Jan 25, 2025 • 7 min read
07.01.2025 - 21:15 / travelpulse.com / Fridtjof Nansen / Sarah Kuta
Travel advisors had a chance to see the otherworldly landscapes and iconic animals of the Galápagos Islands during a series of recent FAM trips hosted by HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions).
In late 2023, the company launched a competition to give 100 travel advisors an opportunity to win a free FAM trip to the chain of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador. For each new booking a travel advisor made between December 26, 2023, and March 31, 2024, they were entered for a chance to win. At the end of the contest period, the company randomly chose the 100 winners.
The competition is part of HX’s ongoing commitment to supporting its trade partners, along with a new agent portal, a new online training program, a new B2B help desk phone line, webinars and more. HX has also been growing its presence in North America, with the hiring of several new business development managers.
In September, HX also hosted its largest-ever FAM trip, with more than 300 travel advisors attending a two-day trip aboard the MS Fridtjof Nansen. The ship sailed from Vancouver to Seattle through Gulf Island National Park Reserve, offering travel advisors a brief but immersive taste of the HX expedition cruise experience.
Travel advisors celebrate a successful FAM trip in the Galápagos Islands with HX (Photo Credit: Andres Mesias/HX)
The Galápagos contest winners joined three HX departures in late 2024: an “Iconic Wildlife & Sublime Scenery (Western route)” voyage in October, a “Nature and Wildlife (Northern route)” sailing in November and an “In Darwin’s Footsteps (Eastern route)” departure in December.
Advisors sailed aboard the MS Santa Cruz II, the 90-guest expedition cruise ship that was refurbished in 2021.
The Galápagos Islands are situated roughly 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. The archipelago consists of 127 islands, islets and rocks, including four islands that are inhabited by humans.
Since 1959, 97 percent of the archipelago has been protected as Galápagos National Park. The waters surrounding the islands are also protected under the Galápagos Marine Reserve, which was created in 1986 and expanded in 1998. The archipelago has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.
The Galápagos Islands are brimming with stunning landscapes (Photo Credit: HX)
During the December departure, travel advisors from the United States and Canada joined Kent Phillips, business development manager for Western Canada, for a first-hand look at HX’s Galápagos product.
The trip started with two nights in Quito, followed by six nights aboard the vessel. Advisors explored several islands and islets, including Mosquera Islet; Punta Pitt and Puerto Baquierizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island; Santa Fé and South Plaza islands;
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