Intrepid Travel Hosts Successful Global Summit 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest adventure travel company, successfully hosted its annual Global Summit 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking only the second time the event took place outside its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. The selection of Colombo underscored Sri Lanka’s vital role within Intrepid’s global operations.

Intrepid initially established its office in Colombo in 2012, and since then, the company has grown significantly. With both a capability center and a country office managing trips across the island, Sri Lanka has become a key operational hub supporting technology, revenue management, human resources, product services, finance, and customer service. The strength of Intrepid’s local team, consisting of 276 office-based staff and 45 Local Tour Leaders, promoting Sri Lanka as a destination makes it a choice for this prestigious event.

Taking place from the 24th to the 27th of February, the summit brought together over 200 international participants representing more than 50 nationalities across Intrepid’s 40-plus offices. Among the attendees were Intrepid’s board, co-founders, and core management team, along with 300 local team members.

The four-day event featured strategic discussions, leadership workshops, community engagement activities, and familiarization trips, aligning with Intrepid’s mission to foster a strong and inclusive company culture. Hosting the summit in Sri Lanka reinforced the company’s commitment to strengthening global teams while highlighting its significant presence in Asia.
The event also coincided with Intrepid’s recent recognition at the Sri Lanka National Tourism Awards 2024, where the company was named Best Destination Loyal Partner and shortlisted as a finalist in Best Sustainable Practices.

Reflecting on the summit, James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, stated, “Our team in Sri Lanka plays a crucial role in our company, and our customers love experiencing this vibrant destination. Our vision extends beyond tourism—it’s about driving sustainable growth and creating a lasting impact. The increasing number of Intrepid travelers choosing Sri Lanka highlights its immense potential, and we remain committed to ensuring that local communities share in this success. It has been an incredible opportunity to engage with the culture of Sri Lanka while supporting local businesses and communities.”

In 2024, Intrepid saw remarkable growth in Sri Lanka, welcoming over 4,000 travelers—a 206% increase from 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. With ambitious plans to bring over 15,000 travelers to Sri Lanka by 2030, the company continues to play a significant role in supporting growth in tourism and driving force in economic growth for local communities, tour leaders, and small businesses.

Poornaka Delpachitra, Intrepid’s Country General Manager for Sri Lanka, added, “Welcoming our global leadership and colleagues to Colombo has been an incredible privilege. This event showcased Sri Lanka’s unique offerings as a destination, celebrated our vibrant culture, and reinforced our commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism. Hosting our biggest people event right here in my home country has been a proud moment for all of us.”

As Sri Lanka continues its recovery as a premier travel destination, hosting Intrepid’s Global Summit has provided a significant boost to the tourism industry, with top global leaders and decision-makers gathering in Colombo.