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Company History

history

Milestones of success

1995–2024

avenTOURa was founded in 1995 as a civil law company by Gerd Deininger. The first self-organized trips took us to Ecuador , Peru and Bolivia , and from the very beginning, meeting and involving the local population was of paramount importance in the program design.

In 2003, the company was converted into a GmbH. An important milestone was the inclusion of Cuba as a travel destination in 1997. Here, too, the avenTOURa travel philosophy was implemented from the very beginning, making it possible to discover Cuba away from the tourist beaches. Under the motto "Cuba real", avenTOURa quickly became one of the most sought-after specialists for Cuba .

Over the years, the company has received numerous prestigious tourism awards for its innovative and sustainable travel programs.

  • New homepage and back office system - 2023

    The company's economic recovery continues. New employees are being hired to meet the increasing volume of demand and to optimize and expand products and sales, for example for the Caribbean.

    In the middle of the year we will launch our new homepage and the new back office system. At the same time, the fourth CSR recertification will begin and the topic of sustainability will once again be brought into focus.

  • The avenTOURa team in Havana remains almost unchanged - 2022

    Little by little, there is an increase in long-distance travel activity. Our most important destination, Cuba, is still lagging behind due to the further deterioration of the economic situation in Cuba, but at least all trips are possible again.

    The team at our Havana branch has come through the pandemic almost unchanged and is, as always, a guarantor of the reliable and safe execution of our trips.

  • The avenTOURa team remains in action - 2021

    In line with the back and forth of Corona restrictions and travel warnings, the demand for travel is also developing.

    However, even in the worst year of the pandemic, avenTOURa remains fully operational with a slightly reduced team.

  • Corona pandemic and its consequences - 2020

    We started 2020 with a lot of momentum and excellent booking numbers. Two months later, we too were massively slowed down by the Corona pandemic. After March 15, 2020, practically no trips could be carried out for many months.

    After international air traffic was practically stopped at the end of March, avenTOURa chartered an Airbus 340 within 48 hours to bring the last returning travelers from Cuba back home.

    At the beginning of November we managed a first tentative restart with about 100 travelers in Cuba.

  • Awarded as best tour operator for Central America - 2019

    At the ITB travel fair, avenTOURa receives the award from CATA (Marketing Agency for Central America) as the best tour operator for Central America.

    With the new brand bikeTOURa , we are significantly expanding our range of cycling tours in Latin America and other countries. With a Costa Rican partner, we are establishing our own branch in Costa Rica under the name Latin Real Tour, which will enable us to expand our presence there and our customer service.

  • In the footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt - 2018

    We received an order from our long-term partner DIE ZEIT REISEN to carry out a 55-day trip in the footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt through Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Mexico.

  • Third recertification by TourCert and award from the Cuban Minister of Tourism - 2017

    avenTOURa has been certified as a "Sustainable Tour Operator" by TourCert for the third time in a row.

    After 2009, the Cuban Minister of Tourism once again presents our Managing Director Gerd Deininger with an award as one of the best tour operators.

  • Thomas Cook AG as exclusive cooperation partner - 2016

    Thomas Cook AG has appointed avenTOURa as its exclusive cooperation partner for South America. The avenTOURa program is now available in over 9,000 travel agencies in German-speaking countries.

  • We celebrate our 20th anniversary! - 2015

    We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and are continuing our success. For the first time in the company's history, we have broken the 15 million mark in sales. The team already has over 40 employees.

  • Recertification - 2014

    At the ITB, avenTOURa will be re-certified as a sustainable tour operator for the second time. In cooperation with Büro MAGENTA and the violin virtuoso Roney Marczak, avenTOURa is producing the music CD: “Abraço Brasil!” – the proceeds of which will support a music school for disadvantaged children and young people in Londrina, Brazil.

    We have reorganized our support association. Since June 2014, ten euros per traveler have been donated to the new association avenTOURa proVIDA eV for the benefit of our support projects.

  • Cooperation with BB Promotion - 2013

    New cooperation with the concert promoter BB Promotion. Since then we have sponsored the tours of the productions "Ballet Revolución", Brasil Brasileiro and "Soy de Cuba". avenTOURa supports the rainforest protection project "Visionswald" in Costa Rica with a five-figure sum.

  • Latin America Day - 2012

    avenTOURa is releasing the CD "Malecón Buena Vista – The new Rhythm of Cuba" in cooperation with Büro MAGENTA. The production of the CD supports young Cuban musicians and the Muraleando artist initiative in Havana.

    In December, avenTOURa is organizing a Latin America Day in Freiburg for the first time – with numerous slide shows, a musical supporting program, project partners and culinary highlights from South America.

  • "Combinación Perfecta" receives the Golden Palm from GeoSaison - 2011

    For the first time, we are taking a company outing across the regional border to visit our colleague Petra Grimm in Hamburg – we are exploring the Elbe metropolis by bike.

    Golden Palm from GeoSaison for the travel idea "Combinacion Perfecta".

    We were able to win TATONKA as an equipment partner. Since then, active travel customers have received a free backpack from TATONKA as a special customer service.

  • Implementation of the 500th "Cuba real" group trip! - 2010

    The avenTOURa family is growing all the time. The number of employees is increasing to over 20. The number of trainees and interns is also constantly growing. The 500th "Cuba real" group trip is carried out!

  • Best German tour operator for Cuba - 2009

    In March we are expanding our office - we are adding more rooms with a sales room at Kronmattenstraße 2a. This means we have almost 500 m2 of office space available.

    At the ITB 2009, avenTOURa GmbH was officially awarded the CSR seal for the first time as a "Sustainable Tour Operator". We are a pilot company in the European project "CSR Reporting Initiative in Tourism" and were one of the first tour operators to receive this seal.

    Gerd Deininger accepts the award for best German tour operator for Cuba from the Cuban tourism minister Manuel Marrero Cruz on behalf of avenTOURa at the Cuban travel fair FitCuba. In May, the first tour guide seminar will be held by the Study Group for Development and Tourism in Havana. A follow-up seminar will follow in September 2011.

    The office in Havana has more than 10 permanent employees for the first time. avenTOURa employees are sporty. Since 2009, avenTOURa has regularly participated as a team in the 10km city run in Freiburg. Our managing director Gerd Deininger is regularly among the top 10.

    Since 2009 we have been a founding investor in the BaumInvest reforestation project in Costa Rica

  • Successfully trained - 2008

    Our first trainee (former intern) Gürol Varol successfully completes his training and is taken on by the company.

  • Active Together - 2007

    With the first active travel catalogue "active together", the range of cycling, hiking and multi-sport trips is significantly expanded. The non-profit association "avenTOURa climate protection and project promotion eV", with which we support aid projects in our travel countries for over €20,000 annually, is founded. avenTOURa is recognized as an IATA agency and can therefore issue flight tickets independently and joins the Latin America Working Group.

  • Founding of the agency network Latina Real Tours - 2006

    Gerd Deininger founded the agency network Latina Real Tours with partner agencies in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador.

  • Sales mark broken - 2005

    This year, avenTOURa reached the 10 million Euro turnover mark for the first time! Golden Palm for the "Cuba para la Familia" trip. The "Baila en Cuba" dance festival is being held for the first time in cooperation with avenTOURa and endirecto GmbH.

  • Our office in Havana moves to the center - 2004

    The avenTOURa office in Havana is moving from the Casa del Cientifico to the prestigious Edificio Bacardi, located in the heart of the city center.

  • The company is converted into a GmbH - 2003

    In 2003, the company was converted into a GmbH, with over 10 employees for the first time.

  • Further awards - 2002

    This year, co-founder Rolf Pfeifer leaves the company. Other awards (Golden Palm for our Peru cycling trip, Sonntag Aktuell tourism award for the "Cuba Privat" trip).

  • Another Golden Palm - 2001

    Golden Palm from GeoSaison for the trip "Venezuela Paria". Additional employees are hired. After the terrorist attack on the WTC, there is a general slump in tourism - but avenTOURa still manages to increase sales this year.

  • Move to Rehlingstraße - 2000

    Move to Rehlingstraße, the current headquarters of avenTOURa.

  • First employee - 1999

    The "Cuba real" trip receives the Golden Palm from GeoSaison. The first employee is hired. At the same time, a travel agency is opened in Havana.

  • Under the motto "Cuba real" - 1998

    Under the motto "Cuba real", avenTOURa quickly becomes one of the most sought-after specialists for Cuba. In July, the company headquarters moves from Gerd Deininger's apartment to the first office in Freiburg city center.

  • First significant award - 1997

    This year, avenTOURa received its first significant award. At the world's largest tourism trade fair in Berlin, the company was awarded the Green Palm (special prize in the GeoSaison Golden Palm competition) for its special travel concept and commitment to international understanding.

    The first large-format 24-page catalog was published in the same year. The inclusion of Cuba as a travel destination was a decisive milestone. An advertisement in GeoSaison focusing on Cuba triggered a real Cuba boom: the first "Cuba real" trip took place in November.

    The tour group is personally welcomed by Gerd Deininger at the airport with a live band. In December, Gerd Deininger hires the practicing physician Jorge Tejero as a local representative. He is still the agency manager of the Havana branch today.

  • First small catalogue published - 1996

    The young company specializes in organizing so-called encounter trips, which also lead to social and ecological projects. Some of these trips are marketed by Waschbär-Umweltversand. A first small catalog is published in which trips to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia are offered through direct sales.

  • How it all began - 1995

    In May, avenTOURa was founded as a GbR by Gerd Deininger and Rolf Pfeifer. The first avenTOURa group trip took place shortly afterwards in Ecuador.