By: Rhonda Swan, Founder of Unstoppable Branding Agency
We spoke to Carl Shephard, founder and CEO of Insider Expeditions, about bespoke travel, Antarctica, and what it takes to build the world’s most epic travel experience company.
Carl, can you share with us what initially inspired you to create Insider Expeditions and what your original vision was for the company?
“After college, I rode my bicycle across the country with 30 other graduates as a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. We became such a close community, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for affordable housing, and had the adventure of our lives. I have been trying to live within that epic cross-section of community, impact, and adventure ever since through group travel experiences.”
Since the inception of Insider Expeditions, how has your mission evolved? Are there specific experiences or feedback that have shaped this evolution?
“When we started, most of our trips were crafted for university alumni associations, and we still love serving that older cohort of travelers. But we realize that experiences and connection with the world and each other are craved across all ages, and now we have trips that serve every age and every budget, from very cheap yoga retreats to high-end 7-star expeditions that would be impossible to do on your own.”
What sets Insider Expeditions apart in terms of the experiences you offer? How do you ensure that each expedition is unique and memorable for your travelers?
“We pride ourselves that every single trip is different, curated especially for that community, and designed to actually be “once in a lifetime”. We are not a massive travel company offering the same departure to the same place every single week. From musical experiences in Antarctica to sports safaris in Tanzania, we offer adventures that no other company is offering or has offered in the past.”
How does Insider Expeditions address sustainability and responsible tourism in its operations? What are some initiatives you are particularly proud of in this regard?
“Every single one of our trips has an impact mission, even if our travelers do not know it. We annually raise millions of dollars for non-profits and community organizations in the countries where we travel and make sure that we leave a place better than we found it. We vet all of our local suppliers for their environmental policies as well as carbon offset our trips and company operations on an annual basis. As one very proud example, we have raised over US$1,000,000 for conservation organizations working to protect the environment, from The Ocean Conservancy to Save the Manatees.”
Looking towards the future, what are your main goals for Insider Expeditions? How do you envision the company growing or diversifying its offerings?
“We are doing more with musicians and sports celebrities, offering their fans a chance to have a unique VIP, multi-day experience with them, actually traveling with them on an adventure and getting to know them as humans, rather than just getting good seats to a concert or golf tournament. I think those trips are quite exciting and the celebrities have said they are some of their favorite trips as well. We are also doing more and more with social-impact entrepreneurs who are keen to explore the planet but also come up with solutions to protect it.”
Reflecting on your journey with Insider Expeditions, what has been the most rewarding aspect of leading this company? Are there any personal lessons or insights you’ve gained through this experience?
“Nothing is more valuable than time, and our goal as a company is to have people return from our trips saying that their experience with us was some of the very best days of their lives. We are essentially selling joy, connection, time well spent on an adventure and memories of a lifetime. What an honor it has been to have thousands of testimonials over the years that we gave people some of the most rewarding days of their lives, and it continues to make me value my own time as well.”
Published by: Martin De Juan
