Vice President: Adele Youngs

I have served as a volunteer for SYTA since joining in 2008. I was a founding member of SYTA’s International Committee, and subsequently held the role of Chair for three years. As my company is a Dual member, I have served in both Associate and Active leadership roles – in 2010/11 and again in 2018/19, I was appointed as the Associate “At Large” member of the Board of Directors. In 2019, I was elected as an Active Board member, and am currently serving as SYTA’s Secretary on the Executive Board. I am also a member of the European Tour Operator Association’s Advisory Council, a group of 12 industry leaders who advise the executive board and membership on strategy and priorities for the association.

I have worked within student travel all my career. I began whilst still a student myself leading US high school group tours in Europe, and realized first-hand how important travel, and particularly international travel, is to young people – it can truly change their lives. I have undertaken just about every role professionally, from tour guiding, to operations, to product development and running my business, as well as organizing our annual international youth music festival in London.

Please describe other professional or personal experience that would benefit you as a Board member.

I have served on a number of boards and committees throughout my career, both in professional and community organizations. I am a musician and have performed and toured with both orchestras and choirs. Finally, now that my children are teenagers, I get to see student travel through their eyes which keeps me on my toes!

SYTA was the first association my company joined when we started in 2008. The value to us of being members has been immense, and I have always sought to give back in any way I can. I feel that, in this time of existential threat to the student travel industry, my experience as an owner-operator combined with my international connections can help to strengthen the ties that will support us. I have worked as both a vendor and as a buyer; I am based in Europe but have worked with the North American market all my career; I am a long-standing business owner but started in the industry as a tour director at the age of 19. This is a time when we need to continue to grow our networks and work together across sectors, countries and alliances. The challenges we face are immense, but I believe that, by coming together through collaboration on regional, national and international levels, we can find solutions to the problems we face and bounce back even stronger.