EDUCATION

SYTA Summit education is exclusively created and designed for Business Owners and Senior Executives, providing opportunities to network, learn, and discuss critical issues facing the student travel industry and incorporate the values of SYTA’s Responsible Travel initiatives. Attending the Summit earns valuable credits towards earning or renewing your CSTP.

The Summit Committee is developing the education sessions which will be added to the website as speakers are confirmed. If you have education session ideas, please email ksummers@syta.org.

FRIDAY

General Session: Thought Leader

Friday, Janaury 17, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Location: Hacienda 1-Paloma III

Unleash Your Creativity: Empowering Your Team to Take Risks and Innovate

What does it take for an organization to thrive—not just survive—in today’s environment? If you think it’s connected to the value your organization offers, you’re not wrong. The problem is that with increasing competition and a rapidly changing environment, you need to think and act differently. And

that requires risks. However, most people don’t know how to take risks, so they avoid them and continue with what they believe to be the safe route.

Join this pioneering thought leader and awardwinning wildlife photographer as she shares her images and insights on embracing risk and fostering innovation. Drawing from her remarkable adventures across all seven continents,
Sheri will reveal three crucial lessons she learned throughout her career.

Key Takeaways

1. Learn how to unleash your creativity and incorporate trial and error into developing new ideas.

2. Understand a new framework for thinking differently and asking the questions needed to innovate.

3. Hear concrete examples of how organizations have used Sheri’s approach to thinking differently to generate increased sales and revenue.

Sheri Jacobs is a highly sought-after keynote speaker who has helped thousands of people unleash their creativity by understanding how to take risks.

Leveraging her role as a seasoned CEO, her work with over 300 companies and organizations, and her achievements as an award-winning wildlife photographer, Sheri helps people and teams learn how to take risks and solve some of the toughest challenges they face today.

Click here to read her full bio.

Tour Operator and Supporter Round Up (Two Sessions, attendance required)

Friday, January 17, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

Tour Operators and Summit Supporters will connect with each other on opportunities for the coming year. Tour Operators are asked to attend both sessions. Supporters will be divided between each session.

Lunch and Learn: Kickstart Your Sustainability Program

Friday, January 17, 2025 | 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Location: Hacienda 1-Paloma III

Speakers:

John Sutherland, Tourism Cares, moderator

Panelists include attendees from industry segments.

This panel discussion aims to inspire and equip Summit attendees with practical steps to operationalize meaningful travel initiatives. Each of our panelists has approached their sustainability journeys in a different way and have unique stories to tell about how they started incorporating more responsible practices into their business operations. What worked for them? What stumbling blocks did they encounter and how did they overcome them? What is the role of passion, personal investment and stakeholder buy in? How do you operationalize ideas? What is the low-hanging fruit? We’ll present ideas for learning, collaboration and activation. The session will come from a tour operator perspective, but will be relevant to anyone who works with them and wants to begin to implement sustainability strategies of their own. Goals:

Provide, especially for the tour operator segment, various suggestions on how to get started on sustainability: what are the first few steps, challenges, etc.
Reduce barriers and guess work for those who still need to get started or who may have hit a lull
Reflect on the value of the work
Platform best practices of three tour operators

Cultural Tourism and Student Group Travel

Friday, January 17, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM

“Cultural tourism is backed by a desire to discover, learn about and enjoy the tangible and intangible cultural assets offered in a tourism destination, ranging from heritage, performing arts, handicrafts, rituals and gastronomy.” -UNESCO

Summit attendees will spend the afternoon with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), an established sovereign tribe experiencing their history and culture. Learn how you can incorporate these traditions into your student itineraries.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is home to two distinct tribes, the Akimel O’odham and the Xalychidom Piipaash, more commonly known as Pima and Maricopa. The Community encompasses over 52,600 acres, shares a Scottsdale address and is bordered by the cities of Mesa, Tempe and Fountain Hills.

Discover Salt River is the tourism division for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Tourism helps to promote the Talking Stick Entertainment District, home to Salt River Fields, Talking Stick Resort, Medieval Times, and much more.

SATURDAY

General Session: Thought Leader

Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Innovations in Engaging Students in Climate Issues in the Field Clare will share the results of a multi-year study focused on how educators in schools (and their partners) are equipping and empowering students to take action in response to climate change. Clare’s research highlights both the skills and the kind of opportunities that educators and schools are increasingly seeking to develop when they partner for climate-focused learning beyond their campus. Clare is the Executive Director of the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG) and supports their 375 member schools and districts. She has written and spoken on many topics relating to global and intercultural competencies in K-12 education around the world. She teaches intercultural learning and leadership at the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University where she also conducts research on student climate action. Prior to beginning her tenure with GEBG in 2018, she spent 8 years at the Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia as the Founding Director of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship and the Director of Strategic Planning.

To read Claire’s full bio, click here.

Tour Operator and Supporter Round Up (Two Sessions, attendance required)

Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 11:00 AM -12:15 PM

Tour Operators and Summit Supporters will connect with each other on opportunities for the coming year. Tour Operators are asked to attend both sessions. Supporters will be divided between each session.

Lunch and Learn: AI and Responsible Travel

Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm

In this presentation, Andrew McCauley will explore the critical reasons why embracing AI is no longer optional for businesses in the tourism Industry. He will highlight how AI-driven technologies can streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and provide personalized, data-driven insights that drive growth. Through real-world examples, McCauley will demonstrate how AI can automate tasks, improve engagement through chatbots, and offer innovative solutions to increase efficiency and accessibility. Using these examples, McCauley will show how AI can help you build a culture of Responsible Travel for your organiztion. By the end of the session, participants will understand the profound impact AI can have on staying competitive and future-proofing their business in an ever-evolving industry.

Andrew McCauley is the Website Manager at Visit Greater Palm Springs, where he specializes in leveraging AI to enhance the tourism experience. With 18 years of experience in digital marketing, the last 5 of which have been focused on AI implementation, Andrew has become a key player in driving innovation in the tourism sector. He has led the integration of AI-driven chatbots, Data analysis using AI, and A/B testing platforms to improve user engagement and website performance. In addition, Andrew frequently leads presentations on the transformative power of AI in small business, sharing his expertise with a variety of audiences, including tourism professionals and business owners. His work is centered on optimizing digital experiences, increasing accessibility, and developing innovative marketing strategies through AI.

MIM: Education Session and Tour

Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Experience the world famous Musical Instrument Museum and participate in an informative learning session that explores how music can create a global classroom experience and how STEM brings music to life. All attendees will benefit from this hands on learning experience whether you are a tour operator working with music educators or a supplier creating the experiences for your customers. Gain insight on how educators are using museums like MIM to support classroom learning.

SUNDAY

Certification Workshop

Sunday, January 19, 2025 | 8:30AM – 4:00PM

Location: Hotel

Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in risk and safety management. This workshop will cover key concepts and practical applications while providing hands-on activities to encourage collaboration and creativity. It is free to attend, and multiple attendees from the same company are welcome.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

Learn from experienced facilitators who are experts in the field.
Participate in group discussions and networking opportunities.
Engage in practical exercises that reinforce the material taught.
Receive valuable resources and tools to take back to your team.

Whether your company is at the beginning stages or highly experienced with risk and safety management, this workshop is tailored to meet your needs. Don’t miss this chance to develop your policies and processes while working with peers and content experts!

What I Will Learn:

Crisis Simulation
Crisis Response Plan development
Consumer Protection
Tax and Financial
Supplier Assessments
Accessibility Understanding
CSTO Certification Standards (specific to tour operators but beneficial to all)

A detailed agenda will be posted in early December.

Who Should Attend:

Tour Operators working towards or interested in their CSTO Certification
Tour Operators and Suppliers who are looking to improve upon their current risk and safety management procedures

Steve Maehl, Global Travel Alliance

It was over ten years ago that I attended my very first SYTA Summit. I learned a lot, and made new friendships, but what impressed me the most was discovering an organization that desired to come together to collectively improve our industry and continually works together to change young lives for good through travel.

Kara Mihalevich, President, Adventure Student Travel, LLC

To me, SYTA Summit is the most valuable conference that I attend. I always find the educational seminars very useful and because it is a smaller, more intimate conference, you get to build a much deeper relationship with the sponsors. This is also the only conference that I have ever really had the opportunity to get to know other attendees. I absolutely LOVE SYTA Summit!

Dr. Michael A. Mazzarisi, President, Performing Arts Consultants

The best part of a SYTA SUMMIT is that it provides the opportunity for travel professionals to meet in a conversable setting without the pressure of a 7 minute meeting or have to deal with the barrage of conference masses. Every tour operator has unique abilities, and since I am a big proponent of partnerships, SUMMIT becomes an ideal network to forge plans for new and exciting joint ventures.

Tara Hippensteel, National Director of Tourism, City Cruises

SYTA Summit provides an unique opportunity to get up close with my SYTA partners and many of our buyers. The environment lends itself to a causal, natural environment – no pressure just building my network!