YTB International
Defunct American online travel and multi-level marketing company.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
YTB International was an American travel business that combined online travel booking with a multi-level marketing distribution model. Founded in 2001 in the Alton, Illinois, area by J. Lloyd “Coach” Tomer, his son Scott Tomer, and J. Kim Sorensen, the company recruited independent representatives who operated owner-affiliated websites and marketed travel services, excursions, lodging, and related membership opportunities. It was also known as Your Travel Biz and YTB Global Travel. The business expanded during the 2000s through a large representative network. Its model emphasized the sale of personalized travel websites and the recruitment of additional representatives, with promotional materials often featuring successful members. YTB acquired an interest in REZconnect Technologies in 2004 and increased its marketing activity. Subsidiaries and related businesses included YTB Travel Network, Zamzuu, and REZconnect Technologies. The company attracted regulatory and legal scrutiny as its representative base grew. Authorities and consumer-protection organizations in California, Illinois, and Rhode Island examined allegations that the business operated as a pyramid scheme or used deceptive marketing. Critics argued that recruitment and the sale of travel-agent identification or website packages were more important to the business than retail travel sales. Royal Caribbean ended its relationship with YTB in 2007, describing the company in terms associated with so-called “card mill” operations. In 2008, California Attorney General Jerry Brown filed suit, and California and YTB reached a settlement in 2009 that required changes to the business model. Illinois authorities later reached a separate settlement involving restitution. The investigations and settlements coincided with declining membership and revenue. YTB reported revenue of $44.8 million for 2008, but later disclosed substantial concerns about its ability to continue as a going concern. Revenue fell sharply in 2009, membership declined from a reported high of 138,000 in April 2008 to 60,414 in mid-2009, and the company sold property and other assets, including its Learjet. YTB also sold REZconnect to company officers in 2009 under terms that included an indemnification provision for certain liabilities. YTB attempted several strategic and organizational changes. It sold its headquarters property in 2011, while Sixth Scott LLC began acquiring YTB Travel Network; that travel-network business was relaunched as First Alliance Travel in 2012. In 2012, YTB announced a proposed merger with LTS Nutraceutical, another multi-level marketing company, but abandoned the transaction later that year. The period also saw the resignation of president and chief executive Robert Van Patton and the departure of founder and chairman Scott Tomer. YTB International filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 1, 2013, in federal court in St. Louis. On October 11, 2013, its assets were sold to Chicago businessman Sam Hathi through Jamraval, Inc. The acquired operation continued under the YTB Global Travel name. It subsequently stopped enrolling new referring travel agents and representatives on March 2, 2015, although resources remained available to existing members at that time. The original YTB International entity and brand are therefore treated as defunct.
History
YTB International began in 2001 in Alton, Illinois, founded by J. Lloyd “Coach” Tomer, Scott Tomer, and J. Kim Sorensen. It developed an online travel business in which independent representatives used affiliated websites to market lodging, excursions, travel services, and membership opportunities. The model sought to combine the convenience of internet-based booking with the reach of a multi-level marketing network. In 2004, the founders acquired an interest in REZconnect Technologies and expanded the marketing budget. Recruitment materials used accounts and videos featuring successful salespeople to attract new participants. YTB's network expanded rapidly, but the structure also drew criticism because representatives commonly paid for personalized websites or related packages and could earn commissions by recruiting additional participants. The company encountered increasing scrutiny in the second half of the decade. Royal Caribbean ended its relationship with YTB in 2007, referring to the business in language associated with “card mills,” companies criticized for selling travel-agent identification cards and promising discounts or commissions. In 2007 and 2008, regulators and consumer-protection bodies in Rhode Island, Illinois, and California investigated allegations that YTB operated as a pyramid scheme or used misleading marketing. In August 2008, California Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a $25 million suit. The Illinois attorney general and Illinois Better Business Bureau also examined the company after receiving complaints. YTB and California authorities settled in May 2009. The agreement required changes to the company's operating model, including ending or restructuring the sale of personalized websites that reportedly cost $450 initially and $50 per month. A related class-action lawsuit brought by former agents was dismissed in July 2009 on the basis that nonresidents could not pursue the claims under the relevant Illinois law. Illinois later reached its own settlement with YTB, announced in 2011, involving $150,000 in restitution and no admission or denial of guilt. The legal controversy was followed by a severe commercial contraction. YTB reported $44.8 million in revenue in 2008, but disclosed that its auditor had expressed substantial doubt about its ability to remain a going concern. In the first quarter of 2009, the company reported a $1.9 million loss and revenue of $21.8 million, followed by revenue of $18 million in the second quarter. Its paying membership reportedly declined from 138,000 in April 2008 to 60,414 in mid-2009. YTB laid off 17 employees, sold commercial properties and its Learjet, and sold REZconnect to company officers under an agreement that included indemnification for certain YTB-related liabilities. YTB continued to dispose of assets and revise its structure. In 2011, it sold its headquarters building and adjoining property. Sixth Scott LLC began purchasing YTB Travel Network in October of that year, and the business was relaunched as First Alliance Travel in 2012. The company's leadership also changed. Co-founder J. Kim Sorensen died on February 1, 2012. YTB announced a proposed merger with LTS Nutraceutical in March, began a major restructuring in May, and disclosed the resignation of president and chief executive Robert Van Patton. The merger was called off in September, when founder and chairman Scott Tomer also announced his resignation. On March 1, 2013, YTB International filed for Chapter 11 protection in federal court in St. Louis. Its financial reporting had deteriorated; the company had not filed a quarterly earnings report since the third quarter of 2011 and later acknowledged errors in that report. On October 11, 2013, Jamraval, Inc., associated with Chicago businessman Sam Hathi, completed the purchase of YTB's assets. The operation continued as YTB Global Travel rather than as the original YTB International entity. By March 2, 2015, the successor business had stopped enrolling new referring travel agents and representatives, although it continued to offer resources to existing members. These developments mark the effective end of YTB International as an active brand in its original form.
- 2015
New representative enrollment ends
[1]YTB Global Travel stops enrolling new referring travel agents and representatives.
- 2013
Chapter 11 filing and asset sale
[1]YTB files for Chapter 11 protection in March, and its assets are sold to Jamraval in October.
- 2012
Leadership changes and merger cancellation
[1]The proposed LTS Nutraceutical merger is abandoned; Robert Van Patton resigns as president and CEO, and Scott Tomer resigns as chairman.
- 2011
Illinois restitution settlement
[1]YTB reaches a settlement with Illinois authorities involving $150,000 in restitution.
- 2009
California settlement and business restructuring
[1]YTB settles with California authorities and agrees to modify aspects of its representative and website-sales model.
- 2008
California lawsuit and workforce reduction
[1]California's attorney general sues YTB, and the company later lays off 17 employees amid growing scrutiny and financial pressure.
- 2007
Royal Caribbean ends its relationship with YTB
[1]Royal Caribbean stops doing business with YTB amid concerns associated with travel-agent identification-card operations.
- 2004
Interest acquired in REZconnect Technologies
[1]YTB's founders acquire an interest in REZconnect Technologies and increase spending on marketing and recruitment.
- 2001
YTB is founded in Illinois
[1]J. Lloyd Tomer, Scott Tomer, and J. Kim Sorensen launch the company in the Alton, Illinois, area.
Products and positioning
Low-cost, representative-led online travel distribution combining travel booking with multi-level marketing.
Online travel platform
YTB affiliated travel websites
Personalized websites operated by independent representatives were the central customer-facing product of YTB's model. They were used to promote and sell travel services, excursions, and lodging while also serving as part of the representative recruitment and membership proposition.
Travel booking · 2001
Travel services and lodging
YTB offered access to travel-related services through its representative network, including excursions, accommodations, and broader travel arrangements. The company positioned these services as the retail component of its online and direct-selling operation.
Travel membership and direct selling · 2001
YTB representative membership
The membership program allowed participants to become referring travel agents or representatives and use YTB-related tools and websites. The program became controversial because regulators and critics alleged that recruitment and package sales outweighed genuine retail travel activity.
Controversies
2011
Illinois regulatory settlement
YTB reached a settlement with Illinois authorities involving $150,000 in restitution. The settlement did not include an admission or denial of guilt.
2009
Former-agent class-action allegations
Former representatives alleged that YTB's principal business was inducing people to become travel agents rather than selling travel services. The case was dismissed in July 2009 on an Illinois-law jurisdictional basis.
2008
California pyramid-scheme and deceptive-marketing allegations
California Attorney General Jerry Brown sued YTB, alleging that the company operated as a pyramid scheme and used deceptive marketing. The case was settled in 2009 with required business-model changes.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008Personalized travel website program
United States
YTB marketed personalized travel websites as a way for representatives to participate in online travel sales and promote the business opportunity.
Outcome. California's 2009 settlement required changes to this aspect of the model, including the end or restructuring of the reported website fees.
- 2004Successful-salesperson recruitment campaign
United States
YTB promoted recruitment through videos and accounts presenting successful salespeople, seeking to expand its independent representative network.
Outcome. The approach contributed to rapid network growth but later became part of criticism concerning the company's recruitment-focused model.
Brand decisions
2013
File for Chapter 11 protectionOtherBackground
Declining revenue, reduced membership, asset sales, legal issues, and concerns about the company's ability to continue as a going concern weakened YTB's position.
Action taken
YTB International filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court in St. Louis.
Aftermath
The company's assets were sold to Jamraval, Inc. later in 2013, and the operation continued under the YTB Global Travel name.
2013
Sell assets to JamravalM&ABackground
Following the Chapter 11 filing, YTB required a transaction to transfer and continue the underlying travel operation.
Action taken
Jamraval, Inc., associated with Sam Hathi, purchased YTB's assets on October 11, 2013.
Aftermath
The acquired business operated as YTB Global Travel, while the original YTB International entity became defunct.
2012
Proposed merger with LTS NutraceuticalM&ABackground
YTB sought a strategic combination during a period of restructuring and declining performance.
Action taken
The company announced a merger plan with LTS Nutraceutical and later called off the transaction.
Aftermath
The cancellation was followed by further leadership changes, including Scott Tomer's resignation as chairman.
2009
Restructure the representative and website-sales modelStrategyBackground
California litigation and regulatory scrutiny challenged the role of personalized websites, representative fees, and recruitment in YTB's business.
Action taken
YTB settled with California authorities and agreed to modify elements of its operating model, potentially moving toward a franchise-style structure.
Aftermath
Membership declined and the company continued to face financial pressure and legal exposure.
2009
Sell REZconnect TechnologiesStrategyBackground
YTB faced declining revenue and membership and sought to reduce or reorganize its assets.
Action taken
YTB sold REZconnect to company officers under terms that included indemnification for certain YTB-related liabilities.
Aftermath
The disposal formed part of a broader effort to manage assets and financial obligations.
Sources1 sources
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