Intrepid Travel believes a key to growth can be found in custom travel. The Australia-based tour operator, which is focused on growing its U.S. audience, recently hired Richard Wise of Audley Travel as general manager of tailor-made.

His appointment signals Intrepid's seriousness about developing a more robust program for guests interested in the benefits of traveling with a guided tour operator but on a custom itinerary.

The market for custom tours appears to be growing, particularly in the U.S., which has prompted custom-tour operators like Audley to expand their presence there. Intrepid, too.

"There is a huge opportunity for us … particularly in North America, where people are typically more time-poor and can't commit to fixed dates," Wise said.

Wise spent the past two years in Boston working for Audley as its head of global travel. While there, he said, he noticed that Americans crave a jam-packed, action-oriented itinerary -- something he said Intrepid is positioned to deliver.

Currently, about 10% of Intrepid's revenue comes from tailor-made travel, but the company hopes that will grow. CEO James Thornton said that segment of the travel industry is "ripe for disruption."

The focus on tailor-made comes as Intrepid enhances its portfolio with lodging acquisitions, launches shorter trips to accommodate time-strapped travelers and develops a daytrip collection to introduce more people to the brand.

Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao

Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang

Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong