StudentUniverse was founded to make global experiences possible for students and youth; to help students travel more and spend less. It’s been a long and exciting ride, where we’ve formed strong relationships with world-class suppliers, including more than 70 airlines. We’ve negotiated unique pricing and terms for students. At our core, we believe that travel is essential to a modern education and that students return enlightened and inspired. Millions of students use our service every year and we continue to break growth records year-over-year (2015 will be our biggest year ever). We think we’re a bit of a force to be reckoned within the $180+ billion youth and student travel industry. Well, the force is getting stronger.

Teamed up with Flight Centre, we combine our greatest strengths: StudentUniverse’s technology chops (web, mobile, e-commerce) and intimate understanding of the student and youth market with Flight Centre’s international reach, awareness and commercial relationships. We think it’s a great cultural fit and we’re excited to join the Flight Centre family. We will still operate as StudentUniverse.

With Flight Centre’s energetic support, we can build a bigger and better service and become the worldwide leader in a growing market. We look forward to strengthening our offerings, and to serving the next generation of globetrotters.

Flight Centre Travel Group consists of more than 30 brands (including Liberty Travel, GOGO Vacations, FCm Travel Solutions and Cruiseabout), employs more than 15,000 people worldwide, and has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange for two decades. Its rapidly expanding network extends throughout Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Hong Kong, India, China, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

StudentUniverse was launched in 2000, by founder and executive chairman Espen Odegard, and is headquartered in Boston with offices in London, Toronto, New York and the Philippines.

A big thank you to our founders, investors, suppliers, partners and mentors for believing in us. Thanks for hosting and supporting us during the first stage of our journey. Now we’re about to go on our first round-the-world trip!

Here’s the official press release.