Intrepid launches new trips for millennials
Intrepid Travel has launched a range of more than 80 small group trips for 18 to 29-year-olds after ditching the direct-sell youth brand Geckos Adventures.
From October 1, all Geckos Adventures will become Intrepid Travel’s 18 to 29s trips. The range will offer 20% more departures and new trips to destinations including Iceland and Russia for 2019.
Intrepid said it had seen a 15% rise in UK sales from 18-29 year olds last year and a 17% rise in global sales of its ‘sustainable, immersive local experiences’, much of which has been fuelled by millennials.
Priced at the same level as its ‘Basix’ range, the new group trips provide an alternative to backpacing and big bus tours, said CEO James Thornton.
"Sustainable travel doesn’t have to be expensive," he said Thornton. "This age group will increasingly influence travel trends. Their buying decisions can help to reduce demand for activities like visiting orphanages or riding elephants."
Intrepid will make a donation to the social enterprise Friends-International for every 18 to 29s trip booked
Thornton said the decision to merge Geckos would enable the trips to reach a wider audience.
"We know this is the right decision.Intrepid has four times the number of travellers aged 18 to 29 as Geckos. It’s a global brand, whereas Geckos is almost entirely sold in Australia.
"Focusing the power of our global brand on the youth market is just another way that we can invest in sustainable travel for the long-term. Intrepid has a much bigger audience and this decision means we can have better conversations with 18 to 29s about the things that matter."
Intrepid’s team of business development managers will be promoting the range through the UK trade and a new dedicated brochure will be distributed to agents later this year.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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