‘Group travel is not a democracy!’
By Chris Babb
Mount Rushmore
I was lucky to grow up in a family that was in the travel business.
My father founded The Group Tour Company, which I now own,
in 1975, just prior the United States Bicentennial celebration in
1976. So as a kid I spent a lot for time traveling along the East
Coast, exploring our nation’s most historic sites.
I have great memories of those trips and am grateful for the
experiences. However, my brother and I were not always the
most cooperative tourists, and we often complained about
being dragged from site to site. My parents considered each
family trip research for potential tour programs, and they fit as
many activities into an itinerary as was possible.
Our trip one summer to Yellowstone National Park is part of
family history. Driving through South Dakota to visit Mount
Rushmore, my father realized we could see the monument
without entering the park, so to save time we would simply
slow down and keep driving. Imagine iconic Mount Rushmore
as a drive-by attraction!
My brother and I protested, wanting a chance to stretch our
legs. Thinking fast, my mother told Dad she had promised us
hot chocolate when we stopped, and she did not want to break
that promise.
My father, unwilling to tolerate our escalating protest, stopped
at Mount Rushmore. Getting back in the car to continue
our journey, Dad turned to my brother and me and said,
“Remember, group travel is not a democracy!”
It was the first of many lessons I learned and leads me to a
golden rule when planning student travel: Do not put too
much into an itinerary and allow for unplanned stops and
detours. Unexpected experiences, like hot chocolate at Mount
Rushmore, can become lasting memories—and perhaps
become part of family lore.
56 NTA Trip Planner for Student Travel
A few years ago, when I was with a school group at Arlington
National Cemetery, one student shared that his grandfather, a
World War II veteran, was buried at the cemetery. With flexible
time built into the program, the entire group was able to join
him in placing a flag at Grandpa’s gravesite. For many of the
students and their parents, this was the highlight of their trip.
In over 25 years of developing sightseeing programs for
students, I know that a tour operator can help you when
planning a trip. Similar to hiring an architect to design a house,
a tour operator is an expert in designing and managing a tour
program. We have access to unique, educational opportunities
and provide insights into activities that have resonated with
other groups. Also, a tour operator can pair the right guide to
your group, one who will entertain and enlighten the students.
A student trip should be educational, but it’s also an
opportunity for young people to have a shared experience and
to broaden their horizons. For students, that first trip without
their family can be a life-changing event. It can give them the
confidence to explore other new experiences, further their
education and broaden their world view.
The travels of my youth, both with family and with peers, led
me to the world of theater and helped grow my knowledge
through shared experiences. Travel has given me a better
understanding of my place in a ever-changing world.
Chris Babb, president of The Group
Tour Company, designs custom
programs for groups traveling to his
hometown of Washington, D.C., and
beyond. Contact him at chris@
grouptourcompany.com.