Small Group Adventure Partner Hub: Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is the TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes Small Group Adventure Partner for 2024
Small Group Adventure Partner Hub: Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is the TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes Small Group Adventure Partner for 2024
Joanna Reeve, head of business development and partnerships, Intrepid Travel
What does responsible travel mean to you and your brand?
At Intrepid, our mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel. For us, responsible travel means using our trips as a force for good. As a travel B Corp, we are committed to supporting the places, people and communities we visit.
What sustainable initiatives do you have in place currently?
We believe that without a healthy planet, there won’t be a healthy travel industry. That’s why we’ve been carbon-neutral since 2010 and have a seven-point commitment plan that supports our Climate Emergency declaration. We were the first global tour operator with verifiable science-based targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative, to limit global warming to 1.5C in the next decade.
We are taking a long, hard look at our trips to measure our emissions and cut them down. That includes removing flights and replacing them with alternatives like train – our customers will be taking an estimated 4,000 fewer flights this year compared to 2023. We’ve also introduced our first overland train trip from London, which travels to Madrid.
We also want to be transparent about the carbon footprint customers will leave when they travel with us and help them to make informed decisions. We recently added carbon labels to 500 of our trips, including over 100 top-selling tours.
We’re also embedding more purpose on our tours. In 2023 our not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, welcomed 22 new partners who are addressing social and environmental issues around the world. Customers can visit these social enterprises and local projects on our itineraries – like a coral restoration project in Bali and a fireside chat with the Gorilla Doctors in Rwanda who give life-saving care to gorilla populations.
Why have you chosen to champion sustainability in 2024?
Pre-pandemic, tourism accounted for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Tourists are also more likely to generate higher amount of waste and pollution than locals once in a destination. As the travel industry, we have a front seat to the impact of climate change around the world and in 2024 we need to make sure there are actions behind the words.
By supporting TTG Media’s initiative, we hope to share experiences we have learnt on our journey and show that sustainable experiences are fun, as well as empower others in the travel industry towards a more responsible future.
What marketing advice or selling tips do you have for travel agents looking to sell more responsible travel?
Customers are more aware than ever of the impact their travels have on people and the planet. They will be looking to agents to advise them on how to make the right choices, and we’re here to support them every step of the way.
While many customers may not ask for a sustainable trip, they do expect it. Once they are in destination, where they can see and experience it for themselves – they don’t turn back! We find many customers are repeat bookers once they experience the positive impact that their travel decisions make. Understanding that sustainable travel impacts the experience positively is key, and that it doesn’t mean that customers must compromise on comfort or experience either.
As part of our TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes initiative we’re seeking agent Ambassadors to champion promoting and selling responsible tourism. How are you planning on supporting these agents in their journey?
We understand that talking about sustainability can seem daunting to some, or feel overwhelming for those that want to make a difference but who are not sure where to start. We want to support agents looking to take those steps, including how to confidently talk to customers around making sustainable choices, how being a responsible traveller positively impacts a holiday, as well as explaining the benefits of introducing sustainable practices to your own business.
Following the success of our Intrepid fam trip to Crete last year, we will be hosting another trip in 2024 so agents can experience how amazing sustainable travel is first-hand.
These TTG Sustainable Travel Ambassadors will have the opportunity to join a sustainability-focused Intrepid fam trip in 2024. What can they hope to experience and learn?
Sustainable travel is the most exciting style of travel, so we are looking forward to showing agents that it’s all about having genuinely local and authentic experiences including staying in locally owned, comfortable accommodation, eating in fantastic local restaurants and, of course, meeting the local people.
In true Intrepid style, agents can expect their fam trip to be led by the best local leader and with a small group of like-minded agents. They will get to see projects that empower and give back to the communities we visit. More details coming soon!
Will you be offering TTG Sustainable Travel Ambassadors any additional benefits in 2024?
Alongside the commercial benefits that being able to sell sustainable and authentic experiences bring, this year we are exciting to announce an enhanced agent discount to all the Sustainable Travel Ambassadors to experience the joy of Intrepid for themselves!
Read the monthly edition of TTG for TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes updates and regular new educational content, plus opportunities to get involved with the initiative.
Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
