International Expeditions

International Expeditions (IE) is a travel company specializing in small-group adventure travel. The company was founded in 1980 and is located in Helena, Alabama.[1][2] It is owned by TUI Group.[3][4]

Company Overview

International Expeditions provides small-group adventure experiences in various exotic countries. These include land-based trips to places like Ecuador, Indonesia, and Madagascar, as well as cruise excursions on the Peruvian Amazon and in the Galapagos Islands.[5] While it focuses primarily on land-based activities, IE designed, built, and co-owns its Amazon River boat La Estrella Amazonica and also operates trips on its Galapagos-based Evolution.[6][7][8][9] The company's cruise adventures are tailored for customers who are "50+ years old," "well educated," and "affluent."[10]

IE is a subsidiary of TUI Group, a multinational travel and tourism company headquartered in Hannover, Germany.[11] It is a part of the Adventure Specialist Group within TUI's Specialist Group, which also includes AmeriCan Adventures, Exodus, Grand American Adventures, Headwater, Quark Expeditions, Sawadee, TrekAmerica, World Challenge, and Zegrahm Expeditions.[12][13]

Leadership

Van Perry was appointed the president of International Expeditions in November 2011.[14] He is also the president of Zegrahm Expeditions, an adventure travel company located in Seattle, Washington.[15]

Controversy

In April 2016, a cabin on IE's Estrella Amazonica caught fire, killing Drs. Larry and Christy Hammer.[16] According to independent investigators, the likely cause of the fire was a faulty power strip which was provided by the boat.[17][18] The power strip lacked surge protection and adequate safety and flammability ratings.[19][20] Investigators also found that the Hammers' room lacked an in-room fire alarm.[21][22] Surveillance video footage shows that it took the Estrella Amazonica's crew more than 22 minutes to extract Dr. Larry Hammer from the room after the fire was located; and another six minutes to extract Dr. Christy Hammer.[23]

Perry was criticized for declaring the boat "safe to travel," and pushing for it to set sail within two days of the tragedy.[24] IE has been unable to provide documentation that the boat was "thoroughly inspected" before surviving passengers re-boarded just three days after the Hammers were killed.[25][26]

In September 2016, Perry told People that "the boat now has enhanced fire fighting equipment and that the crew has been provided with refresher fire training."[27] No officials or third parties have been able to verify the statement.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Best International Expeditions Cruises 2016: Reviews and Photos". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  2. ↑ "International Expeditions » Adventure Travel Tour Operator". Adventure.Travel. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  3. ↑ "TUI GROUP AND INTREPID TRAVEL TO PART WAYS". www.quarkexpeditions.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  4. ↑ Brader, Hollie-Rae Brader (2015-07-02). "Tui and Intrepid Travel to part ways". TravelWeekly. TravelWeekly. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  5. ↑ "International Expeditions » Adventure Travel Tour Operator". Adventure.Travel. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  6. ↑ "Small Ship Cruises Webinar | International Expeditions". 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  7. ↑ "Cruising the Amazon River: Hits and Misses | Have Tips, Will Travel". www.independenttraveler.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  8. ↑ "La Estrella Amazonica Cruise Ship: Expert Review on Cruise Critic". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  9. ↑ "Amazon River Cruise Boat | International Expeditions". 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  10. ↑ "IE Backgrounder" (PDF). www.ietravel.com. International Expeditions. 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  11. ↑ "Profile on TUI Group | CAPA - Centre for Aviation". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  12. ↑ "TUI to Sell Adventure-Holidays Arm to Focus on Mass Tourism". Bloomberg.com. 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  13. ↑ Brader, Hollie-Rae (2015-07-02). "Tui and Intrepid Travel to part ways". TravelWeekly. TravelWeekly. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  14. ↑ "CRS Board of Directors" (PDF). www.cahabrariversociety.org. Cahaba River Society. 2015. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  15. ↑ "Zegrahm Expeditions Names Van Perry President | Travel Agent Central". www.travelagentcentral.com. 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  16. ↑ "Family seeking answers about couple's death in Peru". The Big Story. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  17. ↑ writer, Paul Hammel / World-Herald staff. "After parents died on the Amazon, two sisters are frustrated in their search for answers". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  18. ↑ "Nebraska couple died in Amazon cruise fire 'because of incompetence'". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  19. ↑ writer, Paul Hammel / World-Herald staff. "After parents died on the Amazon, two sisters are frustrated in their search for answers". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  20. ↑ "Nebraska couple died in Amazon cruise fire 'because of incompetence'". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  21. ↑ writer, Paul Hammel / World-Herald staff. "After parents died on the Amazon, two sisters are frustrated in their search for answers". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  22. ↑ "Nebraska couple died in Amazon cruise fire 'because of incompetence'". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  23. ↑ "Menlo Park woman blames company in death of parents aboard Amazon riverboat". Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  24. ↑ "Menlo Park woman blames company in death of parents aboard Amazon riverboat". Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  25. ↑ writer, Paul Hammel / World-Herald staff. "After parents died on the Amazon, two sisters are frustrated in their search for answers". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  26. ↑ "Nebraska couple died in Amazon cruise fire 'because of incompetence'". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  27. ↑ "Nebraska Sisters Seek Answers in Deaths of Parents Aboard Amazon Cruise". PEOPLE.com. 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  28. ↑ "Nebraska Sisters Seek Answers in Deaths of Parents Aboard Amazon Cruise". PEOPLE.com. 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
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