Travellers encouraged to turn a vacation into a vocation and get involved with Hurtigruten Foundation

Hurtigruten Foundation will be ‘rebel in the house’ of Hurtigruten Group as travel company forges ahead with ambitious sustainable growth plans.

Travellers exploring with Hurtigruten are being encouraged to make a lasting impact on the communities they visit by getting involved with Hurtigruten Foundation.

“We want to turn our guest’s vacation into a vocation. We want to empower travellers to become natural allies for the communities they visit long after they explored with us,” said Henrik A. Lund, the newly appointed Managing Director of Hurtigruten Foundation.

“Fighting to save the planet is no longer a debate, it is a duty, and we at Hurtigruten Foundation are committed to becoming leaders of that change and will inspire our guests to do the same. It’s not enough anymore to say we have to cut carbon emissions or reduce plastic pollution on beaches, we have to show how we are doing it and how it is possible,” he said.

Mr Lund has broad experience in sustainability and international affairs. He was previously the Chief of Staff for José María Figueres - the former President of Costa Rica and former CEO of the World Economic Forum. He also worked as Director of Institutional Relations at the Bellona Foundation and will continue to serve as its chairman while in his new role at Hurtigruten.

CEO of Hurtigruten Group and Chairperson of Hurtigruten Foundation Daniel Skjeldam is delighted to welcome Mr Lund to the Hurtigruten family.

“Having Henrik at the helm of Hurtigruten Foundation is yet another ambitious step towards our long-term sustainability efforts. Our mission is to educate and inform our guests and turn them into ambassadors long after their Hurtigruten experience. Henrik’s leadership and knowledge will allow us to do this and invest in communities through projects like wildlife conservation, plastic pollution reduction or local heritage initiatives. I am looking forward to working with and being challenged by Henrik to meet the goals of Hurtigruten Foundation and to ensure that our guests of tomorrow can enjoy the same unique experiences as our guests of today,” he said.

Speaking about his new role and goals for the future, Mr Lund added:

“I don’t think there is any global company operating out of Norway that is as pro-active in their approach to sustainable tourism as Hurtigruten Group and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. In a way, we will be the ‘rebel in the house’ of Hurtigruten Group and will constantly challenge the company to make real and meaningful change. It is refreshing to see Hurtigruten Group hold itself accountable in this way and I believe through the support of our guests and donors, we can do that and make a long-lasting impact,” he said.

With less than four months to go to the COP 26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Mr Lund urges world leaders to develop policies that work for everyone:

“The time for talking and photo opps is over. We need brave politicians to implement proactive climate policies that give clear pathways to climate targets. Targets that all of us whether it be the business community or the conscious traveller can really get behind and help achieve together.”

Notes to editors:

• Among Hurtigruten Foundation's goals: conservation of endangered species, the fight against marine and plastic pollution and support global and local projects in areas we explore.
• Hurtigruten Foundation spans activities onboard and ashore, such as beach clean-ups, water sampling, oil spill monitoring, and other science-related projects.
• Through lectures, discussions and other engaging activities, Hurtigruten Foundation is a platform for guests and crew to take a stance, volunteer for worthwhile causes, and make a genuine difference - together.
• Hurtigruten Foundation is committed to embedding the values of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into everything it sets out to do.
• Hurtigruten Group comprises three main business units: Hurtigruten Norway, Hurtigruten Expeditions and Hurtigruten Svalbard.

For more information or interviews, please contact VP, Group Communications, Catriona Loughran catriona.loughran@hurtigruten.com or phone: +47 909 25528.