Intrepid Travel secures strategic partnership and funding
Intrepid Travel has announced a strategic partnership with French investment company Genairgy, which secured a minority equity stake in Intrepid’s global business.
The strategic partnership will help Intrepid to accelerate its growth strategy with a mission to become the world’s first $1 billion adventure travel company by 2025.
The agreement will support Intrepid in four key growth areas: digital transformation, product innovation, market expansion and purpose initiatives.
Intrepid Co-founders Darrell Wade and Geoff Manchester, who started the business in 1989, retain majority ownership of the company and remain on the board as Chairman and Director, respectively. James Thornton will continue as CEO and a member of the Board; and Non Executive Directors, Liz Savage and Sarah Morgan, will remain. Genairgy owner Julien Leclercq will join the Board.
In 2019, Intrepid achieved a record year of A$491 million of sales and in 2020, despite the impacts of the pandemic, it launched more than 100 sustainable local trips and became the first and only tour operator with verified science-based carbon emissions targets.
“As the travel industry starts to recover from the pandemic, we remain focused on building the best travel company for the world,” says Intrepid’s CEO, James Thornton.
“The fact that Genairgy and Intrepid have come together at this time demonstrates real confidence in the future of sustainable experience-rich travel. It’s clear that what was once considered a niche, will become a mainstay tourism model post-Covid.”.
Genairgy’s owns a destination management company (DMC) network, Altai, and has an adventure travel division with several investments in the area. .
“We are excited to find a partner with the same values as us and we look forward to helping Intrepid achieve its full potential as we emerge from the global pandemic,” says Julien Leclercq, owner of Genairgy.
“While Intrepid has maintained an impressive history of growth, it was their genuine commitment to sustainable travel and B Corp credentials that truly set them apart,” Leclercq added.
The transaction is expected to complete by early April 2021.
Learn more about : Intrepid Travel ( N. America ) Intrepid Travel ( Asia Pecific ) Intrepid Travel ( United Kingdom )
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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