Founded 1980 | ||
Parent organization First Choice Expeditions, Inc. | ||
Exploring the galapagos with 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. It is owned by TUI Group.
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Life aboard international expeditions galapagos cruise ship m v evolution
Company Overview
International Expeditions provides small-group adventure experiences in various exotic countries. These include land-based trips to places like Ecuador, Kenya, Tanzania and Patagonia, as well as cruise excursions in notable wildlife and natural areas such as the Peruvian Amazon and Galapagos Islands. While it focuses primarily on land-based activities, IE charters a variety of riverboats and yachts for cruise programs in Patagonia, India, Cuba, the Amazon and Galapagos. The company's cruise adventures are tailored for customers who are "50+ years old," "well educated," and "affluent."
IE is a subsidiary of Tui Group, a multinational travel and tourism company headquartered in Hannover, Germany. 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. IE is currently managed by Travelopia, the worlds largest collection of specialist travel brands.
Leadership
International Expeditions was co-founded by Dr. Richard Ryel and Steve Cox. Ryel also served as the Chairman of the Board of the International Ecotourism Society. Van Perry was appointed the president of International Expeditions in November 2011. He is also the president of Zegrahm Expeditions, an adventure travel company located in Seattle, Washington.
Controversy
In April 2016, a cabin on International Expeditions' "Estrella Amazonica," now marketed as "Amazon Star," caught fire, killing two American passengers: Drs. Larry and Christy Hammer. According to investigators, the fire was caused by a power strip that was supplied by the boat and lacked surge protection and safety and flammability ratings. The Hammers' room lacked an in-room fire alarm. 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.
In the days following the fire, International Expeditions claimed that the Chief of Fire Department–Loreto Region, a Chief of Fire Prevention and Investigation Unit, a Chief of Instruction and Investigation, the commanding Deputy District Attorney, the Tourism Police Force, and Port Authorities cleared the vessel safe to carry guests. These claims have not been verified.
Perry and International Expeditions are criticized for declaring the boat "safe to travel," and for the ship to resume sailing within two days of the tragedy given that Perry and International Expeditions did not know at that time what caused the fire, why no alarm sounded anywhere on the boat, and why the crew failed to respond effectively.
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." No safety officials or third parties have been able to publicly verify the statement.