FROM October 1, Intrepid
Travel will incorporate
all Geckos Adventures
tours into its portfolio. The
two adventure operators,
which form part of the same
company, will join forces under
the global Intrepid brand
name. The company says the
tour and trip styles will remain
the same.
The move follows a
series of brand divisions
and consolidations in the
adventure operator industry
in recent years, such as
Exodus’s announcement
earlier this year that
Headwater would be
incorporated into its brand
portfolio.
Enquiries for Intrepid’s tours
for 18- to 29-year-olds will
be diverted to the Intrepid
booking office in London
and business development
manager, Caroline Tinsley, will
be available to assist agents
on the ground in South Africa.
Caroline says, while the
average age of an Intrepid
traveller is still over 30, the
company wanted to tap into
the growing market of socially
conscious millennials looking
for an alternative to big bus
tours, and the best way to
do this was to combine both
companies’ marketing reach.
She says the full portfolio
of Geckos’ tours has been
incorporated into the 18-29
age group brand together
with a number of new tours
tailored for this niche market.
She expects the new tours to
Russia and The Balkans to do
particularly well in the South
African market.
Sales in the South African
market are up by 52% through
the trade this year, says
Caroline.
“Locally agents will be able
to benefit from preferred
commissions extended to
the 18-29’s product and
will have a better choice of
product to sell.”
