Luxury Tourism Meets Excellence: Inspire Me Award 2025 Honors the Best in the Industry

Luxury Tourism Meets Excellence: Inspire Me Award 2025 Honors the Best in the Industry

Glamorous award ceremony at The Fontenay Hamburg celebrates outstanding achievements across six categories

At an elegant gala held at the five-star hotel The Fontenay, the Inspire Me Awards 2025 were presented on Friday evening. The Bonn-based agency KITICON Global Networks, together with the travel trade magazine LuxusInsider, honored leading figures and brands in international luxury tourism.

Now in its fifth year, the event once again brought together the industry’s most innovative destinations, products, and personalities. Around 120 distinguished guests from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, London, Paris, Monaco, and Luxembourg gathered to celebrate the winners in a dazzling atmosphere.

“Over the past years, the Inspire Me Award has evolved into a key meeting point for the luxury travel industry,” said Tina Kirfel, Managing Director of KITICON Global Networks and co-initiator of the award. “This year’s event was again filled with energy, appreciation, and genuine encounters – exactly what we aim to create with this format.” Together with Iris M. Köpke and Melanie Haaß, KITICON launched the award and continues to refine its concept each year.

The 2025 Winners

Outstanding achievements were recognized in six categories – with seven awards presented:

  • Goosebumps Destination: Sri Lanka (accepted by Honorary Consul Thomas Kriwat)
  • Newcomer Product – On Land: andBeyond Suyian Lodge, Kenya
  • Newcomer Product – On Water: Luminara, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
  • Top B2B Event & Luxury Ambassador: Ulli Fink with Vibes – winning two awards
  • Luxury Experience of the Year: Polar Bear Walking Safari (represented by Nele Remstedt, Denkzauber)
  • Top Luxury Agent: Silvio Rebmann, Cube Travel – chosen by luxury travel suppliers and celebrated by the audience with standing ovations

“Each nomination and every award stand for passion and quality in an industry that creates experiences at the highest level,” added Iris M. Köpke, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of LuxusInsider.

Jury, Selection and Partners

The jury comprised seven industry experts from various fields. Both nominations and final voting were carried out by LuxusInsider readers.

The Inspire Me Award 2025 was supported by esteemed partners including Grecotel, Swan Hellenic, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Belmond, Brandcraft, HanseMerkur, LAKRIDS BY BÜLOW, La mer Cosmetics, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, TEFRA Travel Logistics, and Visit Monaco.

“We’re truly grateful to our partners – their support makes the Inspire Me Award possible and helps us create an evening full of appreciation, inspiration, and meaningful connections each year,” emphasized Melanie Haaß, Director Business Development at LuxusInsider.

Insight and Outlooks

All results and jury details are available on the official Inspire Me Award website. Information about next year’s ceremony can also be found online.
A photo gallery featuring the evening’s highlights at The Fontenay Hamburg is likewise available for viewing.

About KITICON Global Networks

Founded in 2017, KITICON Global Networks develops cross-media strategic marketing and communication concepts, individual analyses, and innovative brand experiences. From in-depth consulting and creative ideation to digital transformation and implementation, KITICON guides its clients toward sustainable success. The agency is headquartered in Bonn, Germany.

About LuxusInsider

LuxusInsider is Germany’s leading trade magazine for luxury travel. Now in its eleventh year, it has become the trusted voice of the luxury travel community through its authentic, well-researched, and focused reporting. The magazine connects travel advisors, tour operators, hotels, airlines, and travel concierges – all professionals and brands dedicated to the high-end travel segment.

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Neue Angebote für 2026

Sportfans profitieren von umfassenden Themendossiers zu fünf großen US-Sportarten (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS), die nicht nur Tickets vermitteln, sondern auch kulturelle Einblicke und lokale Highlights bieten. Zum 100-jährigen Jubiläum der Route 66 ist eine 19-tägige Erlebnisreise ab rund 2.300 Euro buchbar. Außerdem erweitert Worldia frühzeitig sein Angebot für die FIFA-Weltmeisterschaft 2026. Acht neue Zugrouten entlang der Ostküste sowie grenzüberschreitende Strecken zwischen den USA und Kanada runden das Portfolio ab.

Umfassende Zielkompetenz in den USA und Kanada

Worldia unterteilt die USA in zehn geografische Zonen und bietet für jede Zone detailliertes Expertenwissen zu regionalen Besonderheiten wie den Nationalparks im Westen, dem Nordosten oder den Südstaaten. Allein in New York stehen 110 Hotels, 18 Reiserouten und 100 Aktivitäten zur Auswahl. Insgesamt umfasst das Angebot für die USA über 3.000 Hotels, mehr als 90 Reiserouten und über 600 Aktivitäten. Unter Sleep Differently finden Reiseprofis 114 alternative Unterkünfte – von Glamping bis zu einzigartigen Lodges – davon 77 in den USA und 37 in Kanada. „Wir bieten dem Reisevertrieb nicht nur ein Portfolio, wir liefern tiefgehende, praxisnahe Expertise für jede Region“, erklärt Lisa Gerbens, stellvertretende Geschäftsführerin und Head of Source Markets US & DACH bei Worldia.

Flexible Reisen und besondere Aktivitäten

Die USA und Kanada lassen sich über voll flexible Fly & Drive-Angebote kombinieren. Ergänzende Highlights sind Hubschrauberflüge über den Grand Canyon, Ranchaufenthalte in Montana und Wyoming, Cajun-Kochkurse in New Orleans, Begegnungen mit den First Nations in Kanada oder Weinrouten in Kalifornien und dem Napa Valley. Auch Zugverbindungen mit Amtrak und Brightline erweitern das Angebot um zusätzliche, komfortable Reiseoptionen.

CityPASS oder Aussichtsticket inklusive

Ab dem 15. Dezember erhalten alle Buchungen von mindestens vier Nächten in den USA kostenfrei einen CityPASS für Boston, Houston, Seattle oder San Francisco oder ein Ticket für die Aussichtsplattform ONE Vanderbilt, SUMMIT. Die Aktion gilt für Buchungen bis zum 16. Januar 2026.

Kontakt für PartnerInnen-Registrierung

VertriebspartnerInnen, die sich für die Nutzung der Worldia-Plattform registrieren möchten, können ein Erstgespräch mit den zuständigen AnsprechpartnerInnen vereinbaren. Für die Einführung neuer Agenturen stehen Philipp Seltenheim und Angela Marchenko zur Verfügung. Weitere Informationen sowie die Möglichkeit zur Terminvereinbarung finden Interessierte HIER.

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LAZARUS Hilfswerk in Deutschland e.V. – Brand Refresh & Webdesign

The LAZARUS Hilfswerk in Deutschland e.V. charity can look back on over 50 years of social work and the 900-year history of the LAZARUS Order. From the outset, the association has focused on one goal: to inspire young people to get involved in social work and to help those who need it most. Today, the charity is a fixture in elderly and youth care – but its online presence fell short of its own standards. The website appeared outdated and complex. Information about facilities, services and career opportunities was difficult to find, and neither the website nor the social media channels reflected the diversity of the services offered or the personality of the team. Our mission: to give LAZARUS Hilfswerk a digital identity that is as clear, strong and inviting as its social commitment. With a comprehensive brand refresh, modern web design and seamless development, we ensured that the organisation's history and mission are as powerful online as they are offline.

Timeframe: Juli 2022 – April 2024

Industry: Social and care sector

Objective: Develop a modern website for the LAZARUS charity that clearly presents its facilities, services and offerings and conveys the work of the team in an emotive way. At the same time, create a careers page to attract new employees and design and strategically activate social media channels in line with the new website.

Services:

  • Brand style guide (including corporate colour system, typography, imagery and design elements)
  • Concept development
  • Web development
  • Roll-out support on the new website
  • Photo and video shoot
  • Content management

The Challenge: The LAZARUS Hilfswerk brings together numerous institutions and stakeholders with different expectations. The content had to be centrally coordinated and standardised, while at the same time doing justice to the individual identity of each location. At the same time, it was necessary to present historical values and long-standing traditions in a contemporary digital format and to organise coordination between all parties involved in an efficient manner.

Approach: We started with a corporate design refresh to make the visual identity of the LAZARUS charity clear, modern and consistent. We then accompanied photo and video shoots at all facilities to gain authentic insights into the charity's work and create content for the website and social media. For the website relaunch, we focused on modern, responsive design, clear information architecture and intuitive usability, making all offers, facilities and services easily accessible. At the same time, we developed text and image content that reinforced the emotional impact of the organisation's work and brought the personal stories of its employees to life. A dedicated career section now presents job vacancies, benefits and the work culture. For the social media relaunch, we used consistent visual design and emotional content to activate the community and strengthen the brand online.

Result: With the relaunch, the LAZARUS Hilfswerk presents itself online in a modern, clear and inviting way. Users can navigate effortlessly, while stories, photos and emotional insights bring the power of the charity's work to life. The association comes across as professional and approachable, while also presenting itself as a committed employer and active organisation – just as impressive online as it is offline.

Ready for a fresh brand image? We would be happy to advise you on corporate brand design and web design in a free and non-binding initial consultation.

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Creative minds wanted!