Student Travel Bureau welcomes new VP of Business Development

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Mr. Jose Carlos Hauer Santos, Jr., President of the Student Travel Bureau (STB) announced today that Mr. Peter de Jong will join STB as Vice President, Business Development, on January 1, 2012, operating out of New York and Bangkok. Mr. Santos said: “We are very fortunate to have a professional of Peter de Jong’s caliber and experience join our group of companies. Peter shares our life-long commitment to the student travel industry. Several of our companies and brands will greatly benefit from his expertise and his unique industry network in Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.”

STB operates 70 offices and employs more than 500 staff throughout Brazil. With 40 years of experience and 55,000 clients in 2011, STB is Brazil’s undisputed market leader. It offers Language Travel, High School, Academic, and Work Experience programs in Europe and North America and through its offices in Australia and New Zealand.

Said Santos: “STB is all about quality and customer care. We strive to be the best in everything that we do; this requires constant innovation and investment. It is now time to develop new opportunities in North America and assess emerging opportunities in Asia for our customers; Peter’s expertise in these areas will be indispensable.”

“It feels like I am returning to my roots,” said Mr. de Jong, “This is a unique opportunity to re-connect with two of my passions: the student travel industry and Brazil. I have followed STB closely for the past 25 years and have witnessed its amazing growth from a small company to an industry leader. Contributing to its ongoing success will be a real pleasure.”

Currently, de Jong is Senior Partner at Travel and Tourism Strategies, Inc. (TTSI), a global travel industry consulting group. From 2001 to 2008, he served as President and CEO of PATA, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, based in Bangkok. Prior to that, he served for ten years as Director General of FIYTO, the Federation of Youth Travel Organizations, based in Copenhagen. From 1985 to 1990, Mr. de Jong lived and worked in Sao Paulo, Brazil.