Intrepid Travel Pty Ltd announced today that it has acquired the 50% stake in Urban Adventures Limited previously held by WHL Group, to take full ownership of the global day tour company.

Launched as a joint venture by Intrepid Travel and WHL Group in October 2009, Urban Adventures has grown quickly since inception and the company is on course to carry 70,000 passengers on 265 trips in 90 cities this year.

 “The original idea behind Urban Adventures was to give travellers a taste of what an Intrepid Travel trip feels like” says James Thornton, Managing Director, Intrepid Group. “We've seen a huge appetite from customers for the unique local experiences on offer, and this deal allows us to fully integrate Urban Adventures with our portfolio of small group adventure travel brands”.

Urban Adventures will continue to be led by Tony Carne as General Manager, overseeing new initiatives such as the clustering of Urban Adventures tours for the FIT market, and the recent launch of the Home Cooked range of tours which allow travellers to share a meal with a local family in their own home. 

The deal is subject to legal completion and will free up capital for the WHL Group to focus on other businesses such as Hotel Link Solutions and Green Path Transfers. 

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact Gillian Monahan, Global PR Manager for the Intrepid Group: Gillian.Monahan@intrepidtravel.com or Amanda Linardon, PR Manager Australia/NZ for the Intrepid Group Amanda.Linardon@intrepidtravel.com

About Urban Adventures www.urbanadventures.com

Urban Adventures are unique day tours that offer travellers the Best. Day. Ever. Led by passionate locals, Urban Adventures showcase a mix of world famous sites and hidden gems, while uncovering backstreets, local hotspots, and quirky landmarks. There are currently 265 Urban Adventures tours in 90 destinations around the world. Urban Adventures was launched by Intrepid Travel and WHL Group in October 2009.

About Intrepid Travel www.intrepidtravel.com

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company that has been taking people off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 25 years. It offers more than 1,000 trips in more than 100 countries and on every continent.Tours are carbon neutral and designed to truly experience local culture, to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and included activities mean they offer travellers great value for money. Based in Melbourne, Intrepid Travel is part of the Intrepid Group, the world's largest adventure tour operator.

About WHL Group www.whl-group.com

The WHL Group is the largest local-travel company in the world. It is both a global network of companies that help travellers find unique ways to experience a destination through local tourism professionals, and a technology provider to those local tourism operators. WHL Group companies empower local partners who have practice in experiential and mindful travel, and a local's knack for identifying, explaining and sustaining the distinctive qualities of a place.