Hilton HHonors Creates Travel Grant Program for Teachers

Hilton Worldwide's loyalty program, Hilton HHonors, has launched a program that offers travel opportunities for a selected group of teachers. The program, called the Teachers Trek Travel Grant Competition, was developed in partnership with the Institute of International Education (IIE). The program will fund 15 teachers to travel and receive first-hand exposure on the subject they teach. This opportunity for teachers will eventually help enrich their curriculum and allow them to share their experiences with students.

Jeff Diskin, executive vice president, Hilton Worldwide, said: "With more than 34 million Hilton HHonors members worldwide, we see firsthand the profound impact travel and cultural experiences can have on people's lives, a philosophy that originated with our founder Conrad N. Hilton. As curators of knowledge, teachers have an invaluable role in inspiring their students to learn about and experience other cultures, and the HHonors Teacher Treks program will help them bring their real-world experiences back to the classroom. Teacher Treks embodies our corporate responsibility commitment to Travel with Purpose and highlights our belief that celebrating cultures can foster greater understanding between people and nations."

Hilton HHonors recently commissioned a survey that revealed that 93 percent of teachers view themselves as 'travelers' and agree that traveling opportunities offer a cultural education that cannot be fully substituted with classroom teaching. Teachers spend an average of 1,200 hours with the students in a year, which gives them an opportunity to do more than just teach. Teachers have the chance to inspire and enlighten the next generation of global citizens. The current program will equip teachers with the tools to share their travel experiences with students, families and local communities.

Allan E. Goodman, president, Institute of International Education, said: "Whether analyzing historic works of art or telling a riveting account of an ancient civilization, teachers are the ultimate conduits to help students expand their world view and cultural literacy. By partnering with a global hospitality company through the Hilton HHonors Teacher Treks Travel Grant Competition, we will help foster increased cultural understanding and support more people around the world to think, act and live as global citizens."

IIE, with its more than nine decades of experience in handling educational and cultural exchanges, will support the program's goals to enhance curriculum by incorporating wider global understanding and internationalize classrooms. IIE will offer cultural training to the selected teachers and support them as they share their experiences with their students.

Photo Credit: Stevekrh19