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Aurora Expeditions taps CMI Leisure for newbuild hotel development

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Aurora will be fielding a 104-meter, ice class 1A expedition ship, to be delivered in 2019
Aurora Expeditions selected CMI Leisure in Miami to handle all aspects of hotel operations, including staffing, food & beverage, housekeeping, purchasing and logistics for its new ship.

Aurora will be fielding a 104-meter, ice class 1A expedition ship named Greg Mortimer, to be delivered in 2019.

'We knew that our new, high-performance expedition ship needed high-performance service delivery as well. Given our rigorous standards, CMI Leisure’s reputation for delivering excellence while operating in the challenging small-ship expedition environment made them a natural choice,' said Robert Halfpenny, managing director of Aurora Expeditions.

Noting Aurora’s desire to deliver as much comfort as possible, given the challenges of remote regions, Halfpenny said CMI Leisure’s concepts, including alfresco dining, are a 'perfect match for the innovations aboard our Infinity-class vessel.'

The business follows Aurora and CMI Leisure's relationship with Polar Pioneer.

'We are happy to see Aurora’s growth and continued success, and honored to be a part of bringing this amazing new vessel to market,' said Dietmar Wertanzl, president of CMI Leisure. Adding that both companies are passionate about quality experiences in the expedition segment, Wertanzl, said: 'Aurora continues to pioneer cutting-edge experiences, which inspire us to find creative solutionseven in a category and regions where we have years of experience and expertise.'

Now in its 25th year, Sydney, Australia-based Aurora Expedition explores remote areas with innovative itineraries, daily shore excursions and educational experiences led by a team of expert guides. Currently operating five vessels, the company's destinations include Antarctica, the European Arctic, Scotland, the Kimberly Coast, Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, Patagonia, Alaska, Papua New Guinea, and Russia.

Currently operating eight ships, CMI Leisure focuses on quality on-board hospitality for specialized itineraries and challenging operating environments.