We recently reported on a controversy regarding a nationwide travel agency offering assistance in booking Disney, Universal, and cruise vacations. Due to allegations emerging out of this controversy, Disney terminated its relationship with this agency.
Now, the CEO of Smart Moms Travel has responded to Disney cutting ties with her business and to the allegations from former employees. At Mickey Visit, we report on recent Disney news, including the extension of Extended Evening Hours at Disney World and changes to entertainment lineups at EPCOT. There are now new allegations against the owner of the agency from agents and from a client.
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Smart Moms Travel CEO Responds to Controversy
Smart Moms Travel, a nationwide travel agency, is currently being accused of wrongful termination and withholding commission from former and current employees. Disney terminated their relationship with Smart Moms Travel over the reported issues.
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Disney shared this statement with NBC Connecticut, “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 agreement with the agency” as we reported previously. Now, the owner of the agency is speaking out.
The CEO of Smart Moms Travel, Lauralyn “LJ” Johnson, spoke to NBC Connecticut over Zoom on Friday to respond to allegations from employees, as well as Disney’s decision to sever ties with the company.
Johnson is being accused of wrongful termination and withholding commission from former and current employees, many of whom took to social media to share their stories and spoke with reporters at NBC Connecticut. Shortly after this story broke, Disney terminated its Authorized Disney Vacation Planner designation agreement with the company based on “concerns regarding changes to Smart Moms Travel’s business practices.”
During this interview, Johnson claimed that she is withholding commissions because her former travel agents breached their contracts. Johnson accused her former employees of theft by arranging vacations directly with Disney and excluding Smart Moms Travel from the commission. The agents who spoke to NBC Connecticut denied these allegations. Disney denied these allegations, although Johnson said she never took her concerns directly to Disney.
Johnson admitted to not having evidence of her allegations, stating in the interview, “I do not have proof of this. I believe that my leadership team was working behind the scenes with Disney. I need to hire somebody. I need to have my books examined. But our numbers don’t match, and my reporting staff fled the scene. They resigned.”
The agents tell a different story, sharing with NBC Connecticut that they never resigned and instead were sent termination letters.
Johnson also alleges that top-level management in Smart Moms Travel was paying out more commission money than was owed, stating, “I don’t think any of the team leaders were paying any split to the agency at all. And again, I didn’t see that in writing, but the math makes sense that they’re not doing the splits properly.”
No Solution Coming Soon for Unpaid Travel Agents
In terms of withholding pay from the travel agents of Smart Moms Travel, Johnson stated in the interview that she will continue to withhold payments due to her belief that they violated the non-compete clauses in their contracts. She went on to say, “I have not yet missed a payroll. I do not owe them any money until the end of the month. I do not plan to run that payroll as planned because of legal situations that are happening.”
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NBC Connecticut pushed Johnson for further clarification on her reason for withholding payroll, and she abruptly ended the Zoom call.
Travel agencies booking vacations through companies like Disney, Universal, and cruise lines receive a payment from the company, which they then distribute to their travel agents as a commission.
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NBC Connecticut shared the interview here.
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