Arctic Expedition Cruise Week

The Arctic Expedition Cruise Week is your chance to be part of an exciting gathering that brings together Arctic expediton operators and industry stakeholders for networking, learning, and collaboration. The venue this year is Stortingsgata Kurs & Konferanse.

While the full program is still being finalized, here’s a sneak peek at the key events:

• October 21 – Meet the Destinations & Market Place: Connect with local Arctic producers and destination representatives, and learn about their experiences, products, and future visions. This year’s event includes breakout sessions—the DMO session offers a chance to exchange ideas, and strengthen connections with fellow DMOs across the Arctic. In the Market Place session operators will explain how procurement works, and how to tailor products and services to meet their needs.
• October 22 – Arctic Cruise Conference: Our annual conference will as always include knowledge and discussions of industry trends, developments and opportunities in Arctic tourism. This year’s key note speaker is Sam Seward, newly appointed President of Quark Expeditions.
• October 22 – Annual Dinner: Enjoy an evening of food, laughter, and speeches — and the announcement of the Puffin Award winner at Håndverkeren, a historical venue in the heart of Oslo, where you will enjoy a delicious three-course dinner.
• October 23 – Annual General Meeting: AECO’s member meeting, reviewing the past year, discussing and voting on future strategies and issues.

Register for the Arctic Expedition Cruise Week

Arctic Cruise Conference: Confirmed Speakers

Lars Fause, Governor of Svalbard

Lars Fause has served as the Governor of Svalbard since June 2021. Lars Fause has a longstanding interest in Arctic governance and policy and will share seasonal update and perspecitves from the Governor’s office.

Sam Seward

Sam Seward is the newly appointed President of Quark Expeditions with an extensive experience in active and experiential group travel, having previously led Travelopia’s Adventure Travel division. Sam Seward will share insights into the future of polar tourism and Quark’s approach to shaping it.

Andreas Østhagen

Professor Andreas Østhagen is a renowned expert on Arctic security and international relations. At our event, he will talk about the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Arctic—raising questions about cooperation, competition, and the role of global powers in a rapidly changing environment.