YTB International, Inc., the self-described provider of Internet-based travel booking services for travel agencies and home-based independent representatives, named Robert Van Patten as president and CEO, effective immediately. At the same time J. Lloyd “Coach” Tomer has resigned as a director and as chairman, which the company said would allow him to focus on mentoring the sales force through his “Coach’s Corner” while increasing his efforts to the company's philanthropic division, Passport to Giving. Scott Tomer, current CEO of YTB Marketing and Lloyd Tomer’s son, has been named chairman.

“When we founded YTB we knew it would become a successful company," Lloyd Tomer said. “But success demanded more of our time be spent on corporate matters and less on our valued reps and site owners. Bob Van Patten's contributions and his grasp of our unique business model have proven to me that he is absolutely the right person for role of CEO of YTB International.” YTB over the past year has been charged by the states of California and Illinois with consumer fraud and deceptive marketing practices. It has also been subject to class action lawsuits by former YTB affiliates. But it still produces sales for some travel suppliers, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, though others, such as Royal Caribbean, no longer work with the company.

Van Patten said that on behalf of the board of directors, he thanked Lloyd Tomer for his hard work and dedication to YTB, as a founder and a director since 2004. “Coach had a vision for what this company could represent to hard-working individuals seeking to achieve financial freedom, and I will work tirelessly to maintain and extend this vision,” Van Patten said. "Serving as a consultant to the company over the last six months has been a very rewarding experience for me, and I am happy to be solidifying my position with YTB. During my time as a consultant, I have seen the drive and determination that has made YTB a great company, and that will make it an even better company in the future. Scott has proved a great guide to me over the last two quarters. I am happy that he will be continuing in a leadership role, and is now able to focus his talents exclusively on YTB Marketing, Inc.” For more information about YTB International, visit www.ytb.com.

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