Recently at CCIS, we had the honor to receive the Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) status from the Center for Student Travel Safety. This was a feat that took over a year in the making for us and we now wear it proudly! CCIS is only one of a handful of student and youth travel companies to achieve this status. But what does it really mean?

 To understand where this certification comes from, we must first introduce the Student & Youth Travel Association, or SYTA. SYTA is the “premier professional trade association that promotes student and youth travel worldwide.” CCIS has been a proud member of this Association since its inception in the late 1990’s. CCIS staff attend annual conferences, weekly virtual education sessions and keep up to date on all the industry news through SYTA.

“The Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) is intended to educate the student and youth travel industry on the administration of safety and risk management standards for student and youth travel.

Increasingly, school administrators, educators, procurement officers and parents are seeking ways to evaluate and select student travel companies that meet industry standards and provide them with ways to understand the products and services they are buying from their student and youth travel providers.

SYTA and the Center worked with members, allied organizations, industry, educators and government to develop standards that are actionable and attainable by student and youth travel companies and their staff.”

Safety is always a top priority for CCIS. We have taken the time to meticulously look over all areas of our operation to provide resources to our groups on the road.

The CSTO has a set of standards the company must meet to receive certification. This includes things like background checks for staff, proper business licenses, having a code of ethics and other policies. There are also standards that dive into the different aspects within student travel: Motorcoach, Dinng, Accommodations/Lodging, Security and Activities. We have assessments for all our vendors that are completed by CCIS, as well as our groups! The CSTO is good for three years, and we will re-certify when we get there.  

Being a Certified Student Travel Organization means we take safety and risk management very seriously. We care deeply about the safety of all trip participants and our vendors, and it is expressed within our practices and policies. When traveling with students, our Group Leaders manage multiple facets right off the bat. We believe our safety resources and practices alleviate some of the stress groups face and provide a comfort to student families at home. We will continue to improve and stay up to date on all the best safety practices.