Hurtigruten Expeditions has appointed Alex McNeil to lead the company’s next generation of expedition cruises.

He will officially join the line as senior vice-president of expeditions product and guest experience in February.

McNeil – who was formerly director of expedition experience and innovation at Quark Expeditions – has completed more 100 expeditions to date, including reaching the Geographic North Pole on 14 occasions.

Hurtigruten said in a statement that his “expertise in sustainable adventure travel will help advance Hurtigruten Expeditions’ ambitions to balance tourism growth with environmental changes”.

The operator’s main objective is to be the “world’s most sustainable travel company, achieving net zero emissions by 2040”.

Hurtigruten Expeditions to ‘change adventure travel’

Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen said: “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 redesign the future of adventure travel.

“Building on our existing mindset and offerings, we will invite modern-day explorers to expedition cruises that are genuinely life-changing, where sustainability, true exploration, learning and quality always come before quantity.”

McNeil added: “I am 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.

“We will explore nature and culture together with our guests and alongside those who live in the regions we visit.

“It will be important, for example, to integrate even more local expertise, local food and other local products and services than today.”

Image credit: Dave Merron