Blue Lagoon wins Icelandic president’s export award

The Blue Lagoon has received the President of Iceland’s Export Award for 2026, mbl.is reports. Chief executive Sigríður Margrét Oddsdóttir and board chairman Grímur Sæmundsen accepted the award at a ceremony at Bessastaðir.

Former handball coach and player Alfreð Gíslason received an honorary award for his important contribution on the international stage.

Iceland as a destination for health and wellbeing

The Blue Lagoon was recognised for its outstanding success in building an international brand, creating value and developing operations in tourism, wellbeing and skincare.

The citation said the company had for many years been one of Iceland’s best-known international brands and had played an important role in building Iceland’s image as a destination.

Since its establishment in 1992, the Blue Lagoon has grown from a health spa at Svartsengi into a diverse company combining tourism, hotel and restaurant operations, research, skincare products and health-related services.

The group’s operating revenue totalled EUR 156.1 million in 2025, an increase of 36 per cent from the previous year. Revenue was EUR 40 million in 2014, meaning it had nearly quadrupled in just over a decade. The Blue Lagoon now employs more than 800 people from 44 nationalities.

In recent years, the company has also faced unusually challenging conditions because of seismic activity and volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The company successfully addressed those challenges, ensuring the safety of employees and guests while continuing to develop its operations.

The Blue Lagoon previously received the President of Iceland’s Export Award in 2004. Receiving it again more than two decades later was described as evidence of the company’s long-term growth and continued development in international markets.

The award also recognised the employees, managers, entrepreneurs, scientists and partners who helped build the Blue Lagoon and shape its development into one of Iceland’s best-known international brands.

Honorary award for Alfreð Gíslason

Alfreð Gíslason received the honorary award for exceptional success on the international stage and for pioneering the work of Icelandic handball coaches abroad.

Gíslason was born in Akureyri in 1959 and began his career with KA. He later played for KR before moving to Germany and Spain, where he played for clubs including TUSEM Essen and Bidasoa. He was named Iceland’s Sportsperson of the Year in 1989 and was a key member of the Icelandic national team for many years.

After a successful playing career, Gíslason began coaching at KA and led the team to the Icelandic championship in 1997. He then returned to Germany, where he has been among the leading handball coaches for decades.

He led Magdeburg to the club’s first German championship and won three European titles with the team.