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