16. European Travel Awards 2025 Offering unique glimpses of Berlin, Germany, and Europe – both past and present – Book (full name ‘Book – Agency for Culture, Education and Travel’) is a Berlin-based tour agency specialising in trips, lectures, and workshops. Serving adults and students alike, the agency was created by Gerrit Book, an avid world traveller with a passion for culture and history. This is true of not only his home country of Germany, but also those across Europe and even further afield to Asia. To find out more about his multi-award-winning business, we caught up with Gerrit down below. From guided tours and museum visits through to workshops, discussions, and even just pure leisure tours, Book – Agency for Culture, Education and Travel organises experiences and adventures across Germany and beyond for large groups, families, couples, and individuals alike. Driven by passion, these tours are as authentic as they are enjoyable. Boasting a partner network that spans the likes of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center in New York, Classrooms Without Borders in Pittsburgh, the Goethe-Institut Berlin, universities, schools, travel agencies, and private clients Book’s tours are both interactive and education focused. For example, a tour may take a group from Berlin to Warsaw, Krakow, and back to Berlin, covering topics such as the Third Reich to issues of human rights, racism, and discrimination along the way. Thus, these excursions are important for learning – both in and out of the classroom. Given that it predominantly runs tours across Germany and the surrounding European nations, it is unsurprising that a lot of the education-based offerings Book delivers focus on the history of both the Holocaust and the Second World War. Tackling these complex topics in a way that is understandable and informative – something reflected in both the feedback received and the number of return tours requested by organisations – the company prides itself on teaching new things to teachers and students in every group. “During these tours, students learn not only about German and European history, but also do physical activities, have time to explore cities and places by themselves, and – in Germany and Austria – have the chance to practice their German skills.” As for the more leisure-focused tours it offers, these encompass everything from cruises along the Rhine River through to wine tasting, cable-car riding, and exploring the old towns of southwest Switzerland. A particular highlight of its portfolio are the scenic tours of Southern Germany and Austria, which allow visitors to explore such locations as Lake Constance, the hidden castles of Allgäu, and the Berchtesgarden salt mines. What sets Book apart in this space is that it does not sell any prefabricated or package tours. Every tour delivered is planned and designed in close cooperation with its clients. As Gerrit explained: “We start by defining the clients’ interests and needs, before taking their ideas and wishes into account and providing them with a first draft. We then take feedback and develop the tour further until we both think that we have got a perfect match.” Such a perfect balance stems from Book allowing those on its tours to both ‘walk the walk’ (experience history where events took place) and to interact with docents (academic experts), guides, and specialists as they uncover a new passion and enhance their world view. Also, across every tour, Gerrit and the small, dedicated team also make sure there is flexibility and plenty of free time to accommodate any group’s wishes or spontaneous ideas. This feeds into a wider trend within the tourism industry: people not only wanting to see the main attractions of a city or region, but also to experience the ‘hidden’ spots – those not in the guidebooks or on the tourist websites. Social media has made these locations few and far between, but Gerrit and the team still have some to showcase, leveraging their knowledge of everything from history and art to architecture and religion to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind tour – be it in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Prague, Salzburg, or Zurich. With this industry becoming increasingly competitive and tensions in some parts of the world putting some people off travelling, the environment Book operates in is very different to what it was just ten years ago. However, both Germany and Europe more broadly remain attractive destinations of leisure and educational tours alike, and with the expertise of Gerrit and co. to boot, these tours – tailored to the client’s wishes and offering a mix of pleasure and education – are continuing to increase in popularity, allowing Book to nurture growth. More on the full range of tours and services offered by Book – Agency for Culture, Education and Travel can be found by following the link listed below. Contact: Gerrit Book Company: Book – Agency for Culture, Education and Travel Web Address: https://www.agenturbook.de/ Best Custom Cultural & Educational Tour Company 2025 – Germany & European Travel Experience Excellence Award 2025 Book – Agency for Culture, Education and Travel
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