People to People Student Travel to Provide WiFi Hotspots on 2015 Student Trips
SPOKANE, Wash., March 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Our growing reliance on technology has created a new phenomenon among our youth. Magazines like Seventeen are calling it a "fear of being offline," or FOBO. Those scary moments when there is no connectivity or even worse, no battery power!
People to People, a leading student travel provider, plans to address this growing need among its travelers by providing free WiFi for most travel groups starting in the summer of 2015. Teacher leaders in each high school travel group will have cellular hotspots available so students can stay connected. This will help students stay in touch with friends at home and for parents to follow their kids as they explore the world. Student travelers will more easily get help with travel struggles or health and safety issues. Worried parents will hear from their kids more often.
With destinations on all seven continents and unique cultural experiences for students, People to People's student travelers often find themselves in areas with poor connectivity. The WiFi hotspots mean parents will hear from their children more often and know that they're safe, healthy, and having a great trip. The hotspots are being implemented first with high school travel groups, who tend to have a significant need to stay connected to their friends and family.
"More and more, we see our students using Instagram and Facebook to post and upload selfies throughout their trips," says Ralph Baard, vice president of customer experience. "They already live their lives in their online communities. When they travel with People to People, they have the chance to take those connections to a global level."
"We want to help our students make the most of the opportunities we're giving them, and create memories and friendships they can revisit for years to come."
For more information about 2015 student trips, visit PeopletoPeople.com or call 800.669.7882.
People to People's WiFi Q&A
Q: Why make WiFi hotspots available to travelers this year?
A: We want to make it easy for students to share all their exciting travel experiences with friends and family back home through pictures and posts. It eases students' very real "fear of being offline" while also providing reassurance to parents that their children are safe, healthy, and enjoying their trip.
Q: When will students be able to use the hotspots?
A: The WiFi devices will be used during students' downtime: riding on the group bus, after mealtimes, or during free time in the hotels or shopping areas. The rest of the time, they'll be busy enjoying the places they've traveled the world to experience!
Q: Will students use the devices in areas where WiFi is already available?
A: No, students should take advantage of free WiFi when it's available in hotels, restaurants, and other sites. The provided hotspots are meant to enable free connection for students while in transit or other areas where WiFi is not available.
About People to People Ambassador Programs
People to People Ambassador Programs is the world's most recognized student educational travel provider. Since the 1960s, more than 500,000 people from around the world have traveled with People to People to help further global understanding through cross-cultural exchange. Offering unmatched safety measures and unparalleled access to foreign cultures and countries, People to People promotes personal success in a globalized world and provides immersive cultural experiences for both students and professional adults. For more information, please visit www.peopletopeople.com.
Media Contact
Ralph Baard
509.568.7424
[email protected]
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150303/179192
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SOURCE People to People Ambassador Programs
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