In a stunning, yet not surprising move, YTB announced that the RTA program will be going away. As both Arnie Weissmann and I had said, YTB cannot survive in travel as an MLM. Maybe Scott has finally determined that MLM and travel is indeed a bad mix!
But the question remains, what about the millions and millions of dollars paid annually by the RTAs to YTB? I guess the new legitimate company was indeed founded on the backs of the RTAs.
On July 15, 2008, Mr. Scott Tomer, Chief Executive Officer of YTB International, Inc. (the "Company"), announced that the Company is contemplating the replacement of its referring travel agent ("RTA") business model with the implementation of a franchise operating system, potentially in 2009. The Company expects that a franchising model, if adopted, would facilitate the Company's expansion into additional markets by providing more comprehensive training and a new proprietary e-commerce platform. Details regarding price, product offerings and the conversion plan are all under consideration, but the Company anticipates that its existing RTA base would be treated favorably under its forthcoming proposal. If a franchising model is adopted, its distribution is expected to be managed by subsidiary and current marketing arm of the Company, YourTravelBiz.com, also known as YTB.com.
The information in this report shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and shall not be incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
