SYTA PRESIDENT'S LETTER

MARCIE ELLISON Outerbridge

President, Student and Youth Travel Association General Manager of Sales and Group Travel, Ellison Travel & Tours Ltd.

iIt’s a new year, time for new beginnings.

Now that the holidays have passed and 2023 has begun, we’re looking forward to a time of renewed energy and a greater desire than ever to travel.

Chances are, this will be one of the busiest travel seasons in years, as loosening restrictions give way to pent-up demand.

Here at SYTA and Ellison Travel & Tours, we’re excited to see what the year has in store.

We’re kicking off 2023 with our annual look at what New York City has to offer, especially as the city is now wide open and ready for all visitors.

Broadway, Times Square, Fifth Avenue—they’re all waiting for you. Speaking of which, check out our look at Behind the Emerald Curtain, a special experience for groups interested in the iconic musical Wicked. We also head down to South California for fun (and education) in the sun, and travel across the Atlantic to Spain, bursting with history and culture.

This issue also offers up advice in a few areas, including being sure to support local businesses and people while traveling, traveling with sustainability and the environment in mind, and helping your students pack smart for their big trip—especially if you’re heading to a different climate.

We also speak with a band director from Florida who’s working hard to help his community rebuild after Hurricane Ida wiped out students’ homes and damaged the school. Despite everything, he’s forging ahead with travel plans for 2023, knowing that the trip is exactly what his students need after this tragedy.

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