This email was forwarded to me. Someone dared to criticize YTB and this was the response. Care to point out any inaccuracies for TravelBob?
Sent: Thursday, April 1, 2010 1:20:13 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Card Mills
I am a member of a so called "Card Mill", and I think you should re-check your information on YTB, it is not current or up to date. Royal Caribbean is one of our suppliers. I am from Indiana, and we have started a travel school here to teach agents how to take advantage of every opportunity in the travel business. The old school is done, brick and stick travel agency's are a thing of the past. Our office is close to one of the biggest brick and stick offices, and they have shrunk to almost "0".
While YTB is far from perfect, and we do Network Market with it, it is our purpose here in Indiana to change the face of this model. You do not have all the facts, and while you view this as a card mill, I view it as opportunity that has been suppressed by the stick and brick agencies who look out only for their own benefit, instead of getting into the 21st Century and realize that there are those of us out here who have learned to not only Master and become credentialed in Cruising, (Disney is a YTB supplier too by the way, your info is incorrect) in Hotels, Resorts, locations, and be come CTA's, with all the cruise lines, with all of the offices of tourisms like Alaska and Israel. And we also provide ways for those who want to travel better, cheaper and write it off at the end of the day as well. What is wrong with that?
Your prejudice against some companies may be justified, I have not researched them all, but I do know about me, our local group and how we are instructing. Are you a CTA? Have you taken the tests? Are you certified with Disney? With Costa? With Carnival? Princess? We are. Hang onto that old face of travel if you want, but, sticks and bricks....they are a thing of the past. You can continue to knock us, or be aware, we are bringing in a whole new generation of agents, and we are going to change the face of travel. We would rather share with you, than bury you. But then, we would not have to bury you at all, you are already diggin' your own graves.
The world is changing. This is not meant as a threatening thing, it is meant as a, why are you fighting so hard to hang onto a dead bone? There's no meat on it. Be positive. The travel industry is 8 trillion dollars, what portion of it are you protecting? Pride?Your turf?
We are training, mentoring, credentialing and developing a new group of agents Ones not only knowledgeable, but close knit. We are transparent. We want everyone to enjoy the fruits of travel. And we are teaching anyone who wants, how to be a travel professional, as well as a professional traveler with all the perks and benefits of travel agents. Stuff that the stick and brick agencies kept for themselves for years. Perks of the business for sure, but it should have been shared.
The times have changed. Money is tight. People are looking for ways to save, and enjoy travel, and we are making that a reality. You can look at us with different eyes, and see us in a new light, or hang onto that 1960's mentality, and go the way of the dinosaurs. Why do you continue to write negative stuff about YTB, when they are doing what you all (if applicable) in the travel industry don't, share the wealth, share the information, and change the way travel is taught, done and enjoyed?
YTB is imperfect, but we here in Indiana are working on a new model, and it is great!!! You can ride the wave with us when the time comes, or you can lay floating in our wake. But make no mistake, we are coming, we love to travel, we love to teach, we love to make money, and most of all, we love to help others who need additional ncomes learn how to do it. Why should a billionaire who is a billionaire make all the money online, He saw the future and embraced it, now we are challenging his model, and I guarantee you, he will adapt, the question is will you and the rest of your narrow thinking travel businesses change with it.
Robert Perry
Higher Destination Travel
