02 October 2009

Intrepid takes stake in UK specialist operator

MELBOURNE: Intrepid Travel has snapped up a stake in UK-based niche travel specialist, Chameleon Worldwide Group.

This comes on the back of its announcement earlier this week that it has entered into a partnership with Australian Pacific Touring (APT), with both companies taking an equal shareholding in APT’s small group experiential touring division, Connections.

Intrepid Travel CEO and co-founder Darrell Wade said, "Both of these acquisitions mean that over time we will be able to significantly increase our offering to trade in terms of an expanded product range and also through our ground operations services to wholesalers.

"They also help to secure our position as a global operating, marketing and distribution travel company."

In addition to securing an inroad into the FIT market, other benefits to Intrepid Travel from the Chameleon Worldwide deal include:

- Significant product expansion through Chameleon's seven specialist brands - Wildlife Worldwide, Walks Worldwide, Dive Worldwide, Equine Adventures, Schools Worldwide, Families Worldwide and Out of the Blue (whale and dolphin watching);

- Access to an established direct sales model in the UK;

- Increased destination management business with Intrepid Travel's ground operators providing Chameleon with tailored itineraries across the globe.

In the short-term, Intrepid Travel expects to bring alignment benefits through Chameleon's Families Worldwide offering.

Chameleon Worldwide currently carries 3,500 passengers a year whilst Connections carries 15,000.