YTB Travel Business Opportunity

General Information:

Your Travel Biz or YTB was founded in 2001 by J. Lloyd "Coach" Tomer, Scott Tomer, and Kim Sorenson, all who came from marketing business in the financial services industry, has grown to become one fo the largest names in direct selling travel.

The company is a mult-level marketing opportunity under the holding company YourTravelBiz.com, Inc through owner-affiliate websites offering travel, excursions, and lodging.

YTB Travel Network, Inc. is based in Wood River, Illinois. There are international subsidiaries in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Canada.

Business Model:

YTB offers a couple of ways for you to earn an income.  One way as a Refer Travel Agent or RTA.  The other way is as an Independent Marketing Representatives or REP.  The Travel Agent opportunity has an initial fee of $500 and you are required to pay a monthly license fee of $50.00.

The YTB Independent Marketing Rep must sign an Independent Marketing Rep agreement with YTB.  This allows you to sell online Travel Agencies; enroll RTA's and sponsor other REPs. You earn commisson on your personal online Travel Agency sales.  You cannot receive travel credentials and you cannot sell travel.

A Travel Network Referring Travel Agent or RTA is someone who purchased an online travel agency in an agreement with UTB Travel Network of Illinois. The setup fee is $450.00.  You pay $49.95 monthly maintenance and license fee for your own "online travel agency" website, through which you collect commissions for recruiting new participants, utilize the website for their own travel purposes, as well as sell travel packages to others. However, most participants make the majority of their money by recruiting new agents rather than through travel sales of their own.

You are considered to have your first complete team when you personally sponsor 3 or more Reps and have 6 actie RTA's enrolled that are paying their monthly fee of $49.95.  Once the team is complete, you are then qualified to start your PowerTeam.  You continue to build your team and earn your commissions.

YTB has stated that they are considering replacing their referring travel agent business model with one based around franchises.  On October 18, 2008, they introduced a new tier of affiliates in an attempt to fit better into the travel industry, saying the new training program they will be introducing for those who remain as "referring travel agents" improves over the previous "one-day classroom event".

Lawsuits:

Just a brief mention here so that you are aware.  There was a lawsuit filed in August 2008, alleging it to be a pyramid scheme among other claims.  Status of this situation is unknown at this time.  I suggest you do your own research and determine your next move.

Conclusion:

Based on the company structure and business model, it appears to be a viable home business for anyone interested in the travel business. One thing I will note here is that anyone who is currently involved in this company or is considering joining, a marketing system would be most beneficial to help build your YTB Travel business.

Too often MLM's and network marketing companies neglect to teach their members how to market their business.  Instead they continue to tell them to go to friends and family.  Most people will not build a successful business going to friends and family.  At some point, you will need to look elsewhere for customers. Since YTB Reps are already using the internet to run their business, why not use the internet to market your YTB Travel business?

Marketing systems are tools that can be used by any home business owner to plug into and learn how to generate leads and customers.  There is also a sales funnel provided that will allow an individual to earn an income that can pay for most or all of the marketing.  If you get good and generating leads, you can even generate a very lucrative income.

Thus, if you are interested in truly building a very successful YTB Travel business, a marketing system is an avenue one can take to learn marketing skills.  Otherwise, I suggest you be satisfied with the income you create by marketing to friends and family and enjoy the perks that come along with having a travel business.

Lawren Smith
Online Entrepreneur & Marketing Coach

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