The Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference will hold a special reception to honour youth and student travel-industry leader, Susan Goldstein.
Goldstein recently stepped down as managing director of event management company, WYSTC A/S to form her own firm, Susan Goldstein Associates – an independent consultancy that enables companies, associations and trade shows to maximise product, network and business development.
Goldstein led WYSTC A/S, the event management company behind the joint Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference and the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) for ten years. Under Goldstein’s leadership, the events grew to become the global youth, student and educational travel industry’s two most important annual business-to-business trade conferences.
Susan Goldstein began her career in youth and student travel at Kilroy Travels in Denmark more than 25 years ago. She joined WYSTC in 1999. During her concurrent tenure as managing director of the conference, its event management company, and as acting director general of the Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations, Goldstein became an extremely influential and important advocate for the industry. Speaking regularly at conferences and events around the world, Goldstein continues to champion independent youth travel to the wider global tourism industry. In particular, she has been instrumental in highlighting its value to national tourism bodies, not only in terms of its cultural significance but as an economic driver as well.
“Susan has been a landmark figure within the development of this industry to whom we owe a huge debt,” said STA Travel founder, Dick Porter at a BETA Youth Travel Awards dinner where he recently presented Goldstein with an “Outstanding Contribution to the Industry” Award.
Now in its sixth year, the joint Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual will honour Ms Goldstein at its Friday night farewell reception.
“Susan has played a vital role in building our conference and advancing the industry. It goes without saying, that the event and hence, the business opportunities it delivers, would not exist without her,” says Jack Hompes, chairman of the International Au Pair Association, (IAPA) – co-organiser of the event.
“Susan’s vision and industry knowledge have been a key driver in getting youth, student and educational travel organisations to work together successfully to build their businesses as well as benefit the industry,” says Elizabeth O’Neill, Chair of the WYSE Work Abroad Association- co-organiser of the event.
The Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference’s ceremony for Susan Goldstein will take place during the event’s farewell reception on Friday, March 19th at 4PM at the InterContinental Miami, the conference hotel.
