Essential
market insight
Access the latest insights into the youth and student travel market with news from our members, the wider industry and snapshots of WYSE Travel Confederation research.
More results...
Meet the Global Youth Travel Awards nominees: Reach for the Sky (Edge at Hudson Yards)
Nominee for Global Youth Travel Award for Notable InnovationInnovation: Reach for the SkyGuest: Haley Ward, Vice President of Sales, Edge at Hudson Yards Edge at Hudson Yards is the highest outdoor...
AIFS welcomes its first group back to Australia
After almost two years since the last AIFS participants arrived in Australia, earlier this week the first group of arrivals touched down in Melbourne. With more groups scheduled in the coming weeks,...
An end of year message from WYSE Travel Confederation’s Director General
Dear Members, Friends and Colleagues, As 2021 draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas holiday season and most of all, a prosperous New Year. 2021 was...
WYSE Travel Confederation calls on governments to support international travel businesses
Government support for the travel industry is urgently needed as we move into a third year of restricted movement related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses that have managed to stay afloat are...
WYSE Travel Confederation welcomes four new panel members
The WYSE Travel Confederation Extraordinary General Meeting, held on 16 December 2021, saw the appointment of four members to the WYSE Sector Panels. The Nominations Committee, comprised of Robyn...
How to be a cool employer that attracts and retains good staff
WYSE Travel Confederation Accommodation Members share tips and tactics for dealing with hospitality labour shortages during a Panel Connect Session Labour shortages have had severe impacts on...
BUNAC selects iTEP English test for UK Interns
Have you signed up to one of our industry events yet? Click the logos to find out more. Academic Language Solutions, the exchange program distributor of the iTEP (International Test of English...
CIEE and InterExchange to administer 2022 Ambassadors Fund for Summer Work Travel Scholarship Program
The Council on International Educational Exchange(CIEE) andInterExchange have announced that they have been selected to administer the Ambassadors Fund for Summer Work Travel (SWT) Scholarship...
Global Tourism Sees Upturn in Q3 but Recovery Remains Fragile
After a weak first half of 2021, international tourism rebounded during the Northern Hemisphere summer season, boosting results in the third quarter of the year, especially in Europe. ...
Australia celebrates the return of Working Holiday Makers
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement on 22 November 2021 signalling the return of Working Holiday Makers was celebrated by one of Australia’s largest youth tourism company’s and...
An update from the Accommodation Panel
Dear Accommodation Members, I am sure all of us have seen highs and lows over the past few months. The hospitality industry has been forced to be constantly adjusting, which is a major challenge....
Alliance Abroad Group (AAG) announces global expansion and the appointment of new CEO
Victoria Lynden, Founder of Alliance Abroad Group, a leading global exchange provider, has announced a major transformation of the business that will see the establishment of a new Holding Company...
Crisis Management: Winter Work & Travel 2021
In this case study on crisis management, Rafael Espinoza, Founder of Universal Student Exchange (USE), explains how USE reacted proactively to the pandemic, working together with sponsors and...
Youth tourism welcomes border reopen
Australia’s youth tourism industry group, BYTAP welcomed news today that New South Wales (NSW) will remove hotel quarantine for all fully vaccinated travellers through the gateway of Sydney from...
What’s the message 18+ months into COVID-19?
For youth and student travel organisations, uncertainty on the economic and political fronts seems as certain as their propensity to modify terms & conditions and cancellation policies during...
Youth and student travel 18 months into the global COVID-19 crisis
There appears to be an improved business outlook amongst travel and tourism organisations, but let’s face it – 2020 was a pretty bad year. If your business is still around after 18+ months of a...
WYSE Travel Confederation calls on members and industry to lobby their ambassadors to revoke Presidential Proclamation 10052.
WYSE Travel Confederation calls upon its members, US Sponsors and their agents and the industry as a whole, to lobby their US ambassadors to revoke Presidential Proclamation 10052. The BridgeUSA J-1...
Responsible youth travel and COVID-19
Getting off the well-worn tourist path has always been a tenet of independent youth and student travel. Backpackers, international exchange students, gap year students and working holidaymakers have...
BYTAP calls on government to protect the future of Australia’s youth tourism industry
The results derived from a recent nation-wide survey of over 200 youth tourism operators conducted to measure the impact the expiration of JobKeeper will have on the inbound youth travel industry...
Projecting the recovery timeline for youth travel
Countries are making progress in vaccinating their residents against COVID-19, but travel restrictions remain for much of the world. The travel and tourism industry is eager to get back to business...
WYSE Travel Confederation’s top 10 news articles of 2020
2020 was, to say the least, an unprecedented year. We saw readers flocking to articles ranging from the COVID-19 Travel Business Impact Survey results to BUNAC securing investment following the fall...
a&o Hostels sets up COVID-19 test centres in selected properties
a&o Hostels has partnered with Berlin startup Das Lab to offer COVID-19 testing facilities at selected properties. Those wishing to travel over the Christmas period may be required to show proof...
Sustainable Development Goals and the youth travel industry
The Sustainable Development Goals form the core of a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future” and are part of the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda...
London hostel performance update, October 2020
By Kelsey FenertyLondon may have been one of the last accommodations markets to lock down in Europe, but the duration and severity of the government mandate meant it has been one of the last hostel...
AuPairCare celebrates 35 years of empowering cultural exchange
AuPairCare, a leading international au pair agency designated by the U.S. Department of State, that facilitates cultural exchange through live-in childcare, has marked its 35th anniversary.
New Educatius report highlights importance of international experience for youth resilience
As the world marks Mental Health Awareness Month this May, a new report from Educatius sheds light on the invaluable role that international experience plays in building resilience and supporting the well-being of youth.
Academic Language Solutions’ Kevin Morgan named Chairman of the US-Vietnam Business Council
Academic Language Solutions, of New Hampshire (USA) and London (UK), is pleased to announce that its Chairman, Kevin Morgan, has been named as Chairman of the US-Vietnam Business Council.
Crisis or opportunity? Working holidays and international youth travel
We asked young travellers how the cost-of-living crisis was impacting their international travel plans and discovered that the youngest travellers seem very willing to consider working holiday options in order to offset the costs of travel.
Oficina de Turismo e Intercambio Cultural (OFIT) promotes cultural exchange via The Work and Travel Podcast
In February 2024, Oficina de Turismo e Intercambio Cultural (OFIT) inaugurated its new initiative, The Work and Travel Podcast. The podcast covers all topics related to cultural exchange and the...
Educatius apppoints Anders Ljungdahl as Chief Financial Officer
Educatius, a leading international student exchange provider, has announced the appointment of Anders Ljungdahl as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ljungdahl brings over 20 years of experience in...
Academic Language Solutions introduces new logo
Academic Language Solutions, of New Hampshire (USA) and London (UK), recently unveiled a new look logo as a part of their broader corporate identity program.
GeoVisions announces ‘Teaching Beyond Borders’ article series by journalist Saleha Soadat
Originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, Soadat brings a poignant perspective to the stories of international educators in the USA under the J-1 Teacher Exchange program.
Alliance Strategies celebrates five years of exceptional growth and impact in South Africa
Alliance Strategies, a global leader in cultural exchange programs through its Alliance Abroad and GeoVisions subsidiaries, has announced the fifth anniversary of its South African hub.
CSIET: Promoting mental wellness across borders
This one-day event will convene U.S. and international student exchange programs and schools along with a team of experienced psychologists.
A-Bike celebrates 10 years of sustainable adventure
Celebrating a decade of operation in May 2024, A-Bike is proud to be advocating for a greener, more inclusive future.
International Nightlife Association creates first Faculty of Nightlife Studies
This initiative, whose main objective is to promote academic excellence, the professionalization of the sector.