This article originally appeared in the November issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
North Americans who are hungry to travel but short on time now have a new option when booking with Intrepid: Short Breaks. The operator’s first tours designed specifically for this market, Short Breaks are four to six days in length and will be available with departures starting next July. Here, Leigh Barnes, president for the Americas at Intrepid, discusses the new product line and what travel advisors can expect.
What was the inspiration for the new short breaks itineraries?
In 2025, the average Intrepid trip length will be 10.2 days long, while the average worker in the U.S. receives 10 paid vacation days each year. In 2024, we surveyed nearly 7,000 Intrepid customers and found that more than half (52%) wanted to travel on shorter trips — an average of two to five days.
Short Breaks moved from an idea to a product in just six months. It’s a great example of how quickly we can innovate when we listen to our travelers and move with purpose.
What makes these trips so alluring?
People need an escape and something to look forward to — an immersive experience to disconnect from their phones and reconnect with the world. But time is a luxury that some just don’t have due to busy schedules.
Short Breaks feature expert local leaders who know the trails and bring every place to life through history and hidden stories. The small groups of 10 or fewer guests make it feel like traveling with friends rather than being part of a crowd. Plus, these unforgettable experiences — hiking through Oaxaca’s Zapotec villages or trekking across Guatemala’s volcanic landscapes — can happen over a long weekend.
Who’s the ideal client for a short breaks itinerary?
We designed Short Breaks for working millennials who are driven by limited time, rising stress and the search for meaningful moments. But they’re also great for independent travelers who want a short, pre-packaged experience as part of their itinerary. Even business travelers who want to explore a destination beyond the meeting room could easily add a Short Break to their itinerary.
We designed Short Breaks to appeal to new customers, especially in North America. This is the first product designed specifically for North Americans, and we hope it piques their curiosity about small group travel and Intrepid.
What is the pacing like?
Short Breaks are all killer, no filler. To make the most of customers’ time, we added more meals and more activities. With busy itineraries, customers will achieve a lot in a short amount of time. Imagine leaving work on Thursday to fly to Guatemala, climbing an active volcano, exploring Antigua and being back in the office on Tuesday, a completely changed person.
What are you, personally, most excited for?
The Costa Rica Short Break from San Jose to La Fortuna really caught my eye. Joining a local naturalist to observe sloths, dart frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, toucans and many other creatures in their natural habitat, then ending the day with a well deserved local coffee and empanadas sounds like an escape I’d love.
What are the benefits of selling these trips to clients?
This product is perfect for first-time adventure travelers who might hesitate to commit to two weeks away, or for regular adventurers who just need a quick escape. The shorter duration and lower price points make these trips easier to position across different budgets and lifestyles, as well. They’re also easy to add to existing itineraries and can build confidence with clients to inspire repeat bookings for longer Intrepid journeys in the future.
We’ll be rolling out incentives and fam trips for advisors in the coming months, so we encourage our advisors to watch this space.
Can you offer some more tips for advisors?
Start small. The concept of small group travel is new for many Americans. They’re using a travel advisor because they want expertise and peace of mind, so I’d start by explaining what makes traveling with Intrepid so great: It’s safe; your clients are with like-minded travelers; we provide everything, so all they need are shoes and sunscreen; and, most importantly, our trips are authentic, immersive and sustainable. It’s transformational travel that creates positive change.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
By Emma Weissmann
Source link
Leave a Reply