Intrepid Travel has been named one of Australia’s best places to work in both the Retail, Hospitality, Tourism & Entertainment and Large Organisation (500+ employees) categories at the 2025 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work Awards, which recognise companies leading the way in workplace innovation and impact.
Intrepid stood out for its employee travel program, which gives every staff member a free Intrepid trip each year – plus five extra days of leave to take it. Partners and family can join at discounted rates, too.
Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton said: “There aren’t many companies that give their staff extra leave days to explore the world. We want our people to experience our trips through the eyes of our customers, to better understand what we do well, and where we can improve.”
In 2024, more than 400 team members travelled with Intrepid, gaining firsthand insight into operations, sustainability initiatives, and community partnerships. The company’s high employee engagement was reflected in its record global eNPS score of 64.
The award also recognised Intrepid’s range of employee-focused policies, including:
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Its expanded family leave policy, to provide for additional care costs, annual travel companion reimbursements, rooming upgrades and support for employees to travel with children under 18 months.
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Flexible working guidelines, which include options to work a 9-day fortnight or reconfiguring work hours to attend to personal and family commitments.
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Employee-led DEI advocacy groups, the appointment of a Global Remuneration and Benefits Lead and a DE&I Specialist, to progress diversity, equity and inclusion.
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20 hours paid volunteering leave annually for all office-based staff so they can give back to a community cause they care about.
Intrepid’s Chief People and Purpose Officer Meegan Marshall said: “As a truly global business, we know our people have different needs and we strive to ensure each and every person feels valued and empowered at work. This recognition is testament to our Global People team for championing new ways to improve our people experience globally.”
Intrepid has 31 offices globally and has more than 3,000 staff and tour leaders and crew. The purpose-led company recently reported record performance in 2024, with revenue reaching $626 million (+17% YoY), setting the foundation for its growth plans. In February, Intrepid also hosted its annual Global Summit in Sri Lanka, bringing together 240 team members from around the world. The multi-day event was designed to foster global connection, collaboration and alignment on Intrepid’s 2030 strategy, and served as a major moment of team bonding across regions.
This latest accolade adds to Intrepid’s growing list of workplace recognitions, solidifying its reputation as a leader in responsible business and people-first travel. Intrepid was previously listed on its Fast100 as the second fastest growing company in Australia. Intrepid was recently a finalist in the prestigious 36th National Banksia Sustainability Awards – Supply Chain and Responsible Procurement Category.
