The CEO for almost thirty years was Richard (Dick) Porter, who founded STA Travel alongside Gregor Macaulay, and then as CEO, grew the organisation and brand from its early creation to become the leading global student travel agency.

In August 2010, the company acquired Bridge the World, targeting an older and more affluent demographic.

[6] In September 2013, the company signed a similar marketing deal with Tourism Australia worth £6 million over 3 years.

[8] In November 2018, the company produced a video featuring Skinny Living that showcased travel destinations in the United States.

After negative publicity in The Independent newspaper,[17] the next day the company admitted their error, apologised and reimbursed their aggrieved customers.

[18] In April 2020, the company was forced to pay AU$14 million as a result of a complaint brought by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission that the company misled consumers who purchased the MultiFLEX Pass by advertising that they would not have to pay anything further for date changes to their flights.