NEW YORK, NY, August 22, 2018 — Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographicwas recognized by Virtuoso® the international luxury travel network, with their 2018 Sustainable Tourism Leadership Award which honors outstanding leadership and commitment to sustainable tourism principles and practices among Virtuoso Preferred Partners and Hotels.
In its eighth year, the award underscores the valuable role travel and tourism can play in the protection of cultural and natural heritage for future generations, including environmental preservation and the well-being of local communities, and is open to on-site, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines, service and specialty providers.
Lindblad has built a global travel company with conservation and environmental stewardship as core business tenets. The company’s commitment to the places they explore includes (since 1997) $15.8 million to support stewardship efforts, currently through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund (LEX-NG Fund), which awards approximately $1.5 million dollars in grants per year. In 2017, that funding supported initiatives in Alaska, Baja, Galápagos, the Peruvian Amazon, Cambodia, Antarctica, the Pacific Northwest, Central America and beyond. Funding also went toward National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project, which is working to find, survey and protect the last wild places in the ocean, with a goal of protecting 20 of the ocean’s wildest places by 2020. LEX-NG Fund initiatives include killer whale research in Antarctica, artisan training in the Peruvian Amazon and Galapagos, and conservation-based research projects to protect humpback whales in Southeast Alaska.
The award was presented at Virtuoso’s 30th annual Travel Week before more than 3,000 of luxury travel’s most prominent figures during a gala dinner at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Hosted by Virtuoso® Chairman and CEO Matthew D. Upchurch, the evening celebrated some of the most innovative and revered agencies, advisors and partners worldwide.
“Receiving international recognition for conservation and sustainability initiatives undertaken by Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is quite an honor and opportunity,” said Amy Berquist, Director of Conservation and Strategic Initiatives for Lindblad Expeditions. “Having this platform to share our efforts and successes amplifies the potential for the travel industry to make lasting positive impacts throughout the world. We are proud of our teams in the field and at our home offices, and know this award will further fuel everyone’s passion for and commitment toward protecting our planet.”
“We are excited that Virtuoso has recognized the significant sustainability and conservation efforts taken on by our long-time partner, Lindblad Expeditions. We value their shared commitment to conservation—from working to eliminate single-use plastics aboard the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic fleet, to enabling guests to have a positive impact on the communities to which they travel through the Lindblad-National Geographic Fund. This award only deepens our commitment to continuing to increase the sustainability of our travel operations, both on our own as well as through our like-minded partners,” stated O’Shannon Burns, Sustainability Officer, National Geographic Expeditions.
About Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company that works in partnership with National Geographic on its ship-based voyages to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. The organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine expedition programs and to 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. As pioneers of global exploration, their collaboration in research, technology and conservation provides extraordinary travel experiences and disseminates geographic knowledge globally. Destinations include Galápagos, Antarctica, the Arctic & Russian Far East, Baja California, Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Costa Rica & Panama, the Amazon, Europe, French Polynesia & South Pacific, South America, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and beyond. For more information visit us at www.expeditions.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
About National Geographic Partners LLC
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 130 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
About Virtuoso
Virtuoso® is the leading international travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,000 travel agency partners with 17,500 elite travel advisors in 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with 1,700 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. More than (U.S.) $23.7 billion in annual travel sales makes Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.