WANDERING MINDS

Luxury hospitality insiders share expert travel tips, reveal the tell-tale signs of an exceptional hotel or restaurant, and offer advice on how to unlock superb service – no matter where your journey takes you.

- AS TOLD TO CHRISTIAN BARKER

Gebhard Rainer CEO, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, London

Travel has been both a personal passion and a professional compass throughout my life. Experiencing diverse cultures and approaches to hospitality has shaped how I lead in this industry, particularly when it comes to curating authentic, meaningful guest experiences. Hospitality is about connection.

Travel teaches you humility and perspective, two things that are essential when designing experiences for others. It's made me value the details that truly matter to a guest: having a sense of purpose behind the journey and being surprised in ways that feel personal and real.

I've also learned how important it is to trust the company you're travelling with, which spans everything from safety and security to comfort and care. As a guest, you want to feel confident that the experience is expertly designed, and that if something unexpected happens, the team will handle it with empathy and attention to detail.

It's good to lean into the unexpected. As the captain of our newest hybrid ship, MS Fridtjof Nansen, said on a recent Greenland sailing: “We know we'll start and end in Nuuk; everything in between is subject to change.” Our expedition team and bridge crew adapt the route in real time based on weather, wildlife and sea conditions, giving us the flexibility to craft the best possible experience in these remote regions.

That dynamism isn’t a drawback; it’s the essence of expedition travel. I think that mindset applies to all forms of travel. With Google Maps, travel apps, guest reviews and detailed itineraries at our fingertips, it’s easy to become rigid in trying to make every moment go exactly to plan. But often, the most memorable experiences are the ones you didn’t expect. Let curiosity lead, be willing to shift course.