Travel Guard Launches Student Travel Safety Campaign

Global travel insurer, Travel
Guard, has unveiled a new comprehensive student travel safety campaign designed
to increase the awareness of preparations traveling students should consider
before embarking on study abroad or school-sponsored trips to international
destinations.

As a cornerstone of the campaign, Travel Guard has created a
dedicated microsite with engaging videos depicting common safety scenarios
and advice along with safety-focused tips around topics such as travel
choices, beach trips and nightlife.

The initiative was developed with the keen understanding
that students may not have a significant amount of global travel experience,
and their chosen housing, transportation and activities during their journeys
may negatively impact their risk profiles. One example is that students
traveling on shoestring budgets may choose accommodations or transportation
less secure than other options.

The branding of the Depart Smart travel safety training is a
nod to the non-profit organization founded by Sheryl Hill, who lost her son
Tyler to a preventable death while overseas on a student-abroad trip in 2007.
Sheryl made it her mission to arm students with travel safety skills and
contingency plans for international trips and study-abroad programs. After
years of advocating improve student travel safety, she passed the torch to
Travel Guard.

“Early on, we realized how closely aligned Sheryl’s mission
was with our own goals for travel safety advocacy, and we’re honored to carry
on her legacy by offering Depart Smart training and resources for free to
student travelers,” said Rhonda Sloan, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales
and Marketing, Travel Guard.

She added, “International travel for educational
opportunities is popular among students of all ages, but given the increased
risks they face while traveling, more can be done to enhance their safety and
wellbeing.”

As a travel safety advocate, Travel Guard is focused on
leveraging its experience to provide students and their families guidance and
resources to ensure the student travel experience is safe and academically
rewarding.

The Student Travel Safety campaign includes resources that
empower and encourage students to take ownership of research and planning for
their trip, tips for parents on how to best align with trip organizers, be
aware of potential risks and provide resources for schools and chaperones.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.