Expedition cruise company HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has named Gebhard Rainer as its new Chief Executive Officer. Rainer is the former CEO of Sandals Resorts International, where he successfully navigated the complexities of the luxury hospitality industry while driving significant business growth.

Last week LATTE sat down with the CEO of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam, to hear about the company’s growth aspiration in the Australian market, and learn why more and more Australians are choosing the Norwegian company to explore polar regions.

Travel advisors should be cautious using inexperienced expedition cruise operators piloting programs to polar regions, the CEO of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam believes. In Australia last week, Skjeldam raised concerns about the rapid rise of travel companies that are entering the Arctic and Antarctic cruise market with little, if any, past experience.

In 2019 and 2020 Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise line, will expand its business in the Asia-Pacific region substantially, building an Australia sales, marketing and operations team.