20. European Travel Awards 2025 In today’s landscape, travellers are increasingly wanting to understand the world as they explore it, immersing themselves in the ecosystems, the people, and the stories of the regions they visit. They seek out adventures that allow them to reflect and engage, prioritising journeys with meaning and conscience over those designed simply to collect destinations. At the forefront of this shift is inventia, an exclusive adventure tour operator dedicated to creating transformative travel experiences for its clientele. We heard more from Founder Stephanie Gräf, below. Based in Essen, Germany, inventia is a boutique travel company specialising in once-in-a-lifetime journeys and small-ship expedition cruises that explore some of the most remote and remarkable corners of the planet: from Antarctica and the Arctic to Patagonia, Greenland, and the Congo Basin. The company was founded by Stephanie Gräf in 2002, established with the unwavering core values of respect for nature, integrity in partnerships, and excellence in execution. As inventia evolved over the decades, sustainability and local impact have become instrumental pillars of its philosophy, reflected in close collaborations with family-run lodges, conservation projects, and smallship operators who share the same steadfast values. Together, these values guide inventia forward, driving its focus on exclusivity over luxury and its development of curated experiences that combine exquisite nature, genuine encounters, and responsible travel. In a world saturated with mass-market travel, inventia represents the very opposite. The company operates far from the mainstream – designing unique routes, hand-selecting partners, and maintaining close personal contact with every client and supplier. Each itinerary is personally crafted in alignment with the client’s unique tastes and preferences and meticulously tested to ensure that the highest level of detail, insight, and authenticity is delivered across every tour. “What sets us apart is our personal involvement and first-hand knowledge,” said Stephanie. “Every journey is built on relationships – with local experts, ship captains, and community leaders – allowing us to open doors that ordinary travellers never see. We don’t sell ‘products’; we create experiences that transform. Our guests travel on small expedition ships of 6 to 200 passengers, guided by scientists and explorers, in places where silence still reigns.” Providing exceptional customer service is at the heart of inventia’s endeavours, ensuring clients are supported at every stage of their journey – from their initial enquiry to the moment they arrive home. The company’s dedicated customer service team is available to address any questions or concerns, and provides detailed pre-trip briefings and 24/7 support during the travel experience. The team collects feedback after each trip to facilitate the ongoing improvement of its services, ensuring that inventia continues to exceed client expectations and create adventures that will be remembered forever. This high-calibre service is delivered by a small, dedicated team operating with freedom and ownership, united by a shared belief: excellence is personal. inventia’s internal culture is one built upon trust, responsibility, and genuine support for one another, allowing the team to work in complete cohesion. This culture is further cultivated during the company’s hiring process, seeking candidates who demonstrate an open mindset, good character, touristic knowledge, high competence, and socially positive behaviour. “Skills can be taught, but attitude and empathy cannot,” Stephanie explained. “We believe that a positive and collaborative environment is essential to continue delivering outstanding service. Every person on our team has been chosen because they care – about people, about the planet, and about creating truly meaningful journeys.” This unrivalled combination of high-level service, genuine discovery, and ethical practice makes inventia one of the world’s most trusted specialists for small-ship, private boat and ship charters, and expedition travel. The company has amassed an outstanding five-star rating on Google Reviews, a feat that speaks to its stellar reputation within the tourism industry. One client reported: “Our trip was simply fantastic! From start to finish, all our requests were met, and the service was first-class. Everything was perfectly organised, so we could just sit back and enjoy. The personal attention was truly outstanding. We definitely recommend inventia.” While another wrote: “Ms. Stephanie Gräf put together a dream vacation with us with the utmost dedication and in-depth knowledge. Our wishes and special requirements were considered 100% From the consultation, through the booking process, and subsequent support, we felt in the best possible hands with Ms. Gräf at all times. We can recommend inventia without reservation in every respect.” For its excellence in the field, inventia has earned recognition as the Best Small Ship Tour Operator 2025 in the European Travel Awards 2025. In light of the company’s significant success, Stephanie commented: “This award is a wonderful recognition of our mission to redefine exclusivity in travel – through small ships, great nature, and the people who make it possible.” Contact: Stephanie Gräf Company: inventia Web Address: www.inventia.de Best Small Ship Expedition & Cruise Specialist 2025
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