Most student tour providers facilitate a system of points tied to benefits offered to group leaders of student and adult tours. These benefits include participation in international teacher conferences that, depending on the various tour providers involved in this venue, can take place over a 4-5 day weekend or a longer experience that may last for two weeks. International conferences allow tour group leaders to experience new destinations, network with others intimately involved in international group travel, and provide an on-going discussion of themes relevant to group travel.
First Class Treatment
For participants that qualify for the conference, the experience is a top-notch “perk.” Tour providers use high quality hotels, often four or five star, provide an excellent meal service that often includes local cuisine, and escorts group leaders to a variety of experiences that may not be a part of normal tour itineraries. A convention in Rome might include a visit to the ancient port city of Ostia; in Stockholm, it might be an afternoon at Skansen.
Benefits of Attending an International Convention
- Evaluating new destinations for future tours
- Meeting other professionals engaged in foreign travel
- Sharing techniques and organizational successes
- Meeting representatives from the tour provider
- Discussing concerns and problems encountered on previous international tours
- Learning from the best local tour guides and tour directors
- Enjoying an unparalleled tour experience
Qualifying for an International Conference
Although most conference attendees will be high school or college educators, many non-educational professionals are discovering the fun of planning, facilitating, and leading a foreign tour. Each tour and each participant adds points to the group leader’s benefits plan (which can vary between tour providers).
Tour group leaders can enroll on an international conference once they have reached the number of points required for any particular conference. Tour providers may also add a caveat. An example would be that enrolling on an international conference is contingent on leading a tour either in the year of the conference or during the next year.
Leading a Foreign Tour
Whether a teacher, pastor, priest, or educational administrator, leading an international tour is worthwhile and rewarding. Although the entire tour process from start to finish can be arduous, it is an opportunity to see the world and begin the process of banking points – or other benefits – that can lead to an international conference.
Tour providers like EF Educational Tours, NETC, CHA, and Passports generally cater to high school or college students yet allow adult groups to enroll as well. EF also maintains an adult tour division called Go Ahead, although these tours are more expensive and structured differently.
Educators, community leaders, and church leaders that understand the full benefits of international travel can benefit personally by leading foreign tours. And the ultimate “perk” is the international conference, an unforgettable experience that serves as a fitting reward for those that introduced the world to students, friends, neighbors, and parishioners.
Join the Conversation