TORONTO — Intrepid’s newly released 2021 Integrated Annual Report provides new insight into how the world’s largest travel B Corp has rebuilt, refocused and reinvested for the rebound of travel.
The report, which has been released each year since 2017, shows how despite ongoing challenge, Intrepid successfully restarted its global operations after the shutdowns of 2020 and continued to raise funds for communities in need around the world. It also invested in retaining as many staff as possible and returning office staff in its three key sales regions to their full-time hours, brought back a number of staff benefits, invested in leader training to support tour guides for the new operating environment, and ran trips in 40 countries.
In addition, the company recertified as a B Corp, which involved a rigorous external audit that evaluates every facet of a company’s social, environmental and governance aspects.
“In 2021, it was great to get back to doing what we do best: designing and operating life-changing trips in every corner of the globe,” said James Thornton, Intrepid Travel CEO. “Our team put in an amazing amount of work to ensure trips were safe for everyone, including the communities we visit. I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done, from championing vaccine equity to helping us recertify as the world’s largest travel B Corp.”
The 2021 report revealed other notable accomplishments made by Intrepid during the year, including:
- Reopening operations in 40 countries
- Acquiring New Zealand’s Haka Tours and ANZ Nature Tours and US eco-conscious walking company Wildland Trekking to support domestic and active travel growth
- Establishing two new Destination Management Companies in Australia and the United States
- Achieving the highest ever customer Net Promoter Score of 75
- Receiving the highest ever staff engagement score of 82% (compared to 77% in 2019 and 2020)
- Raising $501,447 AUD by The Intrepid Foundation
- Providing access to COVID-19 vaccines for 28,233 people due to funds raised by The Intrepid Foundation for UNICEF Australia’s Give the World a Shot fundraiser
The report also outlines Intrepid’s progress on key environmental and social measures. Intrepid is the only global tour operator with a verified carbon emissions reduction target by the Science Based Targets initiative. This means Intrepid is decarbonizing its business at the pace and scale that science says is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5C. The report details how the company put this into action in 2021. This includes four of its offices now running on 100% renewable energy, removal of short-haul flights from five of its most popular itineraries, and the development of 40+ low carbon trips with a particular focus on walking, trekking and cycling.
To download Intrepid’s 2021 Integrated Annual Report, visit: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/integrated-annual-report-2021.
