MLM Travel Agents Cheapen Industry

This petition is NOT specific to a particular company or organization but to the general MLM business model as it relates to the sale and marketing of travel. Please forward this link to as many travel professionals as possible.

To:  US Travel Associations and Travel Vendors

The following people, being vested in the travel industry in varying positions as employees, managers, owners and clients wish to voice a strong opposition to the recent influx and acceptance of MLM "travel agencies" such as YTB and others with a similar program.

The Associations and the Vendors who support these business models are at risk of losing the traditional travel agent as a supporter.

Many agents have invested much time and effort to learn how to sell travel and how to serve travelers. The MLM model is in the business of selling credentials with a minimum of any professional commitment or training. These programs simply abuse any vendor incentives. The MLM management encourages their agents to simply sell themselves their own and to refer people to a website for fulfillment.

Their average "agent" in July 2007 earned less than $70 for the month. Most of their "agents" are merely paying for a site to obtain discounts (rebating commissions) and industry perks to which they may not be entitled.

The purpose of this petition is to encourage the travel vendors, associations and consumers to take a stand and not support these types of operations. If the MLM organizations are allowed to continue, the vendors and associations need to differentiate these organizations from a traditional agent. By allowing them to claim professionalism, credentials, and unearned benefits, merely cheapens the experience of travel.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The MLM Travel Agents Cheapen Industry Petition to US Travel Associations and Travel Vendors was created by and written by John Frenaye (john@jvegroup.net).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.