Disney cuts ties with Smart Moms Travel – NBC Connecticut

Former and present workers of Smart Moms Travel, a nationwide journey company, are accusing the corporate of wrongful termination and withholding their commissions.

“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 that they are not going to receive, and there was no warning,” Lauren Belair, a Smart Moms Travel agent in Connecticut, mentioned.

Belair has not been terminated, however mentioned she was knowledgeable by the corporate’s payroll division that they might be withholding commissions, together with hers.

Belair is likely one of the three present workers we spoke with, together with two workers who have been fired.

“The CEO of the company has made it very clear that she is not going to be paying anyone,” Belair mentioned. “I would be out of probably $2,000 plus.”

Smart Moms Travel and its CEO, Lauralyn Johnson (LJ), haven’t replied to our a number of requests for remark.

However, LJ posted on Instagram that she took a visit to Italy and wrote in a put up on Wednesday “Day 2 of being in Italy and not in prison for firing people who stole from me.”

A former Smart Moms Travel worker, who was terminated in Nebraska and had earlier administration privileges, advised NBC Connecticut that it isn’t attainable for journey brokers to steal.

She mentioned purchasers guide their holidays straight with firms like Disney, after which Disney sends the fee funds on to the journey company. From there, Smart Moms Travel distributes commissions to particular person brokers.

“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 business,” Belair mentioned.

We reached out to Disney, Universal and Royal Caribbean on Tuesday. Those are among the prime firms Smart Moms Travel brokers booked holidays via.

Royal Caribbean mentioned it’s wanting into the matter. A Disney spokesperson wrote:

“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.”

Disney didn’t specify what these modifications to the corporate have been.

We additionally discovered Smart Moms Travel has an ‘F’ ranking on the Better Business Bureau.