Laura Hernandez, Intrepid Travel. (Photo Credit: Laura Hernandez)
Bio
Laura Hernandez, Head of Partnerships USA at Intrepid Travel, has built a career out of travel over the past decade. She began working for an international tradeshow company before backpacking across Southeast Asia. Joining Collette as a BDM in 2016, she was redirected during the pandemic to Atlas Obscura, where she built the sales function for its global trips from scratch. In 2023, she joined Intrepid Travel as Industry Sales Manager and was quickly promoted to Head of Partnerships.
Today, Hernandez helped build Intrepid’s growth in the U.S. market, creating a dedicated US-based BDM team with six managers, and providing oversight for the program. She’s also helped expand the brand’s FAM program, including its Women’s Expeditions.
Hernandez routinely champions Intrepid’s responsible travel ideals at industry panels, podcasts and more, and was recently a keynote speaker for the Women of TLN at EDGE 2026. She serves on The Intrepid Foundation US Management Team, and helped to create Direct Travel’s Direct Impact fundraising program.
Laura Hernandez is 39 years old.
“I'm honored to be recognized as part of TravelPulse's 40 Under 40, especially among so many inspiring peers who are shaping the future of travel,” said Laura Hernandez on her win. “Ten years ago, a career break to backpack through Asia sparked a passion that led me to pursue a new path in tourism and I've never looked back. I'm deeply grateful for the mentors who have guided me throughout my journey and helped me understand not only the travel industry, but also the power of leadership, human connection, and tourism’s unique ability to create positive impact. I'm excited for what lies ahead as I continue advocating for advisors and the vital role they play in creating meaningful travel experiences.”
Industry References
“As Head of Partnerships USA at Intrepid Travel, Laura wears many hats: she leads our team, builds strategy, and builds relationships across the country. She's our in-house industry expert, advocates for responsible travel, and does all of this with exceptional focus,” explained Louise Laing, Vice President of USA Marketing, Intrepid Travel. “The thing I love about Laura is, while she's juggling all these things, she's always authentic. And this means Laura's funny, kind and always looks for ways to do things better every day.
“Her ambition drives her and sets an example for the whole team; she has both confidence and a calm demeanour, and she's a rare unicorn that balances strategic thinking with execution, builds functions and processes yet never loses sight of the bigger picture,” Laing continued.
“Laura is Intrepid USA's secret weapon; she has delivered double digit growth annually. She is the reason Intrepid Travel’s North American indirect business, sales, partner strategy are all thriving. She has grown the BDM team from zero, to the team of soon-to-be-six to support the advisor community. Laura sets a new higher standard for our leadership team too, and holds our wider team accountable with her genuine passion for positive impact and her commitment to empowering women in travel. It's a joy to work alongside Laura, as she's deeply invested in the success of those around her. She turns ideas into action and brings people together, making her a true rising star in travel,” concluded Laing.
"Through our partnership, I have had the privilege of working closely with Laura and have seen firsthand the positive impact she has at Intrepid Travel and on the partners she supports,” said Krista Dreves, Director of Partner Relations at Travel Leaders Network. “Laura approaches every partnership with a collaborative spirit, backed by deep industry expertise and a genuine commitment to building strong relationships.
“Laura's commitment to our strategic partnership has helped drive meaningful results, but what stands out most is who she is as a person. She genuinely cares about others and is passionate about creating positive change across the travel industry. She is a strong advocate for social impact initiatives and for supporting and elevating women in travel, always looking for ways to make our industry stronger, more inclusive, and better for future generations,” continued Dreves.
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