Quark regional director APAC Tenille Hunt sat down with Karryon to talk about how the expedition line will evolve to meet an ever-discerning expedition traveller, and how she’s found her calling in promoting polar regions.
Fifteen years ago, when Tenille Hunt was working for G Adventures as its business development manager, she went on her first expedition to Antarctica and “caught the polar bug”.
“I was always passionate about adventure travel and Antarctica, and that trip was the end of life as I knew it.”
Fast forward to 2019, and she went on her first expedition with Quark and decided she would one day love to work for the company.
It happened within two years, and since then, she’s been on eight expeditions, and she says it never gets old.
“What I love about it most is it’s a chance to stop and slow down; it’s the true meaning of slow travel.
“The polar regions are the closest you can get to going to another planet. It’s a place that’s so pure, and it’s not just about the wildlife; it’s the communities you connect with along the way that make it so special.”
The polar cruise evolution
Hunt says as the expedition traveller evolves, more comforts and adventure are on the cards.
“Expedition cruising, and expectations, have changed a lot, and it’s now very comfortable. People are spending more to go and expect a level of luxury,” says Hunt.
“There will be more creative comforts in cabins, saunas, spas, and the chance to come back from an experience and have good onboard dining, but experiences like heli will also continue to evolve and grow.
“To get into a helicopter and fly over mountains and land on the seventh continent is an out-of-this-world experience, and it’s just not comparable to any other polar experience.”
She says it’ll also continue to evolve the programs it offers, like its new guided photography program.
The new small-group program pairs 16 guests with a photography guide to go out in a Zodiac and shoot the region at a slower pace, and then go back and workshop and review images.
Hunt says they’re also looking at more adventure-based experiences as the age of the traveller comes down.
“We are still seeing a strong baby boomer market and more multi-gen travellers, but the age is coming down, and we are getting a lot of the 50+ market because with Wi-Fi, and having flexible working conditions, they can travel and work at the same time.”
She says this means there is also more demand for active experiences.
“As that age comes down, they are looking for more diversity and more active experiences and things like the chance to camp in Greenland, and that will only continue to increase, and we’ll evolve to meet that need.”
As for Hunt’s future plans?
“It’s in my blood now, and even with a new season launch, I get so excited. Polar expeditions aren’t just about Antarctica; there’s Greenland, South Greenland, East Greenland, Iceland, and Snow Hill, and we are so privileged to travel to these areas.
“My favourite experience would have to be Antarctica because it was my first time, but Greenland holds a special place in my heart because of Inuit communities that live there. Going to people’s houses in southern Greenland and sharing a cup of tea with them, you can’t go past that human connection.
“I do want to go to Snow Hill and see emperor penguins, so that’s bucket list and Canadian Arctic.”
She says her wonder at the polar regions just keeps getting stronger and she can’t imagine doing anything else.
“If you’d asked me 15 years ago, would I have imagined this is what I’d be doing, I wouldn’t believe it.
“I get to talk penguins and polar bears every day. Every day is different, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
For more information, visit Quark Expeditions.
