Our Travel Safety Protocol

In April 2024, 17 participants were in Dubai for their annual study program. During their stay, the city experienced heavy rainfall, leading to catastrophic flooding. With roads submerged, the group faced the possibility of missing several academic and cultural visits.

Our dedicated ISPer on the ground quickly adapted, reaching out to upcoming speakers to reschedule sessions and identifying alternative cultural events that were accessible despite the weather. Thanks to their resourcefulness, the group was able to maintain a rich and engaging program, ensuring minimal disruption and a meaningful experience despite the challenging circumstances.

In December 2023, a group of undergraduate students were visiting Prague when an active shooting occurred at the Faculty of Arts building of Charles University, located near Old Town Square.

The ISP team member on-site acted swiftly, gathering the group and guiding them back to their hotel, where they stayed safely until authorities resolved the situation. Throughout the rest of the program, our team closely monitored the situation, ensuring the group stayed informed and updated.

On this week-long European program in fall of 2021, one student out of a group of 15 tested positive during the required daily testing. The student was quarantined in their room; individual hotel rooms were already in place for the program. The program was managed by one of our trusted, local partners and they ensured calm and assured care was given to the group. ISP ensured the individual had everything they needed during their 5-day isolation and the participant was tested daily until they were negative. The rest of the program went on without being affected thanks to our prompt and efficient work with the local partner.

Throughout the COVID pandemic, our team was committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants. If a participant showed symptoms of illness, our staff coordinated with local health authorities to manage the situation. This often included quarantining the affected participant or, when necessary, other members of the group. We provided full support, arranging transfers, translation services, and extended stays when required. ISP staff and the university’s trip leader worked closely to ensure all necessary steps were handled seamlessly.

Our expertise in managing these contingencies enabled us to successfully restart travel in the latter half of 2021. After a temporary halt in 2020 and early 2021, we ran 14 programs with 365 participants across 9 countries, including the UAE, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Estonia, Israel, Panama, Denmark and the USA. Thanks to our trusted protocols and strong client relationships, these trips were safe, smooth and well-received by students and faculty alike.

A program consisting of 18 Executive MBA students and two faculty members was underway in Rome and Florence, with Paris planned as the third destination. An hour after the attack, ISP alerted the professors and together, reached an agreement regarding the next steps.

The faculty members were briefed and collectively agreed on the next steps. An informative meeting with students was arranged to clarify the situation. We had to cancel the Parisian leg of the trip and diverted the return flight from Paris to Milan. ISP arranged everything and reacted calmly, showing that the well-being and safety of our clients is our top priority. We ensured the safe return of the students with no impact on the quality of the trip.

A group of 50 business students were in Beijing & Shanghai for a 10-day trip. While in-flight to Tokyo for the connecting flight to Beijing, a magnitude 9 earthquake hit Japan, unleashing a tsunami. All incoming flights had to divert as Tokyo’s airport closed. The flight was rerouted to a US naval base in southern Japan. ISP immediately set up an emergency email group connecting family members, students, faculty and ISP.

The group had to stay on the plane for over 24 hours, during which ISP was able to communicate with students and provide a link to their school. Through quick thinking and many conference calls, we were able to successfully reschedule the program and it turned out to be one of the most successful in ISP’s history.

Between March and June 2010, a series of volcanic eruptions from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull disrupted air travel across Northern Europe, grounding all flights and closing airports indefinitely. Despite the uncertainty, ISP quickly devised a solution to ensure the group’s safety. Through close collaboration with the client and our trusted partners, the group was safely transferred from Stockholm to Copenhagen via the most suitable alternative arrangements.

Through careful coordination, ISP secured a full refund from the airline, which covered the additional costs of transportation. Moreover, we turned the journey into an opportunity by incorporating extra learning experiences along the way, transforming a potential crisis into a memorable and enriching experience for everyone involved.