WorldStrides, the Largest U.S. Educational Travel Company, and Australia’s Group Events Join Forces
- Written by Julia Given, Vice President of Marketing
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. 9/4/14 — WorldStrides, the largest and most trusted educational travel provider in the United States, has acquired Group Events of Australia. The programs offered by Group Events are now part of WorldStrides’ established lineup of travel enrichment programs for teachers, parents, students, and adults traveling all over the globe. This acquisition is part of WorldStrides’ significant investment in the Australian educational travel market. WorldStrides acquired Melbourne-based Trekset in December 2013.
Founded in 1983, Group Events offers domestic and international student group travel programs in Australia, focused on education, performing arts, and sports. Group Events has provided quality educational travel programs to more than 50,000 students domestically and abroad. Together, Group Events and WorldStrides have more than 70 years of educational travel experience and have served more than six million students worldwide.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Group Events to the WorldStrides family of brands. The union of these two outstanding organizations will enhance the experience of current and future students and offer an even broader range of educational travel opportunities to Australian teachers, students, and international travelers interested in visiting Australia,” said Jim Hall, President and CEO of WorldStrides.
Keith Weber, Managing Director and Founder of Group Events, added, “Our companies have long shared a common mission to provide life-enriching travel experiences to students, and our new partnership will give us the opportunity to make an even bigger impact.” Group Events will maintain its office in Sydney, Australia. Keith and Nolene Weber will be retiring; their daughter Charmaine Edwards will continue directing the current staff and brand.
WorldStrides, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va. The organization has offices in 21 locations around the world including Australia, China, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
About WorldStrides
WorldStrides, founded by a middle school teacher in 1967, is the largest student educational travel organization in the United States and is accredited as a school by the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. WorldStrides specializes in providing educational travel opportunities to approximately 300,000 students annually. More than 5,000 elementary, middle and high schools, and more than 200 colleges choose WorldStrides to provide inspiring lessons beyond the classroom. For more information on WorldStrides, visit www.worldstrides.com.
Founded in 1983, Group Events offers domestic and international student group travel programs in Australia, focused on education, performing arts, and sports. Group Events has provided quality educational travel programs to more than 50,000 students domestically and abroad. Together, Group Events and WorldStrides have more than 70 years of educational travel experience and have served more than six million students worldwide.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Group Events to the WorldStrides family of brands. The union of these two outstanding organizations will enhance the experience of current and future students and offer an even broader range of educational travel opportunities to Australian teachers, students, and international travelers interested in visiting Australia,” said Jim Hall, President and CEO of WorldStrides.
Keith Weber, Managing Director and Founder of Group Events, added, “Our companies have long shared a common mission to provide life-enriching travel experiences to students, and our new partnership will give us the opportunity to make an even bigger impact.” Group Events will maintain its office in Sydney, Australia. Keith and Nolene Weber will be retiring; their daughter Charmaine Edwards will continue directing the current staff and brand.
WorldStrides, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va. The organization has offices in 21 locations around the world including Australia, China, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
About WorldStrides
WorldStrides, founded by a middle school teacher in 1967, is the largest student educational travel organization in the United States and is accredited as a school by the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. WorldStrides specializes in providing educational travel opportunities to approximately 300,000 students annually. More than 5,000 elementary, middle and high schools, and more than 200 colleges choose WorldStrides to provide inspiring lessons beyond the classroom. For more information on WorldStrides, visit www.worldstrides.com.