Intrepid Travel identifies climate change as fastest-growing business risk

Intrepid Travel has identified climate change as its primary business risk, noting that crisis management has become its fastest-growing salary and wage expense. Speaking at the ATIA Beyond Borders 2026 conference, Managing Director ANZ Brett Mitchell stated that the increasing frequency and volatility of extreme weather events are driving up the costs of managing disruptions.

To address these challenges, Intrepid Travel established a dedicated Climate Department in January 2026, led by Dr. Susanne Etti. This department is tasked with overseeing a Climate Impact Fund, managing decarbonization efforts, and handling climate risk reporting and advocacy.

Research from Allianz indicates that climate-related risks are increasingly influencing consumer behavior, with 68 per cent of travelers in the Northern Hemisphere considering extreme weather when booking trips. Industry professionals have also noted the administrative pressure caused by major disruptions, such as the Middle East crisis and low water levels affecting river cruising, which require significant manual rework of existing bookings.