youth travel award

MEDIA RELEASE

Celebrating innovation and excellence in youth travel

WYSE Travel Confederation announced the winners of the 2024 Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs) on 27 September 2024, on the final evening of WYSTC in Lisbon, Portugal. The annual Awards, sponsored in 2024 by International Experience Canada , recognise organisations and individuals that have demonstrated leadership, creativity, and a commitment to advancing responsible and sustainable youth travel.

Commenting on the winners, WYSE Travel Confederation’s Director General David Chapman said, “These awards are a testament to the resilience, innovation, and commitment of the youth travel industry. Each of the winners has not only excelled in their field but also made significant contributions to creating a more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful future for youth travel.”

The 2024 Global Youth Travel Awards winners are:

Best Responsible Tourism Initiative YHA Australia YHA Australia has spearheaded a series of sustainability initiatives across its 42-property network through the establishment of the Sustainable Property Fund (SPF). Until recently, the SPF was supported entirely by small donations from guests, matched dollar for dollar by YHA. In 2023, the funding structure evolved with USD 5 from every booking being allocated to the SPF, allowing YHA to fund a broad range of responsible tourism and sustainability projects, such as switching to renewable energy, facilitating local indigenous partnerships and rewilding.

Outstanding Contribution to the SDGs African Impact “Period poverty” is a global issue characterised by the lack of access to menstrual products, either due to scarcity or prohibitive costs. This lack of access leads to severe consequences, impacting health and safety, academic performance, and employment opportunities. Reports highlight that these issues are particularly severe in Africa. African Impact’s Female Empowerment Volunteer project in Livingstone, Zambia, also known as the Girl Impact Project, goes beyond merely raising awareness. It empowers young women to break stereotypes and become change agents within their communities. This project supports UN SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and contributes to SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 4 (Quality Education) through various initiatives. These include transformative workshops across six pillars: education, self-confidence, health, early pregnancy prevention, safety, and income generation. The project’s measurable success, including the distribution of over 200 menstrual hygiene kits and the expansion from two to eight groups, demonstrates significant positive outcomes and a commitment to sustainable, community-driven change.

Best DEI Initiative Tingua In Córdoba, Argentina, Tingua is improving the quality of life for women facing social, economic, and environmental obstacles, including gender-based violence, by providing women with tools for personal and professional development, better job opportunities, and formal education. To address these challenges, Tingua has partnered with the civil association Las Omas and Ingeniería Sin Fronteras Argentina to tackle the issue of economic independence, training women in construction. Increasing women’s participation in construction is vital for developing new models and opportunities within the sector, fostering autonomy and employment for women.

Best Marketing Campaign EF Ultimate Break EF Ultimate Break launched a new Campus Ambassador programme – with the intention of raising eyebrows. The objective was to stop the scroll on social media and earn lots of programme applications by organising an on-campus stunt that highlighted the Campus Ambassador programme. How did EF Ultimate Break do this? Enter, the bucket. You can view the campaign here .

Best Travel Tech Provider D3x D3x embarked on a project to enhance customer service efficiency and satisfaction through the implementation of an AI-based system for handling WhatsApp conversations. This project aimed to automate responses, reduce response times, and improve overall customer satisfaction. The initiative involved integrating AI with existing human support to create a hybrid model where AI handles simpler queries, and human agents address more complex issues. The system was rolled out at over 100 properties across Europe over six months with actual response rates, response times and satisfaction scores far exceeding the initial goals.

Best Work Experience Provider GeoVisions GeoVisions’ partnership with International Cross Walk has provided a meaningful way for paraprofessional and trainee educators in Zimbabwe to access international in-classroom training. By facilitating them to undertake K-12 education placements as part of the J-1 Intern and Trainee Programs, these young Zimbabwean professionals have gained invaluable experience in the U.S. education system, positively impacting both participants and their host communities.

Best Education Abroad Provider EDU Africa From social justice to environmental sustainability, EDU Africa’s faculty-led programs tackle vital global themes, offering students a rich tapestry of knowledge and perspectives unique to Africa. Every programme is a bespoke journey, designed to foster intercultural competence, global citizenship, personal and intellectual growth, and professional development.

Extraordinary Experience Global Leadership Adventures Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) partnered with Learning Afar and Son of a Saint, a New Orleans-based organisation that provides mentorship, support and educational opportunities to local boys who have lost their fathers to incarceration or death. Seventeen teenagers, most of whom had never left their home country, travelled to Ghana with GLA with the objective of building resilience and envisioning brighter futures through developing leadership skills. You can watch here and here how truly life changing these experiences have been for two teenagers.

Best Hostel LyLo Auckland LyLo Auckland, launched in December 2022 is located in the heart of the city, an easy walk from prime attractions. With a style-led, social and value mind-set, LyLo helps savvy, cost-conscious travellers of all ages experience the joy of travel amongst like-minded souls in affordable style. Communal spaces to play, eat, work and sleep with a designer, relaxed vibe and a mix of boutique sleeping pods, double rooms and private ensuites. Backpackers, digital nomads and working holidaymakers come together. Families, solo and female travellers are drawn to pods which prioritise privacy, security and a good night’s sleep with easy social interaction. Sinch the launch, LyLo Auckland has maintained an average occupancy rate of 85% and is consistently the number one booked property by room nights on Booking.com.

Best Youth Tour Operator Intrepid Travel Recognised for its commitment to transparency and climate-conscious travel, Intrepid Travel became the world’s largest travel company to achieve B Corp certification in 2018. Intrepid is also the first tour operator with near-term science-based climate targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative, and its not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has raised more than USD 15.5 million for 160 social and environmental partners. Over the last year, Intrepid continued its work to contribute to the health and value of eight core Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aligned with its key focus areas, including sustainable cities and communities, climate action, life below water, and life on land. Examples of Intrepid’s work are its continued investment in climate education and knowledge-sharing and becoming an early adopter of the 2030 United Nations Global Compact Faster Forward initiative under the Climate Action pillar with goals for Living Wage and addressing Climate Changed.

Best Flight-Free Travel Europe’s Famous Hostels The Eco-Wanderer campaign was launched in 2021 by Europe’s Famous Hostels in response to the European Travel Commission’s Rail Tourism awards, in partnership with Eurail. The competition aimed to promote sustainable tourism in Europe by leveraging the continent’s extensive railway system and the Interrail travel style. As the oldest exclusive association of independent hostels, Europe’s Famous Hostels recognised the strong connection between hostel culture and sustainability. The Eco-Wanderer campaign features a dynamic CO2 emissions calculator that not only estimates carbon savings from choosing trains over planes, but also converts these savings into direct discounts at the 50 member hostel locations. The user experience is straightforward and the campaign incorporates a gamification strategy, offering prizes and extra discounts to active users. The Eco-Wanderer campaign has assisted over 1800 travellers in just over two years, saving a total of 260 tonnes of CO2. The page sees an average of 75 conversions daily. In April 2024, the partnership was expanded to include Flixbus, broadening the transportation options and aiming reach 3,000 travellers by the end of the year.

WYSTC Partnership Award The Learning Adventure & CAS Trips Forged in the heat of a Kenyan summer in the 1970s and solidified at WYSTC 2022, this partnership spans decades, generations, and encapsulates a shared commitment to providing transformative travel experiences for young people. At WYSTC 2022, the directors of The Learning Adventure and CAS Trips discovered that their mothers had travelled together in 1973. Inspired by this amazing student adventure, which took them from London to Nairobi via Cairo, Lake Nakuru, and the Rift Valley, they set about partnering together to emulate these unforgettable educational experiences for young people across the globe. Their overarching goal was – and remains – to combine CAS Trips’ commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals through ethical service-learning engagements with The Learning Adventure’s extensive experience designing bespoke educational tours across Asia. Since 2022, The Learning Adventure has taken 200 students across 10 schools from the USA, Egypt, and beyond on transformative tours across Asia in conjunction with CAS Trips. The two organisations are committed to ensuring their partnership continues to develop, creating life-changing tours for young people just like the one their mothers embarked upon 51 years ago.

Thank you to all organisations that submitted a nomination this year and to the 2024 slate of judges . The Global Youth Travel Awards continue to inspire the next generation of travel providers, encouraging creativity, sustainability, and responsible tourism across the globe.

Media enquiries WYSE Travel Confederation +31 (0)20 421 2800 communications@wysetc.org

About the Global Youth Travel Awards The Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs) formally recognise outstanding performers in fourteen fields of international youth travel and reward WYSE Travel Confederation members and other stakeholders in the youth, student and educational travel industry who make an outstanding contribution to our industry. The GYTAs began at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) 2011 in Barcelona with a focus on bringing to light the great experiences being provided by members of the community. The Awards ceremony has subsequently been held annually at WYSTC, bar the 2020 and 2021 editions which took place virtually.

About WYSE Travel Confederation The World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation is a global not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for the youth, student and educational travel industry. Founded in 2006 and created from the merger of the Federation of International Youth Travel organisations (FIYTO) and the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) – both formed after World War II to inspire young people through international travel and to help remove cultural barriers – the confederation brings together 60 years of youth travel expertise. From adventure tour operators to au pair agencies, cultural exchange programmes to language schools, hop-on-hop-off buses to student insurance and youth hostels to volunteer programmes, WYSE Travel Confederation is the world’s most powerful network of youth and student travel professionals, connecting key industry players with decision makers and government officials.

The Confederation is committed to understanding the ever-changing characteristics, motivations and needs of young travellers. By gathering, analysing and sharing important market intelligence with members, academics and government decision-makers, the unique fast-changing needs of the youth market is at the forefront of its activities as it seeks to accelerate the development of youth travel.

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adops September 13, 2024 General

A Proud Finalist for the 2024 Global Youth Travel Awards

We are thrilled to announce that Volunteering Journeys has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2024 Global Youth Travel Awards in the category of Best Responsible Tourism Initiative! This recognition is a testament to our dedication to making a positive impact through meaningful, responsible travel experiences.

A Milestone Achievement

Being recognized as a finalist in the Global Youth Travel Awards is a significant milestone for us. This award honors organizations that are leading the way in responsible tourism, and we are proud to be in such an esteemed company. The winners will be announced at the gala dinner awards ceremony on September 27, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal, during the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC). Whether we win or not, this nomination underscores the commitment and hard work of our team and our partners.

What Makes Us Stand Out

At Volunteering Journeys, we are committed to providing not just travel experiences but meaningful connections and sustainable impacts. Our programs span across Women’s Empowerment in India , Medical Volunteer in Sri Lanka , Teaching Volunteer in Nepal, Medical Internships in Peru , Wildlife Conservation in South Africa, and Healthcare Volunteering In Costa Rica , where we engage in a variety of impactful initiatives. Here’s what sets us apart:

Responsible Volunteering

We offer wildlife volunteering and conservation internships abroad, ensuring that our projects align with local needs and promote sustainability. Our programs are designed to foster strong bonds with the communities we serve, creating a positive and lasting impact.

Sustainability at Our Core

From reducing carbon footprints to supporting carbon-neutral projects, we are dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in every aspect of our operations.

Ethical and Environmentally Conscious

We recognize the importance of addressing climate change and take proactive steps to measure, reduce, and offset the carbon footprint of our volunteers. By funding carbon-neutral projects, We ensure that our activities contribute positively to the environment.

Immersive and Experiential Travel

We connect enthusiastic volunteers with Welcoming locals, providing an authentic and immersive experience. Volunteers gain a deep understanding of local social and environmental needs and contribute meaningfully to addressing them.

Join Us in Celebrating

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us on this journey. This recognition is not just an award for us; it’s a celebration of our collective effort towards responsible and impactful travel. We invite you to stay tuned for updates and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook as we count down to the awards ceremony. Your support and enthusiasm mean the world to us!

Thank you for being a part of our mission to make travel more meaningful and responsible.

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WYSE Travel Confederation announces 2021 Global Youth Travel Award winners

The 2021 GYTAs included two new awards to address sustainable development in the travel industry: Outstanding Contribution to the SDGs and Best Responsible Tourism Campaign.

Outstanding contributors in the youth and student travel industry were celebrated on Tuesday, 15 February during WYSE Travel Confederation ’s annual Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTA). The winners of the six award categories were announced via a virtual ceremony.

The nominees were either nominated by WYSE Travel Confederation or self-nominated by application, before being reviewed and approved for inclusion in the public vote by the Management Board of WYSE Travel Confederation. Entries for the six categories reflected the challenging past year experienced by the travel and tourism sector, and demonstrated the organisations’ resilience, forward-thinking and passion for the industry.

The 2021 Global Youth Travel Award winners are:

Excellence in Travel Industry News Coverage The PIE

New Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Au Pair in America – DEI Learning Journey Series

Notable Innovation TruTravels – Travel Styles

Best Responsible Tourism Campaign World Nomads – Travel Better

Effective Use of Marketing AuPairCare – Summer Adventures Video Contest

Outstanding Contribution to the SDGs World Nomads – The Footprints Network

Tatiana Rokou

Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.

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