Hurtigruten Group has appointed Steven Taylor as its new chief commercial officer.

Taylor will lead the group’s strategic commercial initiatives and also sit on the executive management team.

He previously worked at Accor Hotels & Resorts where he was chief marketing officer, and also had spells at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts.

Group CEO Daniel Skjeldam said: “We are delighted to welcome Steven to the Hurtigruten Group family.

“His wealth of experience in the travel and hospitality sector will hugely enhance our ambitious growth plans and help maximise the visibility of our brands while attracting and nurturing engagement with new and existing guests.”

Taylor added: “I am honoured to join Hurtigruten Group at such an important moment in the company’s incredible history.

“Hurtigruten was built by adventurers and explorers in 1893 and I’m excited to lead and support Hurtigruten to become the global leader in sustainable adventure travel.”

Taylor will be based at the company’s office in London.

The Hurtigruten Group consists of Hurtigruten Expeditions, which operates cruises to a number of destinations, Hurtigruten Norway, which operates the Norwegian Coastal Express service, and Hurtigruten Svalbard, offering land-based activities on the Arctic archipelago.

Speaking exclusively to Cruise Trade News in November 2021, Hurtigruten Expeditions UK head of sales Mark Walter said the line was aiming “to become the world leader in exploration travel”.