Current Management Is A Joke - Anonymous employee Intrepid Travel Employee Review

1.0
5 Jul 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The actual tour product on the ground is still of good quality.

Cons

Intrepid, at least in the Toronto office, used to be a workplace with a strong positive culture, staffed by people who were legitimately happy to be there. Over the last year and a bit there has been a significant amount of changes that have had a negative impact on employees, People were hired or promoted not based on whether they were the best person for the job, but whether they lived close enough to the office to come in regularly, and whether they were willing to accept direction without pushing back. A workplace that once valued inclusion, communication, and their employees, has gone completely backwards. In spite of this, I was still enjoying my time there until March 2026, where I was suddenly terminated without cause, and without any prior warning or indication that anything I was doing was unsatisfactory. My reporting manager specifically said "This is not due to your performance or conduct, we are just going in a different direction." As it turned out, this different direction was actually just the exact same direction, as there was no restructuring within my department, they just immediately hired someone else to replace me, who just so happened to be a close personal friend of the GM. And since the firing meeting, both my direct manager and the GM have refused to communicate with me or explain the reason for my termination. Absolutely ridiculous absurd conduct from management and HR. So if you're thinking about working here, just know that you can be replaced on a whim when management decides they'd rather give one of their friends your job.

Explore other reviews about Intrepid Travel

5.0
5 Jan 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Kind management and staff. Travel.

Cons

Rarely breaks between trips. Lots of driving (also a pro).

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Intrepid Travel Response
2y
We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on working with Intrepid!
1.0
10 Oct 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The other tour guides are very cool Going to National Parks

Cons

Typically driving 8+ hours per day on top of performing tour leader duties. The itineraries are not well designed so the driving days are long and you barely have time at each destination. If guests are late, or there is traffic then your entire schedule is in jeopardy and you are trying to catch up, You are typically working from 5:30am to 9:30pm with no breaks and you are on call if something happens at the hotel or answering client text messages. Many guests have said they don't understand why there isn't a driver or a second guide and were concerned by the long and stressful hours. Very inflexible schedule; when you commit to them for a season, you don't have control over your trips and they can assign you to tasks last minute. If you were supposed to have a few days off to rest and there is an emergency or a gap in the schedule, they will put you on it and not ask for your input. You are basically "always on duty". Their contract and DOT laws say you can only work 70 hours per 8 days, but we are consistently going into violation and working 10-12 hour days. Management says its the guides fault if they work longer than expected hours even if there was a guest medical emergency, long lines to get into the park, etc. Your cash bonus at the end of the season as a guide is affected by how the guests rate the itinerary and some other factors that are out of your control; not just your performance. When concerns, questions, or suggestions were brought to management by several different guides over the last two years, It seems like to me that the company/management doesn't take accountability and tries to find a way to shame or blame the guide.

2
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Intrepid Travel Response
1y
We are concerned to hear this feedback. We would like to assure you that the wellbeing of our team and customers is a top priority. Intrepid recognises that a tour leader’s role involves many different responsibilities, which is why we provide comprehensive training, as well as various support via our local and global teams. We also work proactively with tour leaders on scheduling to ensure it works for them. We aim to foster a collaborative work environment where all voices are heard. This includes twice yearly team surveys and other informal channels. We’re concerned you feel that has not been the case. If you would like to reach out confidentially, please email: PeopleFeedback@intrepidtravel.com
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