HX expands UK commercial team with three appointments

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has expanded its UK commercial team with three appointments.

Hayley Van Der Steen (pictured left) and Sophie Nelson (centre) have both been hired as trade partnership managers, while Megan Lewis has taken on the role of inside sales executive.

Van Der Steen has more than 20 years’ experience in travel, having held positions at Contiki Holidays, Trafalgar Travel, Cruise & Maritime Voyages and Cunard.

More: HX offers more than 80 itineraries for 2025/26 season

Nelson has joined the company following a seven-and-a-half-year stretch at Avis Budget Group International, bringing with her experience in “key business roles, driving revenue and managing relationships with major partners, including travel agents and tour operators across the UK and European markets,” HX said.

The pair have been tasked with managing “everything” with travel agent partners, including commercial and marketing, system integration, product knowledge and training.

Their key focus will be “ensuring agents are equipped to increase their expedition cruise business with HX”.

Lewis has six years’ experience in the cruise industry, with prior roles at Royal Caribbean Group and The Travel Network Group.

In her new position, she is responsible for providing additional sales support to agents as well as organising fam trips and ship visits.

HX said the new hires mark its “commitment to strengthening relationships with trade partners and ensuring they have all the support they need”.

“The expansion of our team is a pivotal moment for us at HX, marking a long-term investment in strengthening our partnerships with the travel trade,” said Nathaniel Sherborne, vice-president of sales and marketing for the UK and Nordics.

“Our travel agent partners are an integral part of our business and we are unwavering in our commitment to them.

“Whether that be through training, marketing assistance or in-depth product education, we will be supporting them with the tools they need to promote HX and expand their expedition cruise business.

“We welcome Hayley, Sophie and Megan and we are excited to have three seasoned professionals with extensive experience at the market-leading brands join us and solely focus on supporting our trade partners.”