Hurtigruten Expeditions has hired Alex McNeil as Senior Vice President of Expeditions Product & Guest Experience to develop the company’s next generation of expedition cruises, adding more depth and partnerships to the core experience.
Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen said Mr McNeil will play a significant role in shaping the future of its product to create new and exciting adventures for travellers.
“[Alex’s] extensive field experience combined with an understanding of how to offer the most sustainable and inspiring expedition cruises makes me confident that he will help us redesign the future of adventure travel,” she said.
Mr McNeil is regarded as a pioneer in the field and has completed more than 100 expeditions, including reaching the Geographic North on 14 separate occasions.
In his 15-year-plus expedition career, he 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.
Mr McNeil’s expertise in sustainable adventure travel will help advance Hurtigruten Expeditions’ objective of balancing tourism growth with environmental changes.
The responsibility is central to the company’s ambition of becoming the world’s most sustainable travel company, including achieving net zero emissions by 2040.
Of his new role, Mr McNeil said: “We’ll explore nature and culture together with our guests and alongside those who live in the regions we visit. It’s increasingly important to integrate even more local expertise, local food and other local products and services.”
“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.”
For more info, head to hurtigruten.com.au
