WYSE Travel Confederation Members attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of WYSE Travel Confederation ahead of the 2024 World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) in Lisbon, Portugal, Portugal on 24 September 2024.
WYSE Travel Confederation’s Director General, David Chapman, provided attendees with an update on the Confederation’s activities and new initiatives.
In particular, he noted the uptick in membership, with 92 new members joining the Confederation since the AGM in 2023.
He also provided an update on WYSE Up, WYSE Travel Confederation’s development grant scheme. Over the last year, 17 organisations have been shortlisted to receive the grant, with three ‘WYSE Uppers’ being selected during summer 2024 to be sponsored by Alliance Strategies and WISE Foundation. The support of the sponsors will allow the three WYSE Uppers to benefit from a two-year WYSE Travel Confederation membership, continuous mentoring and access to WYSTC 2024.
New at WYSTC 2024
The first STAY WYSE Stand will be inaugurated at WYSTC 2024. The STAY WYSE Stand at WYSTC will provide a dedicated space for the hostel and low-cost accommodation sector to meet, do business and exchange ideas. Co-exhibitors of the STAY WYSE Stand include JO&JOE, Yotel, Cloudbeds and Dreamboks.
For the first time since 2019, the number of buyer attendees has reached 191 – of which 30% are first-time buyers. An expanded mentor programme has been implemented to ensure all first-time attendees make the most out of their WYSTC experience.
David Chapman also mentioned the introduction of a WYSTC AI bot to aid delegates with any questions they may have about the Conference and WYSE Travel Confederation.
WYSTC 2024 will feature a new “How to” workshop series, inspired by the collaborative spirit and community-driven nature of the youth travel industry. Reflecting the values of shared learning and collective growth, these sessions will focus on key areas such as AI, influencer marketing, and sales strategies. The workshops are designed to provide actionable insights and open conversations through knowledge sharing and industry collaboration
The next Annual General Meeting of WYSE Travel Confederation will be held on 24 September 2025 at WYSTC 2025 in Lisbon.