2014 Student Travel Planning Guide

9.95

$

2014 EDITION

How to Plan the Best Youth Trips Negotiating Student Group Flights Choosing A Volunteer Program Provider

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Fundraising Tips ■

Student Travel Security

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Tech Tools for Easy Travel

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Hotel How -To’s A Premier Tourism Marketing publication • www.studenttravelplanningguide.com

VOL. 5 • 2014 EDITION

contents 6

Making Students’ Dreams Come True

28

Editor’s message to travel organizers

8

Tech Tools for Easy Travel

BY

LANCE HARRELL

Tweets, Flickr and mobile apps

10 Best of the Best

BY

BECKY NEEMS

Listing top attractions in America, by category

16 Choosing a Volunteer Program Provider BY

NARELLE WEBBER

Find a reliable organization for your next project

20 Playing the Airfare Game

BY

16

ERIC HOWARD

Advice on getting the best rates for your group

26 Student Travel Security

BY ANDREW

FYDRYSZEWSKI

Professional security firms ensure student safety

International Student Volunteers (ISV)

28 Re-defining Adventure Travel for the Student Group Market BY

MELISSA MCKEE

Expert tips on choosing the right company and destination

32 Hotel How To’s From negotiating group rates to disciplinary guidelines

36 11 Fundraising Tips Smart strategies for raking in the cash

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SPECIAL SECTION Student Groups Love Branson, Missouri Making music in the Ozarks

©iStockphoto.com/gchutka

44 Directory Resources A roster of destinations and businesses that welcome student tour groups ON THE COVER: COSI (Center of Science and Industry), one of America’s top interactive science centers, is a prime attraction in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo Courtesy of COSI) Photo courtesy of G Adventures

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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Randy Mink

Making Students’ Dreams Come True

Vol. 5, No. 1, 2014 Edition

Editorial Office or me, planning the trip is half the fun.

possible trip, features a slew of new arti-

Whether it’s for a group or venturing

cles written by experts in their fields. If

out on my own, I enjoy deciding where to

you’ve always wanted to organize a vol-

go and ferreting out the best deals.

unteer trip, see “Choosing a Volunteer

F

I like weighing the options, collecting

Program Provider” by Narelle Webber of

practical information and just getting in the

International Student Volunteers. G Ad-

mood by reading up on the history and cul-

ventures’ Melissa McKee also inspires us

ture of a place. My goal: an action-packed

to kick it up a notch with her piece on ad-

itinerary where every minute counts.

venture travel opportunities, while Eric

Being on the road, most group leaders

Howard of StudentUniverse navigates the

would agree, is even more rewarding. And

group airfare maze. Lance Harrell, our

the best part is seeing the world through

own director of online operations, offers

the eyes of our students as they experi-

time-saving ideas in “Tech Tools for Easy

ence places they’ve only read about.

Travel.”

Classroom lessons come alive in the U.S.

As Lance reminds us, the Student

Capitol or Tower of London. Everything

Travel Planning Guide is a multi-platform

seems to click as students try out their

resource providing both print and online

fractured French at a Paris crepe stand or

solutions for group planners. On our newly

journey back two millennia on a tour of the

redesigned online portal, you can perform

Roman Forum.

searches for inspirational and practical in-

I’ve had the satisfaction of traveling with

formation based on desired destination

American students in Europe, Africa and

and/or type of supplier (attraction, accom-

the United States − trips where someone

modations, tour operator, dining or trans-

else did the planning. One summer, I led

portation). It can be accessed by tablet or

20 students to the top of Mount Kiliman-

smartphone as well as computer. When

jaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Showing

you join the Student Travel Planning Guide

French and Belgian students the sights of

community you can access trips and plan-

New York, Chicago and other places in the

ning tools online that are unavailable to

eastern half of the U.S. provided insights

non-members, as well as manage all as-

into my own country.

pects of your membership, including print

But I’ve also been at the back end,

and newsletter subscriptions, email notifi-

working for several years in a student

cations and more. Visit studenttravelplan-

travel office that sold flights, rail passes

ningguide.com for full details.

and youth hostel cards. For one educa-

We hope this annual guide, combined

tional tour company that specialized in

with our online resources, will inspire you

Washington, D.C. trips for junior high

to plan the best trip ever. We do appreciate

school groups, I spent my days writing and

your feedback, so let us know how we can

proofing itineraries—and arranging the oc-

help with the homework.

casional hotel pizza party or airport box lunch. Details, details, so many details!

Happy traveling,

This fifth annual Student Travel Planning Guide, aimed at educators and other youth leaders who want to plan the best 6

Student Travel Planning Guide

Randy Mink Managing Editor

621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com

Contributing Writers Andrew Fydryszewski Lance Harrell Eric Howard Melissa McKee Becky Neems Narelle Webber

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

Advertising Sales Office Phone: 630.794.0696 advertising@ptmgroups.com www.ptmgroups.com

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts.

Student Travel Planning Guide (ISSN 2154-4905) is published annually by Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc., 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. Postage paid at Willowbrook, IL and Lebanon Junction, KY. The magazine is distributed free to youth group travel organizers and travel suppliers catering to the market. Single copies for all others is $9.95.

Send Address Change to: Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527

A

publication

All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Tech Tools for Easy Travel

Tweets, Flickr and mobile apps save save time and headaches for the 21st century group travel leader

By Lance Harrell lthough I doubt you are still doing your trip research with books in the library and organizing everything using pencil and paper, everyone has a different level of awareness regarding the technological options available for pretrip planning and on-tour assistance. The following are what we consider to be some of the better solutions available to make your job easier and your student group trip safe and enjoyable for everyone.

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Social Tools You’re very likely familiar with Twitter, but even if you are not, your students definitely are. However, known to fewer is a specialized service Twitter provides that can be very useful to the group travel leader, Group Tweet.

Enabling up to 100,000 contributors to tweet into the same account, you can have all of your students sign up for this service and use it to create your own private Twitter-based message board. Want to send a reminder to everyone that they have 15 minutes to meet in the hotel lobby to catch the bus? Don’t go around knocking on 50 hotel room doors, just post a Tweet to the group. Need to notify everyone of a schedule change that occurred while the students were exploring the city on their free time? Just post a Tweet to the group. Someone left their hat on the bus and you don’t know who it belongs to? Don’t gather everyone together to find out, just post a Tweet and have the student come to you.

Gone are the days of post-trip gatherings where everyone brings their mountains of developed photos and the group combs through them for shots that they missed. However, the desire to share photos remains, and with 50 students on a trip, each with a camera, that means that your group will generate a tremendous number of photos. What is the best way for everyone to benefit from those students who happen to have the quickest hands at the right moment and capture the perfect pictures? There are many photo sharing services online today, but with their recent upgrade to 1 Terabyte of free storage space (that’s 1000GB), their intuitive mobile applications, and the ease with which you can create private photo galleries and share them only with the people you choose, our recommendation goes to Flickr.

Practical Mobile Applications

Apps for mobile devices can be helpful companions on the road and in the trip-planning stages.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

While both Group Tweet and Flickr have a mobile app component, they are social in nature and are designed to be used by the whole group. The following is a list of purely informational mobile apps that will help you as the group travel leader.

Smart Traveler App. The official State Department app for U.S. travelers, Smart Traveler provides you with easy access to studenttravelplanningguide.com

With the Wi-Fi Finder app, travelers can find a nearby internet connection.

address or current location, no matter where in the world you are. The ATM Hunter lets you tailor your search on what you want to do. If you need to make a deposit or want to use your own bank to avoid fees, you can search for your specific bank’s ATMs. If you just need to pick up some cash, you can search for all nearby ATM locations.

The above services and apps are by no means an exhaustive list, with new ones coming out all the time. For more information, visit the Technology section of StudentTravelPlanningGuide.com. ■

frequently updated official information on every country in the world. This includes travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations and more, all of which can be extremely valuable for the international group travel planner in both pre-trip information collection, such as noting visa requirements, and for on-trip information, like how to report a crime to local authorities.

GPS Tracker Pro. Keeping track of one teenager is difficult enough, but doing so for 50 can be a Herculean task. Since you are unlikely to separate students from their smartphones, you might as well use them as a tool to keep track of your group while on tour.

The GPS Tracker Pro app will allow you to form a group of contacts on your phone and then receive real-time information on the location of everyone in that group. Now you can feel more comfortable during your students’ scheduled “free time” and use it to set up check-in times and locations for With no spoken language, Blue Man Group is perfect for people of all when it is time to bring everyone back toages, languages, and cultures. This unique theatrical experience is a gether. form of entertainment like nothing else, guaranteed to be an outing WiFi Finder. Whether you are just travthat your school group will never forget. eling to another part of the United States or to an international destination, being occaNEW YORK BOSTON CHICAGO LAS VEGAS sionally connected to the internet is considORLANDO NATIONAL TOUR ered a requirement for many travelers. This app contains an offline and online directory Appearing exclusively at sea onboard 1.800 BLUEMAN BLUEMAN.COM of WiFi hotspots and even has an active scanning tool that will allow you to find any WiFi signal within the range of your device.

Word Lens. Extremely useful for student groups traveling to international destinations, Word Lens translates printed words from one language to another with your smartphone’s video camera, in real time. No network connection needed. This app can be a lifesaver when the reading language skills of your group aren’t up to the task.

ATM Hunter. This is the fast and easy way for you to locate the closest ATM location. And because the ATM Hunter is location aware, there’s no need to input your

SUCCESS STARTS WITH

Scanrail/Bigstock.com

INSPIRATION

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Student Travel Planning Guide

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BEST OF THE BEST

By Becky Neems or student groups on tour, what’s not to like about visiting a candy factory, being set loose in a mega mall or reveling in your favorite sport at a shrine to the greats? Any of these activities can freshen up a travel itinerary and keep your crew entertained and talking about for months after.

To help teachers looking for ways to spice up their student domestic trips, the editors and writers of Student Travel Planning Guide have compiled lists of top attractions in various categories, from factory tours to shopping malls. We’re not ranking these attractions in any order, but wanted to showcase some of the best ones out there, always with a geographical spread in mind.

We had a good time putting together our “top” lists and hope these quick glimpses will provide both inspiration and fun reading.

Maybe you’ll want to come up with your own “top” lists.

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Top Factory Tours

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Some of the best field trips are to factories where students have an opportunity to see what goes into making a product. Happily for school budgets, many factory tours are free. Of the thousands of factories in the U.S., a few stand out for their tours. Here are 10 winners:

Ben and Jerry’s Waterbury, Vermont Learn about Ben and Jerry’s through a video about the history of the ice cream company, a tour of the production room and sampling the flavor of the day.

Jelly Belly Fairfield, California Students can view the production room, see art made out of jelly beans and receive free samples.

Steinway Long Island City, New York Learn the intricate process it takes to create a Steinway piano, 160 years in the making.

Boeing Mukilteo, Washington Visit the airplane manufacturer’s behind-the-scenes tour, a virtual jet Airplane Design Zone and other exhibits showcasing the complexity of aviation.

The Crayola Factory Easton, Pennsylvania Boasting 120 crayon color names, the Crayola Factory has live demonstrations on how its crayons and markers are made, plus interactive exhibits and crafts; receive a complimentary four-pack of crayons when the experience is over.

Ford Rouge Dearborn, Michigan This factory tour of the car company that started it all includes movies about the history and manufacturing, F-150 models on the assembly line, vehicles in a gallery showcasing the models over the years and plants on the world’s largest living roof.

At the Jelly Belly factory in Northern California, visitors can sample the gourmet jelly beans in familiar and some not-so-common flavors.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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Montgomery, Alabama

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Cooperstown, New York

View the process of making these vehicles while riding in a tour tram through five sections, including the stamping shop, welding shop, paint shop, engine shops and general assembly.

Honoring players and preserving baseball memorabilia with over 40,000 artifacts, this shrine to America’s pastime consists of a museum, Hall of Fame and research library.

Hammond’s Candies

NASCAR Hall of Fame

Denver, Colorado

Charlotte, North Carolina

Visitors get a look at how Hammond’s hard candies – candy canes, lollipops, chocolates and caramels – are made by hand (just as they were in the 1920s).

To cater to every NASCAR enthusiast’s dream, the hall features a video on NASCAR history, a banked ramp modeled after Talladega Superspeedway, a 360-degree Hall of Honor, a collection of artifacts from stock car history and a tour of local racetracks.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing

McIlhenny Company Avery Island, Louisiana Learn the ins and outs of this famous hot sauce by seeing how the sauce is made, learning the degrees of hotness (mild to habanero) and getting free samples and recipes.

Nokona Baseball Glove Factory

International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum Newport, Rhode Island Set in the historic Newport Casino, the museum features artifacts and equipment dating back to the 12th century as well as video highlights of the greatest matches; its 13 tennis courts are open to the public.

Nokona, Texas Learn about the national pastime’s most important accessory by watching the leather selection process and the cutting, stamping, embroidery, stitching and lacing it takes to make each glove unique.

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Top Sports Halls of Fame

In a culture where athletes are idolized like heroes and celebrities, it’s only appropriate that every major sport have its own hall of fame. Exceptional athletes are honored and immortalized in museums that showcase the history of the sport. Following are some of the nation’s best halls of fame for student groups to visit:

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield, Massachusetts Interactive exhibits, skills challenges, clinics, shooting contests, decades of basketball history and special events await fans.

Hockey Hall of Fame Eveleth, Minnesota The “Capital of American Hockey” includes the Wall of Fame, famous artifacts, antique equipment, the Herb Brooks exhibit, an art section and the world’s largest hockey stick at 10,000 pounds.

International Swimming Hall of Fame Fort Lauderdale, Florida This museum contains the world’s largest collection of aquatic memorabilia, including Olympic medals and uniforms, honoring athletes in competitive outdoor and indoor swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming, as well as lifeguards and U.S. presidents who swam.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton, Ohio This football heaven features the Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery, which shows video kiosks from every Super Bowl, and the Super Bowl Theater, which highlights footage from the most recent Super Bowl, as well as seasonal exhibits honoring famous NFL players.

Student Travel Planning Guide

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St. Paul Minnesota Take a tour focusing on art, architecture, women’s history and the Civil War, admire hand-painted ceilings depicting Minnesota agriculture and eat in the Rathskeller Cafeteria, designed to resemble a German dining hall.

Austin Texas Second in size only to our nation’s capitol, Austin’s “sunset granite” state house offers beautiful views from atop its dome, plus monuments scattered throughout its 22 acres, including heroes of the Alamo, volunteer firemen and Confederate soldiers.

Frankfort Kentucky NCAA Hall of Champions This hall recognizes athletes who excelled in college sports, including those who went on to the Olympics or professional play.

The marble interior includes art glass skylights in the rotunda, statues of famous Kentuckians and oil-painted lunettes above each staircase. The 34-foot-wide floral clock behind the building contains more than 10,000 plants.

National Track and Field Hall of Fame

Hartford Connecticut

Washington Heights, New York

Near Bushnell Park, this capitol was designed by a cathedral architect in a Victorian Gothic style. It’s made of Connecticut marble and Rhode Island granite with a gold dome featuring stained-glass windows and historical memorabilia inside.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Honoring marathon runners and professional athletes alike, the hall features several floors of galleries, an atrium, the Fred Levow Marathon Hall, a 40-foot glass Wall of Fame and an arena where some of the world’s largest collegiate and high school events are held.

U. S. Soccer Hall of Fame West End, New York

Gothic spires and a gold-leaf dome distinguish the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford. Tours are available on weekdays.

This hall honors over 300 inductees and displays thousands of artifacts, including the world’s oldest soccer ball.

3

Top State Capitol Buildings

In capital cities across the country, state capitol tours provide student groups an ideal orientation to state history and government. Many buildings, though large and beautiful, look pretty much the same. But these 10 capitols stand out for their architecture, art or unique memorabilia:

Denver Colorado This Mile High City landmark has an observation deck on its gold dome looking over the Rocky Mountains and beautiful visuals inside, including murals, a gallery of oil portraits, a hall of fame depicted in stained-glass and bronze elevator doors portraying the history of Colorado.

Des Moines Iowa This 1886 capitol contains a glass floor on the first level, a gold dome, a grand staircase and ornate chandeliers in two of its chambers as well as doll replicas of each governor’s wife, battle flags from the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I, and a model of the battleship USS Iowa.

Boston Massachusetts One of America’s oldest capitol buildings has art depicting the state’s past, including portraits of Massachusetts governors, statues around the grounds, Nurses Hall, Hall of Flags, state seals on stained glass and a large golden dome.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

Charleston West Virginia Designed by Cass Gilbert, the architect who designed one of the first skyscrapers, this capitol’s dome is five feet higher than the U.S. Capitol’s and is gilded in 23.5-carat gold leaf. studenttravelplanningguide.com

King of Prussia Mall King of Prussia, Pennsylvania With shops not found elsewhere in the area, the King of Prussia Mall features comfortable seating areas, Wi-Fi access, no tax on clothing or shoes and a group welcome package, which contains the latest coupons and discounts for each member.

Westfield San Francisco Centre San Francisco, California

Albany New York The style is a mix of Italian Renaissance, Romanesque and French Renaissance with three indoor staircases intricately carved from different types of stone.

Madison Wisconsin Unique attributes include its “X” shape, location on an isthmus and the only granite dome in the U.S.

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Top Shopping Malls

Shopping malls are some of the world’s greatest tour destinations. Whether it’s meant to be educational, for fun or to help students bond, make it a trip that no one in the group will forget. The following malls have plenty of appeal for student groups:

Besides shopping, the mall offers a cinema, seasonal events and personal appearances, and can cater to your group by organizing meet and greets and providing discount booklets.

Woodfield Mall Schaumburg, Illinois As the largest shopping center in the Chicago area, Woodfield Mall has nearly 300 stores and restaurants and a free Signature Meet and Greet service that comes with a mall shopping bag and discount coupons.

Sawgrass Mills Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sawgrass Mills claims to be the #2 tour location in Florida with more than 350 stores, two food courts and an entertainment venue along with complimentary coupon books for group travelers, meet and greets, motorcoach parking, and complimentary meal vouchers for drivers and tour guides.

Destiny U.S.A. Syracuse, New York Destiny U.S.A. offers specialty stores and has entertainment such as bowling at Revolution’s Entertainment, Go-Karts at Pole Position Raceway, an 80-foot canyon on the Canyon Climb Adventure and Opti Golf.

Mall of America Bloomington, Minnesota

Union Station Washington D.C.

The country’s largest shopping and entertainment complex has more than 500 stores and restaurants as well as programs for student performance groups and a physics program at Nickelodeon Universe amusement park.

Originally a train station just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Union Station offers a wide range of shops and a meal voucher program with discounted dining packages to 14 breakfast and over 30 lunch and dinner eateries in the lower-level Stations Food Court.

Potomac Mills Circle Woodbridge, Virginia Virginia’s largest outlet mall offers over 200 stores and a free coupon book for groups of 10 or more as well as a souvenir gift for group leaders and the chance to be a part of “Mills Means More…Music” program and perform at the mall.

Fashion Valley Mall San Diego, California This beautiful outdoor shopping center has 200 stores and restaurants, an 18-screen movie theater and staff members who will meet your group with a mall directory and special offers.

Grapevine Mills Grapevine, Texas This Dallas-area mall contains more than 180 stores, an AMC cinema, Sea Life aquarium and Rainforest Café, and offers a coupon book for groups of 10 or more.

TOP LISTS + For a look at “top” lists in other categories, visit studenttravelplanningguide.com. See our picks for noteworthy attractions, from zoos and aquariums to caverns and water parks.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY FIVE MILES ON ANY ITINERARY. Give your next tour group more memories per gallon. Bring them to a place that makes eyes go wide and mouths grin ear to ear. A destination with more shows. More shopping.

More arts and crafts. More mountain views. And more down-home cooking. A city that offers a wide range of fun for anyone at any age. Welcome to a detour from the ordinary.

A rest stop from monotony. Welcome to The Land of More.

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Choosing A

By Narelle Webber

V

Volunteer In Thailand, International Student Volunteers (ISV) supports a sanctuary for elephants that have been rescued from the tourism and logging industries.

Photos Courtesy International Student Volunteers (ISV)

olunteering overseas is one of the best ways for students to gain an out-of-classroom educational experience while helping others in a positive way. Also known as “service learning,” volunteering abroad is now one of the most popular forms of youth travel as it allows the volunteer to gain a rich cultural experience that backpacking or hotel-hopping simply cannot provide. With more and more schools and colleges requiring students to gain volunteer experience, it is important that you do your research to learn which program provider is right for you.

International Student Volunteers has been running volunteer and adventure programs since 2002. Since then, this USA-based, non-profit organization has given more than 25,000 students a life-changing experience to impact their world though sustainable conservation and community development programs. As ISV’s program director, I offer some pointers for volunteers or group leaders who are looking to explore the exciting world of volunteering abroad and need some help identifying what makes a quality program. Here are some issues to consider:

Safety Your safety should be your provider’s No. 1 priority. You’ll be participating in tasks you may not be trained in, possibly in a foreign-speaking country. You may not have much international travel experience and therefore many questions about vaccinastudenttravelplanningguide.com

Contributing to Sustainable Development You want to make a difference, but to what? It’s a huge effort to fly overseas and volunteer for a cause, so it’s crucial to make a careful choice about what sort of organization to support. With so many needs in the world, a volunteer project should address real issues so that your time and effort is being used where it is most needed. Above and beyond “financial aid,” your service should contribute to a greater cause where the goal is to make a positive impact for people and planet.

Some projects may look exciting (often related to animals), but you should be sure that the project is really making a difference to help our planet. Don’t be afraid to ask your host organization to justify the projects it runs. ISV prides itself on only supporting projects that meet our goals to contribute to sustainable development.

A University of Wisconsin student works with Thai children who have been rescued from child trafficking and abusive families.

Program Provider tions and other safety concerns. And if something unfortunate may happen to you while overseas, such as an illness or injury, can your provider support and guide you? Does the provider just say “safety first,” or does it have the formal procedures and an office providing 24-hour support in your host country to back up what they say?

When we say we want every project to “contribute to sustainable development,” the projects should focus on improving social conditions (i.e. infrastructure development, children’s education programs, conservation research, environmental management). What happens to the project after you leave? What is the management plan? These are wise questions to ask to ensure the longevity of your volunteering efforts.

Check that your provider has:

Volunteer Preparation

■ Thorough pre-departure information related to safety ■ 24/7 office support in the event of an emergency ■ First aid-qualified project staff ■ Emergency response planning ■ Training on tasks, supervision from project organization and daily briefings on safety concerns studenttravelplanningguide.com

What do I need to bring? Do I need vaccinations? What about money or communications in my host country? Are there any cultural issues I should be aware of? Who will meet me when I arrive? Do I get an orientation? When will I get information on my project? These are some of the many questions relating to preparation prior to departure to your host country. A volunteer program provider should be able to answer these Student Travel Planning Guide

17

questions in a timely manner. In addition, upon arrival in your host country and beginning your project experience, you should receive information and training to enable you to comfortably settle in and the tools to effectively and safely participate.

Volunteer Support Many volunteers are traveling to a new destination, possibly to a place where their first language is not well spoken. A volunteer program provider should provide their volunteers with support. This means guidance, and in the worst case scenario, if something does go wrong while overseas (medical, logistical or even a problem with the project itself), the organization ISV runs programs in the Dominican Republic, where most children do not progress past the sixth grade. is there to help you.

Volunteers have built schools and playgrounds.

As a bare-bones requirement, there should always be a 24-hour emergency line while overseas, but the best-practice approach is that a representative should be physically able to assist. ISV has a staffed office in each country in which it operates.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

Site Inspections of Projects You may be surprised to learn that many volunteer service providers offer projects to their customers, but have never actually been to the project locations. How can you be assured that your volunteer program provider really knows what they are offering inside out?

Not only should volunteer experiences be accurately represented on websites and other promotional materials, but program providers’ staff should be able to provide answers to questions based on real experiences. The only way to know for sure what type of volunteer experience is available is to visit it, meet with the host organizations, talk to volunteers, see the accommodations, know how meals will be provided, meet with host families (if applicable), get an indication of free-time activities available and find out how to get to the nearest medical clinic or hospital. Site inspections should be conducted regularly by any volunteer service provider.

Educational Aspects A volunteer experience is not only about giving, but also about learning. Learning can be about personal development such as studenttravelplanningguide.com

learning new skills and working in a challenging new environment. Especially with student volunteering, educating the students about social and environmental issues should be a key objective. At the very least it’s important for volunteers to understand how each project’s activities link to the overall goals of the project, within the context of local, national and international levels.

Your volunteer program provider should help you to understand the “big picture” and learn about the culture as well.

Some programs, such as ISV, have structured discussions and educational objectives; others aim purely for “education through experience.”

change the perspective of the volunteer. The quality, objectives and focus of the program provider can make or break a participant’s attitude towards continuing to volunteer and changing their world. So, it is important to do your research and find a provider that can ensure a meaningful experience. ■ Narelle Webber is program director of International Student Volunteers, based in Yorba Linda, Calif. In 2012 she attained a master’s degree in sustainable development at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. (isvolunteers.org)

Having Fun Volunteering can be hard work and at times demanding and repetitive. Sometimes it can be stressful and challenge you like never before. However, the best programs will also allow you to have fun. Your project should permit you some free time so that you can take advantage of your surroundings, relax and meet the local people. Ask how your volunteer provider incorporates fun into the program through elements like free time, social/cultural activities, engaging leaders and team-building exercises.

In conclusion, volunteer programs not only benefit the receiver of the help, but also greatly

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Playing the

AIRFARE

By Eric Howard ou’re part of a school group or volunteer group that has decided the destination of its next trip. It’s to somewhere exciting, a place you’ve always hoped to go, and for better or worse, you need to fly there. Where to turn, what to do?

The first steps can be the most intimidating. Organizing a flight as a group comes with some great benefits, so let’s start there. A group, by definition, means you have people who want to travel together on the same flights. The airlines consider a group as 10 or more traveling together. With that threshold met, the airlines will give your travelers special consideration. Booking as a group can ease your departure and arrival logistics, as you will all depart and arrive together. In addition to the logistical benefits, you usually guarantee the same price for everyone.

You can generally request group space up to 11 months in advance of today’s date. It is up to you on how to approach this. You can do your homework and research every air-

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Negotiating flights for your student group calls for professional advice and keeping up with the rules and changing landscape of the airline industry

line that flies the route. You then need to find the airline contacts, make the calls, get the quotes and ask the questions (assuming you know what to ask them). Chances are every time you call, you’ll speak to a different representative. If you work with a travel agency, it may have stronger purchasing power or can more effectively negotiate the airfare on your behalf.

Once confirmed, you may be asked to pay a deposit to hold space. At this point, you have not provided anything to your agency or airline other than a commitment that you will use the space down the road. Deposits can range from $50 to $200 per seat, depending on the season and destination. Further down the road, you will approach what airlines call the “utilization date,” usually 90-100 days before departure. Simply put, this is the last day you can cancel or reduce space, without fear of being penalized. While you may have been holding space for some time, you still haven’t provided any passenger names to the airline, giving you plenty of opportunity to keep recruiting group participants.

If you are working directly with the airline, be sure to double check if they charge a “ticketing fee” on top of the contracted group airfare.

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GAME

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Group Pricing

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Now that the utilization date has passed, you might be wondering what happens next. First, a good thing to know about being within the utilization date is that while you have entered a penalty period for reductions and cancellations, the airlines usually build in some flexibility in filling up your group reservation. Many airlines will still allow an additional 10-20% reduction in the space held, without any penalty. For example, if you held 25 seats to begin, you could reduce down to a minimum of 10, outside 90 days, without penalty. At 95 days out, you reduce by five seats and continue to hold a block of 20 seats. Within that 90-day period, the airline gives you an additional allowance on that space held. Most airlines will require 80-90% of the seats held to be utilized.

Another way to think of this is whatever number of seats you hold, you have a cushion of 10-20% of those seats that can remain unfilled by the time passenger names and the balance need to be submitted. In this example, if we held 20 seats, you still only need to utilize 18 of those 20 seats (hence why the airlines call this your “utilization” period).

As you have continued to hold on to your reservation and make adjustments, you still have not submitted any passenger names yet, nor have you paid the balance. Again, this gives you the flexibility for people to sign up, or drop from, your group without too much worry about penalty. Once you approach 35-45 days before departure, it is time to finalize the group, and tickets will be issued. You need to work with your agent, or the airline, to submit all passenger names, dates of birth and passenger gender, as well as take steps to make your final payment of the balance. Submitting passenger information is an extremely important step; you want to double and triple check to make sure the names are as they appear on passenger identification. Ask the agent in advance as to what the policy is regarding name corrections or complete name changes. Every airline has a different policy, and when it comes to total name changes, there can be high fees to make the change.

At 30 days out, the airline or agency will issue tickets. Most tickets today are issued as electronic tickets, where you simply show up at the airport with your identification and have boarding passes issued. When tickets are issued, you should receive some sort of recap or confirmation of the ticketed passenger names and ticket numbers. Your travel agent or airline representative should also continue to work with you to iron out any last-minute questions prior to travel.

This is probably the most confusing part of the group booking process. Everyone wants discounted airfare, but what does this mean? First, using meta-search sites like Kayak.com is a good reference point, but that’s about all. You might find airlines you have never heard of before, or can explore flight times and durations to make you a more educated consumer.

Do not expect that your group of 50 will find the same price available to book for everyone.

An airfare you find on Kayak is for an individual, instant-

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purchase ticket. They are discounted off the full economy fare, but those extreme discounts may be limited in quantity, nonrefundable and come with strict rules. While we bandy about terms like “business class” and “economy,” you need to dive a bit deeper into this. Within economy class, there are over 20 varying levels of price and restrictions, and as you may expect, the lower the airfare, the higher level of restriction placed upon it. Back to our group: An airline wants to operate its flight profitably. No matter the best intentions for which you plan to travel, the airline has one end goal—to make a profit.

To fill the flight, airline sites use a multitude of marketing channels, including discounting the rate off of the full economy rate (again the trade-off to entice you to buy is to lower

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Airlines usually allow 10-20% of the block size to deviate from the itinerary, to depart early or return later than the main group.

Typically they do not allow any rerouting of the ticket. the price and increase the restrictions). These discounted seats may be very limited in nature, and only 5-10% of the total aircraft capacity. You could take the risk to try to outsmart the reservation system, and on that group of 50, you might get 5, 10 or 15 at the same rate and itinerary and then the availability changes rapidly. All of a sudden, you end up paying a lot more for your tickets and struggle to match itineraries.

When you request a group fare, the airline will give you a price that might be similar to that individual ticket, but it may be higher, too. Why, you ask? This is a trade-off to get many of those benefits as outlined previously. You are getting the flexibility to only pay a deposit, reduce down with no penalty, and not provide names or the balance until 35 days before departure. Finally, you are guaranteeing that price is the same, and the itinerary is the same, for everyone in the group. For low-season travel, the airline might throw in one free ticket per specified ratio of ticketed passengers.

Again, using a travel agent may get you better purchasing power, or their expertise might land you better flight times and a more educated process. If you are working directly with the airline, be sure to double check if they charge a “ticketing fee” on top of the contracted group airfare.

Some airlines do not charge this, but many international airlines charge anywhere from $25-$60 additional, per ticket, to issue your e-tickets.

Since so many things with airlines cost extra today, this is another fee to watch out for. studenttravelplanningguide.com

There are a few other things to understand when confirming a group, and your travel agent should be able to answer. First, is the price they are presenting you transparent? US Department of Transportation regulations implemented in 2012 require disclosure of the base fare, all taxes and surcharges, and baggage fees at the time of your airfare quote. They do not require disclosure of other ancillary fees such as excess baggage, onboard meals and airport check-in fees.

It is also important to understand if there is a fuel surcharge associated with your ticket price. When it comes to groups, many airlines will guarantee the base fare only, but they do reserve the right to increase their fuel surcharges. If your group tickets have not been issued, you may be required to pay the additional surcharges. The airlines also reserve the right to implement new or increase existing ancillary fees. Finally, if you are flying to a foreign destination, new taxes may be imposed, or rates of exchange may change. If nothing else, you should include some contingency plans in your budget for unforeseen expenses.

It may be a bit more complicated should someone request to deviate from the group’s itinerary. It is extremely important to understand the terms and conditions of the ticket should any passengers be looking to change their ticket. While the airlines do usually make some consideration for special requests, changes can be limited in nature and may be for an additional

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fee. Airlines usually allow 10-20% of the block size to deviate from the itinerary, to depart early or return later than the main group. Typically they do not allow any rerouting of the ticket. If your group is traveling Houston-Paris, do not expect them to allow anyone to return from Rome.

A Changing Game The economics of group airfares has changed significantly in the past five years. On the positive side, government deregulation such as the 2008 US-EU Open Skies Agreement has meant that there is a larger global network that can be accessed from smaller airports. It is now possible to confirm a group on a single ticket, from Little Rock to Munich, on Lufthansa.

Their joint venture agreement (JV) with United Airlines allows reciprocity on their route networks, baggage transfers and sharing revenue. JV’s are the new normal and here to stay.

Open Skies has also come at a cost. While the industry has been in consolidation mode for some time, Open Skies has led to a flood of mergers and JV’s, most with government approved anti-trust immunity. This has meant less than a handful of airlines are calling the shots on pricing and inventory management on key routes. Flights to Western Europe have boiled down to the three major airline alliances—One World with American and IAG (comprised of British Airways and Iberia Airlines of Spain), Star Alliance with United Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Air Canada and others, and SkyTeam, which

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Other Things to Consider

It is not all doom and gloom, though. As airlines consolidate, it has created some new opportunities for group travelers. Again, the ability to work with airlines outside of their major gateways has led to a broadened global network. The explosive growth of Asian airlines into the United States is also a bright spot. The arrival of Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways has meant new options for U.S.originating travelers at competitive rates to Africa, Central Asia is comprised of Delta, Air France, KLM and Alitalia. Consoliand points eastward. dation continues at a rapid pace with Delta buying a 49% stake The fastest growth segment of global aviation is in Asia, in Virgin Atlantic, and the merger of American Airlines and US with both Asian and North American airlines rapidly expanding Airways, with US Airways dropping Star Alliance to join Amercapacity to support the growth in this market. In addition, ican at One World. changes in aircraft are shaking up the route map. Boeing’s 787-800 has meant that airlines can add new cities to their network with smaller aircraft.

New routes are quickly being added in mid-market cities such as Boston, Denver and San Jose to Toyko on Japan Air, United and ANA, respectively. On the Airbus side of the coin, the Airbus 380-800 has meant that airlines like Emirates, Korean and Singapore Air can increase their seat capacities without changing their schedules. More cities and more seats available have worked to counteract industry consolidation.

Planning to travel by air, as a group, does come with some pros and cons.

If you are the one in charge, the pros should far outweigh the cons. Being able to guarantee the same flight and same price for everyone simply puts that part of your travel planning to rest.

This frees up your time to recruit participants and deal with other logistics such as hotel and ground transportation, with the peace of mind that the airfare is resolved. Be sure to talk to your travel agent about the terms and conditions regarding your group fare carefully. Think creatively, too; be flexible with dates and routing, and don’t Planning a group tour that will please the whole crowd has nev be afraid to try airlines you have never er been so easy. With the largest concentration of wat erparks in the world along with exciting attractions and flexible accommodations, heard of before. ■ Wisconsin Dells is one place eve ryone can agree on.

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As airlines consolidate, it has created some new opportunities for group travelers.

Eric Howard is director of travel services at StudentUniverse and has been with StudentUniverse since 2005. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Isenberg School of Management, with a concentration in tourism management.

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San Francisco Centre, San Francisco’s premier destination for shopping, entertainment, and dining, has launched exciting new services and amenities for group travelers, including pre-paid meal vouchers and historic walking tours.

To the delight of student travel planners, Westfield San Francisco Centre’s Customer Service Ambassadors offer information about the Centre, including shopping and their VIP Passport to Savings program, and assist with information about transportation and nearby attractions, events and activities.

The Ambassadors are also available for complimentary meet and greets for group travelers.

Westfield San Francisco Centre’s VIP Passport to Savings program entitles visitors to hundreds of dollars in savings, special offers and services provided by dozens of participating shops and restaurants.

Vouchers are available online at www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco/tour ism/passport. The vouchers can be presented at Westfield Guest Services, along with out of town identification, in exchange for a VIP Passport to Savings.

The new Pre-Paid Group Meal Voucher Dining Program is a perfect solution for student travel planners looking for a quick meal option for groups on-the-go. The program features a variety of hot and cold, fresh, California foods offered by the renowned Bristol Farms Gourmet Market. A complimentary meal voucher for the bus driver or tour guide is included in the program.

Student groups will also appreciate a brand new walking tour, celebrating this historic San Francisco treasure and its contemporary transformation.

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Mercantile Building in the World” to its modern day position as the premier West Coast location for shopping, Westfield San Francisco Centre has a vibrant tale to tell.

Students will learn about the Centre’s significant architectural features including spiral escalators, the original 1896 Beaux Arts façade and its 102 foot-wide glass dome.

For information about purchasing Meal Vouchers or Historic Walking Tours contact SanFrancisco@Westfield.com.

Located in the heart of San Francisco near Union Square, Westfield San Francisco Centre is home to Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and over 200 shops, restaurants, cafes, and Century Theatres. ■

Student Travel Security

By Andrew Fydryszewski he student travel sector has grown exponentially over the past decade, with millions of middle school and high school students traveling to hundreds of destinations in the United States and throughout the world. The focus on security has dramatically changed during this period.

For years, parents and teachers would travel with the students—bands, sports teams and religious groups—and stay up overnight to oversee the groups while the students were in their rooms. However, due to a variety circumstances, this practice has dramatically changed.

The student travel industry is becoming more focused on safety and security than in the past. Hotel safety is critical, but overall security is a necessary component of the traveling school or band group. Professional security companies consult with travel companies and school districts on a complete line of security services. These include emergency duress and panic alarms tied to GPS and Wi-Fi. Live systems ensure that the security officers are on site and report in hourly during overnight hours.

Also, site surveys of hotels, surveys of travel venues, and points of interest, pre-trip, have allowed schools and student travel companies to plan their itineraries. Large groups require consultation with local and state law enforcement ofProfessional security officers keep an overnight vigil while students rest and relax in their hotel rooms.

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Security companies work to ensure safety for school groups in hotels and other venues ficials to review emergency procedures, crowd control issues and transportation security. And when there are larger groups (think 10,000 or more) in a single venue, the venue managers, security directors, local and national security operations teams and law enforcement meet to review, approve and ensure the security plans. This is extremely necessary in today’s environment. There also are instances where students need to return home due to an emergency, and they are escorted by security professionals through airport security and returned to the city or country of origin.

Licensed Security Personnel

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In conjunction with changing state security laws and insurance requirements of both the schools and hotels, licensed, trained and bonded security officers currently operate in thousands of hotels nationwide to ensure student safety and security. The security officers are licensed by their respective states, and have criminal background checks and fingerprints in the state licensing and police databases. These are constantly updated by local law enforcement authorities. Security officers carry the state-issued licenses, and these are prominently displayed along with a company-issued ID. 26

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Travel security procedures are now the norm, not the exception. Prior to planning student travel, schools and student travel companies consult and contract with security firms such as McRoberts Travel Security to review the group’s travel schedule. Once the hotel has been determined, a variety of steps is undertaken for the safety process to begin.

for security professionals to be a partner with travel companies has become imperative. Safety is a priority when students are away from home, and the key element is the responsiveness, planning and cooperation of licensed security firms to ensure the safety and well-being of students during their trips. ■

Setting a Plan of Action

Andrew Fydryszewski is the senior vice president of McRoberts Travel Security of New York City. (mcroberts Management personnel meet with hotel security directors travelsecurity.com) and general managers to review a host of procedures. A floor plan of the hotel is provided with all access and egress points for the security officers and their supervisors to review. Property evacuation plans are reviewed, as well as any potential situations where a medical emergency may arise. Part of the process also revolves around how many students will be traveling and where they will be placed within the hotel. Once that is determined, the number Ace your next Don’t miss a of security officers utilized is set. The hours destination with step with of coverage are determined by the arrival in-depth Site InSpection planning tools, times of the tours.

Once the hotel details and times are dereports on over including an termined, security personnel are then briefed interactive copy of worldwide destinations on the facility where they will provide security. They are provided with the names of the this guide you can and sample tour/group leader and their contact informashare with colleagues itineraries tion. Tours are reconfirmed by the national operations centers to ensure that they are ar(no baggage fees) (plagiarism encouraged) riving at the correct hotel and at the designated times. The type of uniform worn by the FREE REGISTRATION FREE REGISTRATION security officer is also determined at this time.

AT THE ALL- NEW AT THE ALL- NEW All reporting procedures are reviewed by seStudentTravelPlanningGuide.com StudentTravelPlanningGuide.com curity supervision and management and then provided to the security officers.

Once on site for the arrival of the student groups, the security officers check in with the national operations center, as well as with the hotel security departments. They review any potential changes to the schedule, as well as hotel procedures, to ensure that all safety and security issues are addressed. In addition, the officers check in with the tour and group leader to ensure rooming lists and any issues that the tour leaders have.

The hours of coverage vary and usually run from six to eight hours per group. Security officers patrol the floors and provide written reports to the tour leader and travel company or school group.

The future of student and group travel will continue to focus even more on the safety and security aspect of these trips. The need

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By Melissa McKee he greatest thing about the word “adventure” is that it means different things to different people. To some it’s about exhilarating, high-speed thrills like rafting the rapids in Colorado or bungee jumping off a bridge in New Zealand. To someone else, it means active exploration, cultural immersion, embracing the unexpected, escaping the well-trodden path and creating true, lifelong

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connections with people and places. Adventure travel is not synonymous with physical activity; it can simply be about doing things that stretch your limits and perhaps your comfort zone.

Student group travel planners must consider all of these definitions when choosing not only a company to work with but also a destination to visit. Here are some factors to keep in mind in planning your next group travel adventure:

Re-defining

Adventure Travel for the Student Group Market

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Be Flexible

Hiking in the jungles of Peru and marveling at wildlife on the plains of Tanzania (left) provide long-lasting memories for G Adventures participants.

Even though your group may have common specific interests such as archaeology, wildlife or cycling, everyone wants something different out of their vacation. One cookiecutter experience is not going to make the grade. While some companies stifle their traveler’s innate curiosity by keeping them inside the tourist bubble—“Go here, eat here, look at this” —others offer freedom and independence. Ask if the trip will include the must-see highlights but also include free time for your students to explore on their own. That will help ensure that individual interests and needs are accommodated.

Connect With Your Suppliers

Size Matters

Do some research on companies that offer adventure trips for groups and be prepared to answer questions about your groups’ members. Questions like what is the average age of your group members, is there one predominant gender, how active do they want to be, does the group have a specific affinity like biking, photography or culinary interests. Do they want to take it easy at the beach or work up a sweat cycling through the mountains? Adventure travel companies are staffed by individuals who have experienced the trips they are selling; they should be able to offer suggestions on destinations that would appeal to your group. Steer clear of travel companies that are overly eager to sign you up. It is important that you feel comfortable with your choice.

Some companies restrict private departures to 20 passengers or more, but look for those that will arrange a trip for a group as small as eight but can accommodate more.

Not only will the small size make it easier for you to fill a departure with your private group, the experience overall will feel more intimate. Also, a small group allows the adventure travel company to design group-specific inclusions that groups with larger numbers can’t manage. G Adventures’ “Deluxe Galapagos” itinerary, for example, is capped at 16 passengers aboard the company’s own luxury catamaran, which has just seven cabins and one suite. The smaller size

Photos courtesy of G Adventures

Style to Profile Some destinations naturally lend themselves better to active exploration while others are geared towards travelers eager to meet the people and experience the cultural attractions of an area. Determining who your group members are and what they’re interested in doing is vital to matching them with the proper trip style.

Working with a tour operator that offers a variety of trip styles gives student group travel planners the best chance of finding a trip that appeals to a wide range of members. Whether your group is composed of active thrill-seekers or curious learners, having the choice of trip styles helps narrow the choices. In addition, working with companies that can provide various service levels, from camping to comfort, allow you to budget the trip cost, and physical demand ratings, from easy to challenging, can help further define your trip choice. For example, G Adventures, a small-group adventure travel pioneer, rates its trips by style in eight categories, from active to G-Plus comfort. studenttravelplanningguide.com

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Ziplining through the Costa Rican jungle delivers heart-pounding thrills.

Before hiking the Inca Trail, students visit villagers in Peru’s Sacred Valley.

of the vessel allows for access to less-visited bays and sites in the archipelago. Your group gets to fully immerse itself in the surroundings without feeling like part of a herd.

In the end, adventure travel is about learning, sharing and exploring. By dispelling some of the myths surrounding what adventure travel is, groups are increasingly embracing the idea of a small group travel experience, a life-changing adventure that they won’t soon forget. ■

Melissa McKee is the marketing and public relations specialist for Toronto-based small group adventure travel pioneer, G Adventures. Their trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travelers on a first-name basis with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife. Based in the company’s U.S. office, Melissa recently made a trek to Machu Picchu in Peru. G Adventures offers a wide selection of small group tours, safaris and expeditions to more than 100 countries on all continents. (gadventures.com)

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nyone who’s ever been involved in organizing a student trip knows that these adventures don’t just happen—they take hours and hours of planning. Keeping up with all the details can be overwhelming.

Since hotels make up a disproportionately large share of the trip price, landing a good hotel at the best rates is a top priority with any group planner. Drawing on the expertise of trip leaders and tour operators, our editors have compiled a compendium of pithy tips for navigating the choppy seas of hotel planning.

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Negotiating with Hotels If you are not working with a tour operator, you will need to negotiate directly with the hotel sales department to get the best deal for your group. You’ll rest more comfortably by following these tips:

■ Be prepared to provide the sales department with the approximate number of sleeping rooms needed, the types of rooms needed, and the dates you want ■ Book early to ensure your preferred dates and save money, and avoid national holidays unless your trip is based around it ■ Find out if there are certain dates and times when rates are the lowest ■ Ask if free breakfast is included and whether it is continental, buffet or a full hot breakfast ■ Inquire about the hotel’s comp policy—free rooms provided for every so many reservations ■ Determine if the room rate includes all taxes, tips and hotel/resort fees ■ Ask about free meeting/party rooms and welcome receptions

Hotel How To’s Do your homework and follow these negotiating tactics and your group will sleep easy

Hotel accommodations are a major item in any student trip budget.

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■ Find out if there is free internet access

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■ Inquire if the hotel has been used by other student groups ■ What special perks are available for student groups? Be prepared with a wish list of extra benefits you would like to be provided for your group—you may be surprised what you can get just by asking ■ Don’t select a hotel just because it offers the lowest price—quality may be compromised ■ Use technology to your advantage; websites like grouptravel.hotelplanner.com allow you to post your group request and multiple hotels will bid on your business

In negotiating with a hotel sales office, be sure to get everything in writing.

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you know the following: ■ Be aware of the last day to cancel without losing money ■ Know the deposit and final payment date ■ Find out if the hotel has an attrition clause on unused rooms ■ Get everything in writing, from total price to number of rooms to the smallest promised service ■ Research the safety of the neighborhood where the hotel is located using websites like spotcrime.com ■ Investigate the distance from the central city or major attractions using sites like Walkscore.com ■ Inquire about the hotel’s security program (see article on hotel security on page 26) ■ Inquire about airport/mall transportation – if you have long days on the bus, this will help out the driver immensely studenttravelplanningguide.com

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A hotel stay can be fun for students, but they must be given rules to follow.

Hotel Disciplinary Matters

On the Camden, NJ Waterfront

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Kids can act up and get into trouble, especially during down time at the hotel after a long day of sightseeing. It probably won’t happen in your group, but here are some guidelines to follow just in case: ■ Create an instruction handout for students detailing all expectations including curfew, free time, alcohol/drug policies, etc ■ Conduct a brief meeting that re-emphasizes appropriate hotel behavior and inform students of the possible consequences if they do not follow rules ■ Make sure each student has a hotel business card in case they get lost (most common excuse for those who broke curfew!)

■ Announce where the daily itinerary will be posted in the hotel lobby ■ Advise against using hotel telephone service ■ Make sure all mini bars that cannot be locked are divested of alcohol ■ Enforce the rules! If students realize that their actions will not be followed with consequences, they may attempt to see how far they can bend the rules studenttravelplanningguide.com

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11 TIPS FOR TA PPING INTO

FUNDRAISING F

undraising can be fun, but it can also be a total chore. It can make you feel utterly exhilarated as you edge toward your goal, or

it can make you feel constantly behind the clock and harried. Make no mistake, however. Fundraising is absolutely what you make it, so make every effort not to make it hard on yourself.

Here are 11 top tips that’ll ensure you rock your fundraising efforts and quickly get to where you want to go:

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Everyone is guilty of procrastination at some point or another, but when it comes to fundraising, leaving things to the last minute just won’t cut it. Plan early, way early. The entire process will instantly feel more fun and effortless because you’ve preemptively taken some pressure off. This will give you much-needed time to get your Google on, in order to research fundraising ideas, tips and checklists. Search for testimonials of things others have done to raise money, and take note of any obstacles that might’ve come up for them. Knowledge is power. Arm yourself with it early and you’ll get your worm.

free shipping, or better yet, one that requires no payment up front. There’s simply no reason to buy what you don’t need.

6. Help Yourself

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1. Be an Early Bird

7. Flex Your Popularity Muscles

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2. Set a Goal Sounds like an obvious thing to say, but you might be surprised how many people start their fundraising without first figuring out exactly how much money they need. Take some time and make your tally, factoring in some extra for unforeseen incidentals and for peace of mind. Publicize your goal proudly to potential supporters. It will give them a frame of reference as far as how much to give, and they’ll feel more confident giving when you appear entirely confident about your needs.

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Sure, it’s a given that Mom, Dad and the grandparents will be your most avid supporters, but what about your aunts and uncles? Your neighbors, your teachers, your friend’s parents or even your brother’s basketball buddies? Now is the time to get out there and get schmoozy. The more people you reach out to, the better chance you’ll have at raising the funds you need.

8. Keep in Contact

3. Break it Down Break your total fundraising goal into digestible, equal portions over time. While $2,000 all at once may feel like a lot, shooting for $500 a month over the next four months doesn’t feel quite so daunting, does it? Meeting mini-goals along the way will also highlight your progress and give the motivation you need to keep moving forward.

We’re huge advocates of calling on the talents and pull of friends and family to help you along your way, but there’s still nothing like drawing on your own unique talents to bolster your fundraising efforts. Are you a Photoshop whiz? Are you handy with video editing or a palette of paints? Call upon the strengths you already possess to create compelling collateral to promote your campaign.

Your early supporters jumped on board because they care, so be sure to keep them in the loop on your progress. Did you have a particularly good day fundraising?

Share the news! Did someone do something especially generous? Name names! Fundraising isn’t just about asking people for help, it’s about making them feel appreciated and a part of something meaningful.

9. Make it Routine

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Even if math was always one of your favorite subjects, it’s never easy work to create and adhere to a detailed budget. If you have plans to orchestrate an event to raise your funds (say a car wash or auction), or if you plan to perform some services for cash (think house painting or landscaping), you’ll want to ensure every purchase you make for the tools and supplies stays within your financial limits. You’ll have to promote your events and/or services too, so don’t forget to include those costs. Finally, immediately subtract any little surprises that come up along the way, so that you always know exactly where you stand financially.

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5. Pinch Those Pennies On a similar note, be sure to stay on the alert for stray, additional expenses that have the tendency to get tacked on where you least expect them. When sourcing out fundraising products, for example, look for those that come with studenttravelplanningguide.com

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4. Budget, Budget, Budget

Set aside time every day – whatever time you feel most productive – to further your fundraiser. Whether it’s sending another round of emails, writing thank you notes to those who’ve already contributed, or updating friends on your progress through Facebook. Keep your cause fresh and alive by making it a daily priority.

10. Get Friendly with Facebook Hands down, there is no better online tool out there to spread the word to literally thousands of friends—and friends of friends—in one fell swoop. This doesn’t mean, of course, that you should inundate your pals with nothing but fundraiser talk. Three to four times per week should be plenty to fill them in on how you’re doing. Give props to the people who support you as you go, and express gratitude and positivity at every turn. Post photos and videos to capture attention. Consider using notes to broadcast major milestones. As you know, even a few shares can go a long, long way in terms of visibility.

Student Travel Planning Guide

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11. Go All Out Online Consider registering with a free online fundraising platform like My.Fundraising.com. Whether running it alone or in conjunction with other fundraising initiatives, you’ll have a customizable, virtual storefront that makes literally hundreds of items available to your supporters around the clock— from chocolate and magazines, to “wow-factor” goods such as exclusive jewelry and gourmet food. Human touches like photo galleries and customizable email templates bolster the impact of your fundraiser, while sales and other campaign insights can be tracked through a dashboard or Campaign Manager. You’ll keep as much as 40% profit of all sales, and a profit check will be mailed to you monthly. All items are shipped direct to your supporters nationwide. Easy peasy! ■ These fundraising tips are courtesy Fundraising.com, a Great American Opportunities company. Since 1995, Fundraising.com, alongside site company eFund raising.com, has helped thousands of schools, sports teams and non-profit groups raise millions for their causes.

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STUDENT GROUPS LOVE BRANSON, MISSOURI

Branson

Student Travel

Now and in the

Student groups in Branson can entertain and be entertained at Silver Dollar City theme park and the Hughes Brothers show.

Future

By Carol S. Harris hen music directors and other youth leaders speak, the Branson community listens. This strategy has built Branson into the fastest-growing youth and student performance destination in America.

“This year, more than 60,000 students came to Branson between March and May,” said Lenni Neimeyer, CTIS, CSTP and director of leisure group sales for the Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, who created an annual FAM tour just for music directors seven years ago.

More than 40 band, choral and show choir directors and their guests, representing 20 schools nationwide, were introduced to Branson, Mo., during the chamber’s Seventh Annual Music Director FAM Tour June 18-21, 2013. Neimeyer has found the annual FAM is a prime way to connect music

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directors with local theater venues, attractions, lodging and restaurants.

One key to drawing student groups to Branson is the customized programs offered by area theaters and other attractions, said Timothy Haygood, general manager of Haygood Productions. The family-owned theatrical company is one of the largest in Branson, operating two theaters, employing 140 people and hosting 26 different shows with 200 performances a year.

Haygood said the theaters have worked with dance and choir groups, as well as a 70-piece full marching band. The groups get individual instruction in technical and lighting aspects of the show in addition to performance pointers. “We bend over backwards for the students,” Haygood said. “We

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STUDENT GROUPS LOVE BRANSON, MISSOURI

SYTA Chooses Branson for 2015 Conference

give the students real world experience.”

Haygood thinks the community has finally dispelled the notion that Branson is only a destination for grandmothers who he Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) will host its come to hear country music. Jason Hughes, director, chore2015 annual conference in Branson, Mo., for the first time, givographer and producer of the show “it,” would agree. Both he ing 900-plus attendees a chance to see Branson as a student and Haygood have younger family members in their shows and youth tour destination. and students find it easier to relate to them.

“It ranks in the top destinations for student travelers,” said Carylann Assante, CAE, executive director of SYTA. “Many of the memHughes said he will add a new element to the student perbers have never been to Branson. We anticipate a large attendance formances at his family show in 2014. The performers will use here. They will be mixing business and pleasure at the same time.”

15 minutes of their own material and then work together with Assante said the SYTA convention attendees will include profesHughes’ performers on a special selection. The “it” members sionals who work in student travel: student tour operators, group edwill play for the performers and work with them on lights and ucational travel companies and suppliers who work with them. sound. “They will have hands-on experience and learn how The conference will provide member opportunities for networkwe do it,” Hughes said. “We love the association with young ing, meeting face-to-face to develop business relationships and time people and want to mentor those who want to go into the to buy services, said Lenni Neimeyer, CTIS, CSTP and director of music business.” leisure group sales for the Branson/Lakes Area ConvenBranson’s many theaters are not the tion and Visitors Bureau. only venues where students can perform.

“I’m excited that Branson will host the conference in For instance, the Titanic Museum attraction 2015 because it will open the eyes of student operators to what Branson offers in the areas of performance, educais popular with student performance groups tion, leisure and sports,” Neimeyer said. “We’ve been bidin band, choir and orchestra, but it’s even ding on the conference for the last seven years. We want better known for its educational offerings.

SYTA members to know how much we value them.”

For the first time in 2014, students can see Toronto, Ont., will host the 2014 SYTA conference, a tribute to the eight heroic musicians and past conventions have been in New York, Los Angeaboard Titanic. The ship had two bands, les and Nashville. The Branson conference will be Aug. the “saloon orchestra” of five men and the 27-31, 2015, at the Branson Convention Center. ■ “deck band” of three men. Neither the quintet nor the trio had played together before A top priority for music directors and chaperboarding Titanic, and three of the musiones is secure, safe accommodations for their cians had never before been to sea. StuStudents experience an adrenaline dents will learn about their gallantry and rush at Branson Zipline Canopy Tours. students. “One of the things we are seeing that is important is indoor corridors,” said Cindy spirits of courage, duty and self-sacrifice.

Thomas, CTIS, CSTP and group sales manager of Hiltons of Multiple venues for performance can be found at the area’s Branson. “Another is meal tickets. A hot breakfast at the hotel largest attraction, Silver Dollar City. The park also hosts speis important to the parents.” Motorcoach parking, elevators, cific musical events in the spring and summer, including the security and easy walking distance to other activities are adBluegrass and BBQ Festival and Southern Gospel Picnic. Acditional must-haves. cording to Teina Woodburn, group sales manager for Silver Affordability is a prominent part of the Branson experience, Dollar City, the on-site Marvel Cave brings an educational elboth in accommodations and attractions. In comparison to ement to the student group’s visit. And just for fun, young peoother areas of the country, Thomas said, “The students here ple can get their adrenaline rushes on the $10-million Outlaw can take in two shows instead of one.”

Run wooden coaster, which opened in 2013. The coaster Thomas said area businesses are banking on students to claims to be the world’s steepest and second fastest, turning come back with their families someday. She said, “They are riders upside down three times. going to remember us as a destination. That is the best testiFlying above the treetops can also be educational for youth mony of all.” groups visiting the area. Branson Zipline Canopy Tours proFOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Neimeyer added, “We know as vides an eco-adventure, as well as a history lesson, said Wes Lenni Neimeyer, CTIS, CSTP the group travel industry evolves Stoner, sales manager. Youth learn about the nature preserve Director, Leisure Group Sales that student and youth groups will and horticulture of the area and about the Wolfe family, a minBranson Area CVB P.O. Box 1897 grow as an important niche market ing family who once settled on the zipline acreage. “It becomes Branson, MO 65615 for Branson. We will continue more of an excursion than a carnival ride,” Stoner said. The Phone: 417-334-4084 Toll-Free: 800-296-0463 reaching out to them to come to attraction takes into consideration visitors who don’t like Fax: 417-337-5887 Branson to enjoy all that we have heights, and offers a guided hike, pointing out the natural habiEmail: LNeimeyer@BransonCVB.com to offer them now and in the future.” tat in the area.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art 2301 North Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 602-252-8848 dkrol@heard.org www.heard.org The Heard Museum is one of the finest centers of Native American art, including world-class exhibit galleries, gardens, gift shop & cafe.

We accommodate groups from 10-60 for a variety of student group travel tours, packages & customized experiences.

Bay Point Wyndham Resort 4114 Jan Cooley Drive Panama City Beach, FL 800-874-7105 sales-ecpwr@wyndham.com www.baypointwyndham.com One thousand acres have been set aside for watersports, coastal cuisine and northwest Florida’s only Nicklaus golf course. With views overlooking St. Andrews Bay and wildlife preserves Wyndham Resort is a great choice for your group.

Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker St. Atlanta, GA 404-581-4189 sdollacker@georgiaaquarium.org www.georgiaaquarium.org The Aquarium’s Education Department strives to make the educational experience an extension of the classroom. The Georgia Aquarium educational experience is an opportunity for students to discover the aquatic in an immersive learning environment.

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Underground Atlanta 50 Upper Alabama St. Atlanta, GA 404-523-2311 mmanlove@underatl.com www.underground-atlanta.com Experience it all on the original streets of Atlanta. Over six blocks of shopping, dining, history and entertainment right in the heart of downtown Atlanta.

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Arkansas Dept. of Parks & Tourism 1 Capitol Mall, Suite 4A-900 Little Rock, AR 800-872-1259 grouptravel@arkansas.com www.arkansas.com Arkansas annually attracts student tours from across the nation and abroad. Many are drawn to its abundant opportunities for outdoor adventures and to its natural beauty, as seen in the state’s waterfalls, tour caverns and wild caving experiences.

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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum 40 Presidential Drive Simi Valley, CA 800-410-8354 lisa.doyle@nara.gov www.reaganlibrary.com One of California’s must-see attractions! Guests tour through Air Force One 27000, view an exact replica of the Oval Office, visit President Reagan’s memorial site, and more. Be sure to visit our website to see upcoming special programs & events.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino, CA 626-405-2100 jsandmeier@huntington.org www.huntington.org The Huntington is an oasis of art & culture on 1 20 acres of breathtaking gardens near Pasadena.

Explore art & library treasures, 16 formal gardens and indulge in tea and be guided on exclusive student group tours.

Westfield San Francisco Centre 865 Market St. San Francisco, CA 415-495-5656 www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco Westfield San Francisco Centre offers travelers a variety of special offers, services and amenities.

We hope we can help plan your extraordinary shopping and dining experiences at Westfield and look forward to welcoming you soon.

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Colorado Springs CVB 515 S. Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 800-888-4748, Ext. 129 bettyjo@visitcos.com www.visitcos.com Blue skies, breathtaking settings and epic adventure await you in Colorado Springs. With over 55 attractions and a variety of lodging options, Colorado Springs is the perfect place for hub-and-spoke fun.

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Blue Man Group - Universal Orlando Resort 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, B-110 Orlando, FL 407-224-3849 jo-ann.moltz@universalorlando.com www.blueman.com Bigger. Better. Balder. Blue Man Group now at Universal Orlando Resort.

Broward Center for Performing Arts 201 SW Fifth Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 800-564-9539 ralfonso@browardcenter.org www.browardcenter.org Discover something new to love about the arts.

Try theater, from tragedy to farce. Dance, from ballet to modern. Music, from classical to opera to pop. With performances year-round, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Ron Jon Surf Shop 4151 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach, FL 321-799-8880 grpsales@rjss.com www.ronjons.com Ron Jon Surf Shop’s Cocoa Beach location is the World’s Largest Surf Shop and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Free bus parking and student group discounts available.

Zoo Atlanta 800 Cherokee Ave. SE Atlanta, GA 404-624-9453 education@zooatlanta.org www.zooatlanta.org/educators_lounge Zoo Atlanta offers a wide variety of unique educational experiences for hands-on learning, nature exploration and animal adventures. All programs meet GPS for Pre-K through 12th grade.

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Atlanta CVB 233 Peachtree St., N.E., Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 404-521-6638 tspann@atlanta.net www.atlanta.net With exciting new attractions, a remarkable historic legacy, a thriving cultural scene and affordable fun for all, Atlanta is the perfect destination for the group travel market.

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St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches VCB 29 Old Mission Ave. St. Augustine, FL 800-418-7529 wgraves@getaway4florida.com www.floridashistoriccoast.com St. Augustine features the nation’s first national monument along with 32 buildings and 144 square blocks on the National Register of Historic Places. Florida’s Historic Coast features 42 miles of beaches perfect for year-round vacations.

Navarre Beach/Historic Milton 8543 Navarre Parkway Navarre, FL 800-480-7263 srctdc@mchsi.com www.floridabeachestorivers.com Navarre Beach has miles of sugar white sand, emerald green Gulf water, condos, hotels, golf, restaurants and a convention center perfect for small groups, beach weddings and students.

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Blue Man Group - Briar Street Theatre 3133 N. Halsted Chicago, IL 773-348-3300 chicagogroups@blueman.com www.blueman.com The New York Times calls the critically acclaimed and award-winning Blue Man Group “the most delightful performance piece ever staged.” Groups of 15 or more are eligible for discounts.

Navy Pier 600 E. Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 312-595-5200 groupsales@navypier.com www.navypier.com Your student travel groups can go overboard at Navy Pier, the Midwest’s top visited attraction. Experience 50 acres of rides and attractions, including a 15-story Ferris wheel, IMAX theater, restaurants, shops, sightseeing and dining cruises.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Make Room for the Memories.

An adventure of historic proportion is waiting for your groups—at two living-history museums that explore America’s beginnings. They can board replicas of colonial ships. Grind corn in a Powhatan Indian village. Try on English armor inside a palisaded fort. And join historical interpreters at a Continental (YT` LUJHTWTLU[ MVY H ÄYZ[OHUK SVVR H[ [OL 9L]VS\[PVU»Z LUK ;HRL WHY[ PU guided tours and hands-on programs.

Tell them not to forget their cameras.

Because the history here is life size. And their memories will be even bigger!

1-888-868-7593

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Shoreline Sightseeing 600 E. Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 312-373-7258 ah@shorelinesightseeing.com www.shorelinesightseeing.com See Chicago at its best on a Shoreline Sightseeing Chicago River Architecture Cruise led by a professional, entertaining docent or on a narrated Lake Michigan Skyline Boat Tour showcasing Chicago’s famous skyline. Group rates March - November.

Derby Dinner Playhouse 525 Marriott Drive Clarksville, IN 877-898-8577 groups@derbydinner.com www.derbydinner.com A 500-seat theatre-in-the-round featuring musicals and comedies. Open year-round and offering on-site lodging, group ticket prices, free parking and packages available. Located just three minutes from downtown Louisville.

Iberia Parish CVB 2513 Highway 14 New Iberia, LA 888-942-3742 fran@iberiatravel.com iberiatravel.com Student groups are sure to enjoy famous attractions such as the TABASCO factory, a National Trust for Historic Preservation house museum, tropical garden tours, America’s oldest rice mill all mixed within the Cajun culture you expect when visiting Louisiana.

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continued

Chicago Southland CVB 2304 173rd St. Lansing, IL 888-895-8233 jane@visitchicagosouthland.com www.tourchicagosouthland.com Experience the biggest backyard in the nation for group tours. The Chicago Southland, Chicago’s 62 south and southwest suburbs, is conveniently located 30 minutes from Chicago and offers affordable amenities with free coach parking.

Lake County CVB 5465 West Grand, Suite 100 Gurnee, IL 800-525-3669 maureen@lakecounty.org www.lakecounty.org Lake County is a perfect place for students.

We offer up to 20 themed itineraries depending on your needs, from hidden treasures, culinary, gardens, mansions, military, green initiatives, holiday, spooky and more.

Quad Cities CVB 1601 River Drive Moline, IL 800-747-7800, ext. 100 dgleason@visitquadcities.com www.visitquadcities.com Your student groups can experience the beauty of the historic Mississippi riverfront cities of Davenport & Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island & Moline/East Moline in Illinois. It’s the Midwest at its best.

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Chicago Marriott Southwest in Burr Ridge 1200 Burr Ridge Pkwy.

Burr Ridge, IL 630-568-7846 alan.nicholson@marriott.com www.burrridgehotels.com Come stay at the Chicago Marriott Southwest in Burr Ridge. Huddled between three small lakes in an area known for its beautiful trees, this affluent, boutique-style hotel draws an eclectic variety of classic and contemporary styles.

Days Inn Chicago 644 West Diversey Pkwy.

Chicago, IL 773-525-7010 shrejsa@daysinnchicago.net www.daysinnchicago.net At the Days Inn Chicago, our breathtaking hotel rooms are put together with modern-day convenience and Old World charm. Rooms and accommodations span from singles to executive rooms and suites with extra amenities and comfy living areas.

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Wagon Wheel Theatre 2517 E. Center St. Warsaw, IN 574-269-2323 www.wagonwheeltheatre.org The renowned Wagon Wheel Theatre, one of Indiana’s historic theatres, is famous for its professional theatrical productions and concerts.

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Baymont Inn & Suites 9790 North by Northeast Blvd.

Fishers, IN 317-578-2000 lrowe@dorahg.com www.baymontinns.com While on your Midwest group trip, stay at the Baymont Inn & Suites for relaxation, comfort and all the amenities your group will need.

I O WA ATTRACTIONS

Jefferson CVB 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 411 New Orleans, LA 504-731-7083 leslie@experiencejefferson.com visitjeffersonparish.com A playful neighbor to New Orleans with education and adventure-filled tours for students all year-round, Jefferson is sure to please the whole group. Plenty of historic sites, museums, accommodations and restaurants await you.

Louisiana Travel 1051 N. Third St. #337 Baton Rouge, LA 800-994-8626 mvelasquez@crt.la.gov louisianatravel.com For your Louisiana visit be sure to go online for inspiration via our interactive map feature.

Familiarize yourself with the major cities and geography, explore the diverse culture and start planning your student tour.

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National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library 1400 Inspiration Place SW Cedar Rapids, IA 319-362-8500 marcom@ncsml.org www.ncsml.org Stunning new museum called “maybe the most amazing...museum in America.”

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Iowa Group Travel Association 4122 98th Street Urbandale, IA 641-420-9003 info@iowagrouptravel.org www.iowagrouptravel.org Iowa Group Travel Association - the only statewide organization in Iowa dedicated to group motor coach travel - can help you plan a trip they will never forget, a tour to Iowa. Visit our website for sample itineraries and more.

Waterloo CVB 500 Jefferson St. Waterloo, IA 800-728-8431 lonnie@travelwaterloo.com www.travelwaterloo.com Student group tours will enjoy a trolley tour of John Deere Tractor & Engine Assembly Plants.

Plus, Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Galleria De Paco, Dan Gable Wrestling Museum, AG tours, and historic Church Row.

New Orleans CVB 2020 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 800-748-8695 lholland@neworleanscvb.com www.neworleanscvb.com Indulge your senses and savor New Orleans’ rich cultural experience. Celebrate everything that, even after over 200 years of the greatest achievements and the steepest challenges, still makes New Orleans America’s most unique, authentic destination.

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Montgomery Parks 9500 Brunett Ave. Silver Spring, MD 301-495-2595 info@montgomeryparks.org www.historyintheparks.org Make history come alive. Lead your group on a tour of fascinating historic sites and learn about slavery, the Underground Railroad and life during the Reconstruction Era. Located just outside of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County, MD. National Aquarium 501 E. Pratt St., Pier 3 Baltimore, MD 410-576-3800 kemiller@aqua.org www.aqua.org The National Aquarium is a nonprofit conservation and aquatic education organization with two locations and one mission: to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Europe made Easy! $΍ RUGDEOH *URXS 7UDYHO

t %DWWOHȴ HOG 7RXUV t +LVWRU\ 7RXUV t 5HOLJLRXV +HULWDJH 7RXUV www.TrailwaysEurope.com TrailwaysEurope.com Bus charter service all across Bus charter service all across Europe

Europe

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Blue Man Group - Charles Playhouse 74 Warrenton St. Boston, MA 617-542-6700 bostongroups@blueman.com www.blueman.com The New York Times calls the critically acclaimed and award-winning Blue Man Group “the most delightful performance piece ever staged.” Group of 15 or more save on most performances.

Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, NE 402-471-3744 paula.bohaty@nebraska.gov www.visitnebraska.gov Picture-perfect sunsets. Unique shops and small-town charm. A night at the opera. A day at a world-class zoo. Frontier history amongst striking scenic beauty. Welcome to Nebraska, where a bounty of attractions and activities awaits you and your group.

Adventure Aquarium 1 Riverside Drive Camden, NJ 800-616-5297 groups@adventureaquarium.com www.adventureaquarium.com Immerse your group student trips in our watery world and get ready to experience the life aquatic at the Adventure Aquarium. Now you can get hands-on, up close and more interactive than you ever imagined with these creatures of the sea.

Cape Cod Central Railroad 252 Main St. Hyannis, MA 888-797-7245 mbarry@capetrain.com www.capetrain.com Climb aboard the Cape Cod Central Railroad, where new memories are made on every trip.

Choose a narrated scenic tour with highlights of Cape history and lore, or a delicious culinary journey, prepared on board. We love groups.

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Blue Man Group Las Vegas 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Las Vegas, NV 702-697-1655 coryb@blueman.com www.blueman.com Bigger. Better. Balder. Blue Man Group now at Monte Carlo Resort, Las Vegas. Groups of all shapes and sizes are being thrilled by the nightly party known as Blue man Group.

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Mall of America 60 East Broadway Bloomington, MN 952-883-8843 mphilipp@mallofamerica.com www.mallofamerica.com/visit The nation’s largest retail complex under one roof offers the ultimate shopping experience for your group trips. Boasting more than 520 stores and 60 restaurants, the world’s largest indoor amusement park and a world-class aquarium.

Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay Resort 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 866-353-5625 Diana.Elmore@cirquedusoleil.com www.cirquedusoleil.com/groups Michael Jackson ONE is a sonic, tonic fusion of acrobatics, dance and visuals that takes the audience on an immersive journey through the music and spirit of Michael Jackson.

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Branson/Lakes Area CVB 269 State Hwy. 248 Branson, MO 800-214-3661 lneimeyer@bransoncvb.com www.explorebranson.com The Branson Lakes Area is a bursting hub of live entertainment that offers up an exceptionally well-rounded ensemble of performance, educational and recreational travel experiences for student and youth groups to enjoy together.

Elko Convention & Visitors Authority 700 Moren Way Elko, NV 775-738-4091 tom@elkocva.com www.elkocva.com The majestic Ruby Mountains and the rugged canyon streams will let you discover the unspoiled drama of the West. Pick your season and let us handle the details. Let us assist you with a most memorable student group trip.

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Rolla CVB 1301 Kingshighway Rolla, MO 573-364-3577 aimee@rollachamber.org www.visitrolla.com The middle of everywhere and home to Missouri’s finest rivers. However long you stay, we have something special for your student group tours. We are your gateway to the Ozarks, Branson and the excitement of metropolitan St. Louis.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

The Mount Washington Cog Railway 3168 Base Station Rd. Mount Washington, NH 800-922-8825 sue@thecog.com www.thecog.com Experience Mt. Washington, New England’s highest peak, on the world’s first mountainclimbing cog railway! Since 1869, this National Historic Engineering Landmark has been the vacation highlight of visitors from around the world.

Field Station: Dinosaurs One Dinosaur Way Seacaucus, NJ 973-748-4317 groups@fieldstationdinosaurs.com www.fieldstationdinosaurs.com A thrilling expedition featuring 32 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs.

NEW Y O RK ATTRACTIONS ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

Blue Man Group - Astor Place Theatre 434 Lafayette St. New York, NY 212-260-8993 daniellep@blueman.com www.blueman.com Blue Man Group has updated the wildly popular theatrical show at the Astor Place Theatre. Signature moments combined with cool new stuff make for an outrageous evening of entertainment.

Discovery Times Square 226 West 44th St. New York NY 855-266-5387 dreyes@tsxnyc.com www.discoverytsx.com Discovery Times Square (DTS) is New York City's first large-scale exhibition center presenting visitors with limited-run, educational and immersive exhibit experiences while exploring the world's defining cultures, art, history and events. More than a museum, Discovery Times Square is the destination for discovery through unique and immersive exhibits in New York.

Great Escape Adventures 1430 Broadway, Suite 507 New York, NY 212-235-5270 info@greatescapesadventures.com www.greatescapesadventures.com Great Escape Adventures tour operators have an experienced staff to help bring you a fantastic group trip that your travelers will be talking about for years to come.

Group Sales Box Office/Broadway.com 729 7th Ave, 7th Floor New York, NY 800-276-2392, ext. 2 brogers@broadway.com www.broadway.com/groups Group Sales Box Office/Broadway.com is New York City’s premier theatre ticket agency.

We offer the best group discount pricing to Broadway, Off-Broadway shows, touring productions across the United States, Broadway Classroom workshops, and more. studenttravelplanningguide.com

RIPLEY’S IS KID-TESTED, TEACHER-APPROVED FUN IN THE HEART OF NYC. • Awesome interactive exhibits like a digital head-shrinker and the famous black hole • Amazing feats of math, science, history, art, and culture • Free teaching guides included

Group Adventures Take You Behind The Scenes

• Free scavenger hunts or safari hats • Largest Ripley’s in North America

Wendy Whelan Photo by Henry Leutwyler © 2012

Contact Group Services to Book Now:

212.398.3133 groupsales@ripleysnewyork.com

2013–14 Season FALL 2013 September 17 – October 13 GEORGE BALANCHINE’S THE NUTCRACKER™ November 29 – January 4 Limited Time to Secure Group Priority Seating

WINTER 2014 January 21 – March 2 SPRING 2014 April 29 – June 8 Tickets as Low as $23 for Select Performances (212) 870-4071 groupsales@nycballet.com nycballet.com/groupsales

234 WEST 42ND STREET, NYC RipleysNewYork.com /RipleysNY

@RipleysNYC

NEW YORK

continued

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D I R E C T O R Y

L I S T I N G

National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum 25 Main St. Cooperstown, NY 888-425-5633, ext 64 jdolhun@baseballhalloffame.org www.baseballhall.org Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, where we continue to preserve baseball’s rich history, honor the game’s greatest players and their achievements and connect generations of fans every day.

New York City Ballet David H. Koch Theater New York, NY 212-870-4071 groupsales@nycballet.com www.nycballet.com NYC Ballet, one of the world’s foremost ballet companies, is accompanied by its own orchestra. For repertory seasons, groups enjoy discounts, priority seating, and Group Adventures with a NYCB dancer or musician, with an on-stage view of the theater.

New York Water Taxi & Circle Line Downtown 655 3rd Ave., Suite 1404 New York, NY 646-380-2011 jjacobs@nywt.com www.nywatertaxi.com New York Water Taxi’s Hop-On-Hop-Off feature is the only aquatic ride in New York City that one ticket is all you need to observe some of the city’s best attractions narrated by fun guides.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square 234 W. 42nd St. New York, NY 212-398-3133 beth@ripleysnewyork.com www.ripleysnewyork.com As one of New York City’s most popular attractions, our aim is to inspire creativity, expand cultural understanding, and provide a school field trip experience that is educational, memorable and easy to plan.

DESTINATIONS

TOUR OPERATOR

DESTINATIONS

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Twin America 1430 Broadway, Suite 507 New York, NY 212-812-2700 myron.baer@twinamerica.com www.twinamerica.com The parent company of City Sights NY, Gray Line New York and New York City Experts Guest Services.

Pigeon Forge Dept. of Tourism 1950 Parkway Pigeon Forge, TN 800-285-7557 jmcnealy@mypigeonforge.com www.mypigeonforge.com/group-tours Nestled in the foothills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is one of the top group tour destinations in the United States - the home of Dollywood and 14 great musical variety shows that includes 5 dinner shows.

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Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal 1301 Western Ave. Cincinnati, OH 800-733-2077 vwebster@cincymuseum.org www.cincymuseum.org Prefer a step-on or guided tour? With great discounted pricing and amenities, we can create an experience your group will remember.

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Experience Columbus 277 W. Nationwide Blvd.

Columbus, OH 614-221-6623 mdyer@experiencecolumbus.com www.experiencecolumbus.com It’s time for your groups to experience Columbus. Students will create long-lasting memories when they enjoy one of our many experiential activities.

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Springmaid Beach Resort & Conference Center 3200 S. Ocean Blvd.

Myrtle Beach, SC 843-315-7181 preis@springmaidbeach.com www.springmaidbeach.com Our resort and hotel are on the beach with close proximity to Myrtle Beach State Park; a hit for student travel groups. Find a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle while you enjoy your student travel vacation.

TENNESSEE

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Lake George Area in NY’s Adirondacks 1340 State Route 9 Lake George, NY 800-365-1050 Ext. M201 brandt@warrencountyny.gov www.VisitLakeGeorge.com Be sure to request our free student-friendly brochure and information on activities, dining, events, recreation, guide services & sample itineraries. Four great seasons, one outstanding destination.

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Big Daddy’s Restaurants New York, NY 212-388-0688 infobigdaddys@brandedrestaurants.com www.bigdaddysnyc.com Big Daddy’s knows how to throw a party. With multiple locations, party rooms and amazing food, this will be an event your next group will remember for years to come.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

ATTRACTIONS

TEXA S DESTINATIONS ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

Lewisville CVB 151 W. Church St. Lewisville, TX 972-219-3726 jkunke@cityoflewisville.com www.visitlewisville.com Lewisville is an energetic destination with casual appeal just minutes away from Dallas and Fort Worth, nestled in the heart of North Texas. The historic charm of Old Town features specialty stores, restaurants, outdoor art and events.

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Colonial Williamsburg 101 Visitor Center Drive Williamsburg, VA 800-206-6628 grouptours@cwf.org www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/grouptours For a convenient solution to planning a perfect Colonial Williamsburg student group tour, choose one of our packages. There are plans of many kinds to fit a range of budgets and interests.

Jamestown Settlement & Yorktown Victory Center 2110 Jamestown Rd. Williamsburg, VA 888-868-7593 group.reservations@jyf.virginia.gov www.historyisfun.org History is an adventure at Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center. Experience the story of America’s beginnings from the founding of America’s first permanent English colony in 1607 to the Revolution and the establishment of a new nation.

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DESTINATIONS

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum 222 Fifth Ave. South Nashville, TN 615-416-2001 mhershey@countrymusichalloffame.org www.countrymusichalloffame.com The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a rockin’ student group trip attraction. Let us take you on a journey down country music Memory Lane with Sing Me Back Home, our ever-changing permanent exhibit.

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Grand Ole Opry 2806 Opryland Dr. Nashville, TN 615-871-5043 wchandler@gaylordentertainment.com www.opry.com What began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 is today a live-entertainment phenomenon, showcasing a mix of country legends and contemporary chart-toppers, world famous for creating one-of-a-kind entertainment moments for your student group trips.

Fredericksburg Area Tourism 706 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, VA 866-405-3046 khedelt@fredericksburgva.gov www.visitfred.com The Fredericksburg area blends classic modern life with small town charm. Conveniently located along I-95, between Washington and Richmond.

Bring your student group to Fredericksburg contact us for student travel tips.

Discover Prince William County & Manassas CVB 10611 Balls Ford Rd., Suite 110 Manassas, VA 800-432-1792 wvestfall@visitpwc.com www.visitpwc.com Experience our Southern hospitality as you explore our quaint small towns, enjoy our fantastic shopping, admire our breathtaking scenery, and so much more. You’ll find what you’re looking for in Prince William County.

History Loves Company. studenttravelplanningguide.com

VisitNorfolk 232 E. Main St. Norfolk, VA 800-368-3097 dallen@visitnorfolktoday.com www.visitnorfolktoday.com VisitNorfolk provides itineraries designed for tour operators working with student group tours for educational, performance, class breaks and scouting trips. Request your customized itinerary online at www.visitnorfolktoday.com.

W ASHI N G TO N D . C. ATTRACTIONS

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WI SCO NSI N ATTRACTIONS ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

Harley-Davidson Museum 500 W. Canal St. Milwaukee, WI 877-436-8736 groups@h-dmuseum.com www.h-dmuseum.com More than a nostalgia trip for motorcycle enthusiasts. Explore history and culture through the lens of an iconic American company; two restaurants, shop, factory tours, free parking.

DESTINATIONS

W E ST V I R G IN IA DESTINATIONS

Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau 115 LaCrosse St. Wisconsin Dells, WI 800-223-3557 groups@wisdells.com www.wisdells.com Student group tours of all varieties rave about the diverse attractions and plentiful dining options in Wisconsin Dells, “The Waterpark Capital of the World.”

NATIONAL DIRECTORY LISTING ACCOMMODATIONS

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Extra Holidays by Wyndham 386-846-6901 jerry@s2advertising.com www.extraholidays.com Wherever you decide to spend your next getaway, you’re sure to enjoy the roomy and affordable accommodations of Extra Holidays

by Wyndham. Your holiday will be completed with many convenient amenities.

DINING

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Buffets, Inc - Group Reservations 1020 Discovery Rd. Eagan, MN 800-753-8207 groupsales@buffetsinc.com www.buffet.com/groups Get your student group the best value in dining and the best variety at Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s Grill Buffet and Bakery, HomeTown Buffet, Fire Mountain Grill and Country Buffet. With more than 500 locations nationwide, we’re always on your way.

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CVB of Marion County 2 Mountain Park Drive White Hall, WV 800-834-7365 cvb@marioncvb.com www.marioncvb.com Your groups will love our mystery dinner theaters, country music shows, heritage attractions, fairs and festivals. Explore historic sites, indulge in unique shopping and dining, ride the rail trail or simply take in the beautiful countryside.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Branson Country Tours 1698 Spokane Rd. Spokane, MO 800-841-2376 bctours@aol.com www.bransoncountrytours.com You’ll love our excellent, reliable service and great rates. We’ll arrange your lodging with the amenities you need with the best possible theatre seats.

We have packages available for you to choose from. Customized packages are always welcome.

ElboBus Trailways post@elbobus.nl www.elbotours.com Bus groups love ElboBus.

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NEWSEUM 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 888-639-7386 ljeffries@newseum.org www.newseum.org A 250,000-square-foot museum of news offers student travel groups an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-thesecond technology and hands-on exhibits.

TOUR OPERATORS

Piccadilly Restaurants 3232 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 800-345-5134 groupreservations@piccadilly.com www.piccadilly.com/group_dining Enjoy our wide range of hearty entrees, sides and fresh-baked desserts. Dining at Piccadilly makes everyone happy. This is why it’s the perfect choice for group dining. Drivers and tour coordinators eat free with groups of 20 or more.

International Student Volunteers narelle.webber@isvolunteers.org www.isvolunteers.org ISV’s mission and purpose is to support sustainable development initiatives around the world through life-changing volunteer and responsible adventure travel programs that educate.

Perillo Tours 888-884-8259 groups@perillotours.com www.perillotours.com Perillo’s Learning Journeys Performance Tours and Festivals feature your band or choral group in a variety of performance tours and festivals within Italy, Greece, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, Prague, Russia, Hawaii, Costa Rica, or Australia.

StudentUniverse 617-924-6140 eric@studentuniverse.com www.studentuniverse.com StudentUniverse is the biggest student deals website in the U.S. We were created as a student travel agency and started our service in 2000.

Trailways Corp.

3554 Chain Bridge Rd., Suite 202 Fairfax, VA 877-467-3346 charters@trailways.com www.trailways.com The bus company that you remember and trust.

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McRoberts Travel Security 87 Nassau Street New York, NY 888-800-1160 ask for Andrew Fydryszewski www.mcrobertstravelsecurity.com We are the recognized security leader for the travel industry. We provide customized services designed to meet the travel security requirements of student groups, band groups, senior groups, faith-based organizations, sports teams, and the hospitality industry. McRoberts protects over 120,000 people on 3,500 tours throughout the U.S. annually.

L I S T I N G

Virginia Tourism Corporation 901 E. Byrd St. Richmond, VA 804-545-5500 ctorricelli@virginia.org www.virginia.org/groups Customize an unforgettable experience for your student groups in Virginia, no matter what season. The hospitality of the state for Lovers will make your student group travel experience one of fond memories.

Planet Hollywood Intl/Buca Di Beppo 6052 Turkey Lake Rd., #201 Orlando, FL 407-903-5444 kmontgomery@planethollywoodintl.com www.planethollywood.com Buca serves fresh Italian food in family-style portions meant to share, great for groups.

D I R E C T O R Y

Virginia Beach CVB 2101 Parks Ave. Virginia Beach, VA 800-700-7702 knorman@vbgov.com www.vbfun.com Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, our little corner of the world specializes in spirit-lifting. Like exploring miles of beach and boardwalk, nature and adventure.

The joy of shopping or reveling at an outdoor crab feast.

Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB 115 N. Queen St. Martinsburg, WV 304-264-8801 laura@travelwv.com www.travelwv.com 90 minutes to DC or Baltimore. Located on I-81, short trip to PA and MD battlefields. Commuter train to Harper’s Ferry and DC. Shops, shows, dining. Student groups welcome.

N A T I O N A L

Richmond Region Tourism 401 North 3rd St. Richmond, VA 804-783-7409 jlawson@visitrichmondva.com www.visitrichmondva.com/travel-professionals/ Urban cool meets lush gardens, river activities and stunning architecture. We’re home to Civil War history, Pocahontas and Poe, with worldclass museums, 900+ restaurants and plenty of group-friendly lodging.

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Be part of the moment.

Imagine waking up 25o years ago where history was made.

Where we can watch the sun rise over the fields as a colonial city comes to life, and the spirit of independence is created by revolutionary people with revolutionary ideas.

Visits can be tailored to include lodging, dining, 18th~century meals, and evening entertainment. Group packages available for 15 guests or more.

To plan a trip or make reservations, call 1~8oo~2o6~6628, email grouptours@cwf.org, or visit colonialwilliamsburg.com/grouptours Follow us on

Be part of the story. Š2o12 The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation