A WorldStrides trip is more than just a once-in-a-lifetime cultural and learning experience; each and every traveler is backed by the strength of North America’s largest and most trusted educational travel organization. Below is just a sampling of the support services WorldStrides provides to individuals and groups.
Insurance: Liability and Financial Security
- Liability Insurance – WorldStrides’ insurance is the largest in the industry at $50 million. This coverage extends to certain individuals acting on behalf of WorldStrides as tour directors, program leaders, and chaperones. Your school can be named as additionally insured.
- Extensive Consumer Protection – $1,000,000 in coverage for advance deposits through our USTOA membership.
- Based in North America – WorldStrides is owned by the Carlyle Group, a leading global asset management firm.
- Affordable, Optional Medical and Cancellation Insurance – Access to coverage available for all trip participants. Our policy in Canada provides for cancellation if there is a terrorist incident in the city that is on your itinerary within 90 days of time of travel.
Provincial Registration and Legal Compliance
- Compliance with all Canadian authorities – WorldStrides is registered in accordance with the Travel Industry Act and upholds the standards and policies of this Act. Our registration number with TICO is 50019951.
Risk Management
- Emergency Contact Services – WorldStrides’ on tour support office is open 24 hours a day and staffed with trained professionals ready to assist with any problems or questions during travel.
- Crisis Management Team – Led by a dedicated Director of Risk Management, our team actively monitors world events, International SOS and State Department notices 24/7.
- Emergency Monitoring and Evacuation Services – WorldStrides partners with iJet, a fully integrated risk management company providing world-class threat intelligence, innovative technology and response services.
- Doctors on Call Program – A George Washington University Hospital doctor serves on staff as the WorldStrides Medical Director, overseeing medical response planning for the organization. Through an exclusive agreement with the GWU Department of Emergency Medicine, participants have worldwide, 24/7 phone access to medical support (including phone consultations and translation services).
- Embedded Insurance – All program participants are covered by $7,500 primary medical and dental insurance and$50,000 emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Accreditation and Educational Strength
- WorldStrides is accredited as an educational institution through AdvancED, and is the first travel provider to attain this accreditation, which validates the quality, stability, and educational value of our programs.
- WorldStrides provides educational travel programs for more than 5,000 middle and high schools, 400 universities and 400,000 students annually.
Safe and Secure: A Core WorldStrides Value
- TravelSmart, Travel SafeTM– Worldstrides has its own copyrighted instructional tool with safety guidelines, recommendations and information for all travelers.
- Tour Director Training – Best practices outlined in this document are reinforced by our Tour Directors who are trained to provide a student safety overview at the beginning of each trip including general security procedures.
- Emergency Procedures – WorldStrides has an extensive on the ground support network in all travel destinations to assist in the event safety issues arise. Our Tour Directors have experience working in the countries our students visit and are available to the group 24/7. We are in regular contact with our Tour Directors and others on the ground to provide up to date information to travelers and those at home.