HX Expeditions Reports Americas as Top Source Market in H1 2026
The new groups division is led by Zachery Krapes and Madelyn Nunez Paredes and follows a 2025 doubling of HX's North America-based Guest Excellence team.
HX Expeditions said the Americas became its largest source market worldwide in the first half of 2026, when the region delivered 53% year-over-year growth. The company is expanding North American travel advisor support through a new onboarding program, a dedicated groups division and additional commercial roles.
The Americas moved from HX’s third-largest source market in 2024 to its largest by the first half of 2026. Travel advisor-sourced sales increased 61% year over year during the latest six-month period, outpacing the region’s overall growth.
“Becoming our largest source market reflects the strength of our travel advisor partnerships and the growing demand across the Americas,” said Steve Smotrys, managing director and senior vice president, commercial, Americas.
Smotrys said the investments respond to requests from advisors.
New onboarding and groups programs
The automated Travel Advisor Welcome Program is now available to newly registered advisors based in North America. It introduces HX’s destinations, onboard product, expedition heritage, sustainability and science programs, and Basecamp philosophy, along with sales tools and other advisor resources.
HX plans to extend the program to additional markets, although it has not announced where or when the next rollout will occur.
The company has also established a groups division serving travel advisors and tour operators in the United States and Canada. Senior Group Specialist Zachery Krapes and Groups Specialist Madelyn Nunez Paredes lead the team, which will focus on expedition group business.
The division follows an expansion of HX’s North America-based Guest Excellence team during 2025. The company doubled the team and added in-market service specialists assigned to North American advisors and their clients.
Commercial team expands across North America
HX promoted Jennifer Kennedy and Charlene Sherman to senior manager, national and strategic accounts. Aliette Penton joined the company as business development manager for the Southeast, covering Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
The business rebranded from Hurtigruten Expeditions in 2023 and completed its operational separation from Hurtigruten in 2024, before the acquisition of the independent company closed in February 2025.
HX plans to recruit business development managers for Northern California and the Midwest, as well as a new sales coordinator.
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