Melbourne-based Intrepid Travel recently held its first Adventure Summit since the pandemic, marking the conclusion of an immense week of epic famils with Flight Centre Travel Group’s top agents.
Over 100 attendees participated in the conference on October 17, 2023, with Flight Centre Travel Group AU NZ, Flight Centre, Travel Associates and Flight Centre Independents in attendance.
The Summit held at Intrepid Travel’s headquarters, and LUME in Melbourne closed out a week of famils, with 43 agents enjoying trips across Australia and New Zealand on its Premium Red Centre & Uluru, Walk Tasmania East Coast, Great Ocean Road & Grampians Adventure and Active New Zealand Wanaka itineraries.
Two agents, Mariesa Valentino from Flight Centre, Armidale (who raised $1,419.00 for Blue Dragon), and Lily Commins from Flight Centre, Queen St Mall (who raised $1,109.00 for Open Arms), both earned their places for their outstanding dedication and support for the Intrepid Foundation.
Yvette Thompson, Intrepid’s General Manager of Sales & Partnerships ANZ, said, “After a three-year hiatus, this year’s Adventure Summit was a true celebration of where our industry has been and where we’re going, with a strong focus on the role we all play in creating positive change through the joy of travel.
“Our partnership with Flight Centre is stronger than ever, and it was incredible to celebrate with old friends and new in our hometown of Melbourne.”
The event showcased Intrepid’s enduring commitment to sustainable initiatives. Biheng Zhang, General Manager of The Intrepid Foundation, proudly announced the expansion of The Intrepid Foundation’s portfolio, welcoming 22 new NGO partners, strengthening the organisation’s global impact in critical areas such as wildlife conservation, gender equality, human rights, youth empowerment, climate action, economic development, and emergency relief efforts.
Other highlights included Dyan Mckie, the Senior Product Manager and Family Category Manager at Intrepid Travel, introducing an exciting array of over 100 fresh itineraries and experiences for the upcoming 2024 trip range.
Annette Sharp, the Global Social Impact Officer at Intrepid, and Michelle Degenhardt, the FCTG Global Sustainability Officer, underscored the innovative Modern Slavery Consortium, a groundbreaking collaboration with Flight Centre dedicated to confronting modern slavery supply chain risks in the travel industry.
The duo also discussed the RING, an industry-led group established for travel businesses with Reconciliation Action Plans to connect better, learn, share and create positive change.
The Adventure Summit’s evening was held at THE LUME Melbourne, where attendees were treated to dinner and a closed viewing of Connection, an expansive and interactive digital gallery of First Nations art.
The event’s entertainment included captivating artistic performances, such as the melodic tunes of the Pierce Brothers, the Didgeridoo virtuoso Ben Moodie, the vibrant beats of DJ Aleks Mac, and enchanting saxophone melodies by Kenny.