schooltoursofamerica




STA TRIPSolutions

Travel with CONFIDENCE

THE STA PROMISE

 

STA is moving forward, but standing firm! As group leaders and communities begin to return to class, we are moving forward, together, to talk about what our next trip will look like.  We are thrilled to announce our innovative TRIPSolutions to help in every step of the tour process, with a primary focus on health and safety.

ON THIS PAGE:

1. Confidence for your travelers
2. Confidence for your planning
3. Confidence in our policies

 

 

CONFIDENCE FOR TRAVELERS

TRIPStrong
To create a strong and safe approach to the next trip for every participant, each Group Leader may designate a free “wellness chaperone” to accompany their tour and provide support if needed.  This can be a school nurse or other health care professional. This is in addition to the other chaperones on the trip.  This is what we call a win-win!

TRIPShield
For those who may not have selected the Payment Protection Program at the time of registration, the TRIPShield provides a waiver for you to enroll at any time from now until 120 days before your departure date.  Our “no questions asked” add-on program offers a 100% refund (less the program cost) should you need to cancel for any reason!

TRIPSafe
STA continues to partner with authorized and approved vendors and suppliers to ensure that every staff member is certified to meet our standard of excellence. We have a broad network of safety resources, including on-call physicians, who can meet the group at the hotel, and if necessary, access to the region’s first-rate hospitals. As you review our new safety policies, protocols, and procedures, please note that we continue to adapt dynamically as we monitor the latest information and standards from government agencies, the education community, suppliers, and vendors.

TRIPSwag
These individual travel kits for every participant feature a custom STA drawstring bag for personal items, a protective mask, hand sanitizer and an individual lanyard with emergency card

 

 

CONFIDENCE FOR YOUR PLANNING

Experienced Coordinators

Our Tour Coordinators create the perfect, flexible itinerary for you – and then our local, expert guides, drivers, and staff will adjust your schedule, if necessary, to maximize sightseeing while maintaining guidelines for capacity management, driver hours, social distancing, masks, and more.

Prepared Staff

Our staff is trained with the latest safety protocols and STA certified before they work with your group.  “Safety first” for our travelers and staff at all times. We are with you every step of the way; from the moment the tour begins until it ends.

Secured Sites

Because each destination, site or venue, will likely have their own safety protocols in place, our local teams on the ground are now more important than ever. These expert drivers and guides will be prepared for each itinerary, ensuring that the integrity of the tour is maintained and your students get the experience they deserve.

Charter Promise

In order to be an approved vendor, our private coach partners must meet our health and safety standards. This includes protocols for maintaining a clean environment throughout the day, as well as guidelines for loading luggage, seating policies, and boarding/deboarding procedures.

Clean Airlines

While each airline has slightly different processes and protocols in response to COVID-19, all are deep cleaning. Other actions may include reduced seating allocation and face covering requirements while on board. Additionally, when available, food service on the plane may be limited to pre-packaged meals, typically snack foods.  Up-to-date information is available from each airline. Here are examples of the new safety protocols of some of our major carriers: United, American.

Selective Food Service

STA selects local restaurants that offer enhanced food safety and hygiene.  This includes new policies like avoiding guest handling of food at buffets, enhanced cleaning/disinfecting, implementing physical distancing with table spacing and possible meal planning modifications like boxed meals.

Hotel Coordination


Our hotel partners have implemented processes focused on enhanced disinfection and deep cleaning practices, as well as increased level of frequency. There is also guidance for all areas of the hotel with a specific focus on high-frequency touch points and common areas. This advanced detailed protocol is a requirement for all of our hotel suppliers.  We are also offering affordable rooming upgrades for participants who request different room occupancy.

CONFIDENCE IN OUR POLICIES

Sometimes it is hard to predict what things may be like next year. You can feel confident that we have updated protocols and procedures in place. So what will 2021 travel look like?

Will there be temperature checks?

The chaperones (or complimentary health professional) will be asked to facilitate regular temperature checks for the protection of every traveler. Depending on the location and time of travel, there may also be temperature checks at the airport and at certain sites prior to entry.

What if a participant tests positive for COVID-19?

If a participant feels ill with symptoms of COVID-19 (which include fever, chills/aches, shortness of breath, coughing), our team will immediately facilitate movement of the participant to a location where they can safely be separated from others, while simultaneously engaging our On-Call Physicians or a local medical facility to consult on the next steps, testing, and treatment. Next steps would be:



  • Establish and coordinate communication with the participant and the family

  • Facilitate transportation for the participant to a local medical facility

  • Coordinate quarantine arrangements for the participant, in consultation with local health authorities

  • Arrange for transportation for a family member to join the ill traveler

  • Provide guidance to the group to reduce the risk of additional exposure and coordinate testing

  • Initiate thorough and proper cleaning of all necessary areas, such as hotel rooms, and motorcoaches


We will provide the resources necessary to facilitate the recommended treatment, including an isolated, chaperoned location for the participant to recover and arrangements for a new itinerary to return home.

Will we need to wear masks?

STA will provide disposable masks for our participants, as well as reusable masks for our staff.  All participants will need to follow any local, state, or national guidelines, and also follow any site-specific requirements for face coverings, including on the airplane and inside any cultural site or venue that requires a mask. When the group is on the bus or outside in open public areas, you may be able to make a group decision about wearing masks.

 

 

COMMITMENT TO CARE

STA encourages all participants to commit to care for your fellow participants by sharing any symptoms you may be experiencing prior to travel. If you are sick, please stay home.