ECN Awards: John Galligan Lifetime Achievement & HX Expeditions Wins Big

Irish travel and tourism industry stalwart John Galligan was acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement award from The Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) this week at its ECN Awards 2026, celebrating the expedition cruise operators, travel businesses and individuals making an outstanding contribution to the continued growth and development of the sector.

The awards recognise excellence, expertise, innovation and sustainability stewardship across the fast-growing expedition cruise sector, with winners revealed on 29 September at an awards ceremony at Amazing Grace in London, following the first day of the ECN Conference 2026.

The evening brought together 120 leading travel advisors and brands, alongside expedition cruise operators, tour operators, media and other members of the international expedition cruise community, to celebrate the standout businesses and individuals making a meaningful impact on the industry.

The B2B awards were divided into two categories, Travel Trade and Operator. The Operator categories were voted for by the travel trade, while nominations for the Travel Trade categories were reviewed by a panel of expedition cruise operator experts, who selected the winning advisors, agencies and tour operators driving the growth of expedition cruising.

HX Expeditions takes four awards

In the Operator categories, HX Expeditions was one of the evening’s biggest winners, receiving four awards: Favourite Expedition Cruise Operator for Polar Regions, Favourite Warm-Water Expedition Cruise Operator, Favourite Responsible Expedition Cruise Operator and the overall Favourite Expedition Cruise Operator award.

PONANT was named Favourite Expedition Cruise Operator for Luxury, while Aqua Expeditions received the award for Favourite Micro Expedition Cruise Operator. Heritage Expeditions was recognised as Favourite Specialist Expedition Cruise Operator.

Danielle Bates of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions was named Favourite Expedition Cruise Operator Sales Representative in the UK for the second consecutive year, recognising her continued support for travel advisors and contribution to the expedition cruise trade.

Travel trade recognised

The Travel Trade awards celebrated excellence across the wider expedition cruise sales community, with Eclipse Travel named Best Expedition Cruise Travel Agency and Swoop Travel receiving the award for Best Expedition Cruise Tour Operator.

Cassia Jackson of Swoop Travel was also named Best Individual Expedition Cruise Seller or Travel Advisor.

Becky Walker of Club Voyages received the award for Best Individual Newcomer to Expedition Cruise, while Cruise Routes was named Best Newcomer to Expedition Cruise – Travel Agency or Tour Operator.

Two special awards recognised individuals who have made a significant contribution to the sector. Jonathan Goldsmith of cazenove+loyd received the ECN Champion Award, while John Galligan of John Galligan Travel was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Akvile Marozaite, CEO and co-founder of the Expedition Cruise Network, said: “The ECN Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the people and businesses whose passion, expertise and commitment are helping expedition cruising thrive. This year’s winners represent so many different parts of our community, from globally recognised operators to specialist travel businesses, exceptional sellers, industry newcomers and individuals who have supported the sector over many years.

“What makes these awards particularly meaningful is the involvement of the expedition cruise community itself. Every entry and vote reflects the experience and confidence of the travel professionals who work with these businesses and individuals. Congratulations to all our winners, finalists and everyone who took part.”

New charity partnership for the 2026 awards

For the first time this year, a new charity partnership with the Polar Citizen Science Collective saw £1 donated for every qualified award entry and vote, supporting the UK-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to protecting the polar regions through collaboration, research, shared knowledge and education. In addition to the donations, conference delegates have had the opportunity to meet the Polar Collective team and learn more about its work during the conference.

The awards ceremony form part of the ECN Conference 2026, which returned to Glaziers Hall in London on 29–30 September. The two-day event brings together expedition cruise operators and travel professionals for education, one-to-one meetings, industry discussion and networking.