Ambassadors Group Inc., the Spokane-based provider of educational travel programs, reported this afternoon a first-quarter net loss of $7.6 million, or 45 cents a diluted share, compared with a loss of $8.1 million, or 47 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.

The company reported gross revenue of $1.6 million and a total of about 180 traveled delegates for the first quarter, down from $2.9 million and about 570 delegates in the year-earlier period, which included a presidential inauguration program.

Anthony Dombrowik, president and CEO of Ambassadors, said in a press release, “We gained efficiencies this quarter, evidenced by the $2 million reduction in operating expenses …. We’re targeting a $3 million to $4 million reduction in operating expenses on a full-year basis during 2014, in addition to the $10.8 million of cost savings achieved in 2012 and 2013.”

Gross student enrollments in Ambassadors’ travel programs for 2014 are on par with last year.