Global travel company Intrepid Travel has announced it will be using Douglas Shire’s own luxury eco-friendly boutique lodge nestled in the Daintree Rainforest as a blueprint to help establish a new vision for responsible tourism accommodation across the world.

Intrepid bought the Daintree Ecolodge - which includes 15 tree-house-style luxury rooms, a restaurant, a bar and a day spa - in 2023 as the first of at least 20 similar accommodation options to be owned and operated globally within three years, if all goes to plan.

The new business strategy was announced this week as part of a celebration of the first successful year of the Ecolodge being open under new management - with the clean-up after Cyclone Jasper taking place before that.

Intrepid is renowned across the world for its small group tours that focus on community connection and responsible travel, and operating its own properties marks a new era for this long-standing Australian company, which has grown to become one of the world’s most successful travel operators.

Accommodation general manager Celine Hurelle said the plan going forward was to buy into places for people to stay so they can become a gateway to further explore destinations.

“Our core of our travel product is about giving back to the community, meeting locals and making a connection,” Ms Hurelle said. 

“We want to bring all of that into accommodation.”

Since buying the Ecolodge, Intrepid has worked on improving the property’s connection to the community through using local tour operators and bringing in a target of using 80 per cent locally sourced ingredients from within a 300km radius.

Intrepid’s Australia and New Zealand managing director Brett Mitchell said taking over the Ecolodge felt natural.

“We knew we’d need everyone's help, it’s symbiotic,” Mr Mitchell said. 

“We need the community and then we can give back to the community.

“Taking this approach has helped us along this journey and we will have a similar approach at our future locations,” he said.