Press
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On this page you will find our latest press releases.
Press releases
Concentrated Africa expertise
The acquisition of a majority stake in the Africa specialist creates the largest team of experts for exclusive luxury holidays to Africa in the German-speaking world.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 15 July 2024. At Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel, all signs point to further development this year. The recent expansion of the AER Group to include Abendsonne Afrika, which also includes Boomerang Reisen and a&e erlebnisreisen in addition to Select Luxury Travel, also contributes to this. The two founders of Abendsonne Afrika, Liane and Michael Merbeck, will retain shares in the company and will therefore remain with the company. Founder and Managing Director of Select Luxury Travel, Dirk Gowin, will be responsible for the "Product" division together with Liane Merbeck. Thomas Wiedau, second Managing Director of Select Luxury Travel, will head the "Strategy" division together with Michael Merbeck.
Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel in the fast lane
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 27 May 2024. The renowned luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel is going full steam ahead. Demand for its exclusive travel experiences and the associated bookings have increased significantly in recent months. At the same time, the company is constantly expanding its portfolio. There have also been some new additions to the staff who are playing a key role in shaping this further development. The team around Managing Directors Dirk Gowin and Thomas Wiedau has recently expanded to include three more travel experts. The portfolio of the luxury travel professionals is also being expanded with an exciting new addition: from June, Select Luxury Travel will be launching its own podcast on the subject of luxury travel in collaboration with Berlin radio presenter Stefanie Schweda.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 24 June 2024. The Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury
Travel can look back on an extremely positive first half of 2024. "The luxury travel sector
is currently booming more than ever. And we at Select Luxury Travel can also capitalise on this trend.
can only confirm this. Travellers are investing more than ever before in hand-picked and authentic
experiences in order to experience moments that are actually priceless. You invest time
and money to immerse yourself in a destination with all your senses," says founder and
Managing Director Dirk Gowin on the current travel trends in the luxury segment.
In addition to the world-famous beaches, over 300 days of sunshine and a colourful culture, Aruba offers countless feel-good moments that leave nothing to be desired.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 20 June 2024. The renowned Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel is expanding its portfolio in the Caribbean. A new addition to the luxury experts' programme is the island of Aruba, which belongs to the Netherlands Antilles. The "A" of the ABC islands stands for extraordinary experiences and accommodation that invite you to dream. With the Aruba Ocean Villas, the first and only overwater villas of the "One Happy Island" can now also be booked via Select Luxury Travel.
Sustainable luxury in Brazil's best-kept natural paradise Fernando de Noronha
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 13 May 2024. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil's tropical natural paradise, is one of the most exclusive and best-protected islands in South America. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and strictly protected national park, the island offers a unique environment that is only accessible to a limited number of visitors each year. The crystal-clear underwater worlds, pristine beaches and breathtaking landscapes make Fernando de Noronha an incomparable destination for discerning travellers. As a renowned South America expert, the Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel is the ideal partner for hand-picked trips that bring this treasured natural wonder to life.
Rediscover Europe with Select Luxury Travel
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 03 April 2024. The renowned Berlin-based luxury tour operator has curated unique travel experiences in Europe's most popular destinations for the summer season. From the fascinating landscapes of Cappadocia to the picturesque coasts of Ireland and the sun-drenched beaches of Portugal, travellers can expect a special selection.
Select Luxury Travel opens doors to the world's most exclusive events
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 28 February 2024. Going to Taylor Swift in New York and then discovering the hottest corners of the Big Apple, combining a day at Ascot racecourse with a road trip through Cornwall - gig tripping is one of the major travel trends of the current calendar year. Select Luxury Travel, the renowned Berlin-based luxury tour operator, has been organising its portfolio on the basis of the world's most exclusive events for some time now. The luxury travel experts are once again setting trends by opening the doors to coveted events worldwide for their customers - events for which ticket access is normally a challenge - and combining them with an unforgettable travel experience. With a global network of first-class event organisers, the Berlin travel dream fulfilers give their customers the opportunity to take part in events that would otherwise remain closed to the general public, putting the icing on the cake of already exclusive dream trips.
Luxury holidays in the Himalayas, discover the Kingdom of Bhutan individually and tailor-made with Select Luxury Travel
Travelling through this up-and-coming niche destination promises not only luxury, but also a profound connection with the country's natural wonders, moving culture and hospitable Bhutanese people.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 24 January 2024. Bhutan is considered one of the most authentic and pristine destinations in the world. The land of happiness is the only country in the world where the right to happiness of its inhabitants is enshrined in the constitution. Due to the long period of tourism restraint, Bhutan offers a unique originality. Now the country is gradually opening up to tourism, with a focus on sustainable development and the protection of culture. The Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel is responding to the increasing demand for the up-and-coming trend destination and is positioning itself as an absolute expert for Bhutan holidays with many new offers at the start of the new travel year.
The stuff dreams are made of: Exceptional accommodation for discerning explorers
The travel experience begins with special accommodation. As a reliable partner for customised individual trips, small groups and select cruises, tour operator Select Luxury Travel has put together a hand-picked portfolio of exceptional resorts, lodges and hotels around the world. These form the basis of the hand-picked trips, which are arranged with a great deal of experience, flair, attention to detail and pure passion.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 25 October 2023. Special architecture, an exceptional location, outstanding service - these and other features turn an accommodation into an experience. Select Luxury Travel from Berlin has access to an almost endless portfolio of exceptional accommodation all over the world, thanks to which no customer wishes remain unfulfilled. This is how lasting travel memories are created in dreams.
Select Luxury Travel launches luxury camp in Greenland on the German market
"Nomad Greenland" is located in the picturesque Disko Bay, about halfway up the west coast of Greenland. This place is characterised by its infinite dimensions and breathtaking tranquillity and is famous for the majestic Ilulissat Icefjord and its fascinating nature. Select Luxury Travel is the first and so far only German tour operator offering this extraordinary nature experience.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 11 September 2023. Select Luxury Travel, the renowned luxury tour operator specialising in tailor-made, hand-picked trips for discerning travellers, is once again setting new standards on the German travel market. With the luxury camps "Nomad Greenland", Select Luxury Travel is expanding its portfolio in the Nordic countries with a unique offer.
Individual private tours in Japan
The independent, owner-managed Berlin tour operator Select Luxury Travel is and remains a reliable partner for customised luxury trips to Japan. For last-minute travellers, long-awaited travel dreams to the popular destination can still come true during the cherry blossom season this autumn.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 21 June 2023. In the land of the rising sun, guests of Select Luxury Travel walk a tightrope between sumo and sushi, metropolises and minimalist landscapes, paired with fascinating insights into Japanese culture, culinary delights and hand-picked private experiences. The hand-picked trips by the Japan experts from Select Luxury Travel combine pure passion with insider tips and reliable local partners. The tailor-made programmes are led by local German-speaking guides and guests are accommodated in selected luxury and boutique hotels. Last-minute travellers can even make their travel dreams come true this autumn for the Japan-Indian Summer. But individual travel planning for 2024 is also worthwhile now - because Japan is currently one of the most popular travel destinations.
Overnight stays off the beaten track: South America enchants with moments of absolute silence
Select Luxury Travel invites travellers in search of luxurious moments to glamping experiences in a class of their own in Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 31 May 2023. South America is regarded as the up-and-coming trend destination par excellence - especially in the luxury travel sector. The Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel has always focussed on the countries of Central and South America and is continuously expanding its offering. Self-drive tours and guided private tours with your own driver-guide are particularly popular, with guests travelling partly off-road and staying overnight in exclusive and remote luxury accommodation. Off the beaten track, the feeling of complete seclusion and solitude is created. The ideal time-out to recover from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the cultural and natural wonders of the South American countries.
Nature holidays with a clear conscience
The Berlin-based travel agency Select Luxury Travel focuses on travelling in harmony with nature, hand in hand with the local population - without having to compromise on comfort and luxurious experiences.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 13 April 2023. This year, nature holidays off the beaten track are once again one of the trends par excellence. This is a development that the Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel is also observing more and more frequently when it comes to customising exclusive itineraries. When travelling to the world's most extraordinary natural wonders, the travel manufacturer places particular emphasis on sustainable accommodation and supporting local partners and community-based projects. For Earth Day 2023 on 22 April, Select Luxury Travel is presenting a selection of hand-picked trips that prioritise the conservation of nature and support for the local population.
The fascination of solitude and a dose of adventure paired with deceleration and relaxation
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 21 March 2023. The Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel designs tailor-made trips for discerning travellers in search of extraordinary moments. Individual private tours with your own guide and driver or optional self-drive tours to the fascinating mountain beauty of this world are particularly popular, where the balancing act between adventurous moments and unique experiences is achieved - without having to compromise on comfort. Hand-picked experiences, sustainability and encounters are at the heart of the selected trips to the Andes, Rocky Mountains, the Himalayas or Kilimanjaro.
Berlin-based luxury tour operator expands team with three renowned travel professionals
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 05 January 2023. The Berlin-based travel agency Select Luxury Travel is starting the new travel year with even more expertise. The team of experienced luxury travel professionals led by founders Dirk Gowin and Thomas Wiedau is being expanded with immediate effect to include three new colleagues. The industry experts Meinhard Hiller and Tomas Garcia-Hertz, each with around 40 years of professional experience and an inexhaustible reservoir of travel knowledge, can satisfy even the most demanding customers. Batool Shahen, an expert for the destinations of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Jordan, will provide Select Luxury Travel with a breath of fresh air in the future, primarily in the areas of booking services and flights.
Unusual Christmas and New Year's Eve traditions in Latin America
The travel year is drawing to a close and the holidays are just around the corner. The Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel can look back on a successful year in the Latin American business. Time for a contemplative turn of the year in Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador & Co.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 20 December 2022. Since the summer, the travel experts at Select Luxury Travel have observed an increasing recovery in bookings for Latin American holidays. Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, Peru and Argentina, among others, are in particularly high demand. A trend that predominates when travelling to the South American continent: Deep immersion in the local culture and way of life is more in demand than ever among luxury travellers. This is why the specialist for exclusive travel experiences focuses primarily on hand-picked community tourism experiences when planning individual trips. At the turn of the year, Latin America fans can look forward to exciting Christmas and New Year's Eve customs that provide authentic insights into the traditions and way of life of the local population.
Sustainable luxury holidays with Select Luxury Travel
The demand for sustainable holidays has also increased in the luxury sector. These are wishes that the luxury travel experts at Select Luxury Travel cater to individually during customised travel planning. This is because the tour operator is also aware of its own responsibility towards the environment.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 21 November 2022. The Berlin-based travel agency Select Luxury Travel stands for individual and tailor-made luxury holidays. A trend that the travel professionals are observing: Customers want to organise their trips in an increasingly sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Ecotourism experiences and community tourism are also increasingly in demand. These are wishes that the travel manufactory can take directly to heart when providing personalised advice to customers. All over the world, accommodation that implements green practices and does something good for the local community is waiting to preserve the beauty of these unique places for generations to come.
Travelling in style with passion and a desire for luxury
Even during the coronavirus period, the luxury specialist has always been easily accessible and has also used the time to massively expand its range of private holidays, luxury hotels and luxury lodges. These are presented on the website, as are the comprehensive range of holidays in the Seychelles, the Caribbean, new private holidays in South America, the USA, Canada, Asia and Australia.
The Berlin-based luxury tour operator Select Luxury Travel designs tailor-made trips full of extraordinary moments for discerning travellers. The experienced team manages the balancing act between exclusive comfort, adventurous moments and unique experiences.
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, 19 October 2022. Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights? Where are you guaranteed to meet polar bears in Hudson Bay? Where can I enjoy the sunrise over Machu Picchu all to myself? With answers to these and countless other travel questions, the Select Luxury Travel team turns every trip into something very special. The luxury tour operator offers an exclusive à la carte menu for travel gourmets, while insider tips add that certain spice. The team of experts relies on a total of 250 years of concentrated expertise and travel experience from Australia to Zimbabwe.
Discover the Galapagos with all your senses
Press release from WOLSTTON COFFEE
Frankfurt/Madrid, 27 July 2022. The speciality coffee from the premium brand Wolstton is revolutionising the world of coffee: high-quality blends, presented in the 100 % biodegradable capsule. Pure enjoyment, without a guilty conscience! Every detail is taken into account in the production of the six exclusive blends - from the quality of the coffee beans to the composition and preparation of the blends, from the roasting process to the packaging.
Luxury without a guilty conscience, a guiding principle that also applies to the Berlin tour operator Select Luxury Travel. The travel manufactory turns travel dreams into real dream holidays. Exquisite trips to places full of magic, with many exclusive moments, offer insights behind the scenes together with selected experts and insiders.
Wolstton Coffee also takes coffee lovers to the most beautiful and exotic places in the world, such as the Galapagos Islands, with its speciality blends. First-class coffee from the volcanic islands belonging to Ecuador is the common element in all six Wolstton blends. It represents the sensory and conceptual "soul" of the brand, the pursuit of exclusivity, the passion for coffee and the love of nature.
The Galapagos Islands combine all of these characteristics because, like the islands themselves, their coffee beans are a true wonder of nature. The climatic conditions of the low-lying tropical islands are ideal for growing Arabica coffee. Coupled with the volcanic nature of the islands and their wealth of nutrients from the marine sediment, this coffee is a real rarity.
The pursuit of pleasure, exclusive moments and sustainable practices: Attributes that unite Wolstton Coffee and Select Luxury Travel. What could be more natural than an exclusive partnership? During a two-hour coffee tasting with a visit to the Wolstton Coffee plantation on San Cristobal, guests of the Welt am Sonntag readers' trip discover the secret of the excellent coffee beans from the Galapagos Islands.
And with a little luck, Select Luxury Travel customers can embark on a taste trip to South America in advance: A selection of the coveted Wolstton Coffee Blends will be raffled off among all bookings for the Galapagos readers' trip.
Personal meeting with wrapping artist Christo/Exclusive moments and private insights behind the scenes of selected destinations
Berlin, 5 February 2020. - Select Luxury Travel will be cooperating with WELT AM SONN-TAG in future. The Berlin-based luxury tour operator has won the tender for the high-circulation weekly newspaper's "The most beautiful trips in the world" reader trips. The co-operation was agreed for an initial period of two years. The team led by Dirk Gowin, Managing Director of Select Luxury Travel, has put together a variety of travel programmes for the partnership, which are characterised by one thing in particular: Exclusive moments and insights behind the scenes that travellers cannot normally experience in the destinations. Travel agencies are not left out of these readers' holidays: They receive full commission on sales.
New sustainable cruises at Select Luxury Travel
Berlin, 16 August 2019. - The next stage in the expansion of sustainable cruises has been reached: Select Luxury Travel has added further trips with small yachts and boutique ships to its programme. The Berlin-based luxury tour operator's new cruises include a combination of experiences in the Andean highlands of Ecuador and Peru - including the legendary Inca city of Machu Picchu - with an expedition trip to the Galapagos Islands. From November this year, the new luxury boutique yacht AQUA BLU will also be setting sail on rarely travelled routes in Indonesia.
Travel magazine with travel inspiration and stories instead of a catalogue
Berlin, 05 August 2019. - The print magazine that Select Luxury Travel is sending out to travel agency partners these days is hardly reminiscent of a travel catalogue. The second issue of "EUTOPIA" from the Berlin-based tour operator for premium and adventure holidays is more of a high-quality travel magazine with a wealth of travel inspiration and truly eye-catching images. Interesting stories from all over the world are told on 84 pages. There is no room for marketing platitudes and hotel and price details are only discreetly included in the margins.
Wealthy people pave the way for sustainability
Berlin, 16 July 2019. - Select Luxury Travel is increasingly placing sustainability at the centre of its new products. "When putting together new travel offers, we are paying more and more attention to our ecological and social responsibility," explains Dirk Gowin, Managing Director of the luxury tour operator from Berlin. The background to this is, in particular, a change in demand. "Today, our generally wealthy customers want to experience the world without leaving a large ecological footprint," says Gowin. "Wealthy people want to become pioneers for more sustainability."
Luxury experience with Vespa and wellness
Berlin/Hanoi, 9 May 2019. - Luxury can be very down-to-earth. The Berlin tour operator Select Luxury Travel is seeing a growing trend among its premium customers away from cocktail events towards culinary experiences on the street - very close to authenticity as well as the country and its people. For example, a Vespa tour with street food and cafés in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, in southern Vietnam is enjoying increasing demand. The guided city tour on two wheels is part of the 15-day exclusive trip in a private car "Vietnam Luxury".
On luxury trails through the land of fire and ice
Berlin, 8 April 2019. - Select Luxury Travel has added a ten-day trip to Iceland to its "Private Selection" product line. Diving into a volcano, exploring a glacier or relaxing in one of the country's numerous thermal springs - these are just some of the highlights of Select Luxury Travel's new trip to Iceland.
Luxury round trips to the highlights of North America
Berlin, 4 March 2019. - Luxury round trips in North America are a very special challenge. As part of the continuation of its growth strategy, Select Luxury Travel is now offering trips to the USA and Canada. Under the title "America Luxury à la carte", the premium tour operator from Berlin inspires travellers to embark on an individual luxury rental car tour. This includes the option of a flight excursion in a private seaplane for bear watching.
Digital detox in New Zealand: abstinence from the internet with lots of experiences and a luxury feeling
Berlin, 13 December 2018. - Detox is a modern buzzword that describes the detoxification of the body from unhealthy affluent diets. However, researchers have long warned of a completely different pollutant for the body: excessive consumption of mobile phones, tablets and computers. Select Luxury Travel has now added a suitable digital detox to its travel programme. The self-drive round trip "New Zealand Luxury" from the Berlin-based premium tour operator offers complete abstinence from the internet, emails and social media over long distances. However, a remedy for the side effects is also included: unique experiences in an impressive natural landscape.
EUTOPIA tells stories that whet the appetite for special luxury experiences
Berlin, 26 November 2018. - EUTOPIA is the name of the new magalogue that Select Luxury Travel is publishing this week. With this mix of catalogue and travel magazine, the Berlin-based high-end tour operator aims to appeal to travel agencies and their luxury customers in particular. On 72 pages, EUTOPIA contains stories and travel inspiration from all over the world - complete with price examples. The English term EUTOPIA can be translated as a place of well-being and bliss. The magalogue describes over twenty places and two cruises that fulfil this claim.
Exclusive city tour with private encounters behind the scenes of an extraordinary travel destination
Berlin/Saint Petersburg, 06 November 2018. - City breaks are not for cold days? Far from it. The Russian Baltic city of St Petersburg at the mouth of the often frozen Neva is particularly attractive in winter. That's why Select Luxury Travel has added the old tsarist city to its programme. The speciality: Guests on the private tour can experience wintry St Petersburg from an unusual perspective, away from the tourist crowds and overcrowded places.
Select Luxury Travel: Oman off-road with adventure legend Heinz Kallin
Berlin/Maskat, 06 November 2018. - New addition to Select Luxury Travel. Adventurer legend Heinz Kallin will be joining the programme as a tour guide for the Berlin-based luxury tour operator. The winner of Borneo's toughest Camel Trophy will accompany the new off-road group tour "Adventure & Adrenalin - Self-drive Tour in the Orient". Globetrotter Kallin has lived in the Middle East for 14 years and knows Oman like the back of his hand.
Couple Bubble: Sleeping in a transparent bubble in the middle of the World Heritage Site
Berlin, 22 October 2018. - You won't sleep like this anywhere else in the world. Select Luxury Travel has added the luxury hotel Kaz Insolite to its programme. In the "Private Selection" travel section, the Berlin-based luxury tour operator now offers a trip to Mauritius and La Réunion as "a little piece of Europe and one of the last true paradises in the middle of the Indian Ocean". Accommodation options include the Kaz Insolite, where guests spend the night in a transparent bubble in the heart of the Reunion National Park, a World Heritage Site.
New travel options "Small Group Selection" and "Island Selection" at Select Luxury Travel
Berlin, 27 August 2018. - The development of the new premium tour operator Select Luxury Travel continues. In addition to the Private Selection and Cruise Selection travel areas, the team led by Managing Director Dirk Gowin has now launched two new variants: the Small Group Selection and the Island Selection for holidays on exotic holiday islands. Product Manager Ljuba Behre is responsible for these new areas at the Berlin-based provider of luxury holidays.
Select-Luxury-Travel on customer acquisition at international fashion gala Vienna Award for Fashion & Lifestyle
Berlin/Vienna, 20 August 2018. - How to reach the right target groups: In collaboration with the African ecotourism company Wilderness Safaris, Select Luxury Travel is supporting the Vienna Award for Fashion & Lifestyle 2018 gala night. At the fashion creatives' gala on 7 September 2018 in Vienna, star designer Wolfang Joop, among others, will be honoured for his life's work. Around 250 celebrities from the international fashion, art, business and society scene will be in attendance. Select Luxury Travel wants to attract this select company as new customers with sustainable African holidays from Wilderness Safaris and is even inviting selected sales partners to the event.
Luxury world tour from Rio to China in 24 days
Berlin, 8 August 2018. - Select Luxury Travel has added world travel to its programme. Under the motto "Travelling without borders", a luxury world tour in the southern hemisphere is being offered in cooperation with the Oneworld airline alliance.
Sri Lanka: More than temples and tea
Berlin, 28 June 2018. - The tour operator Select Luxury Travel has added the island nation of Sri Lanka to its programme under the title "Ceylon Collection". Tea cultivation is at the centre of the trip. The legendary Ceylon tea plantation in Nuwara Eliya and the Dambatenne tea factory can be visited. Here you can enjoy a magnificent view over the mountains on a hike to Lipton's Seat in the middle of tea plantations. The place is named after the founder of the tea factory, Sir Thomas Lipton, who enjoyed the view over his tea plantations from here.
