WorldStrides

WorldStrides
Industry Educational Travel
Founded 1967 (1967)
Headquarters Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
(GPS: 38°2′4.2″N 78°29′11.4″W / 38.034500°N 78.486500°W / 38.034500; -78.486500 (WorldStrides Hqtr.s))
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Jim Hall
(CEO)
Services Group travel
Student travel
Educational travel
Divisions WorldStrides Discoveries Programs
WorldStrides OnStage Programs
WorldStrides Capstone Programs
WorldStrides Perspectives Programs
Website WorldStrides.com

WorldStrides is a company that organizes student travel packages for schools. It was founded as Lakeland Tours in 1967 by a middle school social studies teacher.[1] WorldStrides is accredited as a school by Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and AdvancED.[2][3][4] It is a privately held American company, owned by The Carlyle Group, Charlesbank Capital Partners, and Silverhawk Capital Partners.[5][6] WorldStrides is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia and maintains 16 office locations.

History

In the late 1990s, Lakeland Tours, American Student Travel, Educational Field Studies, Heritage Festivals, Bowl Games of America, and Wider Horizons joined together to become WorldStrides.[1] In 2008, WorldStrides merged with Field Studies Center of New York and acquired Accent Travel Group.[7] TravelMBA and New Century Tours joined the company in 2009.[8] Casterbridge Tours joined WorldStrides in 2011 and NETC joined in 2012.[9][10] WorldPass Travel Group joined WorldStrides in 2013.[11]

Divisions

WorldStrides consists of four main divisions, announced in August 2011 as a major rebranding for the company.[12] Programs are grouped into divisions for WorldStrides Discoveries Programs, WorldStrides OnStage Programs, WorldStrides Capstone Programs, and WorldStrides Perspectives Programs. The Discoveries Programs division provides science- and history-themed tours for elementary (primary) and middle (secondary) school groups. The Perspectives Programs division offers middle and high (secondary) school level tours to international destinations. The OnStage Programs (formerly Worldstrides Heritage Performance) offers travel to cheer-leading, band, dance, choir and orchestral groups or participate in competitions, concerts or half-time shows. The Capstone Programs division specializes in college and university travel with a focus on business and professional training.

References

  1. 1 2 "Our History". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Directory of Schools: WorldStrides". Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Directory of Members: WorldStrides". Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "AdvancED Institution Summary: WorldStrides". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "The Carlyle Group Makes Majority Investment in Student Travel Organization, WorldStrides". 5 October 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Charlesbank Capital Partners Acquires WorldStrides". BusinessWire. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "WorldStrides, Charlesbank Portfolio Company, Announces Two Acquisitions: Field Studies Center of New York and Accent Travel". MarketWire. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "WorldStrides Joins Forces with New Century Tours and Acquires TravelMBA". 18 December 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Company Overview of Casterbridge Tours Limited". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "WorldStrides Acquires International Travel Provider NETC". PR Web. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "WorldStrides and WorldPass Travel Join Forces". Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "WorldStrides Announces Rebranding of Divisions". PR Web. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2012.

External links

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