All good things come in threes! For the third year in a row, Dr Markus Heller, Managing Partner of Dr Fried & Partner and member of the ITB Berlin Board of Experts, will be responsible for the Tour Operator & Travel Sales and Carrier & Cruise themed tracks at the ITB Berlin Convention. From 4 – 6 March 2025, the most important players in the international tourism industry will be discussing forward-looking industry topics for three days. The motto of this year’s convention is ‘The Power of Transition Lives Here’ and, with 17 themed tracks on four stages, it will cover a broad spectrum of current and future-oriented topics.
These theme tracks will be presented on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, on the Blue Stage in Hall 7.1b. For all those unable to attend in person, ITB Berlin offers the opportunity to follow the stage program via live stream.
Below, we offer you an insight into the exciting track programs:
10:30 – 10:40 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track, Carrier & Cruise Track
Opening and Greeting of the Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track and Carrier & Cruise Track
Dr. Markus Heller, Managing Partner bei Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Day Moderator)
10:40 – 11:30 | Carrier & Cruise Track
Aviation Location Germany: What Does the Future Hold in International Comparison?
Germany’s position as a major global aviation location is currently under severe pressure and facing significant challenges. While other European countries have long since recovered from the travel restrictions and flight cancellations, Germany has still not been able to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Despite ambitious expansion projects, such as those being implemented at Frankfurt Airport, Germany is becoming increasingly less important as an aviation location compared to other countries. This session examines the question of how Germany can secure and strengthen its competitiveness in air transport in the face of stricter regulatory requirements, rising costs and dynamic global competition. The focus is on key questions such as: How can airport growth and expansion be harmonised with political and legal requirements? What strategies and investments are required to maintain the international competitiveness of German airports? In this panel discussion, industry experts and decision-makers will discuss the balance between necessary expansion, political pressure and the future vision of Germany as a globally important aviation centre.
Jens Bischof, President at German Aviation Association (BDL) & CEO at Eurowings Aviation GmbH (Keynote Speaker & Panelist)
Aletta von Massenbach, President Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen & CEO at Airport Berlin Brandenburg (Panelist)
Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Executive Director Aviation and Infrastructure at Fraport AG (Panelist)
Dara Brady, Chief Marketing Officer at Ryanair (Panelist)
Lee Hayhurst, Editorial Director at Real Response Media (Moderator)
11:30 – 12:00 | Carrier & Cruise Track
Rethinking the Future of Cruises
The cruise industry is caught between a sustained boom in demand, which is constantly expanding the variety of offers, and growing pressure for greater sustainability. In an exclusive interview, Georg Schmickler, Senior Vice President, Onboard Revenue at MSC Cruises, provides exciting insights into the strategic direction of the global market player, which is asserting itself in a dynamic and increasingly challenging environment. In this dialogue, key issues for the future of cruises are addressed, with a particular focus on the topics of expansion, globalisation, innovative sustainability concepts and new destinations.
Georg Schmickler, Senior Vice President, Onboard Revenue at MSC Cruises (Interview Guest)
Dr. Markus Heller, Managing Partner at Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Interviewer)
12:00 – 12:50 | Carrier & Cruise Track
From Flight Destination to Integrated Value-Added Model: Transformation Made in Arabia
The Arab world is currently at the forefront of a global transformation of the tourism and aviation industry and is shaping the future of the sector with visionary approaches. For some time now, the Arab states have been using their geographical location as hubs for international air traffic. These countries are currently developing strategically by developing completely new destinations and establishing integrated value-added structures. This includes the management of DMC services, the development of modern distribution structures and business models that dynamically link the various service components. This session offers an insight into the pioneering strategies and visionary plans of the players behind this fundamental change.
Niall Gibbons, Head of Tourism at NEOM (Panelist)
Lars Clasen, CEO at Cruise Saudi (Panelist)
Jassim Al Mahmoud, Director at Visit Qatar (Panelist)
Osamah Alnuaiser, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Riyadh Air (Panelist)
Dorothea Hohn, Managing Partner at Global Communication Experts GmbH (Moderator)
12:50 – 13:35 | Carrier & Cruise Track
Sustainability and Economic Success: Contradiction or Opportunity?
Sustainability is no longer just an image issue, but a strategic success factor that can have a direct impact on margins and value creation. This session is dedicated to the tension between ecological responsibility and economic success in the tourism industry and uses successful companies to show how sustainability can be organised profitably. The focus will be on approaches for integrating sustainability into pricing and profitability strategies in order to secure significant margins in the long term. It highlights how companies can gain credibility and attractiveness from the customer’s perspective through authentic and consistently implemented sustainability strategies. At the same time, the economic benefits resulting from the integration of ecological and economic values will be demonstrated. The discussion offers practical insights into the development of sustainable business models that not only pursue ecological goals, but also achieve significant economic success. It sheds light on how well-thought-out sustainability strategies enable greater value creation in the long term and make companies fit for the future.
Hedda Felin, CEO at Hurtigruten GmbH (Panelist)
Ingo Lies, CEO at Chamäleon Reisen GmbH (Panelist)
Remy Larnaudie, Managing Director at Club Med Germany (Panelist)
Lee Hayhurst, Editorial Director at Real Response Media (Moderator)
14:20 – 14:45 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Shaping DERTOUR Group’s Future: Insights from Christoph Debus
In this exclusive interview, the newly appointed CEO of the DERTOUR Group shares his vision for the company’s future, drawing on their experience from previous leadership roles. The discussion covers the company’s ongoing international expansion, its strategic goals in adapting to an integrated tourism model, and how it plans to differentiate itself in a competitive market. A key focus is placed on leveraging new acquisitions, optimizing profitability, and placing an emphasis on customer-centric solutions as the DERTOUR Group adapts to the evolving demands of the global travel market.
Christoph Debus, CEO bei DERTOUR Group (Interview Guest)
Dr. Markus Heller, Managing Partner bei Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Interviewer)
14:45 – 15:35 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Restructuring the German Tour Operator Market Following the FTI Insolvency: Winners, Changes, and Future Perspectives
The insolvency of one of Germany’s largest tour operators, the FTI Group, had a profound impact on the German tour operator market and opened up scope for significant market changes. The market research institute Travel Data + Analytics will open the session with a presentation of the current market situation in the tour operator market. Following on from this, the discussion panel will examine the consequences of this upheaval: How has the tour operator market been reorganised? Which companies and business models are benefiting from the new market and supply structure? What future developments and synergies can be expected? And how is the future of the industry shaping up? The focus is on both strategic and operational questions and their answers regarding the long-term competitiveness of the tour operator model.
Roland Gaßner, Director Business Development at Travel Data + Analytics GmbH (Keynote Speaker)
Benjamin Jacobi, CEO at TUI Germany GmbH (Panelist)
Ingo Burmester, CEO Central Europe at DERTOUR Group (Panelist)
Songül Göktas-Rosati, CEO at Bentour Reisen AG (Panelist)
Ömer Karaca, CEO at Schmetterling International GmbH & Co. KG (Panelist)
Dr. Markus Heller, Managing Partner at Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Moderator)
15:35 – 16:20 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Capital Markets meets Tourism: How Investors are Shaping the Future of the Industry
Investors and other financial players are playing an increasingly important role in the tourism industry, which is characterised by SMEs. This discussion focuses on how private equity is driving the development and transformation of the industry and which factors are decisive in investment decisions. It will examine the extent to which the tourism industry is attractive to venture capitalists and how large investors use their influence to promote the professionalisation of the industry. It will also look at how companies have to adapt to a changing capital situation and what impact the increasing investment activity is having on business models and the entire corporate landscape. The panel discussion offers insights into a changing market environment and analyses how investments can influence the long-term competitiveness and sustainable development of companies.
Jan-Frederik Valentin, Managing Partner at Ennea Capital Partners (Keynote Speaker & Panelist)
Morgann Lesné, Partner at Cambon Partners (Panelist)
Jaroslaw Czernek, Investment Partner at Rockway Capitals (Panelist)
Sven Ahrens, Managing Director at FLOYT Mobility (Panelist)
Georg Ehrmann, Managing Director at von Beust & Coll. Beratungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (Moderator)
16:20 – 17:10 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Technology as a Driver of Individualized Travel Experiences
This session deals with the question of how technology can be used to create customised travel experiences and thus meet the increasing demand for individuality. A central focus will be on the challenge of successfully implementing individualisation in a mass production context. It will discuss how companies are able to integrate personalised experiences not only for classic individual travel, but also for complex package and group travel. In the discussion between leading travel providers and system providers, the role of technology for hyper-personalised offers will be highlighted. It will show how artificial intelligence will influence the future of travel planning and organisation and how its efficient implementation can be reconciled with ensuring profitability. The aim of the discussion is to show how these modern technologies and requirements could change the services offered by tourism companies in the future.
Madhavan Kasthuri, Head of Global Solution Engineering at Sabre Travel Network (Keynote Speaker & Panelist)
Andy Washington, General Manager Europe at Trip.com (Panelist)
Heinrich Lange, Vice President Digital Retailing at Lufthansa Group Airlines (Panelist)
Robin Lawther, Vice President at Expedia TAAP (Panelist)
Joao Gonzaga, Chief Digital Officer at DERTOUR Group (Panelist)
Marianna Evenstein, Journalistin (Moderatorin)
17:10 – 17:45 | Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track
Industry Outlook and the Importance of Indices for Market Development
This session offers an outlook on current and future developments in the industry and discusses the central role of indices in market analysis and management. The focus will be on how indices can be used as indicators for market development and what significance they have for investors and companies. It will examine how the various indices – such as the Global Travel Buyer Index and the Tourism Sales Climate Index – serve as key instruments for recognising market trends at an early stage and making strategic decisions. The session will look at the various facets of how indices shape the industry landscape and the role they play in guiding investment and business strategies. It will also discuss the importance of indices in volatile market phases and what insights can be gained from current market analyses.
Stephen Dutton, Client Insight Research Manager at Euromonitor (Panelist)
Dr. Markus Heller, Managing Partner at Dr. Fried & Partner GmbH (Panelist)
Marianna Evenstein, Journalistin (Moderatorin)
We look forward to inspiring keynotes, exciting panel discussions and new impulses!
Get your ticket now by following this link.