Lindblad to Continue Serving as Co-Chair of
Company's Board of Directors
NEW
YORK, May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindblad
Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND; the "Company" or
"Lindblad Expeditions") today announced the departure of Chief
Executive Officer Dolf Berle,
effective June 30, 2023, who is
pursuing a non-competitive opportunity in the Dallas area.
Upon his departure, Lindblad Expeditions' Founder and Co-Chair
of the Board of Directors Sven-Olof
Lindblad will return as Chief Executive Officer and will
work closely with Berle to ensure a smooth transition.
Prior to his departure from the role, Lindblad served as Chief
Executive Officer of Lindblad Expeditions since founding the
Company in 1979. In 2021, he transitioned to become Co-Chair of the
Company's Board of Directors, a role which Lindblad will continue
serving in. As Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chair, Lindblad will
be instrumental in advancing the Company's business strategy and
growth opportunities in partnership with the Board and leadership
team.
"Lindblad Expeditions was built out of a life-long passion for
exploring the world and with the intent of travel becoming a force
for good," said Lindblad. "Since founding the Company more
than 40 years ago, the travel industry has changed, with the
expedition travel sector experiencing unprecedented and dramatic
growth. But one thing has remained the same: Lindblad Expeditions'
commitment to providing life-changing, eye-opening authentic
expedition travel experiences to our passionate and curious guests.
I am thankful for the progress Dolf has ushered in and excited to
be returning as Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to building
upon our momentum and for what's next in Lindblad Expeditions'
rich, decades-long pioneering heritage."
Since joining Lindblad Expeditions in 2021, Berle oversaw the
successful return to service of the Company's expeditions cruises
and adventure travel experience operations across the globe. Under
his leadership, Lindblad Expeditions also welcomed three new ships
to its fleet: the fully stabilized ice class vessel, National
Geographic Resolution; the 48-guest National
Geographic Islander II, which sails year-round in the
Galápagos; and the three-mast modern sailing yacht Sea
Cloud II, which the Company will charter beginning May
2024. During this time, the Company also successfully acquired
Classic Journeys, a luxury cultural walking tour company
that operates a portfolio of curated tours centered around
cinematic walks led by expert local guides, further expanding its
land-based expedition offerings.
"For nearly five decades, Lindblad Expeditions has been the
recognized leader and pioneer of authentic expedition travel," said
Berle, "and it was an honor to have been a part of that iconic
legacy and the positive impact the Company has had on countless
guests and communities. I am thankful to Sven, the Board of
Directors, and, most importantly, our team members around the world
who welcomed me into this family and trusted me to serve this
Company in its new era of growth. Over the last two years, together
we have strategically expanded our capacity, diversified our
product portfolio, and transformed our marketing and sales
strategies, matching unprecedented demand for expedition travel and
positioning the Company to significantly ramp earnings and build
long-term shareholder value in the years ahead."
Mark Ein, Co-Chair of the
Company's Board of Directors, added: "Over the last two years,
Lindblad Expeditions has emerged from unprecedented times, and I
want to thank Dolf for his leadership. Now, with demand for
expedition travel reaching unprecedented heights, we are set to
further increase the number of annual guests that we serve and
continue to broaden and deepen our offering of high-quality
authentic experiences. As Sven returns as Chief Executive Officer,
I am excited to work closely with him and the leadership team on a
set of strategic growth initiatives to expand our earnings and
value creation potential even further."
To learn more about Lindblad Expeditions, visit
www.expeditions.com.
About Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.:
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. is an expedition travel company
that focuses on ship-based voyages through its Lindblad Expeditions
brand and land-based travel through its subsidiaries, Natural
Habitat, Inc. ("Natural Habitat"), Off the Beaten Path LLC ("Off
the Beaten Path"), DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. ("DuVine"), and
Classic Journeys, LLC ("Classic Journeys").
Lindblad Expeditions works in partnership with National
Geographic to inspire people to explore and care about the planet.
The organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine
expedition programs and promote conservation and sustainable
tourism around the world. The partnership's educationally oriented
voyages allow guests to interact with and learn from leading
scientists, naturalists and researchers while discovering stunning
natural environments, above and below the sea, through
state-of-the-art exploration tools.
Natural Habitat partners with the World Wildlife Fund to offer
and promote conservation and sustainable travel that directly
protects nature. Natural Habitat's adventures include polar bear
tours in Churchill, Canada, Alaskan grizzly bear adventures and
African safaris.
Classic Journeys is a luxury cultural walking tour company that
operates a portfolio of curated tours centered around cinematic
walks led by expert local guides. Classic Journeys offers active
small-group and private custom journeys in over 50 countries around
the world.
DuVine designs and leads luxury bike tours in the world's most
amazing destinations, from Italy's
sun-bleached villages and the medieval towns of Provence to
Portugal's Douro Valley and the
vineyards of Napa, California.
Guests bike, eat, drink, and sleep their way through these regions
and many more while sampling the finest cuisine, hotels, and
wine.
Off the Beaten Path is an outdoor, active travel company
offering guided small group adventures and private custom journeys
that connect travelers with the wild nature and authentic culture
of their destinations. Off the Beaten Path's trips extend across
the globe, with a focus on exceptional national park experiences in
the Rocky Mountains, Desert Southwest, and Alaska.
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SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.