THE ASSIGNMENT: Redesign Holland America Line’s onboard enrichment to give travelers an immersive experience that deepen cultural connections and make the journey as meaningful as the destination.

THE TRUTH: Guests wanted more than snapshots and lectures. They were looking for real human stories that would change the way they saw the world, both during travel and long after.

THE AUDIENCE: Holland America Line guests seeking purposeful, engaging, and transformative travel experiences.

THE BIG IDEA: Created Up Close Talks, a multimedia, live-presented documentary series blending live presentations with 270° of immersive content. From discovering the untold stories, to filming across the world, to designing the content and training the speakers, the program solidified Holland America Line as a leader in edutainment.

THE IMPACT: Since its 2019 launch, Up Close has become Holland America Line’s core enrichment program. Nearly 50 talks have been produced (with every region of the world to be covered by end of 2025), seen by hundreds of thousands of travelers, and awarded across the industry, including a 2023 Magellan Gold. Most importantly, guests say these talks have transformed how they engage with the destinations they visit, and the ones that they return home to.