ALTO Newsletter December 2021

At the beginning of 2021 many of us had hopes that we would see the end of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recovery of our businesses. As the year draws to an end, we find ourselves having to dig deep to find pockets of optimism after another tough year, and we find ourselves facing more uncertainty with a New Year which looks like getting off to an equally difficult start.
It is in these trying circumstances, however, that we all appreciate the sense of community and friendship that being part of ALTO brings, and we remain focused and determined to rebuild the industry ever stronger and closer.

Throughout the pandemic ALTO has remained true to its core values of bringing together the leaders of the study travel industry to learn from and share with each other, and also to benefit from experts in other fields, to discuss pertinent issues and the challenges facing us all, and to retain and build on those vital networks.

We hope you will join us in looking forward to 2022 with cautious optimism, aware of the many challenges which could derail our fledgling recovery but prepared to tackle them head on, armed with the benefit of a strong network of schools, agents, associations and service providers who are prepared to pool their considerable knowledge and experience to ensure our industry emerges strengthened and reinvigorated, ready to serve the generations of future students.

If you are a business owner or decision maker within your company, please read more about our plans for next year ALTO Where Leaders Meet 2022 and contact Reka Lenart Association Manager who will be happy to help you.

From all of us here at ALTO we wish you a restful holiday and hope the New Year brings light and hope to us all!

The ALTO Board

Headlines from the newsletter:

ALTO Conference Rome 22nd – 24th April 2022
Best Practice Guidelines and Mediation Panel
ALTO Trends Barometer and ALTO Pulse
Welcome to new member St Andrew’s College Language Schools and AMTE Mexico
Past event report: ALTO face-to-face event Berlin
Season’s Greetings

ALTO Conference Rome 22-24 April 2022

The ALTO annual conference is open to members and non-members as well. It’s a 2 day leadership event of top quality professional development, round table and industry panel sessions, social programmes and networking opportunities.
Please register at your earliest to guarantee your place at the conference hotel.
Ci vediamo a Roma!

ALTO Best Practice Guidelines

ALTO has always been at the forefront of creating a more professional international education industry for us all by bringing all players together and allowing agents, schools, associations and service providers to strengthen each other via information and idea exchange.

The aim of the ALTO Best Practice Guideline is to create a framework for organisations within the international education industry, where each acknowledges and accepts their reciprocal commitments to work as true partners.

ALTO Mediation Panel scheme

The mediation scheme is available to ALTO members and is included in the membership fees.
We would like to highlight that the main purpose of this free and volunteer service is to help members come to a mutual agreement in case of a dispute without having to go through expensive legal procedures.

ALTO Trends Barometer and Pulse report

The Trends Barometer is a data collaboration platform that was developed by the association to assist the international educations industry with insights into measurable trends showing weekly arrivals data at course providers around the world. The project is open to members and non-members, read more and register at the button below.
Please note that due to late submission of survey answers, the ALTO Pulse Q4 2021 report will be published in January 2022. We will reduce the number of reports to biannually from next year. If you’re not familiar with the project, please read more here.

Welcome to our new members

St Andrew’s College Language Schools
St Andrew’s College Language Schools was established in 2002, their main office is in Glasgow City Centre.
They offer summertime, residential English language lessons with a cultural programme, for young learners aged 11-18, across Scotland and England. Our locations are currently Ayr, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Leeds, Nottingham, Colchester, Gloucester, Canterbury, Brighton, Kent and London.
Read more and find their contact details on their ALTO page profile – St Andrew’s College Language Schools

AMTE Mexico
The Mexican Association of Educational Tourism, A.M.T.E, was founded in 2012. The association aims to promote the culture of international education and seeks to professionalize the industry. The association is formed by the most important educational travel agencies in Mexico, internationally renowned schools and service providers who are innovating the education scene. We also count on the support of international organizations and all of them are fully committed to the development of our industry at a global level.
Read more and find their contact details on the ALTO page profile – AMTE

ALTO back to face-to-face events in Berlin

ALTO members were thrilled about the opportunity to meet up before the recent ICEF Berlin workshop to hold a Round Table session and enjoy dinner together.
Our leaders discussed their out look on the Junior market in 2022, how technology has changed the way they run their businesses and how to keep staff members engaged and committed while they work from home.
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming ALTO events in 2022!