ARE YOU A NAIVE OR MISINFORMED TRAVEL AGENT?

Let us for the sake of this article, break down today's travel agent into two types. The first type we will call the naive and misinformed travel agent. The second type we will refer to as a serious travel agent desiring to be the best travel agent professional she/he can be. Here is my view of the first type of travel agent. The second group, of course, is my favorite.

THE NAIVE OR MISINFORMED TRAVEL AGENT

These travel agents belong to the various multi-level- marketing, card mills or financially challenged travel agencies. Most of these agencies are really in different businesses. The MLMs are in the business of selling memberships, websites, etc. with one actually in the used car business. The card mills are generally in the business of selling travel agent perks and benefits by selling their own photo ID card or promoting the disappointing CLIA card. The financially challenged, which does include the MLMs, are generally in the business of tap dancing around their real problems or putting a spin on their problems or business models.

The big question is why do the travel agent wannabees and even some productive travel agents want to associate themselves with these agencies? These agencies, for the most part, provide little training and little or no support. Most of these agencies charge more fees and provide smaller commissions. For example, A certain MLM charges $500 to join plus $49.95 a month for a worthless website. Sure, they give you credit if you entice someone else to join. That's what an MLM does. Most Host agencies charge far less for a lot more training and support. These MLMs lead you to believe they are the only game in town and this is the future of the travel agent. That's all BS. My question is, "Why would any self- respecting experienced travel agent want to continue being looked down upon by their peers by affiliating themselves with these companies?"

There are some people selling travel as well as websites and memberships and a tiny percentage make some money, at least until they run out of family and friends. However, I'm addressing the 5% of the MLM affiliates who only want to sell travel. You really need to think about your future as a professional travel agent and move over to the mainstream travel industry either as completely independent or affiliating with a legitimate Host Agency.

I have taken the liberty of listing the "bums" below. If you are one of those naive, misinformed travel agents, please do your research. We all make mistakes in our life. I've made a few beauties of my own. Most importantly, we can learn from our mistakes.

This month's thought.
The Myth: If MLMs were not legal, they would have been shut down long ago. MLM's have survived legal challenges. The fact that they are still around tells you they are legitimate.

The real truth: Consumer protection officials are reactive, not proactive. Since victims rarely file complaints, law enforcement seldom acts against even the worst schemes. Victims don't complain because they blame themselves and they fear self-incrimination. Source: MLM Watchdog.org

EXPOSING THE MLMs and CARD MILL AGENCIES-

This section appears and is updated on a monthly basis. I think it's always good to know who these vultures are that prey upon the travel agent or consumer. The vultures are the companies only and do not reflect upon the few serious travel agents among them. I do not address why these serious travel professionals belong to such trash, however, it is their business and their decision.

The companies listed below are either an MLM or a card mill. Some are both. I just cannot understand why some suppliers 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 MLMs, card mills or financially troubled host agencies. If you know of others please let me know and I will add them to the list that will be printed twice monthly. 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
CRUISE TO CASH
GATEWAY ASSURANCE SYSTEM
GOLDRUSH GETAWAYS
EE TRAVEL BENEFITS
GLOBAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL
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)
KE TRAVEL
JOIN CRUISE TO CASH
PROTRAVEL NETWORK, not to be confused with ProTravel International
TRAVELBRIDGE
TRAVELOGIA already cooked
TRAVELSTAR (JOYSTAR)
TRAVELWIZE a/k/a CYBERWIZE
TRAVERUS
ULTIMATE CHOICE TRAVEL
WORLD VENTURES TRAVEL
YTB INTERNATIONAL (Terminated by IATAN, RCL and Perillo Tours). 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.

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 OR EVEN MY MOTHER TO WHICH I MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONNECTED.

Comments

[Jerry Turgeon]

I am interesed in getting into the travel agent industry. I recently attended a Goldrush Getaways "Free Vacation" invite. I am ignorant of industry standards, but something smelled fishy to me. What can you tell me about their organization?

[Angela Schnabel]

Hi! I agree with everything you're saying. However, it is important to note that Ultimate Choice Travel reps do not claim to be Travel Agents. Ultimate Choice Travel reps are Travel Referral Agents and refer people to their personal Travelocity.com affiliated site, as well as the Concierge Desk based in Austin, TX.

The Austin office is staffed with a large group of Travel Agents with a combined 117 years experience.

I just thought it was important to note the difference.

Have a great weekend!
Angela

[Paul Adams]

Nice post,

I really loved your content. Thanks a tonne for sharing this useful information, i was looking out for the same...

[Vickie]

I'd like to hear about AVC as a host agency. How good are the client leads they say they will provide?

[Misy]

Encore Travel
I joined up with Encore Travel (http://encore.travel/)last year and I believe I was scamed into a MLM or Card Mill. They provide zero support and I really wanted to become a Travel Agent. It was new to me and I had no experience and thought that would be fun. I wish I would have done research first. Please add this company to your list. You can research this and will most likely get the same results. Thank you!

[AVC]

Vicki asked "I'd like to hear about AVC as a host agency. How good are the client leads they say they will provide?"

The leads come through aggressive marketing that AVC does - it pulls in the serious clients ready to book as well as the tire kickers. I've had quite a bit of success with them (joined Nov 2007 and started focusing on sales after the holidays in Jan 2008) and have been very happy with them.

[Joyette]

I recently graduated from a travel academy and I am in the process of setting up a home based travel agency. I am researching host agencies and will finalize my decision by the end of the month. Does anyone have a great one they are working with that they would recommend? I will add them to my research list.

[michelle]

Hi. I am researching all these scams online and want to know how to really get into the business as an independent agent. I have looked into one company but think they are a scam. It's called writeyourownticket.com It sounds too good to be true. Can anyone guide me in the right direction. I went to a travel agent and they want me to do group travel for them, go on the trip for a small fee and not get paid. Does this sound fair?

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[Harry]

We joined Discount Global Travel a few years back. Paid a lot of money for the priviledge of traveling cheap. The company disappeared a few years later - no refunds and now way to get in contact.

[Personal Concierge]

Traveling concierge are available for your urgent needs as reservation , booking etc .

[roni]

Am interested in signing up with KHM Travel Group based in Ohio. Has anyone heard of any complaints from their home-based travel agents?