Daniel Skjeldam has been CEO of Hurtigruten Group since 2012. His strategic focus and passion for innovation saw him transition Hurtigruten from a small shipping company to one of the world’s leading sustainable adventure travel companies.
With a background in the travel industry, he was part of the start-up team of airline Norwegian in 2002 and served as Chief Commercial Officer before taking the helm at Hurtigruten.
Daniel takes pride in building businesses and forging strong and diverse teams that set new standards in the global travel industry. This determination to effect change, saw him oversee the launch of the world’s first battery hybrid ships; MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen in 2018/2019 respectively.
A frequent speaker at international conferences, Daniel is a thought leader for ocean protection, innovation and sustainability, and is also the founder and Chairman of the Hurtigruten Foundation.
To add to his colourful career, he has worked as an officer in the Norwegian Army and is a trained polar expedition guide.
It’s a huge honor to accept this award on behalf of Hurtigruten Group. We live in an increasingly fragile planet, and we are more committed than ever to delivering the most unique, sustainable travel experiences for our guests. We will continue to be a catalyst for change in the travel industry not only for our guests but for the communities we visit, and we look forward to welcoming even more German guests as they explore across Hurtigruten Group’s portfolio of products.