can register and ask questions concerning Host Agencies. We plan to enlarge the site as the list of supporting Host Agencies grow. We will be creating a testimonial page for industry executives to express their views on the value of this site. The website will be optimized for search engines, hopefully, to be seen by those seeking a Host Agency as well as offering links to other websites.

LINK TO WEBSITE "CHOOSING A HOST AGENCY"

	IS IT TIME FOR MLM TRAVEL AGENTS TO MAKE THE SWITCH TO THE REAL HOST AGENCIES?

I bet many of you YTB, TRAVERUS, WORLD VENTURES TRAVEL and other serious MLM travel agents are getting tired of being looked upon as second class travel agents by the mainstream travel industry. You are constantly hearing about the lawsuits, scam stories and generally the bad press that follows the MLM crowd, whichever rock they come out from under.

The problem is with whom you are associating and not you, the serious travel agent, who is at fault here. You just failed to do your homework or listened to a misguided friend that got you into this mess. The mess will only get messier as these MLMs begin to go out of the travel business or change their name again.

You can get a fresh start for 2009 even in a not so good economy. There are great deals out there and you can book with any supplier. Check out www.choosingahostagency.com and get started today.

YOUR SEARCH FOR A HOST BEGINS HERE (Click)

	THIS ARTICLE IS WORTH REPEATING FOR OUR SUPPLIER FRIENDS."THE HIDDEN COST OF MLM" by John Frenaye

TO: Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Travel Company, Globus, Trafalgar, VAX Vacation Access, Travel Impressions, Cunard Line, Seabourn, Collette Vacations, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Apple Vacations, The Mark Travel Company & Brands, Travel Guard and the rest of the travel suppliers who deal with the MLM travel agencies.

RE: Additional costs to deal with MLM

I bet you thought that offering a 16% commission and a few marketing bucks was a great way to deal with an MLM when you started. I bet you are wrong. Have you ever taken a look at the hidden cost of dealing with an MLM? When reputation is everything in this industry, I am surprised that you all are willing to sacrifice your hard earned brand image. Please consider the following:

Are you gaining more clients? Or just discounting your product?

· The bean counters all see the dollar signs for the bookings. But it has been proven that most of the sales are to themselves. So it is logical to assume these MLM participants would likely have traveled in any case and purchased via a more reputable means. All that is accomplished here is to cheapen your product by discounting--something many of the suppliers themselves prohibit. The alienation of your sales force by doing so is a whole other discussion. Perillo Tours found out that 90% of their YTB bookings were for the agents themselves. Sort of defeats the purpose of hiring an "agent" to do your marketing doesn't it?

What's happening to your reputation?

· What happens when one of these untrained MLM participants makes an attempt to market your product? I am sure you have seen some marketing attempts--many have been highlighted on this blog. And do you really want someone trying to sell your product, when their goal is to sell them into their scheme so they can travel for free?
· What happens when one of these so called "agents" decides to collect almost $100,000 from high school seniors and run with it? While Carnival obviously had no responsibility in that matter, the cruise line's good name was certainly dragged through the mud.
· What happens when you do offer reduced rate travel and these MLM participants descend and are soliciting your full fare paying customers? What type of taste does that leave in your customer's mouth? And why do these MLM "agents" need to be continually reminded on how to be professional?

What's happening to your money?

· Cruise lines are becoming more and more dependent on onboard revenue for their profitability. Has anyone bothered to do a study of the amount of money the MLM clients actually spend on board as opposed to that of a traditional agent? What about the MLM participants themselves? I was on a Carnival ship in November and witnessed a MLM agent from Traverus bragging that they got the cruise for next to nothing, had weaseled out of tipping, smuggled in a lot of alcohol and soda, and brought insulated drinking cups to keep them well lubricated. With all that planning, I am sure a nickel did not make its way to Carnival.
· Sure you pay some of these MLM companies top tier commissions, but for that, one would expect that the agent does the lion's share of the work. Are the MLMs pulling their weight? Have you looked at the time your internal people spend hand holding and re-training the MLM participants time and time again? Is it really worth it to pay 16% commission? I recently heard that a major cruise line flew staff from Miami to St. Louis to answer consumer calls during YTB's recent Sail-A-Thon. I suppose they did not want a repeat of the "service" handed out at last year's event. Honestly, it makes more sense to take the booking direct and not pay a commission at all.

How do your employees feel?

· Have you ever questioned your front line employees about how they feel dealing with the MLM agencies? I have. It is not pretty. You need customers for sure, but you also need employees who are excited to work for you. Why not offer an anonymous survey and allow them to voice their opinions?
· Ask your BDM's their honest opinion. I am sure you will be shocked. Be sure they know you want to know how they feel and not what they think you want to hear.

Do these "agents" know the product?

· On a recent blog post, a YTB Referring Travel Agent was insistent that a "tender" was money. While that is certainly a definition of tender, it is not the case in the travel industry. Most likely this agent is advising clients that while in George Town, Grand Cayman that they need to take money to get ashore.
· Speaking of the Caymans, the RTA that took off with the high school seniors' money--she advertised that the "boat" "docked" in "Grand Cayman". What impression is left on the consumer? And why are suppliers facilitating it?
· When Royal Caribbean made their move, most of YTB insisted that Lisa Bauer's promotion to the VP of the Hotel Operations was really a demotion for "dissing" YTB and that she was in charge of changing sheets in the pre-and post cruise hotels. Seriously, I am not kidding.

Is the interference worth it?

· From what I hear, many suppliers have received subpoenas from the California Attorney General requesting access to many financial documents related to the current suit against YTB for operating an illegal Pyramid Scheme. While I am sure that all suppliers operate on the up and up, additional governmental scrutiny can never be a good thing.

LINK TO JOHN FRENAYE'S BLOG SITE

	SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO THIS NEWSLETTER, IT'S FREE

Nothing but straight forward discussion of interest to the Travel Professional. No nonsense and carefully researched material to keep you awake and make you aware as well as sometimes to incite you.

This is our profession to build or destroy. Please don't ask, "what's in it for me," rather ask, "What can I do to make our profession better for ourselves and the future of the travel agent?"

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

	A LIST OF THE BAD GUYS IN OUR TRAVEL BUSINESS

The companies listed below are either an MLM or a card mill. Some are both. I just cannot understand why some suppliers continue to support the 95% of these MLM affiliates when they are just consumers trying to discount their vacation. Some suppliers will say they support these companies because they can't separate the consumers from the serious agents. The solution is to stiffen the requirements for all incentives to travel agents. Of course, there are those suppliers that feed on pure greed for a sale and allow consumer affiliates to book travel and provide commissions. ( It's called "commission rebating" or throwing manure against the wall to see what sticks). It's OK for the suppliers but not the travel agent to rebate commissions. Suppliers who really care about the travel professional would not advertise on the MLM websites or display at their "smell the money" conventions.

Terminating the MLMs and card mills will not have an adverse effect on suppliers. The good agents will just move to a better Host Agency and sell the products from there, just as they did when they left JoyStar.

The following companies are either MLM's, card mills or financially troubled host agencies. If you know of others please let me know and I will add them to the list. If you find that I am incorrect in listing one of these companies, I will do a retraction in the following issue.

A-1 TRAVEL-VACATION.COM
ALL TRAVEL and CRUISE CENTER, INC
AMERICAN TRAVEL BUREAU
AMERICAN VOYAGER TRAVEL a/k/a GRAND VOYAGER TRAVEL
CASH CARD WORLDWIDE, now known as TRAVEL REACTION
COASTAL VACATION CLUB
GATEWAY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
GOLDRUSH GETAWAYS
EE TRAVEL BENEFITS
GLOBAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL Many hotels no longer accept their card.
FUN TIME VACATION CLUB
GAZOOBA TRAVEL
GT TRENDS formerly PRT TRAVEL
HOLIDAY PLANNERS a/k/a INFINITE FRONTIERS and formerly AMERICAN VOYAGER, not to be confused with Holiday Planners, Branson, Missouri.
INTELETRAVEL(terminated by IATAN)
INTERNATIONAL WORLD VACATIONS
KE TRAVEL
JOIN CRUISE TO CASH
PLATINUM ONE DESTINATIONS/Net trav
PROTRAVEL NETWORK, not to be confused with ProTravel International
TRAVELBRIDGE
TRAVELENCIA
TRAVELONE (Beacon Travel)
TRAVELSTAR(JOYSTAR), just fried
TRAVELWIZE a/k/a CYBERWIZE
TRAVERUS 
ULTIMATE CHOICE TRAVEL
WORLD VENTURES TRAVEL (Believes there is a sucker born every day and they are correct.) They are in the process of changing their name again.
YTB INTERNATIONAL (being sued by many) YOUR TRAVEL BIZ, YTBCARS, YTB TRAVEL NETWORK and REZconnect TECHNOLOGIES operate as separate companies under YTB International may not be affected by the terminations. For example, Vacation Central, under Rezconnect is not affected.

THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIERS, WE CALL THEM THE "GOOD GUYS," NO LONGER DO BUSINESS WITH YTB

IATAN
ROYAL CARIBBEAN/CELEBRITY
PERILLO TOURS
MARRIOTT HOTELS
FAREBUZZ
NCL

	I'VE BEEN FORCED TO CAP MY SALARY AT $500,000 AND I'M FIGHTING MAD

I don't know how the rest of my travel agency owner peers are handling the salary cap imposed by President Obama when accepting taxpayer bailout funds.

I just don't like the government meddling into my financial affairs. So what, "They are giving us 5 billion to hire more travel agents?" We all will need to make adjustments and tighten our belts.

Here are a few things I am doing to handle this.

1. Eliminating my penthouse suite with Crystal Cruises and applying for Travel Agent Reduced Rates with Carnival.
2. Increasing my marketing dollars request by creating more false advertising invoices.
3. Reducing my agent's commissions and pocketing the difference tax free.
4. Turning in my lease on my 5 million dollar yacht and leasing one worth just 1 million.
5. Telling my housekeeper she will need to work an extra 3 hours per day without pay.
6. Cut my onboard credit allowances from my clients and pocket the difference, also tax free.
7. Sell non-travel products on my travel agency website. What the hell! The MLMs do it.
8. Either getting rid of at least one girlfriend or divorcing my high overhead wife.
9. Change my four times a year gambling junkets to Monte Carlo to the local Indian casino.
10. Do away with Christmas and birthday gifts for my grandchildren.

Editor's Note. If we can't laugh a bit during troubled times, what have we got to look forward to?

	STARS, AN ORGANIZATION TO BE CONTROLLED AND OPERATED BY INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL AGENTS

We are seeking out the real professional travel agents to be recognized for their achievements. We offer the opportunity to be awarded the Certified Travel Professional designation and to stand high in the industry. You owe it to yourself and the travel industry to examine the qualifications and benefits to becoming a STARS member. Link To The STARS

THIS GRUMPY OLD AGENT HAS LEFT THE BUILDING AND A PROFILE OF AN MLM EXECUTIVE

 

IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON by Peter Stilphen, MCC

This newsletter was started 5 years ago as a training and information tool for my Coral Sands Travel agents and has evolved into a straight talking, no holds bared newsletter; opinionated but researched newsletter discussing the dark side of the travel agent distribution system. My newsletter was then and continued today to try and warn travel agents and the industry about the bad guys and at the same time try to bring some order of decency to the Host Agency business model. I started the Host Agency organization, PATH, for these reasons.

About four years ago, Joel Abels, beloved publisher of Travel Trade newspaper and magazine met, on different occasions, a new player on the scene named Bill Alverson, CEO of JoyStar. Joel and I came to the same conclusions about Mr.Alverson. He was not to be trusted. Joel and I did our own separate investigations. As a result Joel would not allow JoyStar to advertise in his newspaper , nor have a booth in his trade show. My investigation showed that Mr. Alverson operated a company called TravelMax International which ultimately suffered the same fate at his recent JoyStar. I spent 4 years warning the travel agent and the rest of the industry about the bad business model of JoyStar and its gimmicky advertising and marketing. A few agents and RCL eventually listened. However most didn't and here we are today with hundreds of agents not receiving their commissions and JoyStar in bankruptcy court fighting the myriad of attorneys, motions, etc.

My job is done as it pertains to JoyStar other than helping these travel agents find new homes (Host Agencys) and listening to some terrible and hard stories due to the loss of commissions. JoyStar's future and its assets are now in the hands of a Federal bankruptcy judge. It's time for me to move on.

The media from this point, I'm sure, will continue to write on JoyStar and Bill Alverson or you can subscribe to this case via the internet.

Bill Alverson dubbed me the "Grumpy Old Agent" and I guess he was right for once.

IS YTB NEXT?

It is my opinion, again after careful research, that YTB will not be in the travel business by the end of 2009 and may be out of business all together.

I believe that the larger suppliers like Carnival are or should be discussing these MLMs and card mills. The suppliers have experienced tremendous chaos via telephone calls from agents and general pressure from the travel industry as a result of the JoyStar situation. Many of these MLMs and card mills are much bigger and have many more agents than JoyStar. When one of them collapses, the large suppliers will be totally overwhelmed. I am saying they need to think ahead as NCL recently did and pull the plug using an orderly time frame giving agents more time to transfer their bookings.

I am recommending that suppliers begin with my list of the more prominent MLMs and card mills listed separately in this newsletter and create a termination program. None of the suppliers would suffer any loss of these bookings as they would just be transfered to another Host Agency.

JoyStar claimed to have 4000 agents, YTB has over 100,000. Should YTB or any of these pyramiders go down quickly, imagine the fall out and chaos. I would hope that IATAN, CLIA and other organizations take a good look at the various Host Agency models and make the necessary changes to protect travel agents and the consumer.

THE PROFILE OF AN MLM EXECUTIVE

We continue to hear about the multi-level-marketing activities of the people in this business. Usually, it is never in a "good light" and one, especially me, wonders why this sleazy profession is still around. You just need to "Google" MLMs or card mills and you will bring up the sites that are pro and con about this subject. Also try www.scams.com or www.ripoff.com.

I've often wondered who these individuals are that get into this business and why they do it. Armed with my own psychoanalysis credentials, I decided to do some research. I have great credentials. I have seen two episodes of Dr. Phil's TV show, and I stayed once at a Holiday Inn Express. Here's what I discovered.

MLM executives were actually born with a rare gene known as "ripyouoff". The gene brings out various traits almost at infancy. We learned that babies born with this gene were the ones who cried incessantly in the nursery just to receive attention. Their huge ego will be with them all through childhood and last until they are incarcerated, chased from the State or the Devil decides to take them once and for all.

During their childhood years it was not uncommon to see a resourceful MLM practitioner have several businesses. Many of them began a business at a very early age. They had newspaper routes, sold lemonade in the front of their house or even sold girl scout cookies. What made these individuals different was that they had to have another version of the same business and felt the more involved they could get people, the more money they could make.

The kid with the bad gene was more apt to water down the lemonade to increase profits or even to recruit other kids to sell his newspapers paying each kid a tiny percentage of what he actually received from his employer. Same with the girl scout cookies. Recruiting each girl scout and rewarding them based on bringing in additional recruits until he ran out of girl scouts. This worked for a short while, just as today,s MLM venture works for a short while.

I discovered that most all MLM executives have had no business experience other than multi level marketing. It's probably because they couldn't hold down a regular position because their only goals were to get rich quick. Have you ever been curious as to why these same executives have wandered from one MLM activity to another? The reason is that eventually they run out of recruits for a particular product, the State's Attorney General shuts them down for operating a pyramid or the game just gets old. MLM executives do not care about the product they are supposed to be selling as it's all about recruiting and creating a huge pyramid.

MLM executives are generally very lonely people. The reason is that during their life of deceiving and BS..ing their family and friends and the public, they have lost these people in their lives. Have you ever gone to a Pet Smart store and seen the unfortunate dogs and cats sitting in their cages crying out for adoption and love and to your surprise, saw a cage that read "Lonely MLM Executive Needs Good and Loving Home- Completely re-trained." Please adopt that dog or cat instead.

Do you really believe the MLM executives now involved in the travel business care about travel? Of course not. It's about how much money they can make recruiting and the size of the toys they purchase that's important to them. Take a good look at the fools that follow them. It's all about greed and that MLM executive knows it and will take you for all you are worth.

The next time you are at an MLM convention make a statement. Stand up during a speech, flip the speaker the bird and yell out "I'm outta here."

DECLARING WAR ON THE TRAVEL AGENCY "CARD MILLS"

	THE REAL "SKINNY" ABOUT THE CARD MILLS

ASTA defines a card mill in part as, "Those businesses that sell deceptive identification cards, sometimes accompanied by a package of worthless training materials that falsely identify the purchaser as a travel agent. These cards are represented as enabling the holder to obtain discounts, upgrades and/or commissions reserved by travel suppliers for professional travel agents who actively promote the supplier's services. Consumers who purchase this ID card are actively deceiving the travel supplier as to the cardholder's true status."

Royal Caribbean describes a card mill as a business, "selling ordinary consumers access to benefits designed for actual agents." They go on to say that card mills are "a growing and troubling trend within the travel industry and provide many negative effects including negative consumer experience and devaluating the knowledge, experience and expertise that legitimate professional travel agents provide their clients everyday," to name a few.

Card Mills are not necessarily MLMs or multi-level- marketing agencies although many MLMs are also card mills. For example, Global Travel International and Prestige Travel provide photo ID cards but are not MLMs. YTB on the other hand is both an MLM and a card mill. JoyStar (TravelStar) began as neither but eventually evolved into an MLM only.

We will be addressing only the pure card mills in this article. Many of you, especially suppliers, may ask, "What is so terrible about card mills?" My response to a supplier would be, "Why would you want to provide benefits and discounts to anyone with a photo ID card who really doesn't care, in most instances, about selling your product?" My response to a professional travel agent would be, "Do you want consumers and hobbyists taking advantage of the perks you work hard for or are unable to go on a FAM because some pseudo agent got there first?"

The phony photo ID cards sold by these agencies have really been hurting hotels and many suppliers planning a FAM to further promote their products. Fortunately, many operators are taking steps to reduce this problem including the cruise lines. Too many suppliers are over anxious to sell their products and will cater to any agency that would produce a sale for them. Such a supplier is not looking down the road because by condoning the card mill practice, it is diminishing the value of a professional travel agent. If the real travel agent is treated on the same level as everyone else we would wind up with untrained travel agents, together with the additional scams that would result. It is incumbent upon the travel supplier to help maintain a healthy and knowledgeable sales force by weeding out these pseudo agents.

 In any event my real focus will be on the photo ID card agencies and the "travel like a travel agent" benefits they heavily advertise. Our first exposure will be Global Travel International from Maitland, Florida.

	EXPOSING THE CARD MILLS, THIS MONTH, FEATURING GLOBAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL.

Now that I have provided a little background with regard to card mills, I will focus on one of the oldest and largest card mills, Global Travel International from Maitland, Florida.

Randy Warren, a co-owner with Michael Gross was quoted as saying, "Who's to say who is a travel agent and who isn't when there are no requirements for becoming one? The company (GTI) will give travel agent credentials to anyone who is at least 18 years old and antes up the necessary fees." This was all said in a New York Times interview in 1999.

GTI, as it is more commonly referred to, began in business around 1994 and claims to have well over 35,000 affiliates. In addition to the photo ID card (See an example recently copied from one of their affiliate's websites at the top of this article), GTI offers referral fees getting others to sign up. Not quite an MLM scheme but nevertheless, a scheme to recruit more agents. Another giveaway is, like MLMs, GTI sells other products than just travel. They have some sort of shopping club and jewelry sales on their websites. Of course, they don't sell used cars as does YTB.

GTI's business model hasn't grown significantly over the past few years. They had over 30,000 affiliates by the year 2000 but haven't netted much of an increase since then. My opinion is that their business model is outdated because in the last few years consumers and travel agents have become more savvy. Competition from todays legitimate Host Agencies and the huge influx of the MLM model has also bitten into their business.

A GTI affiliate website located at www.becomeatravelagent.com/why.htm depicts what GTI is all about these days despite comments from the founders that they operate differently. Insiders, former employees at Global, claim employees are trained at "bait and switch" tactics concerning their many available programs. The former employees also mention that aggressive collection procedures are employed by the company. For example, if an affiliate fails to notify GTI of its intention to terminate its relationship, GTI will aggressively chase down that affiliate for its fees. Most Host agencies won't enforce this provision. Aggressive debt collections and "upselling" non-travel related services such as the shopping club are the norm at this company. GTI has been the recipient of many complaints, some of which included their highly aggressive recruiting policies and misleading advertising practices. The BBB has recorded 210 complaints over the last 36 months with 38 just in the last 12 months.

GTI is currently listed as a Host Agency in Travel Trade's published list of suggested Host Agencies. Their websites also indicate they are members of CLIA, IATA, and ARTA. GTI has added training features such as their agent boot camp. As does the MLMs and other card mills GTI charges a fee for training when most hosts provide it for free. As long as GTI promotes its photo ID card to consumers, uses overly aggressive selling and collection tactics, it is nothing more than a "card mill."

It is companies like GTI, JoyStar, YTB and others that have begun to have problems as people begin to see through their very flawed business models.

	MY 2009 PREDICTIONS AND HOW I DID FOR 2008

Here are my personal predictions for 2009.

1. 2009 will be a better than expected year for travel especially to those agents who keep and apply the positives.
   
   
2. Three more Host Agencies will go out of business.
   
   
3. Several Tour Operators will not see the end of 2009 along with one cruise line.
   
   
4. The Shrimp Lady will marry Oscar
   
   
5. My Red Sox will be back as World Series champions.
   
   
6. 2009 will be YTB's final year along with a couple more of these scoundrels.
   
   
7. I will win 2 arguments with my wife. One more than last year.
   
   
8. I will not win a Pulitzer prize as a writer. ( I hope I spelled that correctly.)

Here were my 2008 predictions and how I fared.

MY PREDICTIONS FOR 2008.
1) A mega Host Agency will go bankrupt leaving their independent agents out in the cold. (I was right with JoyStar.)

2) Romney and Clinton will oppose each other in the Presidential race. ( I wasn't even close)

3) YTB will add another 50,000 consumer pseudo referral travel agents putting more burden on "do nothing about it" suppliers and further reducing the value of the serious travel agent. ( Actually their numbers were down as consumers are finally catching on to their scam)

3) The TV show "24" will continue to be my favorite if Keifer Sutherland can keep out of jail. (OK on this one)

4) CLIA will continue to "rake in" profits from the sale of photo ID cards to multi-level- marketing and card mill agencies unless they develop a conscience. (Half right. They did change the rules making it more difficult for agencies with dubious business models.)

4)The Patriots and Red Sox will again win the World's Championships. ( Close. The Patriots lost in the Super Bowl and the Red Sox lost in the American League playoffs.)

5)There will be at least two more travel agent membership organizations formed in 2008. (Only one National organization, STARS)

6) The Shrimp Lady will be exposed to all as she goes under the care of a shrimp psychologist. (Correct. She visited Dr. Phil as written.)

7) Travel Professionals will unite as never before to try and put pressure on suppliers and CLIA doing business with the card mills who won't attempt to separate the pseudo travel agents from the real travel agents.( Wrong on this one. Travel agents continue to let themselves get beaten up. The latest from JoyStar and the suppliers who wouldn't transfer their bookings.)

8) A well known travel industry leader will change positions in 2008. (Actually there were three, Vicki Freed, Joanie Ogg and Scott Koepf all switched companies.)

TIS THE SEASON TO NAME THE NAUGHTY AND NICE

I apologize for this article during the Holiday season but I know these scam artists don't believe in the festive season. They are too busy putting coal in everyone's stocking.

The companies listed below are either an MLM or a card mill. Some are both. I just cannot understand why some suppliers continue to support the 95% of these MLM affiliates when they are just consumers trying to discount their vacation. Some suppliers will say they support these companies because they can't separate the consumers from the serious agents. The solution is to stiffen the requirements for all incentives to travel agents. Of course, there are those suppliers that feed on pure greed for a sale and allow consumer affiliates to book travel and provide commissions. ( It's called "commission rebating" or throwing manure against the wall to see what sticks). It's OK for the suppliers but not the travel agent to rebate commissions. Suppliers who really care about the travel professional would not advertise on the MLM websites or display at their "smell the money" conventions. A supplier does not need to terminate the MLM agency, they just need to toughen up their requirements as to who sells their products and who goes on a FAM.

The following companies are either MLM's, card mills or financially troubled host agencies. If you know of others please let me know and I will add them to the list. If you find that I am incorrect in listing one of these companies, I will do a retraction in the following issue.

A-1 TRAVEL-VACATION.COM
ALL TRAVEL and CRUISE CENTER, INC
AMERICAN TRAVEL BUREAU
AMERICAN VOYAGER TRAVEL a/k/a GRAND VOYAGER TRAVEL
CASH CARD WORLDWIDE, now known as TRAVEL REACTION
COASTAL VACATION CLUB
GATEWAY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
GOLDRUSH GETAWAYS
EE TRAVEL BENEFITS
GLOBAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL (I plan to write about this company in upcoming articles) Many hotels no longer accept their card.
FUN TIME VACATION CLUB
GAZOOBA TRAVEL
GT TRENDS formerly PRT TRAVEL
HOLIDAY PLANNERS a/k/a INFINITE FRONTIERS and formerly AMERICAN VOYAGER, not to be confused with Holiday Planners , Branson, Missouri.
INTELETRAVEL(terminated by IATAN)
INTERNATIONAL WORLD VACATIONS
KE TRAVEL
JOIN CRUISE TO CASH
PLATINUM ONE DESTINATIONS
PROTRAVEL NETWORK, not to be confused with ProTravel International
TRAVELBRIDGE
TRAVELENCIA
TRAVELOGIA already cooked
TRAVELSTAR(JOYSTAR), A new MLM
TRAVELWIZE a/k/a CYBERWIZE
TRAVERUS ( A real Prize)
ULTIMATE CHOICE TRAVEL
WORLD VENTURES TRAVEL (Believes there is a sucker born every day and they are correct.)
YTB INTERNATIONAL (Terminated by IATAN, RCL and Perillo Tours and being sued by everyone.). YOUR TRAVEL BIZ, YTBCARS, YTB TRAVEL NETWORK and REZconnect TECHNOLOGIES operate as separate companies under YTB International may not be affected by the terminations. For example, Vacation Central, under Rezconnect is not affected.

I have only heard of three agency terminations by RCL effective November 9, 2007. They are YTB, GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL and JOYSTAR. I understand RCL reinstated Global. IATAN terminated 4 agencies, two of which are YTB and Inteletravel. If you know of others please let me know.

MY LIST OF VENDORS WHO DON'T APPRECIATE PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENTS

The purpose of this list is to name those vendors who are not really looking out for the interests of professional travel agents. I've tried to do thorough research in coming up with those that make my list. This is a lengthy process which is why the list is short. I really need your help in finding these vendors and of course we won't list them without proof. We will also remove them from the list if we can get them to think more positively about our professionals.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES refused to help or advise travel agents concerning unpaid commissions and future reservations from JoyStar. There were others but most of the agents singled out this company. A huge YTB supporter.

CCRA, a YTB supporter

GATE 1 seeks to sign agents away from their Host Agency

PRINCESS CRUISES, A YTB supporter

STERLING VACATIONS offers FAM trips to any card mill operation.

TRAFALGAR, A YTB supporter

TRANS-HOTELS allows anyone to be a travel agent and earn commissions.

TRAVEL GUARD, A great friend of the MLMs

TRAVEL WEEKLY, creater of the Homebased and Luxury trade shows held in Vegas last week promoted YTB's Sorensen in an upcoming trade show panel as a questioner. Shame on you Arnie Weissman.

VAYAMA also allows anyone to be a travel agent and earn commissions.

THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIERS, WE CALL THEM THE "GOOD GUYS," NO LONGER DOING BUSINESS WITH YTB

IATAN

ROYAL CARIBBEAN/CELEBRITY

PERILLO TOURS

MARRIOTT HOTELS

FAREBUZZ

ALL THE ARTICLES I WRITE ARE GENERATED FROM MY OWN PERSONAL RESEARCH. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN AND IN NO WAY REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL, COMPANY, ORGANIZATION TO WHICH I MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONNECTED.

	THE YTB SCOREBOARD, A CHRISTMAS LIST FOR THEIR SUPPORTERS

WE ARE KEEPING SCORE AND CHASING THE BAD GUYS.

IATA terminates relationship with YTB

RCL terminates relationship with YTB

YTB find loopholes in CLIA's photo ID card program

Prominent attorney, John Simmons, quits YTB board

Insider deals at YTB raises questions, concerns
Michael Brent, former YTB CEO selling off his stock

YTB lays off 17 employees

YTB International Reports Net Loss for Second Quarter

State of Illinois proposes to work with California in YTB case

YTB Executives Sued in Federal Court in Illinois

Illinois Attorney General's office is investigating YTB

BBB received 90 complaints about YTB

Calif. AG sues YTB Your Travel Biz over alleged pyramid scheme

Florida AG looking into YTB activities

Only 50 out of 443,000 Reps and RTAs earned a bonus in their recent "Leadership Bonus Incentive" program.

Recent SEC reports show sharp decline in # of RTAs and an 87% drop in net revenue.

BBB received 90 YTB complaints

Cash flow continues to tighten as company plane and administrative offices are sold at a loss.

JOYSTAR: A TRAVEL AGENT'S NIGHTMARE OR A RAY OF HOPE?

It's all over but the formal announcement from Bill Alverson, JoyStar's flamboyant and highly controversial CEO. However, there has been a rumor that Alverson has found a new investor but that wouldn't stop the bleeding as the damage has been done.It's a sad time for hundreds of JoyStar agents who have not received their commissions. It's bad enough that the economy is where it is and then have this fall upon many travel agents just before the holidays. Do you think the suppliers would do all they can do to mitigate the hit taken by these travel agents? The answer is only a few tried to take steps. The biggest ones went about business as usual despite the hundreds of phone calls they received. Have we heard from any of the organizations who represent these agents? Not a peep! I am personally disgusted with all of this inaction. It's time for many of you to grow some you know what and do something.  At this point "divine intervention" nor actually renewing the Florida Seller of Travel license and being reinstated by CLIA would make much difference. To top it all off, JoyStar's E&O insurance has lapsed leaving many agents with potential liability. Most of JoyStar's producing travel agents have already moved over to new Host Agencies. Coral Sands Travel has signed up over 20 good producing agents while TPI and GTM certainly signed up a bunch along with other Host Agencies.

Who do we blame for all this? I blame some of the media, a couple of the travel agent organizations and a few overly protective suppliers, all with the same reasons for supporting this obvious "con" for the last four years. It was all about revenue dollars without applying ethics. I call it "greed."

Many times good things can come out of disasters. I hope all of the segments work together to tighten up the rules and improve standards. PATH, who represents many of the mainstream Host Agencies, should be the leader in improving standards. To date, they have been too quiet even after one of their former members, another Host Agency, folded up.

I have only been active in this industry for about 6 years coming from the hospitality industry. I don't like what I have seen. The travel industry has an over abundance of "bad guys" and "bad policies." I have met many caring travel professionals which keeps me thinking there is hope for improvement. When the consumers really begin to complain, you will see the States jumping in and creating new laws for the travel community. Maybe that's not such a bad idea.

THE YTB SCOREBOARD

WE ARE KEEPING SCORE AND CHASING THE BAD GUYS

IATA terminates relationship with YTB

RCL terminates relationship with YTB

YTB finds loopholes in CLIA's photo ID card program

Prominent attorney, John Simmons, quits YTB board

Insider deals at YTB raises questions, concerns
Michael Brent, former YTB CEO selling off his stock

YTB lays off 25 employees

The Street Downgraded YTBLA SELL

YTB International Reports Net Loss for Second Quarter

State of Illinois proposes to work with California in YTB case

YTB, Executives Sued in Federal Court in Illinois

Illinois Attorney General's office is investigating YTB

BBB received 90 complaints about YTB

Calif. AG sues YTB Your Travel Biz over alleged pyramid scheme

Florida AG looking into YTB activities