Travel plan idea blog

I have read many other articles related to Royal Carribean's decision. After reading them all, I am left with the conclusion that Royal Carribean has a personal vendetta against someone or has a chip on their shoulder and this is how they are dealing with it. Additionally, I became familiar with YTB and Joystar, and while they may have a lot of novice travel agents joining their businesses, they are legitimate travel companies and provide what appears to be excellent training opportunities. To my way of thinking, it would be advantageous to partner with these new agents, particularly if they travel as new customers/clients. They may or may not represent a huge amount of additional revenue, but they certainly do not pose a threat. Cutting them off seems like throwing any additional revenue overboard, so to speak. Which, as I said, leads me to the conclusion they are mad about something and not thinking straight.

I have also read comments from traditional travel agents about these so called "card mill" companies. The traditional agents are struggling for survival in our internet dominated society. They are experiencing loss with nearly everyone booking on-line, and they too are taking it out on the YTB and Joystar agents who are simply trying to gain a share of the internet market dominated by giant corporations like Expedia. The internet agents are not doing anything new to put traditional agents out of business. They are joining up with what has already happened and are simply small businesses trying to get a fair share of a huge market. What they have done is given a name and a face to internet travel. And therein lies the problem. It is so much easier to take out your anger on individuals who live down the street than it is to strike out at nameless, faceless multi-billion dollar corporations.

Is it too easy to become a travel agent? It has become easier. Certainly the internet has made this possible, and the companies that have tapped into this have found a way to market a piece of the pie for everyone. However, the price to join one of these companies and maintain the monthly fee, compared to the commissions possible for a small share of the business, doesn't seem like it will amount to much for each person. But this is America, the land of opportunity, and everyone is entitled to pursue their dream.

Royal Carribean and traditional travel agents apparently think their anger will gain them something, but I am not sure what that is, except further bitterness and resentment.

Sophia above is 100% on target. YTB did not name themselves and Joystar was not even mentioned in the orginal misinformational, attack article written by travel agent and columnist John Frenaye,Jr. What do you say or name a person that would do this? Knowing full well YTB is not a card mill, is not an illegal pyramid scheme or a scam, he again used a petition to
restate and attack our valid industry and successful company.

I has taken me 90 days to put 15 travel companies in my organization in 10 states and 2 countries. Was it a picnic? Far from it. Is it an effective way to bring new blood, highly talented marketers into the travel industry?

I believe the actions of John F. and RCCI are
about to backlash on them to a degree never seen before by any coventional industry attacking our industry, a firestorm that will be both sudden and comlete. While ending relationships with YTB RCCI has expanded it's own presence into the same home-based, MLM model while tuning it's back
on YTB,who once were loyal supporters of their company. their cut-throat actions will come back to haunt them.

Earl Allen Boek
Roberts Resorts

Earl Allen Boek

I don't see how this decision will hurt Royal Caribbean much. Sure they will see a few less sales from the netowrk marketing travel agencies but I don't think a big company will notice the it much.

And their concern is valid. The problem in the network marketing industry has always been that anyone is allowed to join. Netowrk marketers say that's a good thing, and maybe it is. But many people who join are unqualified or just bad people.

So Royal Caribbean doesn't want "just anyone" selling their cruises. I'm not sure that's a bad decision. I'm sure that some YTB or Joystar agents act like professionals but I'm also sure that some people who sign up are the people who end up giving the MLM/ network marketing industry a bad name.

As a travel agent, I can understand the confusion many average travelllers have over what a "travel agent" really is. Believe me, paying a fee to call yourself a travel agent is bad news for everyone. There is no way to see what the business practices and training of these "agents" is, and since they do not need to belong to any traditional organizations, no assurance for you, the traveller, that your vacation is protected. Royal Caribbean's concern was the traveller in this case, and it is really too bad that most people don't realize the harm they do until they are stung. That is quite the expensive lesson.