Survey finds that youth educational travel provides career advantages in tough economic times
Results Revealed During Educational Travel Week 2011 Show that Youth Educational Travel Positively Impacted Social Economic Outcomes Later in Life
Boston, MA – October 5, 2011 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through travel, today announced results from a comprehensive independent survey that revealed youth educational travel can be linked to higher incomes and full-time employment versus their counterparts. Explorica is releasing these survey results as part of its 2nd annual Educational Travel Week that is currently taking place October 3-7, 2011. Educational Travel Week celebrates the positive benefits of educational travel and provides a forum for travelers to share their personal life-changing stories, as well as participate in travel contests with destination prizes.
Conducted in May of 2011, the survey sample included 600 respondents between the ages of 21 and 69 years old. The participants were divided into two groups, 300 people who had traveled to a country outside the U.S. or Canada on a school sponsored educational tour when they were between 12-18 years old, and 300 people who did not travel abroad on a school sponsored educational tour. The goal of the survey was to quantify how student educational travel enhanced a child’s education, career growth and success, and the survey results confirmed that, as adults, educational travel had significant and positive impact in regards to these important life milestones.
Results showed that students who went on a school sponsored educational tour outside the U.S. or Canada between the ages of 12 and 18 were significantly more likely to:
- Be more educated
- Attain a college degree or post graduate work (67% vs. 34%)
- Maintain a higher college GPA (3.39 vs. 3.30)
- Study abroad in college (29% vs. 13%)
- Be more successful, even in tough economic times
- Employed full-time (61% vs. 40%)
- Report a higher household income ($72,300 vs. $52,200)
- Be more marketable to colleges and employers
- 61% agreed that the tour enhanced their resume when applying for college
- 54% agreed that the tour enhanced their resume when applying for jobs
Additional findings uncovered that those who participated in an educational tour embraced more international travel in their jobs, felt part of a global community and considered themselves good global citizens, as well as took more international personal trips and paid more per trip than their counterparts. For full survey results, please visit the official Educational Travel Week 2011 site: www.educationaltravelweek.com.
Educational Travel Week, created by Explorica Travel Inc., has garnered the support of world-leading companies in the travel and education industries. We are proud of our distinguished official sponsors: SkyTeam, Air Canada, Best Western, Fragonard Perfume Museum, Holiday Inn Laval Montréal, Jet Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Tourism Ireland, and Vista Higher Learning. Further endorsers include SYTA (Student Youth Travel Association),BETA (British Educational Travel Association) and USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association).
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Explorica sponsors 2nd annual Educational Travel Week October 3-7, 2011 to celebrate the transformational experiences of educational Travel
Week-long, Online Event Includes Discussion Forums, Fun Contests and Prizes to International Destinations
Boston, MA – September 28, 2011 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through educational travel, today announced that the Company will be sponsoring the 2nd Annual Educational Travel Week taking place on October 3-7, 2011. Educational Travel Week celebrates the positive benefits of educational travel and provides a forum for travelers to share their personal life-changing stories. As Laina Pisano, a student participant on a 2010 Explorica tour remarks, “Visiting Italy, Germany, and Austria was by far the most exciting thing I have ever experienced. The trip strengthened my independence, ability to make new friends, and helped me acquire a different outlook on the world I live in.”
Last year’s highly successful online event brought together more than 5,000 students, educators and avid travelers who had the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss how educational travel had transformed their lives. Educational Travel Week not only provides travelers with a dynamic environment to exchange their travel experiences, but also participate in fun travel trivia, contests and prizes. For 2011, Educational Travel Week will provide one lucky winner with an exciting grand prize for a free trip for 10 people to either London, Paris or Madrid.
Hosted on Facebook, this online event offers an ideal platform for students and educators to discuss how educational travel helped them see the world through a global lens, and gain a new appreciation of international cultures. Participants in the week-long event can also partake in a variety of contests such as sharing authentic cultural recipes, travel photos or videos, or take part in challenging destination quizzes that are focused on specific cities or countries. By successfully completing these destination quizzes, participants are eligible to win free airline tickets or hotel stays to countries such as Brussels, Ireland, Delhi, Germany, or Montréal.
During Educational Travel Week 2011, Explorica will also publish exciting statistics uncovered by a comprehensive independent survey, which details how educational travel created a positive and lasting impact in regards to later education, personal lives and even career success. These findings will be announced during the October 3-7, 2011 online event.
In order to provide the best possible experience for participants in Educational Travel Week 2011, Explorica has garnered the support of world-leading companies in the travel and education industries. The grand prize drawing of a free trip for 10 was furnished by our distinguished sponsorship partner SkyTeam, and we are proud to welcome aboard additional official sponsors: Air Canada, Best Western, Fragonard Perfume Museum, Holiday Inn Laval Montréal, Jet Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Tourism Ireland, and Vista Higher Learning. Further endorsers include SYTA (Student Youth Travel Association) and BETA (British Educational Travel Association). For more information about how to participate in Educational Travel Week 2011, or for its official contest rules and prizes, please visit: www.educationaltravelweek.com. For specific travel itineraries for the grand prize of a free trip for 10 to either London, Paris or Madrid, please visit: explorica.com/lon, explorica.com/par, explorica.com/mad.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Explorica Educational Travel Wins Eight Silver Awards of Distinction from W³ Awards.
Boston, MA – November 2, 2010 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through educational travel, received eight Silver Awards of Distinction from W³ Awards. The W³ Awards honors creative excellence on the web, and recognizes the creative and marketing professionals behind award winning sites, videos and marketing programs.
Explorica received the Silver Awards of Distinction in the following categories.
WEBSITES CATEGORY
Website Features- Copy or Writing
Website Features- Photography
Website Features- Structure and Navigation
Website Features- Visual Appeal
General Website Categories- Travel
MARKETING CATEGORY
Website- Travel
Online Video- Explorica Packing Tips
Online Video- How to Lead Your First Educational Tour
“It's a great achievement for the Explorica team to be honored with these eight Awards of Distinction,” said Olle Olsson, president and chief executive officer of Explorica. “We are thankful for this recognition from the Academy. We consistently strive to provide teachers with unparalleled access to all of the resources and tools needed to provide students with the opportunity to explore the world and benefit from a hands-on learning experience. These awards stand as a testament to our commitment to achieving that goal.”
The W³ is the first major web competition to be accessible to the biggest agencies, the smallest firms, and everyone in between. The W³ is sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from a "Who's Who" of acclaimed media, interactive, advertising, and marketing firms. IAVA members include executives from organizations such as Conde Nast, Coach, Disney, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Estee Lauder, Fry Hammond Barr, HBO, Monster.com, MTV, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sotheby's Institute of Art, Victoria's Secret, Wired, Yahoo! and many others.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Explorica Educational Travel Wins Gold & Silver Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly
Company Recognized with Multiple Awards for Best in Tour Operator Category
Boston, MA – November 2, 2010 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through educational travel, has been awarded Gold and Silver Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly. The 2010 Magellan Awards honors the best in travel, and nominees consist of top travel organizations and professionals worldwide. Magellan Award winners represent the highest standard of excellence within the travel industry.
Explorica received the Gold Magellan Award for its website in the Tour Operator: Marketing category. Explorica also received Silver Magellan Awards for The Experience is Everything marketing campaign and in the Consumer: Direct Mail category. Winners of the Magellan Awards are selected by a panel of leaders and experts in the travel industry.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by Travel Weekly with these Magellan Awards,” said Olle Olsson, president and chief executive officer of Explorica. “We aim to provide teachers with the ability to personalize their educational tours in a way that has never been available in the travel industry. This award is a reflection of the dedication and contributions of everyone in the Explorica family to achieve this goal.”
Winners are featured in a September 2010 issue of Travel Weekly. Winners also receive a custom produced statuette made by the same company that produces the Oscar® and Emmy® awards.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Explorica Educational Travel Wins Communicator Awards’ Award of Distinction
Explorica Recognized for Creative Excellence and Superior Quality
Boston, MA – November 2, 2010 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through educational travel, received five Awards of Distinction from the Communicator Awards, the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. The Award of Distinction is presented for projects that exceed industry standards in quality and achievement. Explorica received the Award of Distinction in the following areas: Corporate Image, Menu Design, Travel/Tourism Website, Viral Marketing, Home Page and Educational Video.
“It's an honor to be recognized with these Awards of Distinction,” said Olle Olsson, president and chief executive officer of Explorica. “I am thrilled that the outstanding work and creativity of the dedicated staff of our Explorica team is acknowledged by the industry-leading representatives at the Communicator Awards.”
The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals. Founded by communication professionals over a decade ago, the Communicator Awards receives over 9,000 entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world. The Communicator Awards is sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative and marketing firms.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Travel Abroad at a Young Age Enhances Education, Career Growth and Success
First-Ever Educational Travel Week kicks off with benchmark research showing that travel enriches lives
Boston, MA – September 15, 2010 – Traveling overseas at a young age supports school performance, leads to successful careers and increases the likelihood of continued travel throughout one’s life, according to a survey in support of the launch of Educational Travel Week (September 13-17). The survey, The Impact of Early Travel Experiences, jointly commissioned by the Student Youth & Travel Association (SYTA) and Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through educational travel, reveals the positive impact that early travel experiences have on personal and professional accomplishments and travel trends during adulthood.
Educational Travel Week celebrates the transformational experience marked by exploring new destinations, cultures and ideas. The goal of the Impact of Early Travel Experiences survey was to gain a better understanding of the learning inherent in travel and the resulting life enhancement as a result. Educational travel is a sector of tourism increasingly recognized as an important way to connect teachers and students to new cultures, languages and people globally.
“By increasing awareness of the educational and cultural benefits of student and youth travel, we can further explore the long-term effects of experiential travel and support the important efforts of reputable youth travel service providers,” said SYTA President Patrick Connor.
The survey revealed three primary themes:
- Those who travel abroad before the age of 18 achieve academic and professional success.
- The majority of individuals that participated in youth travel directly credit their travel experiences as positively impacting their education and career.
- Youth travel increases the frequency of travel as an adult, as well as an increase in the number of destinations explored.
Higher Education and Careers
The survey revealed that more than 88 percent of respondents that traveled before the age of 18 received a college degree, with more than a quarter of respondents going on to receive an advanced degree. Respondents also were high performers in school, achieving impressive college grade point averages (GPAs). More than 81 percent of respondents achieved a college GPA greater of 3.0 or higher, with more than 40 percent completing college with a GPA greater than 3.6.
These achievements are not limited to educational excellence. Half of the survey respondents who traveled before the age of 18 reported a household income of more than $75K, and almost a third boasted a household income of more than $100K.
Thank You Youth Travel
Survey respondents were asked to share the lasting impact of their travel abroad experiences. Local culture immersion provided the most lasting impact according to respondents, and almost three-quarters of these respondents credit their travel experiences with positively impacting their education and career. In fact, more than 90 percent of respondents report a willingness to participate in an educational travel experience again as an adult.
While it is not surprising that more than 50 percent of respondents portray their youth travel experiences as “fun,” it is notable that 40 percent of respondents report their youth travel is best described as “engaging.”
Travel Often and Travel Far
The survey also revealed that youth travel heavily impacts travel behavior in adulthood. Survey respondents that traveled outside North America before the age of 18 continue this trend as adults. In fact, more than 43 percent of youth travelers have visited at least ten countries outside of North America, with almost 90 percent traveling to non-English speaking destinations. Travel is considered so important to these respondents, that more than 70 percent report spending at least $2,000 each year on travel, with one out of four respondents spending more than $5,000 annually.
“At Explorica, we believe that educational experiences can be found wherever and whenever you travel,” said Olle Olsson, Explorica's Founder and President. “Travel is about the learning inherent in the experience. We build our educational travel programs so teachers can apply classroom learning to real-world experiences. Educational Travel Week is a way for all those involved in travel as a teaching tool – educators, students and parents – to celebrate the richness of all travel experiences.”
Educational Travel Week
Release of the survey marks the celebration of Explorica’s Educational Travel Week, September 13-17. Other Educational Travel Week activities include video and photo contests that offer a chance to win two free tickets to Europe or the opportunity to win a $500 restaurants.com gift card, culturally-specific Facebook quizzes on favorite travel destinations, a ‘live chat’ session with travel luminary Daniel Levine of the Avant Guide Institute, and more.
Details about Educational Travel Week can be found at educationaltravelweek.com.
Conducted in August/September 2010, the survey polled North American Travelers over the age of 21 who had taken a trip abroad – whether through a school-sponsored tour, a family trip or other independent travel – before the age of 18.
About SYTA
SYTA is the non-profit, professional trade association that promotes student & youth travel and seeks to foster integrity and professionalism among student and youth travel service providers.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
LYMAN HALL HIGH SCHOOL SPANISH TEACHER WINS FIVE FREE SUMMER VACATIONS TO DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE COURTESY OF EXPLORICA EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL
Boston, MA – July 13, 2010 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people through educational travel, today announced that Maria Di Virgilio, a Spanish teacher at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford, CT, is the winner of Explorica’s “Five Free Summer Vacations” promotion. As the winner of this promotion, Maria will have the opportunity to experience some of the world’s most amazing destinations, while connecting with other teachers from around the world and learning new teaching methods and tools that can be implemented back in her Spanish classroom in Connecticut.
This year, Maria and one guest will select and attend one of Explorica’s International Teacher Conventions in Iceland, the Yucatan, Scotland, Rome and Sicily, or Chile and Patagonia. Maria can also look forward to attending a convention and vacationing in exotic destinations in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. She became eligible to win the promotion after booking a customized trip to Spain for her students where they will experience, firsthand, the sights and culture discussed in the classroom, while practicing their Spanish.
“l look forward to the opportunity to travel with my students to Spain next year, where we will immerse ourselves in the Spanish culture and visit several cities throughout the country, including places we discuss in my class,” said Di Virgilio. “Additionally, I’m thrilled that I will be taking part in Explorica’s International Teacher Conventions and vacationing in some amazing destinations for the next five years. It is a once in a lifetime chance to grow as an educator, travel the world, and experience new and exciting cultures.”
Explorica’s International Teacher Conventions give teachers the chance to explore fabulous destinations with other teachers who love to travel. The conventions are held in different locations across the globe each year and provide teachers with the opportunity to travel with other educators and learn about different cultures, an experience that they can share with their students. Many teachers eventually plan similar customized tours for their students so they can experience what the world has to offer beyond their textbooks and classroom.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Explorica Enhances Educational Travel Experience Through Social Media
Interactive Treasure Hunt Tour shares clues and updates via Facebook to immerse and educate students in advance of the trip
Boston, MA – April 22, 2010 – Students preparing for the educational tour of a lifetime are getting a sneak peek at the places they will visit and things they will learn as part of Explorica’s Treasure Hunt tour. Explorica (http://www.explorica.com/), a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people, is sharing clues via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/explorica) in advance of the upcoming Treasure Hunt tour to enhance student learning through social media. The Explorica Treasure Hunt offers Explorica’s traditional interactive learning experience, coupled with a one-of-a-kind program designed to stimulate an online and offline immersive travel experience.
Student tour groups participating in Treasure Hunt challenges are eligible to win $10,000 to develop hands-on, experiential learning programs for their school. The customized Treasure Hunt requires students to complete in challenges and answer clues on the region to be visited before and during the tour. Group participants are provided a ‘Survivor Pack,’ that includes tools for solving various challenges. These challenges, along with tour updates and on-tour “missions” are provided through the group tour’s Facebook page (http://www.explorica.com/treasure-hunt/clues.aspx), which serves as “mission control” for all pre-, during- and post- tour activities.
Students can share information, learn about their destinations, publish content and stay connected while traveling. Teachers and students can upload photos and tour updates through other social media outlets including Twitter and MySpace.
“Explorica strives to deliver the best, most immersive educational student group tours in the industry. Social media is a critical channel to initially engage tour participants, and helps ensure that teachers and students have a rewarding educational travel experience,” said Olle Olsson, president and chief executive officer of Explorica. “The real benefit comes during the actual tour, when all the prior learning through social media comes to life. Facebook and other tools lets parents and friends at home follow the progress of the tour groups, and provides a robust environment for sharing tour experiences while traveling and upon the students’ return home.”
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Explorica Educational Travel Wins Best in Class from 2009 Interactive Media Awards
Website Recognized for Planning, Execution, and Professionalism
Boston, MA – December 14, 2009 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people, has been awarded Best in Class from the Interactive Media Council, Inc. (IMC) in the Travel and Tourism category for its newly redesigned web site, Explorica.com. The Best in Class award is the highest honor bestowed by the Interactive Media Awards and represents the very best in website planning, execution and overall professionalism. Winners are selected based on five criteria: design, content, feature functionality, usability, and standards compliance and cross-browser compatibility.
“It's an honor to be recognized by the Interactive Media Awards,” said Olle Olsson, president and chief executive officer of Explorica. “In redesigning our website, we wanted to offer teachers unparalleled access to all of the resources and tools needed to provide students with the opportunity to explore the world and benefit from a hands-on learning experience. This award is a tribute to the creativity and ingenuity of all the individuals that worked on the site and helped us to achieve our goal.”
Explorica’s winning website features the Instant Tour Customizer (ITC), the travel industry’s first online tool that allows teachers to personally customize educational tours with both flexibility and travel options. Additionally, the website includes a Tour Center that lets teachers personalize and promote their customized Explorica tour. Teachers can upload photos and links and share the Tour Center with prospective participants though email and social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
Created by the Interactive Media Council, Inc. (IMC), a nonprofit organization of leading web designers, developers, programmers, advertisers and other web-related professionals, the competition is designed to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet and offer winners a boost in marketing and exposure. IMC serves as the primary sponsor and governing body of the Interactive Media Awards™, establishes the judging system, and provides the judges for the competition.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, visit Explorica Educational Travel's Website, join Explorica on Facebook or follow Explorica on Twitter.
###
Explorica Launches Travel Industry’s First Instant Tour Customizer
Website provides both flexibility and travel options for creating customized educational tours
Boston, MA – October 29, 2009 – Explorica, a company creating educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people, today announced the launch of its Instant Tour Customizer (ITC). The ITC is the travel industry’s first online tool that allows teachers to personally customize educational tours with both flexibility and travel options.
Available through Explorica’s new website, the ITC provides teachers with the ability to customize every aspect of their tour using a simple drag-and-drop feature, allowing for easy control of price, tour pace and degree of personalization. Each tour modification, including adding or removing tour activities, is instantly reflected in the price quote. This feature lets teachers see the cost of their customizations in real time.
Using the ITC, teachers can also upgrade to premium level accommodations and change dining options for the entire tour or on select days. This ability to mix, match, edit and save ensures each step of the tour is ideal for the group.
“Our new Instant Tour Customizer gives teachers complete control over the details of their tour, ensuring both teachers and students have the most rewarding educational travel experience,” said Olle Olsson, president and chief executive officer of Explorica. “Creating a customized tour is now as fast and simple as shopping online. Pick what you want, drag it to your tour, and find out the cost in real time. The ease-of-use of this powerful new tool provides teachers with the ability to personalize their tour in a way that has never been available in the travel industry.”
Additionally, Explorica’s new website features a Tour Center that lets teachers personalize and promote their customized Explorica tour. Teachers can upload photos and links and share the Tour Center with prospective participants though email and social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
To learn more, click on the following link to view a video tutorial of Explorica’s Instant Tour Customizer: www.explorica.com/tourcustomizer.
About Instant Tour Customizer
The Instant Tour Customer (ITC) is the travel industry’s first and only online tool that allows teachers to easily create a one-of-kind and fully customized educational tours for their students. Available only through the Explorica website, the ITC gives teachers complete control over every aspect of their tour’s design with the click of a mouse.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, or visit www.explorica.com.
###
Arizona High School Student Wins Travel Photo Contest
June 19, 2009. Mesa, AZ-- Holly Vins, a recent graduate of Mountain View High School was named the winner of Explorica Educational Travel's spring Student Photo Contest.
Vins was awarded the grand prize, a $300 gift card to Amazon.com, for her adventurous landscape shot atop a cliff at Machu Picchu in Peru.
“It feels pretty great to win," said Vins. " I try to take artistic shots; usually of groups or landscapes. With this one, I looked for an interesting scene and was able to get a good picture. "
Vins, who has traveled on two Explorica tours, said Machu Picchu was her favorite destination. "I love the history of it; it's survived so many things." She said the amazing view from above the ruins was where she snapped the contest's winning photo.
The contest, which was open to students who traveled with Explorica in April and May, allowed them to share their pictures on Flickr.com, the popular photo sharing site. The rules required photos to showcase the experience of travel and the culture of their destinations. The contest winners can be viewed on Explorica's website.
"Our educational tours provide great opportunities for students to learn through experience," said Olle Olsson, President and CEO of Explorica. “This contest allowed us to reward them for capturing authentic moments in a candid way. From the entries we received, we can tell they are learning and having fun at the same time."
Explorica launched a second photo contest for tour groups departing this summer. With destinations ranging from France to Costa Rica, its likely to generate a variety of worthy submissions. "I'm sure our travelers will continue to send in great work," added Olsson.
Vins will take her travel experience with her in the fall when she begins studying global health at ASU. "I'd love to do something that involves travel and helping people," she added.
About Explorica, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, or visit www.explorica.com.
###
Explorica Offers Special Assistance to Voyageur Travelers
May 14, 2009. Boston, MA -- In the wake of Voyager Educational Tour's declaration of bankruptcy, Explorica Educational Travel has decided to use their strong financial standing in the marketplace to offer special assistance to Voyageur Travelers.
Explorica is offering up to 50% off select tours to Europe and Latin America, and other assistance programs to those who have scheduled a 2010 Voyageur tour.
Explorica firmly believes that educational travel is a vital part of a complete education, and that the life-changing experiences it provides should be available to all.
It is this belief, along with Explorica’s strong financial stability, that motivates the company to reach out to Voyageur travelers.
As members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), Explorica has posted a $1 million dollar liability deposit, which ensures your educational travel investment is covered.
Additionally, as accredited and longstanding members of organizations like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), and the Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA), we are held to keep the highest standards within the industry.
Call 1.888.310.7120 to find out more about our offer of assistance to all Voyageur travelers.
About Explorica Educational Travel
Founded in 2000, Explorica Educational Travel creates educational tours that connect students to new cultures, languages and people. Through Explorica's use of exclusive online tools, they help teachers create tours uniquely suited to provide both the best value and the most customized, authentic tour experiences. For more information, call 1.888.310.7120, or visit www.explorica.com.
###