TORONTO — Intrepid Travel is celebrating a major win for one of its own.

Dr. Susanne Etti, Intrepid Travel’s Global Environmental Impact Manager, has been recognized as one of only nine ‘Travelers of the Year’ by National Geographic, a brand new category of the magazine’s annual ‘BEST OF THE WORLD’ guide that ranks one-of-a-kind travel experiences for the year ahead.

The designation is awarded to changemakers who inspire National Geographic’s own global community of travel experts on where and how to travel. Eti, who is recognized for her work in sustainable travel, is joined on the list by the likes of music icon Dolly Parton, environmentalist and drag queen Pattie Gonia, disability access advocate Vasu Sojitra and more.   

“Our expanded ‘BEST OF THE WORLD’ franchise is the ultimate guide to the exceptional experiences that we and our global community f experts are most excited about right now, whether that’s hiking to the El Valle de Antón volcano in Panama or listening to live music in Kyoto or bear-watching in Alaska,” said Nathan Lump, National Geographic’s editor-in-chief. 

“This year, we wanted to give travellers more ideas than ever before to jumpstart their travel planning for 2024 and beyond, so we grew our lists to include curated hotels, restaurants, wellness retreats and cultural spots that we believe are worth getting on a plane for, and gear that will make your travels smoother. And because we know that people can also be a great source of inspiration, we’re sharing our picks for ‘Travelers of the Year’ – those individuals like Dr. Susanne Etti who, through their example, make us all want to get out there and experience something new,” added Lump.

On being named to the list, Dr. Etti said: “I regard National Geographic as one of the most iconic and respected media organizations in not only the field of science, but in the world. To be named in its ‘Traveler of the Year’ category is truly an honour. I hope we can inspire many more conscious adventurers to help see and protect our planet.”

To read the BEST OF THE WORLD 2024 guide, click here.