ISTC begins Skills Exchange Programme in Cambodia

Jan. 20, 2011 - PRLog -- Created by ISTC* (a sector association of the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation) and based on a pilot project proposed by STAY WYSE  (the WYSE Travel Confederation sector association for youth travel accommodation), the ISTC Skills Exchange brings together an existing  STAY WYSE member and a hostel in a country with a less-developed youth travel infrastructure.

“The goal is to help hostels in developing areas around the world improve their businesses in areas such as sales, marketing, branding, strategy and operations, and by extension create more opportunities for youth and student travel. The more developed operators also benefit greatly by receiving added exposure along with opportunities to develop partnerships and relationships globally,” according to Robin Wicks, Director General of the WYSE Travel Confederation.

There’s one week to go before the inaugural project officially kicks off and the first participants – umiHotels from the UK and Rosy Guesthouse in Cambodia – have been selected and are busy with preparations.

To keep tabs on the progress of the skills exchange, ISTC and STAY WYSE have created a blog: www.istc.wordpress.com.

To participate in a future ISTC Skills Exchange, please contact Laura Daly at l.daly@wysetc.org.

*ISTC, the International Student Travel Confederation, provides a forum for the world's leading student travel providers to define student travellers' needs and to develop products and services which address students' unique travel and international education ambitions. ISTC is a founding member of WYSE Travel Confederation.

STAY WYSE is a global forum and trade association for organisations involved in youth accommodation. STAY WYSE not only prepares cutting edge research on the importance of the youth accommodation sector; it also supports members’ ability to learn from each other by offering unparalleled trading, networking, and marketing opportunities. More information can be found at www.staywyse.org.

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About WYSE Travel Confederation

Both ISTC and STAY WYSE are part of WYSE Travel Confederation, a nonprofit membership association that supports the global youth, student and educational travel industry. It is endorsed by the UNWTO. Its annual event, the World Youth and Student Travel Conference, takes place this year 20-23 September. More information can be found online at www.wystc.org. Industry and event news can also be tracked at www.blog.wystc.org and www.twitter.com/WYSTC.

World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation
Keizersgracht 174-176 1016 DW Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Contact: Jeff Funnekotter - j.funnekotter@wysetc.org
All rights reserved 2011