TIME has revealed its ‘100 Most Influential Companies’ list, highlighting companies making an extraordinary impact worldwide, with Intrepid Travel, the B Corp certified, world-renowned leader in responsible tourism included for its work towards advancing a more sustainable travel industry. Intrepid is the only tour operator and experience provider on this year’s list and has been recognised alongside other notable innovators and leaders in business including Disney, Apple and Patagonia, reads the press release issued by the company. According to TIME: “People want to travel more responsibly—both environmentally and socially—and business is booming for the certified B Corp, which saw record-breaking booking days after launching a flight-free program (and more than 100 Indigenous-led tours) last year. The carbon-neutral company was the first global tour operator to establish verified, science-based carbon-reduction targets.” “This honor is a testament to the power of travel; not only does exploring the world provide thought-provoking, incredible, fun experiences – it also has the power to transform our world and create more resilient communities,” said James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel.
Since 2018, Intrepid Travel has been the world's largest travel B Corp - this article looks at what the certifications means for building trust and transparency with staff, customers and partners, and what the process involves: "Achieving B Corp certification is a rigorous process with a critical eye applied to all aspects of a company's operation, including environmental considerations like renewable energy usage and their carbon footprint, through to supply chains, community involvement, team diversity and employee relations. "In the case of Intrepid, the certification process involves forensically interrogating a network of more than a thousand staff, leaders and crew working from 30-plus offices around the world to deliver trips and experiences covering all seven continents. Everything from auditing food miles on meals served, to adding more plant-based menu options and partnering with other sustainably-focused and B Corp organisations is included."
Intrepid Travel has announced a majority acquisition of Australian tour operator and DMC business, JOOB (Jump Out Of Bed). This is Intrepid's fourth acquisition in the past 12 months, as the business continues to expand Intrepid DMC and offer travellers even more choice for sustainable experience-rich travel. Intrepid is excited to welcome the JOOB team to Intrepid and to grow together in the future.
Intrepid Travel has once again teamed up with the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in an effort to break the cycle of youth poverty in Vietnam, one step at a time. Taking place on Sunday 9 October 2022, the 7th annual Blue Dragon Marathon Walk will see Intrepid team members and travel industry partners pull on their sneakers to raise money for the Blue Dragon – a not-for-profit organisation that works to support and care for vulnerable youth in Vietnam. In Vietnam, it is estimated that one in five children live in poverty. Too often, they are forced to leave school and look for work – often far away from home. As a result, they are at risk of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The Blue Dragon provides care to Vietnamese children and families in crisis while creating long-term change for a better world, serving street children, kids with disabilities and survivors of human trafficking with everything they need to recover from their ordeal, stand on their own feet and achieve their dreams. Find out more here: https://bdmarathonwalk2022.raisely.com/
Intrepid Travel has teamed up with fellow B Corp and sustainable tour operator Byway to give travellers the chance to move slowly and mindfully through Europe on flight-free itineraries. Nostalgia, adventure and responsible travel come together on rail, bike and bus trips that are as much about the journey as the destination. This partnership initially applies to Intrepid trips to Italy or Spain, with plans for additional European countries in the future. It means that travellers have the option to make their journeys way more planet-friendly and far more fun by travelling with Byway, stopping off at places such as Paris, Zurich, the Swiss Alps, Tirano and Milan along the way.
Intrepid Colombo, part of Intrepid Travel, has achieved Great Place to Work Certification in recognition of its vibrant and distinctive workplace culture, garnering an overall 98 percent in the Trust Index Survey. The survey received a score of over 94 percent in various aspects such as engagement, justice, integrity, and leadership behavior, with 98 percent agreeing to the company’s approach on equality, working environment. Intrepid Colombo was started in October 2012 to provide IT development services to Intrepid. It has grown to now not only provide IT development but also IT service support, financial services (AP/AR/System), customer services, HR services and support services for back-office travel related processes. It also operates as a Destination Management Company. Intrepid Colombo has grown fast from a handful of staff to now over 170 in 10 years on track to be the biggest office in head count and are fast becoming a centre of excellence for services within Intrepid.
Intrepid Travel has been recognised as a Sustainability Leader by The Australian Financial Review. The annual Sustainability Leaders List, in association with Boston Consulting Group, celebrates the Australasian companies that are making real progress in tackling sustainability challenges – and delivering business value along the way. Intrepid is proud to be a finalist in the Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Entertainment category for our science-based targets. Congratulations to the other category finalists and winners M.J. Bale, Woolworths Supermarkets, Coles Group and Officeworks. Science-based targets support a company to decarbonise operations for a 1.5°C degree target, in line with the historic 2015 Paris Agreement. Intrepid is proud to have been the first global tour operator with verified targets but more importantly, hopes it inspires other tour operators to adopt their own science-based targets.
Intrepid Travel's head of business development and partnerships in the UK, Joanna Reeve outlined at the Institute of Travel and Tourism's annual conference in Istanbul that committing to operating sustainably can help travel firms with their recruitment challenges. Travolution featured the session, where Reeve said that staff want to work for companies which have a purpose. Intrepid first achieved B Corp status in 2018, meaning it has met independent standards for social and environmental performance and the way it balances profit and purpose. Reeve said: “We have heard about the importance of purpose, profit, people and talent acquisition, and having a sustainable business model ticks the box of all those factors. “Our founder in 2005 pulled together the global leadership team and said we have a global climate crisis here, what are we going to do about it. The team, universally, said we want to do something about it.”
Intrepid is proud to be working with the National Blacks in Travel & Tourism Collaborative in the United States, led by CEO Stephanie M. Jones. Together we hope to create a more inclusive and diverse travel and tourism experience in the United States. A highlight of the partnership so far includes the recent launch of a brand-new tour in Southeast America celebrating West and Central African cultural heritage. “This partnership was incredibly important because my mission has always been to amplify Black businesses, Black history, and our amazing culture,” Jones said.
Intrepid has been recognised as one of the Best Workplaces in Travel 2022 in a new list, which celebrates travel businesses in the UK who have put their people first during the challenges of the past few years. The survey asked employees to rank characteristics that were most important to them to create a best place to work. Intrepid's team rated the company particularly highly for: ✔️ Well defined company purpose ✔️ Leaders are supportive, positive and inspiring ✔️ Clear company values This provides a strong foundation as Intrepid looks ahead and grows its global team.
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