Lindblad Expeditions

Last updated

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc.
FormerlySpecial Expeditions (1979–2000)
Company type Public
Nasdaq:  LIND
Industry Tourism
Founded1979
FounderSven-Olof Lindblad
Headquarters New York, New York, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Natalya Leahy (CEO)
  • Sven-Olof Lindblad (Co‑chairman)
  • Mark Ein (Co‑chairman)
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$644.7 million (2024)
Increase2.svgUS$21.6 million (2024)
Decrease Positive.svgUS$35.8 million (2024)
Total assets Increase2.svgUS$876.9 million (2024)
Total equity Increase Negative.svgUS$253.1 million (2024)
Number of employees
1,300 (2024)
Website expeditions.com
Footnotes /references
Financials as of December 31,2024.
References: [1]

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc. is a U.S.-based expedition travel company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1979 as Special Expeditions by Sven-Olof Lindblad, the company operates a fleet of 12 small ships, carrying between 28 and 150 guests, and offers expedition cruises to destinations on all seven continents in partnership with National Geographic .

Contents

History

Lindblad Travel (1958–1989)

MS Lindblad Explorer in Antarctic waters MS-Explorer-2005-1.jpg
MS Lindblad Explorer in Antarctic waters

Lars-Eric Lindblad founded Lindblad Travel in Connecticut in 1958. [2] Lindblad Travel led the first tourist expedition to Antarctica in 1966 [3] and was among the first companies to bring tourists to the Galápagos Islands starting in 1967. [4] Later, after launching the first private, purpose-built expedition ship, the Lindblad Explorer, [5] it pioneered tourist expeditions to the Arctic, Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, the Seychelles, Easter Island, Indonesia, the Amazon River, and many others. [6] In 1984 Lindblad Travel led the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage from Newfoundland to the Bering Strait. [7]

Regarded as the father of ecotourism, [8] Lars-Eric Lindblad believed strongly that travel to difficult-to-reach places encouraged a desire to preserve and protect the planet. In addition to leading expeditions in remote wilderness areas, Lindblad Travel also led trips to hard-to-visit countries such as China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The company ceased operations in 1989. [9]

Special Expeditions (1979–2003)

Lars-Eric Lindblad passed along his passion for adventure, exploration, and conservation to his son, Sven-Olof Lindblad, who joined him on expeditions from an early age. In 1979 Sven-Olof Lindblad founded Special Expeditions as a subsidiary of Lindblad Travel. [10] Special Expeditions decoupled from Lindblad Travel in 1982 [11] and was renamed Lindblad Expeditions in 2000. [12]

National Geographic partnership (after 2004)

National Geographic Resolution in Antarctic waters Lindblad National Geographic Resolution.jpg
National Geographic Resolution in Antarctic waters

Since 2004, Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with National Geographic , operating under the co-brand Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic. [13] The partnership integrates Lindblad expedition staff with National Geographic scientists and media personnel, and company vessels carry the "National Geographic" name. Lindblad-operated itineraries are also sold through National Geographic Expeditions. [14] In November 2023, the companies extended their agreement through 2040, following The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of National Geographic Partners. The renewal expanded Lindblad's marketing access across Disney’s portfolio, including Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club, and permits development of co-branded river cruises and potential larger vessels (295–530 passengers). [15] [16]

The company expanded its fleet in the 2010s. In 2013, it acquired Orion Expedition Cruises and renamed its vessel National Geographic Orion. It ordered its first purpose-built ships in 2015: National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture , U.S.-flagged vessels launched in 2017 and 2018 for domestic service. [17] [18] They were followed by National Geographic Endurance (2020) and National Geographic Resolution (2021), which primarily operate in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. [19]

Lindblad also expanded into land-based travel. In 2016, it acquired a controlling interest in Natural Habitat Adventures. [20] In 2021, it acquired Off the Beaten Path, DuVine, and Classic Journeys. [21] [22] The company acquired Thomson Safaris for approximately US$30 million in 2024. [23] [24] These brands continue to operate independently.

Lindblad Expeditions went public in July 2015. [25]

Sven Lindblad retired as CEO in 2021. [26] Dolf Berle was appointed CEO later that year, [27] stepped down in 2023, and was succeeded again by Lindblad. [28] In December 2024, the company announced that Lindblad would step down again and become Co-Chair of the Board, with Natalya Leahy appointed CEO effective January 1, 2025. [29]

Sustainability and charitable initiatives

Lindblad Expeditions operates programs supporting conservation, research, and sustainability. The company established the Galápagos Conservation Fund to support local projects and research, [30] and introduced OPUS (Operation to Prevent Unwanted Species) to reduce the risk of introducing invasive species via imported food. [31] Its Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic Fund supports research and education initiatives, including student scholarships in the Galápagos and scientific studies such as Antarctic killer whale tagging. [32] [33] [34] In 2019, the company announced plans to achieve carbon neutrality and, in conjunction with National Geographic's "Planet or Plastic" campaign, banned single-use plastics aboard its ships. [35] [36]

Fleet

Lindblad Expedition currently owns and operates a fleet of 12 vessels, which it supplements with chartered vessels. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc. 2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K)" (PDF). February 28, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  2. ↑ Sitwell, Nigel (July 15, 1994). "Obituary: Lars-Eric Lindblad". The Independent. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ Carey, Meredith (January 23, 2016). "What the First-Ever Antarctic Cruise Looked Like". Conde Nast Traveler. Conde Nast Publications. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Island Hopping: Tourism in the Galápagos". CBS News. July 29, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ Wright, Christopher (May 31, 2018). "The Rise and Rise and Rise of Polar Cruising". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ Sitwell, Nigel (July 15, 1994). "Obituary: Lars-Eric Lindblad". The Independent. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  7. ↑ Wright, Christopher (May 31, 2018). "The Rise and Rise and Rise of Polar Cruising". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  8. ↑ Kmet, Mimi. "A Purposeful Pioneer". Travel Pulse. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  9. ↑ Piorko, Janet (July 13, 1994). "Lars-Eric Lindblad, 67, Pioneer Of Tours to Exotic Destinations". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Sven-Olof Lindblad on Investing in Eco-Tourism". Lux. January 24, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ "The Traveler Who Carried his Typewriter Around the World". Conde Nast Traveler. Conde Nast Publications. April 1, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ Cogswell, David (April 26, 2015). "Lindblad Appointed Cultural Ambassador of the Seychelles". Travel Pulse. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  13. ↑ Sampson, Hannah (August 24, 2018). "National Geographic's Travel Arm Extends Ahead of Disney Takeover". Skift. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Expedition Cruises". National Geographic. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  15. ↑ "LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXTEND AND EXPAND STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP THROUGH 2040". Lindblad Expeditions. November 15, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Extension of National Geographic Relationship" (PDF). Lindblad Expeditions. November 15, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Lindblad's Quest Starts Alaska Service After Delayed Delivery". Cruise Industry News. July 31, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Lindblad Expeditions Christens National Geographic Venture". Cruise Industry News. December 6, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ Pratesi, Gwen (June 9, 2022). "12 Top Cruises on Small Ships". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  20. ↑ Steighorst, Tom (May 5, 2016). "Lindblad acquires majority stake in adventure tour operator". Travel Weekly. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  21. ↑ Clausing, Jeri (March 9, 2021). "Lindblad Expeditions buys two tour operators". Travel Weekly. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  22. ↑ Jainchill, Johanna (October 19, 2021). "Lindblad Expeditions acquires Classic Journeys". Travel Weekly. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  23. ↑ Kalosh, Anne (April 30, 2024). "Lindblad buys safari company and analysts ask why not a ship or shares instead?". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  24. ↑ "lindb20240331c_10q.htm". www.sec.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  25. ↑ Gregg, Aaron (July 10, 2015). "Lindblad Expeditions, an exotic-travel company, goes public". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  26. ↑ Cogswell, David (April 15, 2021). ""Sven Lindblad Steps Down, or Up"". Travel Research Online. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  27. ↑ Kalosh, Anne (April 30, 2021). "Lindblad appoints Dolf Berle CEO, Sven Lindblad moves to co-chair". Seatrade Cruise News. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  28. ↑ Saltzman, Dori (July 21, 2023). "Sven Lindblad Back as CEO at Lindblad Expeditions". Travel Market Report. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Natalya Leahy named CEO of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions". Travel Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  30. ↑ Randall, Cassidy (January 11, 2020). "Travel Is Worth the Carbon Footprint". Outside. Mariah Media. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  31. ↑ Catchpole, Karen (January 20, 2017). "Going greener in the Galápagos". The Toronto Sun. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Traveler Impact Summary" (PDF). Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  33. ↑ Gable, Mona (April 10, 2017). "What Antarctic Killer Whales Can Teach Humans About Climate Change". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Les Roches creates a Sustainable Development specialization within its Bachelor program". HospitalityNet. May 11, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Regenerative Tourism: Beyond Sustainable Tourism". Travel Weekly. November 9, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  36. ↑ Figueroa, Ana (July 25, 2018). "Lindblad Eliminates Single-Use Plastic Fleetwide". Travel Pulse. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Lindblad Buys Two Celebrity Ships for Galapagos Cruise Expansion – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News".
  38. ↑ "Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. Expands Operations in Core Galápagos Market with Addition of Two New Vessels".
  39. ↑ "New Ship In Galapagos a Meaningful Upgrade for Lindblad Expeditions". Cruise Industry News. May 9, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  40. 1 2 "Lindblad to Retire Two U.S.-Flagged Ships". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.