Intrepid Travel Launches Gay & Lesbian Tours

For immediate release.

Intrepid Travel Launches Gay & Lesbian Tours

14 October 2008: Leading adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel has announced a strategic partnership with gay-owned OUT Adventures. Intrepid Travel has a 20 percent interest in this dynamic newly-launched company.

The deal allows Intrepid Travel to take its small group adventure holidays to the New Zealand gay and lesbian traveller by partnering with a company that understands the needs of the gay and lesbian community.

Recent research from the United States shows that 58 per cent of gays and lesbians travelled internationally in 2007, taking an average of 3.5 trips each. An overwhelming 98 percent majority indicated that an operator or destination’s gay-friendly reputation influenced their destination decision.

“We have long wanted to enter this market but knew that we needed to find the right partner before doing so. We are proud to be working with OUT Adventure’s owners, Steven and Robert, to offer the gay and lesbian community an exciting travel product tailored to their specific needs. We feel that their understanding of the gay and lesbian community, coupled with our experience in small group adventure tours will make this a successful partnership,” says Darrell Wade, CEO and Co-Founder of Intrepid Travel.

"Intrepid OUT Adventures offer gay and lesbian travellers a safe, fun and friendly environment in which to travel" says Intrepid Travel New Zealand General Manager.

Business and personal partners, Robert Sharp and Steven Larkin have created eco-friendly OUT Adventures in order to address a current gap in the gay and lesbian travel segment that limits adventure travel to a handful of luxury operators. “As avid gay travellers, Steven and I felt we could leverage our knowledge of the LGBT market and also the mainstream travel industry in order to provide a much more affordable, culturally enriching experience to gay men, lesbians, their friends and families,” says Robert.

Steven adds “Gays and lesbians are looking for their next big travel experience, but amidst economic uncertainty they also don’t want to break the bank. We now offer this traveller a truly engaging, comfortable (average 3-3.5 star) experience that leaves them with plenty of spending money.”

Robert adds, “There are many companies offering high-end and luxury travel to this market but few, if any, who offer affordable and grassroots travel. This is where OUT Adventures and Intrepid Travel step in to offer gay and lesbian travellers real life travel experiences to over 45 destinations around the world.”

The trips will be closed to gay and lesbian travellers and their friends and family. Gay and gay-friendly leaders will run the small group trips (no more than 12 passengers) focusing on real life experiences, affordability and responsible travel.

The company is also leading this niche market by operating in a manner that contributes to the well being of the planet – from using green power in the OUT Adventures head office to including carbon emission off-setting in the cost of approximately 15% of its trips in its first year and in all trips by 2010.

Trips start from $1405 (plus local payment) for the OUT Thailand Hike, Bike and Raft trip and will be available through Intrepid Travel, OUT Adventures and at travel agents worldwide. To view the complete OUT product offering, visit www.intrepidtravel.com/outadventures.

ENDS

About Intrepid Travel Pty. Ltd.
With over 19 years of experience, Intrepid Travel is one of the world’s leading small group adventure tour operators. Intrepid offers over 450 itineraries in more than 90 destinations worldwide. Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their markets and even in their homes.

About OUT Adventures Inc.
Toronto, Canada based OUT Adventures provides closed small group adventures to the LGBT community with over 45 worldwide destinations. OUT Adventures aims to be the authority for small group adventure travel to the LGBT market by offering a more affordable, culturally engaging and eco-friendly travel experience. OUT Adventures was founded by President Steven Larkin and Executive Vice President Robert Sharp in early 2008 and is a proud member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.

Example itineraries

ACTIVE - OUT Turkey Active - 8 Days
Discover the historical heart of Turkey. Flex those muscles cycling through lush landscape, hike forgotten trails and kayak over sunken Lycian and Byzantine relics. From NZD $1230* (plus local payment).

FAMILY - OUT Spain Family - 15 days
Journey from Madrid to Cordoba sampling tasty tapas and famous paintings. Discover Spain's Moorish heart with the entire family. Priced from (per person) NZD $3290* (plus local payment).

COMFORT - OUT South African Experience - 14 days
Experience Kruger National park, the beautiful kingdoms of Swaziland and Mozambique and indulge in Cape Town, Cape Point and even a local winery. **Special Pride (19 February 2009) and New Years (17 December 2009) departures**
Priced from NZD $4575* (plus local payment).

INSTYLE - OUT Ancient Kingdom of Thailand - 7 days
Golden rays bask you in the ‘Land of a Thousand Smiles' as you seamlessly go from ancient temples and palaces to the latest fashion shopping. Priced from NZD $1865* (plus local payment).

*(per person)

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