This impacts things like trips to Grand Canyon and WFA courses. Personally, though I've been a member for years, I've never been on an REI trip or course (aside from some in-store stuff) - but I think folks who took them benefitted and enjoyed. As well, the guides and teachers were able to connect with clients through the national reach of REI. I hope these local guide services that were contracting with REI will be able to carry on without these trips.
Here's an article about it from Backpacker - https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/rei-closes-experience-program-lays-off-guides/
REI Closes Experiences Program, Will No Longer Offer Trips or Classes
After four decades of running outdoor adventure trips and educational courses, REI is eliminating more than 400 jobs to focus on its core retail business, the company’s CEO said on Wednesday.
Published Jan 8, 2025
... “We’ve held out as long as possible, but the fact remains that Experiences is an unprofitable business for the co-op, and we must adjust course,” [REI CEO] Artz wrote. ...The closure of the department will eliminate 180 full-time employees and 248 part-time guides from the company, beginning this week. ...
From their local paper: https://www.seattletimes.com/busine...s-of-employees-axes-tour-and-events-business/
Struggling REI cuts hundreds of employees, axes tour and events business
Jan. 8, 2025
...Experiences have been a staple of REI for more than 40 years. But that side of the co-op has never been profitable. To keep it afloat, REI has had to use money from the retail side to subsidize Experiences, which loses millions of dollars every year.
REI has 25 million members, 8.5 million of whom purchased something from the co-op last year. Of those, just 40,000 went through an Experiences class or event....
From the REI site: https://www.rei.com/events
An Important Update About REI Experiences
REI has announced the closure of its Experiences division to prioritize the core retail business. REI Adventures, outdoor classes and day tours are no longer offered. For additional information, please visit our FAQ page.
More from REI, from: https://www.rei.com/events/resources/faqs
"All outdoor classes, day tours, and REI Adventures trips are permanently canceled. REI Adventures and Wilderness First Aid courses in progress at the time of this announcement will continue through completion.
In-store programming will continue to be offered."
Here's an article about it from Backpacker - https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/rei-closes-experience-program-lays-off-guides/
REI Closes Experiences Program, Will No Longer Offer Trips or Classes
After four decades of running outdoor adventure trips and educational courses, REI is eliminating more than 400 jobs to focus on its core retail business, the company’s CEO said on Wednesday.
Published Jan 8, 2025
... “We’ve held out as long as possible, but the fact remains that Experiences is an unprofitable business for the co-op, and we must adjust course,” [REI CEO] Artz wrote. ...The closure of the department will eliminate 180 full-time employees and 248 part-time guides from the company, beginning this week. ...
From their local paper: https://www.seattletimes.com/busine...s-of-employees-axes-tour-and-events-business/
Struggling REI cuts hundreds of employees, axes tour and events business
Jan. 8, 2025
...Experiences have been a staple of REI for more than 40 years. But that side of the co-op has never been profitable. To keep it afloat, REI has had to use money from the retail side to subsidize Experiences, which loses millions of dollars every year.
REI has 25 million members, 8.5 million of whom purchased something from the co-op last year. Of those, just 40,000 went through an Experiences class or event....
From the REI site: https://www.rei.com/events
An Important Update About REI Experiences
REI has announced the closure of its Experiences division to prioritize the core retail business. REI Adventures, outdoor classes and day tours are no longer offered. For additional information, please visit our FAQ page.
More from REI, from: https://www.rei.com/events/resources/faqs
"All outdoor classes, day tours, and REI Adventures trips are permanently canceled. REI Adventures and Wilderness First Aid courses in progress at the time of this announcement will continue through completion.
In-store programming will continue to be offered."
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