Geckos slashes age range to 18-29


Juliet Dennis juliet.dennis@travelweekly.co.uk


The Intrepid Group is reducing the age range for Geckos Adventures for 2017 amid plans to ramp up marketing of the youth brand among UK agents.


It will now cater for 18 to


29-year-olds, dropping its upper age limit by 10 years, following trade and consumer feedback calling for a ‘genuine’ youth product. UK managing director Michael


Edwards said: “This is a pretty fundamental change but based on feedback we felt there was an obvious demand for small-group experiences for the youth category


SOCIALLY AWARE: Geckos is supporting social enterprise Friends- International


It has also partnered with social


enterprise Friends-International, which Geckos will support with a small contribution for all bookings. Deposits have been reduced


for next year from £150 to £50 to encourage bookings. Edwards said the group aimed


and for like-minded people to travel together.”


A “handful” of UK customers who


have booked for next year have been given the option to transfer to the Intrepid Travel brand, which has no age limitations.


The only Geckos itineraries that


will not be limited by age will be those to the Galapagos Islands, which are run by Intrepid Travel. Geckos is adding 20 trips in


2017 and reintroducing North America and Africa.


to raise UK trade awareness of the brand next year, adding: “We will increase our training and incentives. Geckos is not going to be as big as Intrepid but our intention is to firmly establish it in the UK.” Over the next two to three years,


Intrepid Group hopes UK bookings will account for 20% to 30% of Geckos’ sales. Currently, more than


50% of sales are from Australia. geckosadventures.com


22 travelweekly.co.uk 20 October 2016


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