According to NBC Connecticut (NBC CT), Disney has cut ties with the travel agency Smart Moms Travel.
Former and current Smart Moms Travel agents are accusing the company of wrongful termination and withholding their commissions, according to NBC CT.
Lauren Belair, a travel agent for the company, told NBC CT, “I just feel so sad and so horrible for the 70 plus agents that were terminated right before the holidays. You know, they were really relying on that income and they are not going to receive, and there was no warning.”
Belair hasn’t been terminated, but was informed by the company’s payroll department that they would be withholding commissions, including hers. NBC CT spoke to three current travel agents (including Belair) and two who were terminated.
“The CEO of the company has made it very clear that she is not going to be paying anyone,” Belair told NBC CT. “I would be out of probably $2,000 plus.”
Lauralyn Johnson (LJ), Smart Moms Travel CEO, has responded to NBC CT’s numerous comment requests. However, LJ had been posting on her Instagram about her trip to Italy. It would appear the posts have been deleted.
A terminated employee told NBC CT that It is not possible for travel agents to steal. She said clients book their trips directly with companies like Disney, and then Disney sends the commission payments directly to the travel agency. From that point, Smart Moms Travel distributes commissions to the agents individually.
“This is not OK. This is not how you run an agency and how you treat all of these women that have worked for you and have helped your company become what it is. I mean, we’re a diamond earmarked businessm” Belair told NBC CT.
NBC CT reached out to Disney, Universal Orlando, and Royal Caribbean on Tuesday. Royal Caribbean said it was looking into the matter. Disney has exercised their right to terminate Smart Moms Travel’s Authorised Disney Vacation Planner designation ‘agreement. You can read what a Disney spokesperson told NBC CT below:
“Based on concerns we have received regarding changes to Smart Moms Travel’s business practices, we have exercised our right to terminate our Authorized Disney Vacation Planner designation agree with the agency.”
Disney spokesperson
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H/T NBC Connecticut
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