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InteleTravel Reviews (2024 Update): Is InteleTravel A Pyramid Scheme?

By: JosiahDec 11, 2023Network Marketing
InteleTravel Reviews ([year] Update): Is InteleTravel A Pyramid Scheme?

InteleTravel is an MLM company (Multi Level Marketing) founded by James Ferrara that claims to offer the opportunity to become an independent travel agent working within your own business in the travel industry - although you will still be under the InteleTravel umbrella.

But what's actually inside their program? And how much does it cost to join the travel business, anyway?

Let's dive in and find out.

DISCLAIMER:

This Inteletravel review has been thoroughly researched with information and testimonials that are available to anyone in the public. Any conclusions drawn by myself are opinions.

PROS
  • 30-Day money back guarantee
  • They provide training to improve your knowledge about travel
CONS
  • People nowadays plan their own vacations
  • Competition is fierce
  • Unless you're really good, making money will be a challenge

Why Listen To Us

My name is Josiah, and this is my Dad, Joel.why listen us

Together, we make up the team here at Scamrisk.

If you’ll let me bother you for two minutes, I’d like to quickly explain why I’m even here writing this review.

In early 2020, I had just graduated from college & had no real career prospects.

I knew I was destined for something more, but I had no clue how I was going to make it happen.

I had this sinking feeling in my gut all the time… like the “big man upstairs” had accidentally given me the version of life where I’d be mediocre forever, instead of the one where I was, ya know – happy & fulfilled.

Anyway…

I had fiddled around with some different online businesses in college:

Some random MLMs, a bit of affiliate marketing, a (failed) dropshipping store or two, all the usual suspects.

Even my dad had been involved in MLMs back in the day… selling knives & other random nonsense people (probably) didn’t need.

All I really wanted was to find something that was going to actually work for me.

Maybe those things had worked for others, but for me it all turned up a fat “0” in the bank account department.

So I searched! And searched… and searched… and searched…

And eventually, I somehow stumbled upon a program that promised to help me build an income online (read about it here if you’re curious).

I didn’t really want to be “rich”.

The thought of making a reliable $5K per month & not having to worry about clocking in to a 9-to-5 ever again was all I needed.

Sure, there were people in the program doing high-6 and low-7 figures per year… but that wasn’t what I was out for.

I just wanted to provide freedom for myself, and if I was lucky, take my family along for the ride.

Fast forward a few days and a few phone calls & I was enrolled!

Here’s the first “money making website” I put up:

why listen us gif

I built that site in 2020, and it still makes me $1,500 per month. It’s a basic 5 page website I built based on a template the program provides.

The best part to me? My dad and I get to do it all together!

So between the:

  1. Ease of reaching $5-$10K per month in income online

  2. Straightforward-ness of the system to do it

  3. Fact that I get to do it w/ my family

Is why I recommend local lead generation as my #1 business model for making money online.

Sure, it takes some work and dedication – but anyone that tells you that there’s a business out there that requires no work is selling you a lemon.

I’m not saying you need to sign up for the same program I did, but I would definitely recommend giving the business model a peek!

Chances are you heard about InteleTravel because someone - a friend or family member - introduced you to the company. Maybe you attended an online workshop or webinar, or maybe an in-person information session.

Your head’s probably spinning. This might be the first time you’ve heard about a real way to make money outside of a typical job.

So first off, congratulations!

You’ve just entered a whole new world...the world of making money on your own terms.

Some folks even say you can work from the beach.

Living The Beach Lifestyle

However, you came in through the wrong door.

Because InteleTravel is - plain and simple - an MLM. Throw whatever fancy name you want on it...multi-level marketing (MLM), network marketing (NWM), direct sales, or anything else, it’s the same concept:

You pay some money upfront for the “opportunity” to sell products.

The products are typically low-quality but with high price tags (because fancy labels and stuff).

You’re told that the key to building your own successful business is selling these products to friends and family, and getting them on a subscription (so you get “monthly recurring revenue”).

Unfortunately, like most people who get taken in by these types of schemes, you’ll quickly discover that the well runs dry faster than you imagined.

After all, they make it sound really simple. “Just get 5 people you know onto this magic widget, and things will just grow from there.”

And in your head, you think “How hard can it be? I know plenty of people, 5 will be easy.”

But then you do it, and you realize people look at you like you’ve joined a cult. You’ve become “that person”, who joined an MLM, and is now trying to sell questionable products or services to everyone they meet.

It puts a strain on your relationships, and you end up stuck between two worlds.

But it’s not your fault. These companies spend millions of dollars each year figuring out exactly how to brainwash and recruit people. And that’s why we’re here.

To help you find a better way before it’s too late.

So, what if there was a way you could build a passive income stream that’s actually passive?

An income stream that doesn’t require:

  • Inventory
  • Selling to friends and family
  • Selling to strangers
  • Recruiting people
  • Dealing with questionable products that weigh on your conscience

An income stream that brings in consistent revenues every single month (from a couple thousand dollars to well over $10,000)?

An income stream you could actually build in your spare time, and grow as large or as small as you want to, without having to spend hours a day chasing, selling, or managing anything?

TESTIMONIAL - Still Getting Paid

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out Digital Leasing.

This is nothing like MLM, and that’s probably a good thing.

However, if you’d still like to know more about InteleTravel, keep reading.

What Is InteleTravel?

inteletravel what is it

Founded in 1991, Inteletravel is travel agency that utilizes the Multi Level Marketing (MLM) business model.

This multi-level marketing company began in the United States and has since expanded to the United Kingdom.

In the UK, it became a member of ABTA recently - ABTA stands for Association of British Travel Agents.

InteleTravel does not currently hold an ATOL license in the UK but has recently stated that it is on the verge of obtaining one. ATOL is an abbreviation for Air Travel Organizer's License.

The company claims that anyone can start their own travel agency business from the comfort of their own home and earn a commission on every booking they make. In this respect, they were ahead of the curve by offering these sort of things in the 90's.

Their name for their salespeople within the MLM are "Travel Advisors".

They also say that you can sell vacations full-time, as a side hustle, or simply book your own trips for family and friends and earn back the commission every time.

The InteleTravel platform has been compared to competing travel companies within the MLM industry, such as World Ventures.

Who Is James Ferrara?

who is james ferrara

James Ferrara, Inteletravel's co-founder and president, is a seasoned businessman. From 1986 to 1988, he majored in Real Estate Development at New York University in the United States. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Anthropology and Theater.

James entered the corporate world after obtaining his certifications. However, at the time, he was only an employee. It wasn't until 1991 that he helped established his first company, InteleTravel.

Initially, the goal was to launch a novel travel package business model. He planned to give his agents no quotas. Furthermore, James did not want his company to impose educational requirements on his employees. He did, however, require that his agents be properly certified.

Joseph R. Traina also founded the company, although he seems to be involved with a new travel MLM these days.

What's Inside InteleTravel?

inteletravel reviews

There seems to be no quotas for InteleTravel's "Travel Advisors", which is very rare for MLMs, and a good thing. It means you don't face financial penalties or get kicked out of the program if you struggle with sales.

But how much do you get paid when you do make sales?

InteleTravel Compensation Plan

Let's look at an InteleTravel Income disclosure statement:

97.51% InteleTravel agents (Travel Advisors) earned an average annual income of $140.57, while less than 0.01% of Six Star director ranks earned an average annual income of $737,780.80.

97.5% is nearly the entire number of InteleTravel agents. Each earned an annual salary of $141 on average.

Take into account also the one-time InteleTravel Enrollment fee of $179.99, the monthly admin fee of $39.95, and the admin fee of $19.95. That is a major loss for each of the representatives.

Now let's take a look at the UK version of the program.

Inteletravel estimates that its 10,556 UK travel agents will sell £25 million in holidays this year, averaging just £2,368 per agent.

Even if they earn 12% commission (which is higher than the industry average), they will only make £284 each. That is £232 less than they would have paid Inteletravel in their first year.

Some agents will earn more than others, and if you're good, you might be able to make a full-time living as a travel agent.

According to Inteletravel, the average transaction value for its UK agents has increased from £834 last year to £1,710. However, because Inteletravel will not provide any leads for customers, you will have to rely on friends and family, word of mouth, and your own ability to market your services if you want to succeed as a travel agent.

Is InteleTravel A Pyramid Scheme?

whats inside inteletravel compensation

To find out if InteleTravel is a pyramid scheme scam, let us first deal with the definition of a pyramid scheme.

Pyramid schemes are a particularly infamous type of "get rich quick" scam perpetrated by a small group of individuals who stand to profit the most financially. They are the "top of the pyramid" in a traditional pyramid scheme and are paid before other members of the scam who stand lower on the pyramid scheme.

Now, instead of having its own product line, it collaborates with various travel suppliers. As a result, they can provide travel packages and discounts. Among its partners are:

  • Hotels and resorts such as Club Med, Sandals Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels, etc...
  • Travel Insurance such as Travel Insured
  • Vacation Packages such as Travel Impressions, Funjet Vacations, Disney Vacations, etc…
  • Car Rental Services such as Avis, Hertz, Budget
  • Cruise Lines such as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, etc…

However, this does count as a form of product line, so it is possible they are not a full-on pyramid scheme.

Concerns

Other than pyramid schemes, there are other concerns at play.

Nowadays, people prefer to plan their own vacations. In addition, you may face competition from other discount travel MLM companies and online platforms.

There are numerous travel MLMs (including club store travel departments) available, which means competition is fierce in the industry. Monthly fees, the propensity to lose money, and the questionable nature of the host agency leave a lot to be desired here.

Simply put, unless you are extremely skilled at marketing yourself, you may run out of people to sell travel packages to after your friends and family.

What Does The Internet Have To Say?

What Does The Internet Have To Say

Let's hear the voice of the people:

Only the ones at the top of the pyramid are making money. Advertised as you make loads of savings on your own travel and booking others but that never happened always found it cheaper elsewhere. Then once you’re in they start saying they don’t do cheap travel and that’s not the type of customer that you want.

Upline managers either lie to keep you on or don’t know the correct information when wanting to leave. Watching their lavish lifestyle from our subscription fee while we are struggling to make or save money using the programme, they are only interested in team building."

Not good! Let's try one more:

"Do not fall for this scam like I did! I was approached through social media, I attended the zoom call for more information and stupidly signed up. They use booking.com to show price comparisons to make out you are getting huge savings. It is not about holidays savings, all they are interested in is recruiting and growing the team to increase their profit.

When I requested that I didn’t want to be part of the referral side of the business I was told I had to give it a go to try and get others signed up. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!"

Is InteleTravel A Pyramid Scheme?

Scam or Legit

So, is InteleTravel a pyramid scheme?

Not technically.

You can make money with this program, but it’s definitely not as easy as the company makes it sound.

There’s a ton of work to be done upfront, no real guarantee of success, and - most importantly - the actual commissions are pretty small.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with front-loading the work and making the money later.

But if you’re grinding it out for 3 months and then your reward is a $50 commission, it’s not really worth it.

What if, instead, you could do that same 3 months of work (in your spare time), and your reward was a $500 to $2,000 payment that came in every single month?

And what if you actually didn’t need to wait 3 months? What if you could get started today and have your first payment in a week?

And what if you could double it next week?

Well, that’s the power of Digital Leasing.

And, unlike an MLM, you can legitimately do this from anywhere. It’s a true lifestyle business.

Your laptop and an internet connection is all you need.

Some of the most successful students in this program run their entire 6-figure businesses from:

  • A camper in the middle of the woods
  • A beach chair on the water in Mexico
  • A small villa in Greece

TESTIMONIAL - Saying Goodbye To Our Jobs

They’re able to travel around, living their lives first, and focusing on their income second.

Because even if they stop working for an extended period of time, the money keeps coming in.

So adventure, memories, and experience are the top priority.

And they never have to worry about how to pay for the next trip, or consider asking for time off.

If this sounds more like the type of life you want to lead, just click here to find out more about Digital Leasing.

How Much Does It Cost To Join InteleTravel?

inteletravel how much does it cost

You can join to become a travel agent by going to the InteleTravel website or contacting the person who referred you to the opportunity.

It seems that InteleTravel once charged $179 for a signup fee, but that has escalated to at least $400.

The $39 monthly InteleTravel fees combine with the monthly $19.95 PlanNet Marketing admin fees for a grand total of roughly $60 per month. 

For all that, you'll receive:

  • A personalized booking website
  • A marketing program
  • A company stationery
  • A tool to assist you in your work as a travel agent.

You'll be losing about $720 every year in fees ($1120 in the first year), so you'd better be good at sales to make this work!

InteleTravel Refund Policy

inteletravel refund policy

Although it appears they have a decent refund policy for those simply paying for trips, the same cannot be said for their salespeople and their signup/admin fees.

Once you commit to this MLM, your money is gone.

Are There Alternatives After Reading InteleTravel Reviews?

alternatives

Yes, there are plenty of MLM companies to choose from if you want to pursue this business model after reading Inteletravel Reviews. Here are just a few:

What Is Our #1 Recommendation For Making Money In 2024?

Digital Leasing

The ScamRisk team has spent months researching, reviewing, and vetting dozens of business models and thousands of programs.

While there may be no “perfect business”, the research IS conclusive:

Digital Leasing is the #1 online business model for those just starting out.

Whether you’ve never made a dollar online, or you’ve been in this space for a while but never really “made it,” Digital Leasing is for you.

Why?

1) It’s Flexible: got an hour a day? You can do this. Ready to drop everything else and dive in full time? You can do this. Yes, the more time you put in, the faster you see results. But even with a little time each day, you can move the needle in a Digital Leasing business.

And because this system is so flexible, you don’t have to constantly be working to make more money. It’s called PASSIVE INCOME because if you stop working, the money doesn’t.

Imagine taking 3 months off to just tour around Europe, rent a cabin in the woods to write a book, hike the Appalachian Trail, or live on the beach and surf all day.

This is only possible if you have an income stream that’s not tied to your time.

TESTIMONIAL - JUMP ALL IN

2) You Own & Control EVERYTHING: With MLMs and Network Marketing, you don’t really own anything. You have no control over the quality of products. You don’t even own your “team”.

Look at the fine print for most of the agreements folks sign when they join one of these companies. At any point, the company can change your commission structure, reduce your profit margins, or kick you out entirely.

With Digital Leasing, you own the assets, which means you have all the power and all the control.

TESTIMONIAL - Feeling Blessed

3) Little To No Startup Costs: It’s possible to get into Digital Leasing with zero dollars upfront.

Because, using the strategies outlined in this program, you can get a client to pay you BEFORE spending a penny out of your own pocket...even before you do any work.

Even without getting paid in advance, you can have your first Digital Rental Property up, running, and generating profits for less than $100.

TESTIMONIAL - Scott Lead Gen

4) No Inventory: Alright, so most MLMs don’t make you buy the products and fill your garage with them anymore (unlike the good ol’ days), but you’re still in a physical products business.

And physical products always have physical limitations. Even if you don’t have to manage the inventory, you still have to deal with supply chain shortages that cause major delays.

Imagine finally landing your first customer, and then losing them after one sale because they had to wait 6 weeks to get their order.

With Digital Leasing, a 100% online business, you never even have to think about that risk.

TESTIMONIAL - Done Deal

5) Easy To Duplicate: Ok, here’s the best part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up and running, you can literally DOUBLE your income with a few clicks, a couple keystrokes, and a single phone call (and you don’t actually need the phone call).

Remember: each Digital Rental Property is worth $500 to $2,000 a month in semi-passive income (over 95% profit). Every time you decide to create another one and increase your income, it gets easier.

Because you have more knowledge, more experience, more results, and more momentum.

If you wanted to double your income with an MLM, you’d have to double your customers OR double the average order size of your existing customers. And, guaranteed that’s a lot harder than a few clicks and a few minutes of your life.

TESTIMONIAL - Lance Lead Gen

6) Make Money Helping Real People: This part is what makes it all worth it. In an MLM, your “upline” might convince you that what you’re selling improves people’s lives, but deep down, you likely know that’s not true.

Most of the time, you’re either selling a dream or a poor-quality, overpriced product with a fancy label.

And that makes it pretty hard to sleep at night.

But with Digital Leasing, you’re actually helping people by solving your clients’ biggest problem:

Small, local businesses need more customers, and with Digital Leasing, you are unleashing a flood of happy, paying customers for these businesses.

You make money by helping them make money.

Not a big, faceless corporation either...a small business owner who’s using that money to put food on the table for their family, start a college fund for their kids, or take care of a sick parent.

Once you see how Digital Leasing makes a real impact in the lives of real people, you’ll sleep like a baby with a big smile on your face.

BOSS OF MY FUTURE

Now, the choice is yours. You could continue browsing, looking at opportunities like Inteletravel which could one day make you money.

You could continue researching, never making a decision.

OR, you could take a look inside, consider what you really want, and join a program that makes your dreams a reality. At the same time, joining a community of over 2,000 successful students that are living life on their own terms thanks to Digital Leasing.

A consistent, reliable, semi-passive stream of income that doesn’t depend on you or your time to keep producing profits.

All while genuinely helping real people who are grateful and happy to pay for it.

If this sounds more like what you want out of life (or if you just want some nice side income), click here to learn more about Digital Leasing.

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