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?"

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

	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

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