Intrepid Travel has taken a majority stake in Australian adventure tourism business and destination management company Joob (Jump Out Of Bed) for an undisclosed sum.
Perth-based Joob runs trips across the country under three brands: walking company Inspiration Outdoors, adventure tours specialist Waratah Adventure Tours and Sea Kayak Rottnest Island in Western Australia.
Intrepid’s acquisitions in the past 12 months include a majority stake in Haka Tours and ANZ Nature Tours in New Zealand and Wildland Trekking in the US.
The adventure travel firm has grown its range in Australia by 45% since 2019 and offers 66 trips. The Joop deal will expand that coverage to 96 trips with the addition of new operational bases across the country.
Joob chief executive Simon Mendelawitz will join Intrepid as general manager of its Australian DMC as part of the deal.
Intrepid Travel chief executive James Thornton said: “We’ve built exceptional global operational capability over the years and Intrepid’s vertical integration has been a core part of our strategy.
“However, the missing piece has been our own DMC in Australia. Joob completes the puzzle.
“I’m delighted to welcome Simon and the Joob team to Intrepid. Together, we will develop even more exceptional trips for our own customers, as well as other leading travel brands, taking more travellers to the most remarkable and rugged parts of Australia.”
Mendelawitz added: “We believe adventure, giving back to communities and having some fun along the way are all important and that’s why we’re such a perfect fit for Intrepid.
“We bring decades of operational experience and know-how in Australia – a vast and operationally complex country – I’m incredibly excited to join the team and to continue to build exceptional adventures together.”