Andre Kiwitz

Andre Kiwitz has a diverse and extensive work experience spanning over two decades in the travel industry. Andre is currently serving as the CEO & Visionary at Ventura TRAVEL, a group of specialized brands offering high quality trips in various touristic niches. Prior to their current position, they held the role of Non Executive Director at TravelLocal, a high-growth travel company that connects travelers with local agencies worldwide.

Before that, Andre co-founded and served as a member of the VSocial Foundation (viSozial e.V.), a non-profit organization that supported numerous social projects in South America from 2002 to 2005. In 2013, they co-founded trip.me, a platform that connects travelers directly with locally sourced agencies and guides, focusing on cost reduction and enhancing value for both travelers and local economies.

Andre's career began with an internship at Multitravel Incoming in 1998, followed by another internship at Akademischer Reisedienst in 2000, where they gained experience in website optimization, sales, and catalog development for traditional tour operators.

As the founder and CEO of viventura from 2001 to 2016, Andre played a pivotal role in establishing the company, expanding its operations, and implementing growth strategies. Andre led viventura to become one of the fastest-growing internet start-ups in the custom travel space, opening partner offices in multiple South American countries and targeting international markets. Throughout their tenure, Andre focused on operational quality assurance, inbound marketing, SEO, and strategic planning.

Notably, in 2013, Andre established trip.me as an in-house project to address changing trends in international travel, which eventually spun off as a successful venture. Andre also spearheaded the start of puraventura and drove the company's expansion into France, Spain, and the US.

Overall, Andre Kiwitz's work experience showcases their expertise in entrepreneurship, strategic decision-making, operational management, and their commitment to social initiatives within the travel industry.

Andre Kiwitz attended Gymnasium Horkesgath from 1984 to 1994, where they obtained their Abitur degree. Their field of study at Gymnasium Horkesgath included Physics, English, Sports, and Geography. From 1990 to 1991, they also attended Forest Grove High School to complete their High School education. Following this, they enrolled at Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften Kempten from 1996 to 2001, where they obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree in Tourism and Travel Services Management. Additionally, in 1998, they briefly studied at Universidad Católica de Santa María for a degree in Tourism, and in 2000, they attended Universitat d'Alacant, where they pursued a Bachelor's degree in Tourism.