(Virginia Beach, Va., Nov. 4, 2014) – The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is proud to announce that Virginia Beach has been selected to host a series of high-level meetings and an educational forum for the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA), North America’s leading membership association for businesses that serve the student and youth travel market. Research shows the student and youth travel market is a $185 billion industry worldwide and the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. Student travel represents 25% of the North American motorcoach market. According to a study published in September 2014 by the George Washington University School of Business, the total economic impact of motorcoach business to Virginia Beach was $21.6 million in 2013. The SYTA national board of directors and the SYTA Youth Foundation trustee board will meet in Virginia Beach between Nov. 7 – 11 for a series of meetings which will be highlighted by a “Student and Youth Travel Industry Forum” on Monday, Nov. 10 at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Presented by SYTA and the Virginia Beach CVB, this forum is designed to educate and inform those interested in growing their student and youth travel business. Registration includes a networking breakfast, a panel discussion followed by a Q&A and a presentation of data on the global and North American student travel market. For more information and to register, visit www.sytafoundation.org/events. “We are delighted to be hosting SYTA,” said Ron Kuhlman, CVB Vice-President of Tourism Marketing & Sales. “The Virginia Beach CVB’s commitment to this emerging market has defined Virginia Beach as one of the top East Coast destinations for student and youth travel. Our sales teams have been diligent and proactive in creating awareness of this niche market for some time now which is evidenced by SYTA’s decision to meet in Virginia Beach,” Kuhlman added.