Adventure Travel &
Expedition Consultancy
Travel Risk Management in an Unpredictable World
When it comes to adventure, if systems and safety management fail, there can be serious consequences for you and your clients.
Agile Pangolin helps support and develop resilient, trustworthy travel brands, through management of both business and travel related risks, protecting your clients, staff, operations and reputation.
What price is peace of mind?
I believe risk management should enable adventures to happen, not prevent them.
Between 2006 and 2024, I built and managed a high-risk, operationally complex expedition company, taking teenagers on some serious adventures - from the markets of West Africa and rafting in Costa Rica, to visiting remote tribes in Venezuela and summiting 6000m peaks in the Himalaya.
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More than 8000 students. 300+ expeditions. 25 different countries. All with an unblemished safety record.
Now, I'm supporting other travel businesses to think big. My goal is for you to be confident you've done everything possible to maintain the safety of your clients and the reputation of your brand.
I am experienced in a multitude of statutory and non-statutory standards and licences, including:
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British Standard 8848
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ATOL Licencing
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Package Travel Regulations
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Travelife Sustainability Certification
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See below for ways I may be able to support you and your travel business. ​​
20 Years of Adventure Risk Management
Consultancy Services for the Adventure Travel Industry
Operational Audits
An in-depth assessment of your current systems to identify gaps, weaknesses and risks in your client facing comms, internal workflows and operational capability. I’ll make suggestions and, if required, a plan for improvement.
I can also undertake overseas operational audits of suppliers if required.
Fractional Operations
The leap to employing a full-time operations director can be daunting and financially challenging. With Agile Pangolin working fractionally, one or two days a week/month, you get all the benefits of 20 plus years’ experience without the on-going commitment of permanent employment.
Safety Management Systems
Every client. Every itinerary. Every destination. Whatever the group size. Whatever the length of trip.
Everything delivered to the same operational standards following the same due diligence checks.
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Is that the reality of your safety management system?
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If you’re worried you've not plugged all the holes, I can help find them and fix them, ensuring you're compliant with British Standard BS:8848.
Crisis Planning
It's 3am. You get a call from a client in distress in a foreign country: A road traffic accident, their partner is in hospital, the incident has hit the local news.
Do you:
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a) panic.
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b) add it to the list for the morning and go back to sleep.
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c) calmly reassure them, refer to your emergency response plan, check 'Actions On' templates, client medical information, insurance and DMC details. Half an hour later, you’ve implemented a bespoke action plan.
Having a robust, tested plan you can turn to in a time of crisis is not only peace of mind for you and your clients, it's vital brand management, I can help you write, develop and/or stress test your crisis plan.
"Adrian has a rare ability to translate complex ideas about sustainability, organisational culture, and social impact into compelling narratives."
Stephanie Darkes, Marketing Strategist
Ethical Tourism Consultancy
Responsible tourism doesn’t just happen. It takes time, attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to asking difficult questions.
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I have significant experience in this area and also lecture on the subject for the Diplomas in Expedition and Travel Medicine. I can help with:
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Policy Development: Developing a policy that is in line with your values, operations and growth plans shows your clients, DMCs, staff and leaders that you are committed to having a positive impact.
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Training & Workshops: Bespoke workshops and training for your staff and/or leaders, debating the ethics of travel, issues and responsibilities.
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Client Guides: Show your clients you care about their experience and your destinations with a bespoke responsible tourism guide.
Tour Leader Training
As the face of your company, are you confident your tour leaders are living and breathing your safety ethos, brand values and company culture?
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Or are you just putting your brand in someone elses hands and crossing your fingers?
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Framework development: Do your tour leaders know their responsibilities and your expectations? Do they understand your vision and customer service standards? Is your contract with them water tight? Do they know what to do in an emergency?
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Training design and delivery: I can help develop and deliver bespoke tour leader training courses, in line with your operations and risk management procedures.
Product Development
Want to launch a new programme, itinerary or even a new destination? Fantastic. The reality requires a lot of due diligence – from DMC selection and carbon impact, to itinerary planning, ethics and market-fit.
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If you’re short on time, connections and/or experience, let me do the heavy lifting for you.
Business Systems & Strategy
Travel and tourism businesses face a unique set of challenges, but they also need to nail the common business functions of marketing, branding, team development, leadership, accounting, cash flow forecasting, growth plans, systems, CRMs, automation and more.
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As a 3x founder and graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme, I can help professionalise and bring resilience and growth potential to business.
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See Small Business Consultancy Services and Fractional Operations for more details.
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Arrange a no obligation
exploratory call
Whatever stage of your business and operations, I'd love to help. 20 years at the coal face of risk management has taught me there is always room for improvement.
Let's have a chat and see if I can help.
"Adrian is a true professional, but also open, generous, and genuinely collaborative, which makes working with him an absolute pleasure."
Fran Lucraft, CEO, Grace & Green