Intrepid Group is reporting three consecutive years of record growth, with the multi-brand company reporting 17 percent growth in revenue globally to take the group to AUD $397 million in 2018. In North America, the company achieved 29 percent growth.
The independently-owned company delivered an EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) result of almost $15 million in 2018, thanks to a 25 percent increase in underlying profitability that, in a written statement, CEO James Thornton said is driven by an increasing global demand for sustainable travel and the company’s commitment to having a "Purpose Beyond Profit."
Now the world’s largest provider of adventure travel experiences, Intrepid Group has more than 2,700 trips in 120 countries operated by the group’s four tour operator brands (Intrepid Travel, Peregrine Adventures, Urban Adventures, Adventure Tours Australia).
The vertically integrated business also includes a global network of local destination management companies, as well as several suppliers which Intrepid Group has a stake in, such as Chimu Adventures. In December, Intrepid Group announced that it will become a seven-continent operator with the launch of a range of charters in Antarctica in partnership with Chimu.
It’s this diversification that has helped to protect the group from the highs and lows of world events and deliver a strong profit result in 2018, said Thornton. "Over the past 30 years we’ve seen many of our favorite places suffer through the lows of natural disasters and we’ve learned how important it is to diversify not only where we go, but also our brands, products and sales regions so that we can cater to all ages, budgets and appetites for adventure.”
2018 also saw 60 percent growth in customer numbers from Urban Adventures and the opening of PEAK DMC Indonesia, the company’s 21st destination management company.
Headquartered in Melbourne, Intrepid Group employs 1,800 staff and leaders in more than 40 offices around the world. Almost a quarter of the company’s 2018 profits will be paid out to staff in bonuses.
In 2018 Intrepid Group also achieved B Corp certification, joining a growing global community of businesses looking beyond the bottom line.
The Intrepid Foundation, the Intrepid Group’s not-for-profit, also marked a record year in 2017, raising AUD $1 million for local and international charities.
Thornton believes it’s the company’s commitment to creating benefit for all its stakeholders that has enabled Intrepid Group to achieve a record Employee Engagement score of 82 percent and a record customer feedback score of 4.7 out of 5 for the year.
Further information on Intrepid Group’s 2018 results will be released in April in Intrepid Group’s Annual Integrated Report. To find out more about Intrepid Group and view the 2017 Intrepid Group Integrated Annual Report, visit www.intrepidgroup.travel.
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