For over 40 years, educators and parents have chosen us to make music and memories with their students, entrusting us with the safety of over 700,000 students on 9,000 trips. Safety on tour is our top priority – that’s why we continually evaluate and expand our safety protocols to ensure that educators, students and families feel informed, equipped and protected while everyone is traveling.
In fact, we’ve earned the Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) designation from the Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA). This designation has been awarded to just a handful of companies that have met or exceeded the minimum of 25 safety standards established by the Center and SYTA.
Here’s how we constantly work to keep our travelers safe:
Trip Design: Safety Is Part of Every Trip We Build
One of the best ways to ensure safety is to build it into the trip itself. As part of our commitment to safety:
- A professional, on-site tour director and private, night-time security services are offered to every group.
- Our on-call staff is available 24/7 to address any on-trip concerns.
- All our motor coach partners adhere to strict USDOT standards.
- We carry insurance coverage and a consumer protection plan over and above the levels recommended by the Student & Youth Travel Association.
Preparation: The Root of Safe Travel
Much of safe travel is about the steps we take before you depart. Awareness, training and preparedness are all key. Here are some of the steps we take:
- Background checks – All Tour Directors are screened via background checks, as well as all BRT-affiliated adults traveling with our Ambassadors of Music program.
- Tour Director training – Our Tour Directors receive group safety training, as well as ongoing continuing education throughout the year. Additionally, all Tour Directors must complete the student safety training course through our Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) accreditation.
- Ongoing research – We continue to research all destinations, sharing information with you proactively as needed. And we receive real-time alerts from sources like Notify Chicago, Notify NYC, NotifyLA and Alert DC.
- Crisis Management Plan – We have developed and adhere to a thorough Crisis Management Plan. Employees and Tour Directors are trained on this plan, and the latter have a copy of it with them on all trips.
Global Safety Monitoring
We’ve been traveling internationally with students for more than 40 years, taking educators and students to 25 countries (and counting!). Beyond the protocols of our Crisis Management Plan, we take additional proactive steps to make sure our international groups are traveling safely:
International Advisory Monitoring – Through our partnership with the Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA) and National Tour Association (NTA), we actively monitor State Department travel advisories, as well as CDC health alerts.
State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program – Our key team members are enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a program allows the Department of State to quickly disseminate key updates so that we can keep our travelers updated. A few examples:
- Real-time updates about health, weather, safety, and security in the country
- Information from the local U.S. embassy
- Quick access for the embassy or consulate to contact you if there’s an emergency such as a natural disaster, civil unrest or a family emergency
Trusted Partners in Safety
Working with leaders in the student travel industry provides us with safety best practices that are constantly reviewed and updated, allowing us to stay one step ahead on our own protocols. We’re proud to partner with the following organizations:
- Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA) / Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO)
- National Tour Association (NTA)
- American Bus Association (ABA)
- International Association of Tour Directors and Guides (IATDG)
- International Tour Management Institute (ITMI)
- TripSchool
To learn more about our safety protocols and partnerships or to discover how you and your students can explore the world safely and memorably, reach out to your BRT Travel Consultant today.