Intrepid has pledged to significantly ramp up trade activity targeted on youth holidays next year as it touts the sector as a new growth opportunity for agents.
The operator has already reported a surge in sales following the launch of a trade-friendly 18-29s collection of holidays under the Intrepid brand after ditching its Geckos Adventures brand almost three months ago.
Group chief growth officer Michael Edwards said a dedicated brochure was now being worked on, while product training events were also being planned for agents as well as a dedicated fam trip to showcase the 18-29s product.
It offers small group tours, of maximum 16 people, with a focus on immersive experiences and sustainable and socially responsible trips at lower prices than its standard Intrepid tours.
Destinations featured are worldwide and include homestays.
For next year, there are 20% more departures offered, and new destinations include Iceland and Russia.
Edwards said: “Agents can expect a lot of activity .There is a real appetite for this type of holiday.”
He urged agents to tap into this market to provide an additional revenue stream, and said many clients would be children of agents’ existing customers.
He added: “Not many agents are selling to this type of customer and there is a real opportunity for extra sales.”
Edwards said the recent demise of Club 18-30 demonstrated the changing demand in the Millennials generation of holidaymakers, with sustainability, cultural experiences, wellness and social responsibility high on the agenda.
“We have definitely seen a change from this age group in terms of what they want, to travel in different ways and enjoy more immersive experiences. We have already added yoga and trekking for example in Morocco and we will continue to develop the product,” he said.