The world’s largest and leading expedition cruise line has onboarded expedition expert Alex McNeil to develop Hurtigruten Expeditions’ next generation of expedition cruises – with even more depth and destination partnerships at the core of the experience.
A pioneer in the expedition industry since 2007, McNeil (CAN) has completed over 100 expeditions, including reaching the Geographic North Pole on 14 separate occasions. He will assume the role as SVP Expeditions Product and Guest Experience in the Northern Hemisphere Spring.
Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO, Asta Lassesen, welcomes the appointment. “Alex will play a significant role in developing the future of our expeditions as we continue to create new and exciting adventures for our guests. His extensive field experience combined with understanding of how to offer the most sustainable and inspiring expedition cruises, makes me confident that he will help us re-design the future of adventure travel,” she said.
New generation of exploration
In his more than 15-year expedition career, McNeil has sailed on more than a dozen different expedition vessels and completed trips by land and aircraft. His creative and collaborative approach to product development has led to the creation of industry-first itineraries, immersive shore excursion experiences, and the first expedition cruise products developed in full partnership with indigenous communities.
Asked about his new role, McNeil says, “I’m excited to be a part of the Hurtigruten Expeditions team as we identify global opportunities to develop an entirely new range of sustainable, guest experiences”.
His expertise in sustainable adventure travel is expected to help advance Hurtigruten Expeditions’ objective of balancing tourism growth with the environmental changes – a responsibility that is central to the company’s ambition of becoming the world’s most sustainable travel company including achieving net zero emissions by 2040.
McNeil also believes treating expeditions and destinations as an integrated unit is an important measure for success. “We’ll explore nature and culture together with our guests and alongside those who live in the regions we visit. It’s increasingly important, for example, to integrate even more local expertise, local food and other local products and services,” said McNeil.
Contrasts mass tourism
Hurtigruten Expeditions’ 2023/24 season is the most extensive in the cruise operator’s more than 125 years of history, and the forward-looking company is now rethinking what should be the actual content of a modern expedition cruise.
“We want to present new generations of guests with next-generation expeditions. Building on our existing mindset and offerings, we’ll invite modern-day explorers to expedition cruises that are genuinely life-changing – where sustainability, true exploration, learning and quality always come before quantity,” said CEO Lassesen.
The innovative push will create an even clearer alternative to quantity-oriented mass tourism.
Says Lassensen, “We’re totally aligned with our guests, the local communities we sail to, and the crews of our small-sized, custom-build ships. Our primary focus will be on creating increased value – in the guest experience, for our partners, and for nature. Our quest is to transform expeditions into a regenerating and protective force in parallel with growing our presence to new corners of the world.”
.jpg){kind=tracking}
