Intrepid Travel’s CEO James Thornton has been named to the inaugural Skift Power Rankings, listed as one of the 30 most powerful leaders in travel, alongside executives from some of the world's largest travel companies.
Intrepid Travel has released its annual Not Hot List, featuring 10 lesser-known destinations that deserve the spotlight for travel in 2025. These destinations will be introducing new initiatives, developing new offerings, and building more infrastructure to help support and promote tourism. Alongside the list, Intrepid is introducing four brand-new trips in Greenland, Ghana, Mongolia, and Australia.
Intrepid Travel’s strategy is to expand into new verticals and grow as a lifestyle brand – one of the first steps in this direction is the launch of its first-ever book, The Intrepid List, in October 2024, in partnership with Hardie Grant explore. Featuring over 100 unique travel experiences, this book is for explorers, thrill-seekers, and curious travellers seeking authentic and responsible adventures around the globe. The joint venture is underpinned by Intrepid’s strategic vision, which is that the world needs more Intrepid people – a global community that is conscious, curious, and connected.
Intrepid Travel's PR Executive Emme McKay has been selected as one of TTG Media’s 30 Under 30 class for 2024. This UK-based program celebrates outstanding young travel professionals who show exceptional passion and brilliance in their careers. It's a prestigious recognition for the industry's most promising talent. The class will be invited to a series of networking events throughout the year, including dinners with inspiring speakers. These events will encourage fresh ideas, open-mindedness, and innovative thinking in the travel industry.
Intrepid Travel is investing in learning and development by supporting team members from around the world to undertake Cornell University’s Sustainable Tourism Destination Management course created by the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise’s Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program (STAMP). Twenty-six members of Intrepid’s global team have successfully applied for and been accepted as part of Intrepid’s learning and development program and will begin course work in mid-2024.
Intrepid Travel is committed to supporting and giving back to the local communities they visit. With the support of The Intrepid Foundation, the company has funded 16 local women from Huilloc Alto to experience Machu Picchu for the first time. Despite living in the Sacred Valley, many of them had never been on a train let alone visited the Incan city of Machu Picchu. Only five per cent of highlanders ever get the chance to visit Machu Picchu. Their ancestors built the 15th century fortress and they still speak the language of the Incan stonemasons, but for many Machu Picchu remains a mystery. This initiative is part of Intrepid’s aim to work with local communities and to ensure they benefit from tourism and have new opportunities too.
Intrepid Travel has launched a new travel range dedicated to rail travel, including 40 trips and 3 brand new itineraries; Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure, Express to the Orient: Paris to Istanbul, and Paris to Rome by Rail. The range will cater to the rising trend of train travel, with new data showing 75% of travellers are hoping to take a train on their next trip. The launch reflects Intrepid’s long-term product development plans, with a focus on slow travel that helps travellers to explore in a more considered way and at a slower pace.
Intrepid Travel is proud to have worked with Melbourne Business School’s (MBS) Centre for Sustainability and Business to continue its environmental mission to reduce emissions and protect biodiversity. To help with this mission, Intrepid engaged the Centre for Sustainability, which consists of existing MSB students to intern at Intrepid and work on key projects to grow their understanding, experience, and network. The Centre is leading two projects for Intrepid: investigating the viability of increased EV usage on tours and developing a biodiversity plan.
We are committed to gender equality throughout our business and this is deepened in the communities we support through The Intrepid Foundation. We are proud to partner with Helping Rhinos in South Africa, who support and partner with the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit, the Black Mambas. Employing women from the local community in a traditionally male-dominated field is a groundbreaking approach to wildlife conservation. The Black Mambas are 36 young African women who walk 20km daily of the Balule Nature Reserve, a part of Greater Kruger National Park. Kruger has the largest rhino population in the region and suffers the most poaching attacks. Since their formation, they have reduced poaching incidents by 63%. They also deliver conservation education to local schools through their Bush Babies outreach program. This program includes annual visits to the Reserve, allowing students to experience wildlife conservation firsthand and understand its impact on their communities.
Our hearts go out to our travellers, team, and the wonderful people of Morocco following the earthquake. Right now, our tour leaders and team members are telling us that the best thing we can do is support them by continuing to travel to the country, as well as raising funds for those communities most impacted in the Atlas Mountains. In response, Intrepid will resume trips in Morocco on 13 September, with amended itineraries to avoid the most impacted areas. Outside of these areas, life is continuing – airports and trains are operating and schools, restaurants and shops are open. We know that as tourism is a major economic contributor to Morocco, its people and businesses need travellers to support them now. Additionally, the Intrepid Foundation has launched an emergency appeal for our longstanding NGO partners in Morocco – Education for All and the High Atlas Foundation, These grassroots organizations are tirelessly working to provide immediate relief to local communities in their greatest time of need. To maximise the impact of our generous donors and aid the resilient people of Morocco, The Intrepid Foundation is dollar-matching donations up to AUD 100,000, with Intrepid taking care of the administrative costs, so 100% of donations can go to where it’s needed most. If you are in a position to donate and support the people of Morocco during this trying time, we kindly urge you to do so.
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