Mind on the Mission
Unlike much of the business world, the purpose of the alumni travel program is not to make money. What little money the program does make, Albing uses to help fund the college’s other educational programs.
“I could offer river cruises day in and day out and fill them all up,” said Albing. “But that wouldn’t fulfill our mission to reach a broader audience. On the tours, the travelers can learn about what’s happening at the college in a positive way.”
One trip that Albing thought especially exemplified the travel program’s mission was a trip to Paris with an educational focus on the city’s ties to the Founding Fathers.
“It was wonderful because we had travelers in their 80s all the way down to someone who had just graduated,” said Albing. “I’ve been to Paris many times, but I felt I was staring at it through new eyes.”
Albing attributes many of the program’s achievements to the accomplished professors who accompany the trips.
“They are not people who offload their teaching responsibilities to grad students while they research,” said Albing. “Our professors are really strong teachers. They are always the real standouts on the trips.”
Travel Tips
- Know your traveler. Learn all you can about them through both formal market research and anecdotal information.
- Get out and travel. There is no better way to learn about your travelers than to spend time with them.
- Read, watch and listen to everything you can about what is happening in the world.
