Douglassville, PA: Stephanie Davis, Tour Manager for EPN Travel Services, and Kurt Hargleroad, Vice President of Educational Programs Network, recently attended the 5^th Annual Student & Youth Travel Association of North America’s (SYTA) Conference in Tysons Corner, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. area from October 19-22, 2001. Approximately 500 delegates from across North America and Europe converged in the Washington, D.C. area to discuss youth travel, which has become the fastest growing market segment in the U.S. travel industry.

The 5^th Annual SYTA Conference provides members with up-to-the-minute demographics, expert information on planning for the future during these difficult times, an arena to network, and educational seminars targeting the specific needs of student and youth travel related companies.

Student travel can focus on anything from educationally oriented tours and music performance trips to graduation trips and foreign language experiences abroad. "Selecting Washington, D.C. as the Host City for the 2001 Annual Conference was a natural for the student & youth travel industry," states Executive Director, Michael Palmer. "The Washington, D.C. area is the number one student & youth travel destination in the United States as identified in SYTA travel surveys. Every year, thousands of domestic and international students travel many miles to see our nation’s capital. Delegates at this years convention were able to experience this popular destination first hand, and support the Washington, D.C. tourism industry while taking advantage of one of the nation’s fundamental freedoms."

The Student & Youth Travel Association of North America is a non-profit, professional association that was formed in 1997. Current active members of SYTA accounted for more than $1.5 billion USD in student and youth travel and have provided trips for over 2.5 million participants in the year 2000. For more information on this topic or upcoming events related to the organization contact the SYTA office at (248) 814-7982 or visit them on-line at www.syta.com.

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