Q 1. Why is Coastal Synergy Group no longer marketing the Coastal Vacations product, changing name to Synergy Marketing Group and moving to marketing Platinum One Destinations and NetTrav?
Q 2. Did the CSG abandon their members by stopping the marketing of Coastal Vacations and moving to Platinum One Destinations and NetTrav?
Q 3. What is the difference between the Platinum One Destinations travel membership and the NetTrav travel portal?
Q 4. Which Travel Products and Services are available at wholesale?
Q 5. Why would you book travel through NetTrav rather than Expedia, Travelocity or any of the other "giant' booking engines?
Q 6. What’s the advantage between the Coastal Vacations compensation plan and the P1D comp. plan?
Q 7 . How much advance notice is required to be able to travel?
Q 8. What quality of accommodations can I and my guests expect to enjoy?
Q 9. Is there an expiry date, will my travel membership expire?
Q 10. Can someone else use my Platinum One Destinations membership?
Q 11. Will the savings from my Platinum One Destinations membership exceed the cost of my membership?
Q 12. What are the major differences between Coastal Vacations and Platinum One Destinations?
Q 13. What is the M.A.C. 4.0 and do I need it?
Q 1. Why is Coastal Synergy Group no longer marketing the Coastal Vacations product, changing name to Synergy Marketing Group and moving to marketing Platinum One Destinations and NetTrav?
A. The CSG is always listening to member feedback when supporting and training its membership and in doing so pointed out the challenges faced by each independent business owner under the Coastal structure. Those were constraints that CSG had no control over due to conceptual flaws in the Coastal business design. While the Coastal design has been successful for years, the lack of corporate structure, authority and enforcement over the marketing force enabled un-ethical business practices from less than reputable business operator. This allowed to stain the Coastal image and made it difficult for ethical business owners to compete with under-cutting, selling of Directors releases, offering gifts to join one Director over another etc. The very business structure did not allow forbidding these practices from taking place because Coastal is an Association and not a legal entity having the right to exercise any supervision over people marketing their product. Furthermore, the actual Coastal Vacations product has been suffering due to its inability to evolve in an ever changing travel industry. Their concept of not having any central customer service point for their members and rather relying on the customer service of their vendors promoted inconsistency, thus showing an increasing amount of customer complaints. Many of which came from the certificate based travel which is restrictive and a lengthy process due to an excess of certificates compared to the rooms available. Its design is aimed at attracting customers in an attempt to up sell travel products, therefore not focusing on membership but rather selling retail travel.
The Platinum One Destinations (P1D) & NetTrav Products marketed by the Synergy Marketing Group (SMG) is fixing all those challenges for their membership; both Platinum One Destinations and Synergy Marketing Group are separate corporate entities defining marketing rules and enforcing them through a contract on terms & agreement with each independent marketer. The SMG has exclusivity in marketing the product and was actually sought out by P1D because of its proven marketing system, high level of training, support and integrity. Platinum One Destinations’ forecast in the first 10 days of operation under SMG’s marketing effort was $150,000.00. In true SMG style of always over delivering, the sales in that period reached actually reached $1.2 million. This is due to SMG’s marketing expertise combined with a product that revolutionizes the industry. True wholesale travel prices because the membership pays cost; there’s no mark-up on P1D wholesale prices. And no more self service when researching for vacation plans; there’s one phone number connecting the P1D member to a 5 star concierge service that does all the research for the members based on their criteria. The P1D employees, salary based and not commission based are actually rewarded for providing the members with a quote that will save them money.
Q 2. Did the CSG abandon their members by stopping the marketing of Coastal Vacations and moving to Platinum One Destinations and NetTrav?
A. Quite the contrary. The CSG now renamed SMG has actually worked for 14 months in researching a better product, better structure and better compensation plan for the membership due to the increasing challenges they were facing. This was done in response to membership feedback and certainly not to abandon them; and given the resounding success during soft launch, the membership certainly doesn’t feel abandoned but rather very grateful. From the group Jani and Pierre have chosen to follow them in this exciting venture, 100% have registered for P1D although a contingency plan was in place should some members had chosen to stay with Coastal so continued support would’ve been available and without interruption.
Q 3. What is the difference between the Platinum One Destinations travel membership and the NetTrav travel portal?
A. The NetTrav personal travel portal is the competition to other portals such as Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia. The owner of that portal, earns a commission on all travel booked from their site. So rather than booking retail travel from the biggest name out there, a NetTrav portal owner will pay competitive retail prices yet will receive a commission on their own travel as well as any family and friends using the portal. So NetTrav provides competitive retail prices with a commission kickback while the P1D membership provides wholesale travel prices. Through their travel buying power, P1D are wholesalers like all the other big travel vendors (Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia) but unlike the competition, they do not mark up their prices and pass on their direct cost to the members hence why this is TRUE wholesale travel. Every P1D membership comes automatically with a NetTrav personal travel portal. A P1D member will earn higher commissions from their NetTrav portal than someone owning only a NetTrav portal and not a P1D membership.
Q 4. Which Travel Products and Services are available at wholesale?
A. P1D buys many travel products at a special, wholesale rate through the largest consolidators in the world. This allows P1D to pass on to their members the actual wholesale cost, rather than the retail price available to the general public.
The products a member can count on being at wholesale pricing and significantly below retail pricing are condo resort weeks, consolidated airfares, a network of 10,000 hotels in the P1D system, vacations designed exclusively for P1D Members through special agreements with our travel vendors, golf t-times and golf reservations.
Some products like condo resort weeks and consolidated airfares are purchased by the member at the wholesale pricing at the time of booking, and other products like cruises, golf reservations and golf vacations are booked at the standard rates directly with the travel vendor and the member receives 100% of the difference between retail and P1D cost in the form of a rebate.
Q 5. Why book travel through NetTrav rather than any other giant travel portals?
A. Travel portals profit by buying wholesale “consolidated” travel inventory, by adding a mark up and then adding commissions.
As a NetTrav member, you are entitled to a share of these commissions, and direct access to the behind the scenes wholesale pricing!
To become a NetTrav member (without becoming a P1D Associate) only requires a $99 annual fee. For this, you are given exclusive access to your own personal travel portal. You enjoy the same and even greater savings than Expedia or what others are offering and will also receive a 50% share of the commissionable amount which will vary from travel product to travel product.
Q 6. What’s the advantage between the Coastal Vacations compensation plan and the P1D comp. plan ?
A. The Coastal Vacations compensation plan is based on direct sales and a very limited residual structure that is not promoting Team building. After helping a new Associate with making two training sales, there’s no financial incentive in helping other people joining this new Associate’s team unless this Associate is attempting to upgrade to a higher level or someone wants to join this Associate at a level he/she is not qualified to accept that sale therefore by-passing or overriding to the next qualified person . Platinum One Destinations’ compensation plan also rewards on direct sales, qualifying sales, upgrade sales and overrides but then becomes a hybrid compensation plan by with a Residual Team Earning Center (R.T.E.C.) and Leadership bonuses. The R.T.E.C. is an exclusive revenue stream that has never been seen before which is also referred to as “Revolving Day 1 Residual income” meaning that someone brand new in the business that has not yet qualified to earn direct sales commissions can start earning revenues. And furthermore, something else never seen before, the R.T.E.C. is driven by your efforts, your Team’s efforts and YOUR SPONSOR’S efforts. No other compensation plans reward you for your sponsor’s efforts. And then, it gets better with the Leadership Bonuses. As an Executive Leader, you are encouraged to help your team members because every gold or platinum sales made by your team pays you a Leadership bonus. And of course let’s not forget that any travel booked from your personal NetTrav portal, earns you NetTrav commissions.
Q 7 . How much advance notice is required to be able to travel?
A. As early as next day travel to months in advance. Simply search your personal NetTrav portal and book yourself or call its 24 hr. customer service number or your P1D membership concierge service number. Let their High Touch service take care of your travel needs.
Q 8. What quality of accommodations can I and my guests expect to enjoy?
A. Just tell your concierge service travel assistant the type of accommodation you’re looking for. Say when, say where, whether you want 3, 4, 5 star accommodation and your concierge will do all the research and contact you back with a quote.
Q 9. Is there an expiry date, will my travel membership expire?
A. The NetTrav membership is renewed every year for $99.00. The P1D memberships are valid for as long as you have points in your bank. Each membership has a certain amount of points which you exchange for the right to purchase a travel offer at wholesale price. The points in your bank never expire and if you feel the need to replenish your bank, you can choose to have your NetTrav commissions to be exchanged for points rather than money. Each $100.00 of commissions owed to you can be transferred to your bank for 1000 points. A Silver P1D membership comes with 15,000 points, a Gold P1D membership comes with 60,000 points and a Platinum P1D membership comes with 150,000 points. Depending on the type of travel you choose, the amount of points required to have the right to purchase it at wholesale will vary. For example, a 3 day vacation getaway will require 1500 points, a 7 day condo/resort accommodation will require 2500 points and an International First class airfare will require 5000 points. There are more variances but this gives a general idea.
Q 10. Can someone else use my Platinum One Destinations membership or my NetTrav personal portal?
A. You can share your membership with anybody if you don’t mind deducting points from your bank so your guest is given access to wholesale pricing. Simply call the concierge service with your guest and let them know you would like to extend your membership privilege to your guest. As for your NetTrav personal portal, anyone who uses your portal to book their travel will enjoy very competitive pricing and you will earn a commission on their travel.
Q 11. Will the savings from my Platinum One Destinations membership exceed the cost of the membership?
A. The Silver P1D membership costing $1,500.00 offers standard travel savings of $7,200.00, the Gold P1D membership costing $6,000.00 offers standard travel savings of $24,000.00 and the Platinum P1D membership costing $15,000.00 offers standard travel savings of $60,000.00
Q 12. What are the major differences between Coastal Vacations and Platinum One Destinations?
A.
Coastal Vacations Vs. Platinum One Destinations
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Coastal Vacations |
Platinum One Destinations |
No Legal Entity |
Real corporation, Independent marketing representatives own their own companies that can even be SOLD! Intention to become public ally traded entity by company founders. |
No Corporate Structure |
Corporate Structure- executive duties within the company are clearly defined. Members and independent representatives know who to contact and HOW when assistance is required |
No Full Time Management or Administration Staff |
Full time, professional management and administration staff |
No Physical Address or Headquarters location |
Physical Address, and ability to visit the corporate headquarters |
No Company Wide Travel Specific Leads generation and commission distribution pool |
NetTrav leads are automatically and evenly distributed to members, commissions are paid directly on both travel taken and memberships sold. NetTrav itself is designed to compete with and beat online travel giants like Expedia, Travelocity and Obitz by providing the travel consumer with true, competitive value and exceptional customer service. |
No community access to provide testimony for the quality and real service and value provided by the product offerings |
Powerful use of the most effective form of advertising in the world- word of mouth. Research has proven time and again that consumers prefer the recommendations and advice of others who have experienced the product or service in question over the marketing efforts of advertisers who are financially positioned to gain from biased advice. Intentional use of social marketing by P1D and the Synergy Marketing Group creates magnetic and very powerful marketing to benefit all members and independent marketing associates. This kind of branding and marketing is not only unheard of, but impossible with the current Coastal Vacations model. |
No Worldwide Internet Condo Booking Engine |
Access to instant, online bookings with the largest, established travel booking engines in the world. |
No Customer Service 24/7 with real agents to speak with. |
Concierge quality, follow through and follow up customer service. Our travel agents are NOT paid on commissions and are paid hourly. They are not thus incentivized to "upsell" the travel patron. Our live customer service trained travel agents are rewarded when they SAVE you the most money. Even better, you earn back your own travel agent commissions! |
No personalized, replicated online travel booking sites for members giving INSTANT access to true wholesale pricing in real time |
NetTrav and Platinum One Destinations offer what today’s value minded, busy, modern traveler in search of quality service and 4 and 5 star accommodations demand. Value, service and ease of use. |
No ability to Purchase online |
All purchases are made through corporate headquarters- no need for P1D and NetTrav agents to process payments or shipping, no need for clumsy merchant accounts! |
No travel rebates paid to members |
Platinum One Destinations and NetTrav pay commission on travel rebates to their members- not to mention recurring commissions for a lifetime. |
No choice of member to choose vacations wanted in membership |
With Platinum One Destinations and NetTrav- if its on a map, they will get you there. All members, regardless of membership level have access to the very same services- the only differences between membership levels is the quantity of travel- you are able to travel any where you wish, and receive the very same gold plated follow through customer service regardless of your level of membership |
No ease of use- vacations are difficult and time consuming to book, not easy to take and meet all terms and conditions required by brokers. |
With Platinum One Destinations and NetTrav- booking is simple, using the convenience of the internet or by dialing a toll free number to speak to a professionally trained and certified travel agent who is paid an hourly wage, and incentivized not to "upsell" you, but to fulfill your travel needs, make suggestions or give advice when YOU ask for it and paid not for having you spend more but rewarded when they SAVE you the most! No where is this concept and kind of customer service available in the travel industry! |
Breakage Based Travel Certificates form bulk of true savings in Coastal Vacations Membership Package |
P1D and NetTrav members do NOT have to travel based on vacancies, using incentivized based travel certificates. No jumping through hoops and mailing money orders to shipping centres and providers, no selecting dates to travel and not being guaranteed of having the dates you require available. No need to secure the date you want by agreeing to a time share presentation, no meeting specific travel requirements like having a spouse or partner. Travel where YOU want, how you want, no black out dates, and no jumping through hoops to secure true wholesale pricing on quality travel services! |
Compensation plan comparison |
Coastal Vacations |
Platinum One Destinations |
"Official Compensation Plan" is uncontrolled, unregulated. Undercutting, selling of directors releases, incentives cause and create competition and unfair advantage to less experienced or less established business owners |
P1D- Official compensation plan is monitored, regulated and controlled by head office. Fair and ethical business practices are not only written, but enforced for the betterment of individual representatives and the company as a whole. |
Protection from Associate Undercutting/Fraud |
The Coastal Vacations Board of Directors has been aware of and unable to stop or control less then ethical business behaviors by independent directors such as selling of directors releases, cost undercutting, payment for "coaching", offering incentives to join one director over another. Many consumers have been victim of less then scrupulous "coastal vacations directors" and left high and dry with little or nothing to show for their hard earned money and time investment. This has done hard working and ethical independent directors a great dis-service in promoting their good businesses. |
P1D, having a corporate structure, ethical guidelines and established business operating guidelines can enforce the price point of the product and ensure that all business owners play fairly and work together with each other towards building a reputable, highly successful and ethical business venture. The RTEC compensation plan rewards this synergistic behavior! |
Genealogy Tracking |
Coastal Vacations to date has never had accurate nor complete records to identify genealogy in the business. |
Platinum One Destinations tracks genealogy, and has since day one. No risk of loosing commissions or team members to less scrupulous business associates! |
Multiple and Varied streams of income |
3 streams, all based on direct sales, all finite and STOP
1) Direct Sales
2) Qualifying Sales (2)
3) Upgrades (to L3 and then stops) |
8 varied streams of income, all infinite:
NetTrav- direct sales commission, as well as commission on any travel booked through your own personal NetTrav portal, and 50% commission paid on optional annual renewal of $99.
Direct Sales- high commissions on memberships sold
Qualify Sales - 2, and earn unending commission
R.T.E.C- Residual Team Earnings Centre- DAY ONE potential income, even if you have not made sales or are not yet trained! You are always in an RTEC when you are a P1D Member!
You potentially make money on EVERY sale your team makes, infinitely- not just on the first 2 qualify sales
You will earn a residual income from YOUR first 2 qualification sales with P1D!
You qualify with 2 sales at ANY level!
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Q 13. What is the M.A.C. 4.0 and do I need it?
A. The M.A.C. 4.0 is the Synergy Marketing Group’s famous Marketing And Communication system designed and maintained by technology provider E2Impact. The M.A.C. was first designed for military purposes and then tailored to civilian purposes for major corporations. SMG and P1D operating on a Global scale needed a highly efficient marketing and communication solution which the M.A.C. is very well suited to address. The SMG (formerly the CSG) first started using the M.A.C. 1.0 in September 2005 which is one of the reasons why SMG is so successful in marketing and was sought out by Platinum One Destinations. Many upgrades and enhanced tools are being brought for marketing the P1D product and therefore SMG is upgrading 3 levels from MAC 1.0 to MAC 4.0. The MAC is a total solution for giving you a professional global online presence. It finds your prospects, presents your information on your behalf, follows up with your prospects and trains them in their new business. It offers a complete tracking system so you can follow your prospects as they progress through each step of the information process. And through it’s Business Center, it offers a complete communication, contacts management, calendar, planner and file management system. Everything is centralized keeping you organized and efficient. It is highly recommended to use the MAC 4.0 to operate your P1D business however for someone wishing to have a very basic Internet presence, there’s a lighter marketing tool at $29.95 per month instead of the $99.95 for the MAC 4.0. However the complete solution will quickly pay for itself because you will receive $10.00 a month from everybody in your team following in your footsteps and also subscribing to the MAC 4.0. As soon as you have 10 members in your Team, your own MAC system expense is offset by your affiliate commissions. As your Team grows bigger, your MAC affiliate commissions are generating pure profits.
