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ABOUT US
For the many visitors who want to know a little more about Campus Visit, we've posted the following self-interview. It may satisfy your curiosity ... or even spark you to further inquiry. Either way, feel free to call us or email us with additional questions, ideas, or feedback you may have. What is Campus Visit? Campus Visit, Inc. is a program of Collegia, Inc., providing personalized travel assistance to thousands of Boston-bound families who visit each year specifically to shop for a college. It is a regional initiative uniting area colleges, the tourism industry and civic organizations. This program is part of a collaboration including 19 area colleges and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Who is Collegia, Inc? Since 1995, Collegia has been the leading expert on the campus visit, offering a full menu of products and services designed to enable colleges and universities to build a world-class campus visit experience. Working with regional collaborations as well as individual schools, we position location as a competitive advantage, raising awareness of Boston as 'the Place Where the World Comes To Learn.' Collegia has also developed regional programs for Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lehigh Valley. How does one take advantage of your services? The best way is via our toll-free number, 1-888-99-VISIT. We also publish a 48-page travel guide for Boston-bound visitors, and this web site: www.bostonvisit.com. Who benefits? Most importantly, the 95,000 out-of-state families who travel here each year for a campus visit. And how? Our goals are simple: To make it easier to visit and to insure a more productive, enjoyable experience for those who make the trek. In the words of one recent visitor from North Carolina: "You've helped me be more focused on what we are there for instead of worrying so much about the money and where to stay." How do the colleges benefit? The schools are experts at presenting their own unique story to a prospective student. Yet, they also recognize a major influence in the student's final decision is Boston itself. So if we can help students and parents enjoy their visit to Boston, we've also helped ensure that our partner schools stay near the top of the list. How does the tourism industry benefit? Boston not only has the largest student population in the world; it also has the largest number of out-of-state and foreign students. When they come shopping for a school, they also need a hotel room, plane tickets, meals, and transportation. The economic impact from these first visits alone is $90 million annually. And once the students enroll, their families visit another 8 times on average, driving even more revenue. Campus Visit provides the first opportunity to reach these frequent visitors. Another part of our mission is to market Boston to those who aren't already considering attending school here. This not only generates new leads for area schools, but increases visitor counts and tourism revenue What types of assistance do you offer? We publish expert advice ranging from "Making The Most of Your Campus Visit" to "Trip Planning 101." You'll also find special travel discounts, helpful phone numbers, and financial aid tips. Plus, you can even book a complete visit (train/hotel) with our online Travel Center. In addition, you can call Campus Visit® Travel Desk (888-99-VISIT), a toll free visitor hotline for Boston bound campus visitors which provides one stop travel reservations, and directions to many of the colleges in the area. Who are your partner colleges?
How many visitors are we talking about? Each year, 150,000 high school students come to the Boston area just to look at schools. Roughly 100,000 arrive from out-of-state. When you include their parents and siblings, you're talking an economic impact of $90 million annually (and that's just from this first trip). Our 19 partner colleges and universities are responsible for 90,000 of those 100,000+ out-of-state visiting families. Who actually schedules the visit - parent or child? Nine times out of ten, the parent handles the travel arrangements, while the son or daughter sets up the interview and other on-campus activities. The same survey also revealed that at least one parent comes along on the visit 96% of the time when it's an overnight visit. How important is a campus visit? 71% of students surveyed by Money Magazine rated the campus visit as one of the most useful tools in helping them choose a college. Another survey ranks the campus visit as one of the 5 most important factors students consider when choosing a school (1995 AIC Survey). What role does location play in the decision? Studies always place "location" in the top three of most important criteria. In Boston's case, location is a tremendous advantage. Where else can you find 80 colleges & universities all within a 50 square mile area? There is no other college community in the world with as many students and positive synergism as Boston How can I get a copy of Campus Visit Magazine? Just give us a call at 888-99-VISIT and we'll be happy to send you a copy or you can click here to order your copy online. Do I still need a travel agent? Not really. You'll have a hard time finding a travel agent who knows Boston as well as we do. And now our Campus Visit® Travel Desk (1-888-99-VISIT) can offer complete travel reservations and hotel accommodations. Campus visitors can now enjoy substantial discounts from Amtrak, and a collection of fine Boston-area hotels. |