Catching up with Intrepid Travel's Christian Wolters
Tell us about yourself and how long you’ve been in the travel industry?
I’ve been in the travel industry for over 16 years. I started at Intrepid Travel as the second hire, working as the marketing manager after leaving Harley Davidson—my first experience in the industry. It was an exciting time because we launched the first Intrepid office, which also served as our inaugural street-level, concept store where customers could book travel. I stayed with Intrepid until 2015, when I joined Tour Radar to help launch their business in North America. I was part of an original team of about 20 people and worked there for nine years, culminating in my role as CMO for the last four years. This role allowed me to dive into the technological side of onboarding and aggregating operators on one platform, and I had the opportunity to work with roughly 2,500 different operators. For the past seven months, I’ve been back at Intrepid Travel, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see how much Intrepid has grown.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I sailed across the Atlantic on an open-cockpit, 60-foot sailboat with an 11-person crew. It took us 11 days to journey from Newfoundland to Kinsale, Ireland. The trip was incredibly challenging—one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. We worked in four-hour shifts, slept on basic cots, and maintained constant watch duties, all while enduring cold, gray conditions.
One of the highlights was sailing into Ireland. As we approached, the waves began to build, creating an exhilarating experience as we surfed them down on a 60 ft boat. We also passed the Fastnet Lighthouse, a famous landmark for sailors worldwide—the very image of waves crashing against rugged rocks you see in famous photos.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of the job is working with super-driven, creative people. I love collaborating with individuals who combine their passion for travel, diverse cultures, and innovative ideas — sometimes even incorporating technology, which I also enjoy. I deeply appreciate all the good work Intrepid does, particularly on the purpose side with initiatives around sustainability and animal welfare, topics that are especially important to me.
What’s something that a lot of people may not know about you?
I have to say that probably a lot of people know this, but I took a year off and travelled around the world—365 days in total—and managed to see a great deal of it. It was my second big trip, and I experienced a lot. I learned that I loved travelling solo and with my wife-to-be, and I discovered which countries and experiences are better suited for group travel.
This insight helped me see a real opportunity in working for a company like Intrepid. I realized that some truly amazing places can be tough to navigate on your own, but they become much more accessible and economical with Intrepid Travel. That’s really what I love about it.
Beyond the new office and the new-ish job, what’s new and exciting at Intrepid?
We are acquiring travel businesses. The most recent was Wildland Trekking which I think is some of the coolest trips we offer. I am also excited about our expansion into hotels like the Daintree Eco Lodge.
Tell us about the Not Hot List and which of these destinations you want to experience the most?
Back in 2018, we launched our inaugural Not Hot List, designed to help spread the benefits of tourism more widely and unveil some of the under-the-radar destinations that are ready for more attention. There are two trips I’d love to take. The first is to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan—a pristine, mountainous region. As a fan of high peaks, I’ve done a lot of trekking in Nepal, and I believe this area is untouched wilderness that few people have seen. Once you experience the Himalayan Mountains, nothing else compares. The second destination is Oslo, Norway. I’ve always wanted to see the fjords, and I’d love to sail in those waters. There are some really cool experiences there that I’m eager to try.
What’s your advice for travel advisors and their clients who want to travel more mindfully/sustainably?
It really comes down to doing your research and ensuring that companies walk the talk. Many businesses claim to have sustainable practices, but what do they really do? How large are their charitable organizations? Are they investing significant funds? Do they have robust policies and a strong ethos? Are they tracking their overall carbon emissions—and, most importantly, is there third-party accreditation to verify their claims?
For us, that’s why Intrepid became an accredited B Corp. This third-party evaluation ensures that we deliver on our promises and adds rigour to our business practices, not just on sustainability but across all aspects of our operations.
What trends are you noticing based on agent bookings or Canadian demand?
Overall, when the pandemic hit, we noticed that our client base just got older and older, and this was at Intrepid and at my previous employer. But what we’re seeing now in the last two years is that the 18-to-39 demo has been growing exponentially, most recently in the last year by 70%, and so we’re seeing a lot of youth travellers coming back.
I would say one of the biggest trends is that not everyone is choosing to travel in the summer. It’s common knowledge that Europe, for example, can be uncomfortably hot during this season, so many people are opting for shoulder seasons instead. This not only avoids the heat but also helps distribute tourists more evenly across popular, often crowded, destinations.
Do you have a travel ritual or something you do wherever you go?
I like to go to a local pub and get a feel for the destination. It’s often the best place to meet people and to get to know them since they are at ease.
Looking back on some of your travels, which destinations stand out to you and why?
I mentioned that I want to go to Pakistan, and one of my inspirations was my love for Nepal—specifically, its mountains and the Himalayan range. I completed the Annapurna Circuit at a leisurely pace, taking about three weeks to finish the full route, which was absolutely amazing. It was one of the few times in my life when I focused solely on enjoying the trail, and I still fondly reminisce about those moments.
If you had to sing karaoke tonight, which tune would you pick?
I take karaoke very seriously. I have a song list on my phone (no joke) and I read the crowd and try to pick a song I think they would like that I can sing. The best songs are the ones everyone can sing along with you.
