World Youth & Student Travel Conference Announces new Conference Director

Jan. 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Amsterdam, Netherlands

WYSTC Announces New Conference Director

The World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Palmer as conference director for its annual showcase event, the World Youth & Student Travel Conference (WYSTC), being held this year from 20-23 September in Barcelona, Spain.

Mr. Palmer arrives with a wealth of experience in youth and student travel, association management, research, and conference planning. He co-founded SYTA, the Student and Youth Travel Association of North America, and served as its executive director for 11 years.  He also helped found the SYTA Youth Foundation, the Youth Tourism Consortium of Canada and the Student and Youth Travel Research Center at Michigan State University.  He began his student travel work as the co-founder and partner of what came to be one of the largest student tour companies in North America, transporting 50,000 plus students every year.

Mr. Palmer  will continue to serve part time as executive director of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA), the leading professional association for travel research.

“I’m passionate about youth travel and its ability to create a better world,” says Mr. Palmer. “I love what WYSE Travel Confederation is all about, in terms of bringing together the youth and student travel marketplace.”

Mr. Palmer will oversee all aspects of the conference, which is the only global business and networking event for the youth travel industry.

According to WYSE Travel Confederation director general Robin Wicks, “Michael’s leadership and experience are very well suited to the role of conference director – he will not only help us deliver a fantastic event in Barcelona this year, but his appointment signals our determination to make WYSTC the undisputed premier annual event in the industry”.

Details regarding The World Youth & Student Travel Conference can be found at www.wystc.org. Registration opens in late March.

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WYSE Travel Confederation is a nonprofit membership association that supports the global youth, student and educational travel industry. It is endorsed by the UNWTO. Its annual event , WYSTC, takes place this year 20-23 September in Barcelona, Spain.