Educational Travel Consortium

The Premier Platform for
Educational & Affinity Group Travel

Connecting institutional travel planners, global operators, tourist boards, and suppliers to design and deliver, impactful, mission-driven group experiences.

The Educational Travel Consortium (ETC) is the premier professional community platform for alumni, museum, zoo, conservation, and nonprofit group travel programs. We bring together an international network of institutional travel planners, vetted group tour operators, global suppliers, and tourist boards to advance the design, operation, and marketing of transformative group travel experiences.

Travel Planners

Whether you manage an educational travel program for an alumni association, university, museum, zoo, conservation organization, or nonprofit, ETC provides the peer network, educational frameworks, and vetted operator and supplies connections you need to grow your program, expand participation, and deliver exceptional experiences to your travelers.

Destinations, Operators, and Suppliers (DOS)

Connect directly with the institutional travel planners who develop and manage educational and affinity travel programs for built-in audiences including alumni, members, and donors — while participating in a professional community dedicated to learning, collaboration, and the future of educational travel.

"Where the people who run educational travel come to learn, connect, and lead."

Elevate Your Program:
Educational Travel Planner Certification

Professional Recognition: Gain professional recognition within the highly specialized field of educational and affinity travel.
Program Management & Risk: Build practical expertise in program management, risk mitigation, traveler experience, and institutional collaboration.
Peer Learning & Industry Exchange: Learn directly from experienced leaders across universities, museums, alumni associations, and nonprofit travel programs.
Educational Travel Program Design: Develop the knowledge and tools to create travel experiences that are educationally meaningful, operationally sound, and culturally grounded.

“I received my Educational Travel Planner Certification through the Educational Travel Consortium (ETC).

Through this training, I have gained the skills and best practices essential for success as a nonprofit educational travel planner, enabling me to effectively create and manage the travel program at my museum.”

Jared Scherer,
Director, Donor Experience & Travel
California Academy of Science

Why Join Educational
Travel Consortium

Webinars & Professional Development: Participate in year-round webinars and virtual discussions focused on educational travel trends, program management, risk considerations, traveler engagement, and emerging industry issues.
Annual Conference & Networking: Connect with planners, operators, destinations, and suppliers through ETC’s relationship-driven conference experience, combining professional education, peer exchange, and structured networking opportunities.
Research & Benchmarking: Access industry benchmarking reports, market insights, and community data that help members better understand program scale, traveler behavior, and trends across the educational and affinity travel sector.
Peer Community & Collaboration: Engage with a trusted professional community where members exchange ideas, share operational insights, discuss challenges, and build long-term partnerships across the educational travel ecosystem.
Travel Intel: Gain access to perspectives and updates from global partners, including destination developments, operational considerations, and emerging opportunities affecting educational travel programs.
Timely Info: Stay informed about evolving travel considerations, including international entry requirements, insurance expectations, safety considerations, and institutional risk management practices.

Inside the Membership Portal: Your 2-Minute Sneak Peak

Get a quick sneak peek at the resources, tools, and opportunities available to Educational Travel Consortium members. Explore what’s inside and see how membership can help you connect, learn, and grow.