For over 45 years, educators and parents have chosen Bob Rogers Travel to make music and memories with their students, entrusting us with the safety of over 750,000 travelers in total, and over 50,000 students on hundreds of international trips.
Safety on tour is our top priority. That’s why we continually evaluate and expand our safety protocols to ensure that Ambassadors of Music parents and students feel informed, equipped and protected while everyone is traveling.
In fact, we’ve earned the Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) designation from the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA). This designation has been awarded to only a handful of companies that have met or exceeded the 25 safety standards established by the Center for Student Travel Safety and SYTA.
Here’s how we constantly work to keep our AOM travelers safe:
Trip Design: Safety Is Part of Every Trip We Build
One of the best ways to ensure safety is to build it into the trip itself. As part of our commitment to safety, every Ambassadors of Music trip includes:
- On-site “city coordinators” who are with the group at all times and who know each destination thoroughly.
- A home office staff that’s available 24/7 to address any on-trip concerns.
- Insurance coverage over and above the levels recommended by SYTA.
Preparation: The Root of Safe Travel
Safe travel starts with the steps we take before your child departs. Awareness, training and preparedness are all key. Here are some of the steps we take:
- Background Checks – All tour directors and other BRT-affiliated adults traveling with AOM receive thorough background checks.
- Tour Director Training – Our tour directors receive group safety training, as well as ongoing continuing education throughout the year. Additionally, all Tour Directors must complete the student safety training course through our Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) accreditation.
- Crisis Management Plan – We have developed and adhere to a thorough Crisis Management Plan. Employees and tour directors are trained on this plan, and the latter have a copy of it with them on all trips.
- Proactive Monitoring and Coordination – Before and during every trip, we actively coordinate with local partners, monitor the news, and receive real-time alerts from national, regional and local government agencies.
- Real-time Response – While on tour, our tour directors are in constant communication with our home office team and are fully empowered to make real-time decisions to ensure the safety of our travelers.
Global Safety Monitoring
We’ve been traveling internationally with students for more than four decades, taking student performers to 30 countries (and counting!). Beyond the protocols of our Crisis Management Plan, we take additional proactive steps to make sure our international groups are traveling safely:
International Advisory Monitoring – Through our partnership with SYTA and the National Tour Association (NTA), we actively monitor State Department travel advisories, as well as CDC health alerts.
State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program – Our key team members are enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a program that allows the Department of State to quickly disseminate key updates so that we can keep our travelers updated. A few examples:
- Real-time updates about health, weather, safety, and security in the country
- Information from the local U.S. embassy
- Quick access for the embassy or consulate to contact you if there’s an emergency such as a natural disaster, civil unrest or a family emergency
We want your child to travel safely and confidently, making memories that will last a lifetime. If you need additional information, reach out to your AOM State Coordinator – they are trained and knowledgeable about our safety protocols and will be happy to answer your questions!