17 January 2025
Following the result of the 2024 presidential election in the United States, WYSE surveyed the youth, student and educational travel industry for anticipated changes and opinions about how these changes could impact the global business of youth travel. WYSE conducted a similar survey in 2016 following the US presidential election at that time. Have a read of what we heard from our global community then and now. Read more.
6 March 2025
Hostel operators face rising costs and shifting travel patterns in 2025, with competition from budget hotels and a lack of industry-wide benchmarking tools adding to the challenges. While destinations like Dublin benefit from an influx of language students, hostels across Europe must adapt to economic pressures and evolving traveller preferences. Read more.
23 September 2025
Announced during WYSTC 2025, Alliance Abroad’s new international office is an important step in expanding cultural exchange and global career opportunities for young professionals across Portuguese-speaking countries. As part of this initiative, Alliance Abroad will be delivering a 6-month hospitality work experience program in Portugal. Read more.
8 May 2025
A year-over-year analysis of internship search data on GoAbroad.com revealed a clear trend: students and young professionals are increasingly pursuing international internships aligned with career development in 2025. The dataset, which compares user views of internship program field pages between the first quarter of 2024 and 2025 shows new insights reflecting the dynamics in both professional fields and preferred internship destinations around the globe. Read more.
28 January 2025
JENZA Group announced the acquisition of SWAP Working Holidays, following the news that 3A Management, the parent company of IENA, acquired JENZA. The JENZA Travel Group, formed by USIT & BUNAC, joined forces with leading US sponsor IENA and SWAP to create a work & travel powerhouse able to provide global cultural exchange participants with a seamless end-to-end experience for their work abroad programmes. Read more.
14 March 2025
HEROLÉ School Trips is set for a record-breaking 2025, with around 200,000 students expected to travel across Europe. Through strong partnerships and an expanded programme, the company continues to meet growing demand for educational trips blending culture, adventure, and sustainability. Read more.
6 March 2025
Collective Hospitality launched 29 Socialtel properties across South and Central America, rebranding former Selina locations to become the world’s largest hybrid hotel and hostel operator. Designed for Gen Z and millennials, Socialtel blends high-energy urban stays with nature-inspired escapes, with further expansion planned in Brazil, Panama, and beyond in 2025. Read more.
13 November 2025
Educatius appointed David Holmdahl as Global Sales President, bringing over a decade of senior leadership in international education to support the organisation’s global growth. Holmdahl’s experience in student exchange programmes and e-learning aligns with Educatius’ mission to make high school study-abroad opportunities more accessible and impactful worldwide. Read more.
22 May 2025
Accustomed to smartphones, streaming, and AI-driven recommendations, Gen Alpha – those born from 2010 onwards – seeks interactive, social, and purpose-driven experiences. Although still young, they influence family travel decisions via what is trending online, which presents an opportunity for youth travel brands to engage with Gen Alpha early, building loyalty for later on. Read more.
20 November 2025
Youth travel in 2026 is set to centre on authentic, community-driven experiences, with young travellers favouring meaningful connections over fast, checklist-style trips. WYSE members including Capsule Hotel, YellowSquare, Euroventure Travel and Saint Lo point to rising interest in wellness, creative and tech-inspired adventures, and a growing shift toward unplanned, human-focused journeys that reflect the evolving expectations of Gen Z and student travellers. Read more.