YTB Blog » Press Releases

YTB Lawsuit Thrown Out Of Court…

TheYTB.com Admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:42:39 +0000

An angry federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois threw out a complaint by former YTB associates who filed a class action complaint against YTB International. Judge G. Patrick Murphy called the July 15 complaint an “ungainly monster of 39 pages containing 133 paragraphs “ that does not pass muster under federal standards. The plaintiffs sought standing in a class action suit against YTB that argued that YTB was an illegal multilevel marketing scheme that victimized them under state law. Several plaintiffs were not Illinois residents.

The judge questioned the plaintiffs standing under the state’s consumer protection laws and noted that the plaintiff’s earlier case had been dismissed on June 5. While the plaintiffs can seek redress in a higher court, the Judge said, “As a general rule the Court is not fond of ‘ill-founded requests for reconsideration of matters previously decided.’ "

http://www.travelagentcentral.com/home-based/community/ytb-wins-round-court-16468

YTB Sells REZConnect Technology Unit

TheYTB.com Admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:00:11 +0000

YTB International, Inc. has notified the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the sale of its REZConnect Technologies, Inc. unit to Michael and Derek Brent, former CEO and president of REZConnect, respectively. REZConnect was a wholly owned subsidiary of YTB. The Brents' employment agreements were terminated as part of the sale. The move took place June 30. All stock and assets of REZConnect were transferred to the Brents'.

Michael Brent served as CEO of REZConnect for a base salary of $325,000, which increased by $25,000 annually after December 31, 2008, YTB said. Brent was also entitled to an annual cash bonus equal to a percentage of YTB’s net pre-tax income.

Derek Brent served as president of REZConnect for a base salary of $180,000, which increased by $30,000 annually in 2007 and 2008 and other benefits. Both Brent’s were also entitled to an annual cash bonus and are indemnified against future legal actions against YTB.

Visit www.ytb.com.

http://www.travelagentcentral.com/consortia/ytb-sells-rezconnect-technology-unit-16235

Over $500,000 In Dream Bonuses Earned So Far This Year!

TheYTB.com Admin — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:42:50 +0000

Fifty YTB Reps have earned the $10,000 Dream Bonus in the first three and one-half months of 2008, with several earning more than one! The $10,000 Dream Bonus is earned when your PowerTeam increases by 100 active RTAs. There is no time limit and you may earn unlimited Dream Bonuses!

Hazen Christensen and Director Kevin Adams

Hazen Christensen earned his first $10,000 Dream Bonus this month. He is shown here with his "big check" being presented by Level 1 Director Kevin Adams at the April 11 CRTA training in Louisville, KY. Hazen had this to say about earning the Dream Bonus: "I am thrilled to be a part of this company! Like Coach says, 'We are building a business within a business' and I have really taken his message to heart.

I would like to thank my entire team with special recognition to Keiren and Greg Gillum, Jeremy Frazie, and Sarah Glitzer. In addition, many thanks to the leadership from Team TravelPro International including Steve and Buffy Smith, Kevin and Amy Adams, and Gary and Diane Adams. With this bonus, I plan on continuing to invest in my business and purchase YTB stock."

Record Commissions Also Set For Field Team

TheYTB.com Admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:36:42 +0000

WOOD RIVER, Ill., Feb, 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — YTB International, Inc. (Pink Sheets: YTBLA) ('YTB' or the 'Company'), a leading international provider of Internet-based travel websites and home-based independent representatives, today announced that it ended 2007 with more than 130,000 RTAs, compared to 8,870 in the first quarter of 2005. The Company paid its Reps and RTAs more than $65 million in combined marketing and travel commissions through the third quarter of 2007. This figure represents more than the totals of the past three years combined.

"Since the inception of this company, we have had the vision of supporting our field with outstanding support and travel products. We knew that if we adhered to those core principles, growth for the Company and success for our field would soon follow," said Lloyd 'Coach' Tomer, Chairman and Founder, YTB International. "We know that the heart and soul of our Company is our RTAs/Reps, which is why it thrills me to be able to pay out millions of dollars in commissions to the people who make YTB thrive."

Now doing business in the Bahamas, Canada, and Bermuda, the Company expects the RTA base to grow even more dramatically in 2008. That will be a significant accomplishment, since YTB more than doubled the size of its RTA team from 60,000 at the beginning of 2007. Accordingly, the commissions paid in that timeframe also doubled.

"Thanks to the hard work of our field team, we also saw our first two profitable quarters in the history of the Company last year,"continued Mr. Tomer. "It is amazing to me to look at the path of our revenue grow from just over $3.5 million for the 1st quarter of 2005, to almost $40 million in the third quarter of 2007. And we know this is just the tip of the iceberg."

About YTB International

Recognized as the 35th largest seller of travel in the U.S. in 2006 by Travel Weekly, YTB International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking services for home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Canada, Bermuda, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It operates through three subsidiaries: YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., YTB Travel Network, Inc., and REZconnect Technologies, Inc. YourTravelBiz.com division focuses on marketing online travel agencies through a nationwide network of independent business people, known as 'Reps.' YTB Travel Network division establishes and maintains travel vendor relationships, books travel transactions of online travel agents and affiliates, collects travel commissions and pays sales commissions. Each RTA sells travel through a personalized Internet-based travel website. The REZconnect Technologies division operates as a travel vendor relationship management company and offers franchises of brick and mortar travel agencies.

YTB International Founders Participated in a Highly Successful '27 Cities in 30 Days' Whirlwind National Tour

TheYTB.com Admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:35:17 +0000

WOOD RIVER, Ill., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — YTB International, Inc. (Pink Sheets: YTBLA) ('YTB' or the 'Company'), a leading international provider of Internet-based travel booking services for home-based independent RTAs, announced today that Company founders, Lloyd 'Coach' Tomer and Scott Tomer, have just completed a widely-successful 16 state tour in which they visited 27 cities in 30 days.

"This is a momentous event that I look forward to every year," said Coach Tomer. "This year's tour was a tremendous success with more than 30,000 people in attendance. I really enjoy speaking to the thousands of people who are new to the opportunities associated with YTB."

The Founders' Tour begins at the Coach's Birthday Bash, an annual event where YTB's top producers are invited to celebrate the previous year's accomplishments and plan for the upcoming year.

"The momentum created by the 2007 Founders' Tour lead to a record year for YTB," said Scott Tomer. "The turnout was substantially higher this year, which gives me confidence that 2008 will be the best year in our company's history."

YTB Expands to Bahamas/Bermuda

TheYTB.com Admin — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:06:52 +0000

Online Travel Agency Continues Growth

WOOD RIVER, Ill., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — YTB International, Inc. (Pink Sheets: YTBLA) ('YTB' or the 'Company'), a leading provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, announced today that the Company is expanding its services into Canada, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.

YTB Bahamas opened on January 11, 2008, and YTB Canada and YTB Bermuda are scheduled to open in early February, 2008. With YTB's expansion, reps and Referring Travel Affiliates (RTAs) living in these locations can sell travel through YTB websites and market online travel agencies to others in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada.

'We are pleased to take 'international' to a whole new level at YTB,' said J. Kim Sorensen, President and CEO of YTB Travel Network. 'We have done international trips from day one, but now we can expand the reach of our team to cover all of North America and into the Caribbean. This means even better opportunities for our RTAs and reps, and solidifies YTB's travel agency status.'

YTB's executive and legal teams worked diligently with the regulatory bodies in each country to ensure that the Company meets or exceeds the standards in each region. In addition, new RTAs are able to take advantage of the same extensive training available to U.S.-based RTAs. YTB will also be holding onsite certification training in the Bahamas, Bermuda and Canada.

'This is a truly exciting time for YTB executives, RTAs, and consumers buying travel through YTB. It also shows that people are embracing the idea of buying online travel and taking advantage of fantastic trips, including YTB's exclusive package for the Beijing Olympics,' said Derek Avera, Vice President of International Business Development at YTB. 'The addition of Canada, Bermuda, and the Bahamas represents the first step in YTB's international expansion plan. We look forward to adding even more countries to the YTB International family over the next year.'

YTB International is now recognized as a bonded travel agency in Canada and will add three offices in Canada. The Company will also hold kick-off meetings in Vancouver on February 9, 2008 and Toronto on February 16, 2008 to provide more information about the Company and the opportunities.

About YTB International

Recognized as the 35th largest seller of travel in the U.S. in 2006 by Travel Weekly, YTB International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. It operates through three subsidiaries: YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., YTB Travel Network, Inc., and REZconnect Technologies, Inc. YourTravelBiz.com division focuses on marketing online travel agencies through a nationwide network of independent business people, known as 'Reps.' YTB Travel Network division establishes and maintains travel vendor relationships, books travel transactions of online travel agents (RTAs, now numbering more than 135,000), collects travel commissions and pays sales commissions. Each RTA sells travel through a personalized Internet-based travel website. The REZconnect Technologies division builds online reservation systems for suppliers within the travel industry. For more information, visit http://www.ytbi.com/investor.

Statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and the Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

Media Contact:
Lauren Barker
Levick Strategic Communications for YTB International, Inc.
Phone: 202.973.1342
Mobile: 443.618.9169
Email: lbarker@levick.com

Investor Contact:
Garth Russell / Yemi Rose
KCSA Worldwide for YTB International, Inc.
Phone: 212.896.1250 / 212.896.1233
SOURCE YTB International, Inc.
Source: PR Newswire (January 16, 2008 – 3:15 PM EST)

Travel Weekly Names J. Kim Sorensen names one of 33 most influential people in Travel

TheYTB.com Admin — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 07:32:04 +0000

Travel Weekly Names J. Kim Sorensen
One Of 33 Most Influential People
In The Travel Industry

Travel Weekly, in an article dated 11/20/2007, has named YTB Travel Network CEO, J. Kim Sorensen, to its list of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry. The article states that the "most influential" list is filled with people who have veered from the status quo and succeeded so spectacularly that they have influenced the course travel is taking in 2007, and will be just as influential in 2008.

"I am truly honored and humbled to be included on this list," said Kim. "Especially since YTB is not about me, but about the great team and the huge network of representatives and referring travel agents that were willing to take a chance on a new way to sell travel. I speak for the entire company when I thank Travel Weekly for recognizing the huge potential of YTB."

Travel Weekly's 2007 Power List named YTB the nation's 35th largest seller of travel and the 11th largest agency for primarily leisure travel for the year 2006.

Click here to read the Travel Weekly article entitled:

Club 33: The most influential people
in the travel industry
(The 2-page article lists names alphabetically – click on Page 2 for Kim Sorensen)

YTB INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES SECOND CONSECUTIVE PROFITABLE QUARTER

TheYTB.com Admin — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:50:05 +0000

Company Reports Record Revenues of $39.9 Million

WOOD RIVER, Ill., November 14, 2007 — YTB International, Inc. (OTC PK: YTBLA) ("YTB" or the "Company"), a provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, today announced its financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007.

Total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 increased 203.5% to $39.9 million compared to $13.1 million for the third quarter last year. Revenue generated from online travel store sales and monthly fees from Referring Travel Agents ("RTAs") in the third quarter of 2007 was $28.7 million, compared to $9.0 million in the third quarter of 2006. Revenue from travel agency commissions in the third quarter of 2007 was $5.5 million, compared to $2.0 million for the same period last year. Also, training programs and marketing materials revenue increased in the third quarter of 2007 to $3.7 million, from $1.5 million in the prior year quarter.

Net income for the third quarter of 2007 was $2.1 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of ($4.4) million, or ($0.05) per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2006.

Total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 increased 207.6% to $95.9 million, compared to $31.2 million for the same period last year. Revenue generated from online travel store sales and monthly fees from RTAs for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $69.0 million, compared to $22.5 million for the same period in 2006. Revenue from travel agency commissions for the first nine months of 2007 was $13.9 million, compared to $5.1 million for the same period last year. Training programs and marketing materials revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $10.4 million, up from $2.9 million in the same period last year.

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $1.6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of ($6.0) million, or ($0.07) per diluted share, for the same period in 2006.

"We are proud to report our second consecutive quarter of profitability and record revenue and net income figures of $39.9 million and $2.1 million respectively. This accomplishment was achieved despite certain one-time costs incurred during the period that are related to the continued expansion of our infrastructure in order to support our growing number of RTAs and to improve our services," stated Scott Tomer, Chief Executive Officer of YTB International. "In the first nine months of 2007 alone, we have doubled the size of our RTA network to more than 134,000 RTAs, and we see no signs of slowing down. Our success did not go unnoticed. Travel Weekly named us one of the top eleven leisure travel agencies and one of the 35 largest travel agencies overall for 2006."

Mr. Tomer continued, "We have high expectations for YTB International's future and are expanding our infrastructure and training capabilities in order to handle our continued growth. Our new RTAs will need the best tools and training. To meet this need, we recently launched a proprietary Web-based training certification and testing program, 'YTB E-Campus,' designed by Dr. Marc Mancini, one of the travel industry's most highly respected speakers, educators and consultants. This training program offers our RTAs a unique opportunity to hone their skills to successfully sell travel and build their businesses."

About YTB International

Recognized as the 35th largest seller of travel in the U.S. by Travel Weekly, YTB International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. It operates through three subsidiaries: YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., YTB Travel Network, Inc., and REZconnect Technologies, Inc.

YourTravelBiz.com division focuses on marketing on-line travel agencies through a nationwide network of Independent Marketing Representatives, or "IMRs." YTB Travel Network division establishes and maintains travel vendor relationships, books travel transactions of on-line travel agents (RTAs,) collects travel payments and licensing fees, and processes travel commissions. Each RTA sells travel through a personalized Internet-based travel Website. The REZconnect Technologies division builds online reservation systems for suppliers within the travel industry. For more information, visit www.ytb.com.

YTB Launches Web-Based Agent Training

TheYTB.com Admin — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:07:19 +0000

YTB International, Inc., which provides Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives, launched "YTB E-Campus," a proprietary web-based training certification and testing program for the company's Referring Travel Agents (RTAs). The YTB E-Campus program was designed by Dr. Marc Mancini.

The YTB E-Campus instructional series will initially consist of 10 courses. The company plans to introduce a new course every six to eight weeks, until the 10 courses have been implemented. The first course, "Overview of the Travel Industry," is currently active, and will be followed by courses on lodging, tours/groups, cruising, air, rail/car rentals, sales/service/marketing, and three courses on destination geography. Each course promises to be interactive, instructionally sound and entertaining. TheAcademy.com, a San Antonio-based firm that specializes in travel-related training solutions, will design the program's web site. For more information, visit www.yourtravelbiz.com.

WOOD RIVER, Ill., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- YTB International,Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: YTBLA) ("YTB" or the "Company"), a provider ofInternet- based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-basedindependent representatives in the United States, today announced thelaunch of "YTB E- Campus," a proprietary web-based training certificationand testing program for the Company's Referring Travel Agents (RTAs). The YTB E-Campus program was designed by Dr. Marc Mancini, one of thetravel industry's most highly respected speakers, educators andconsultants. Dr Mancini and his firm are the creative force behind some ofthe best-known and most successful training programs in the business. The YTB E-Campus instructional series is designed to be one of the mostambitious and comprehensive-training programs ever offered by a host agencyand will initially consist of 10 unique courses. The Company plans tointroduce a new course every six to eight weeks, until the 10 courses havebeen implemented. The first course, Overview of the Travel Industry, iscurrently active, and will be followed by courses on lodging, tours/groups,cruising, air, rail/car rentals, sales/service/marketing, and three courseson destination geography. Each course promises to be interactive,instructionally sound and entertaining. TheAcademy.com, a San Antonio-based firm that specializes in travel-related training solutions, will design the program's web site.TheAcademy.com has built and currently manages several of the mostprominent certification programs in the travel industry. J. Kim Sorensen, President and CEO of YTB Travel Network, said, "We areexcited about the launch of the YTB E-Campus program, and our partnershipwith Dr. Mancini. YTB E-Campus was developed to enhance our existing RTAtraining program by offering comprehensive courses via the Internet. Thelaunch of this program is not only an investment in our RTAs, but also along-term investment in growing our business and increasing shareholderequity." About YTB International YTB International, Inc. provides Internet-based travel booking servicesfor travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in theUnited States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. It operates throughthree subsidiaries: YourTravelBiz.com, Inc., YTB Travel Network, Inc., andREZconnect Technologies, Inc. YourTravelBiz.com division focuses onmarketing online travel agencies through a nationwide network ofindependent business people, known as "Reps." YTB Travel Network divisionestablishes and maintains travel vendor relationships, books traveltransactions of online travel agents (RTAs, now numbering approximately123,000), collects travel commissions and pays sales commissions. Each RTAsells travel through a personalized Internet- based travel website. TheREZconnect Technologies division operates as a travel vendor relationshipmanagement company and offers franchises of brick and mortar travelagencies. Statements about the Company's future expectations, including futurerevenues and earnings, and all other statements in this press release otherthan historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaningof Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the SecuritiesExchange of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private LitigationReform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks anduncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and the Company'sactual results could differ materially from expected results. The Companyundertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflectsubsequently occurring events or circumstances.

A copy of this press release, and past press releases, is available onthe KCSA Worldwide Website at http://www.kcsa.com.    Investor Contacts:    Garth Russell / Yemi Rose    KCSA Worldwide    212-896-1250 / 212-896-1233

SOURCE YTB International, Inc.

YTB International Announces Record Attendance for Annual National Convention

TheYTB.com Admin — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:40:28 +0000

Company Announces New Enhanced Platform for Referring Travel Agents' Travel Web sites WOOD RIVER, Ill., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — YTB International, Inc. (OTC: YTBLA.PK – News; "YTB" or the "Company"), a provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives in the United States, today announced that approximately 11,000 of its Referring Travel Agents (RTAs) and their guests attended the Company's annual National Convention in St. Louis, MO., exceeding its goal of 8,000 attendees, and far exceeding the attendance for the 2006 convention of approximately 3,200.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070821/nytu089.html?.v=100