THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION. Strong. partner for the industry

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1 THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

2 Contents: 04 Interest group 06 Crisis and security management 08 Education and training 10 Digitisation and market research 12 Sustainability in the tourism sector 14 Members benefits 16 Platform for information and exchange 02 THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

3 Strong partner for the industry The Germans like to travel. They are worldwide amongst the nations which spend most for their trips abroad. The tourism industry in Germany is hence an important economic factor and secures around 2.9 million jobs. The German Travel Association (DRV) is the leading special interest group of the tourism industry. We defend above all the interests of tour operators and travel agents. DRV is backed by a special economic clout: our members including numerous service providers represent the lion s share of the sales revenues on the tour operator and travel agency market. Learn more about us, our goals, our missions and our commitments.

4 Strong 04 THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

5 INTEREST GROUP commitment in politics, business, and the public The tourism sector generates about eight percent of the German gross domestic product. It is a major driver of growth and an important job provider of the German economy. In order to ensure further growth, companies need appropriate economic and legal framework conditions so that the same competition rules apply to all market players. As leading representatives of trade interests, we make our voice heard in politics and the public and engage in promoting fair competition. In order to secure the economic basis for our industry, we formulate its demands. We are in direct contact with political decision-makers and contribute our positions and arguments to legislative processes. Through targeted media activities, we inform the public about the advantages of organized travel and the benefits of travel agency guidance and booking.

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7 CRISIS AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT support in times of crisis Whether strikes, natural catastrophes or political unrest disaster and crises abroad also affect German holidaymakers. It is part of our mission to coordinate an industrywide crisis and security management for tourism operators. Our Association is therefore in close contact with tour operators, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs which assesses the security situation for Germans abroad and other government authorities. Together we analyze the situation and, if necessary, coordinate measures to protect travellers by providing quick and efficient action. In addition, we keep the media and the public informed about possible effects of such incidents. Strong

8 EDUCATION AND TRAINING trong 08 THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

9 investment into the future Only well-trained specialists can secure the basis of our business in the long term. Therefore we engage in promoting training in the tourism industry. With our vocational training initiative Zukunft buchen, we campaign for more training opportunities and explain why it is worthwhile investing in young people. Operators prepared to take on trainees get all the details about the three-year tourism manager training on our website Transparency in the educational offering of the tourism industry is brought about by the DRV education and training database on this portal. It provides an overview of qualification programmes, institutions and opportunities. Moreover, the association provides a comprehensive offering of seminars which impart specific technical know-how to tourism experts. We also provide guidance and support to youths interested in training in the tourism industry. On the DRV platform they can learn more about the attractive training in the tourism sector and its numerous job opportunities.

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11 DIGITISATION AND MARKET RESEARCH promotion of economic efficiency Work flows and booking processes in the travel industry are a decisive cost and profitability factor, especially for medium-sized enterprises. We elaborate standards in order to support the industry through optimised and harmonised business processes in the field of the digital changes, too. Digitisation changes the classical roles of the value chain in the tourism industry we accompany the industry on its way to digital transformation. We promote standardization to simplify travel procedures. Moreover, we make available key industry indicators such as sales and revenues figures to our members to support them in managing their companies. Trends are identified and assessed by analyzing current market developments. On this basis we draw up industry statistics and publish relevant data on the economic factor tourism.

12 Stro SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TOURISM SECTOR 12 THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

13 to environmental protection and social responsibility ngcommitment Tourism very much depends on an intact environment. Along with the people in the respective countries, we are committed to the protection of the environment and nature conservation in tourist destinations so as to ensure that it will continue to be possible to discover foreign countries and become acquainted with new cultures in the future. The industry has committed itself to a respectful and responsible approach to tourism when it signed the Global Ethics Code of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in As early as 1987, exemplary environmental protection projects were awarded with the DRV s annual Eco- Trophea. Participants from all over the world compete for this international DRV Sustainability Award. With our innovative projects, we point to how both operators and travellers can contribute towards sustainable development. These initiatives focus, for example, on the sparing use of raw materials and energy or reducing and avoiding CO 2 emissions. A problem which affects all of us is sexual exploitation of children in tourist destinations. This not only concerns destination countries throughout the world, but also Germany. Tourism infrastructures, such as hotels and airlines, are often used by travelling perpetrators for their purposes when booking flights and staying in hotels. This is reason enough for the tourism industry to take measures in order to commit itself against the sexual exploitation of minors in tourism and curb it. We raise awareness both among employees in the tourism sector at home and abroad as well as travellers in order to protect children against abuse. Only together we are strong.

14 MEMBERS BENEFITS guidance in day-to-day-business DRV Members benefit from competent expert advice. The Association has, for instance, its own legal department, providing legal counselling to Members businesses. We keep an eye on legal developments and changes and their possible effects on the tourism business. On behalf of our Members we assess the prospects of success of lawsuits and file trial actions to clarify sector-relevant legal issues. In addition, our lawyers draw up legal opinions on key sector issues and advise Members in particular in matters of travel, labour and competition law. We also offer our Members expertise in areas such as Air matters Business economy Business travel Crisis and safety management Cruises Data privacy Dynamic packaging tour operators Education Foreign tourism Fraud prevention Group and incoming tourism IT Legal Online distribution Rail Statistics and market research Sustainability Taxes Tour guide topics Tourism in Germany Travel distribution 14 THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

15 Strong Extra service for members DRV Members benefit from attractive special rates when purchasing the Travel Industry Card, which they can obtain at an exclusive price. With this card, Members enjoy discounted rates in a number of facilities such as car rentals, hotels, recreation parks, airports, tour operators as well as training institutions, when attending DRV training seminars on specialised subjects of the tourism sector, when attending the DRV Annual Convention, the key industry meeting offering exchange of experience, interesting expert presentations and hands-on workshops, as well as when attending further networking events such as the DRV Travel Agency Day, the central annual meeting of travel distribution and the DRV NetWorkshop, the networking and discussion platform for experienced tourism experts.

16 PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION AND EXCHANGE trong 16 THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

17 network for exchange and knowledge transfer We offer an extensive network for exchange of information and experience. Because we represent all kinds of enterprises the ownermanaged company as well as the listed international group. Making it easy for Members to establish relationships and keep in touch for instance at the DRV events such as the DRV Annual Convention, the DRV Travel Agency Day or the DRV NetWorkshop. Around 600 experts from Member businesses share their knowledge working voluntarily on our committees. This is not only of benefit to our trade, but above all to our Members, as they get important first-hand industry information and have exclusive access to the results of the Association s work in the password protected section of the DRV website. welcome

18 To find out more about the DRV and its strengths, please contact us at. Your DRV contact partners: Torsten Schäfer Head of Communications Phone +49 (0) Sibylle Zeuch Press Spokesperson Phone +49 (0) DRV DEUTSCHER REISEVERBAND E. V. DRV GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION SCHICKLERSTR BERLIN, GERMANY PHONE: FAX: INFO@DRV.DE HOMEPAGE: FACEBOOK: The strong partner of the tourism industry since THE GERMAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION Strong partner for the industry

19 PICTURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: cover (from left to right): mbbirdy/vetta/getty Images, Fotolia VI - Fotolia.com, istockphoto/johnny Lye, Christian Müller - Fotolia.com, stormarn - Fotolia.com pages 2+3 (from left to right): Ueli Bögle/avenueimages.com pages 4+5 (from left to right): LTom Merton/OJO Images/Getty Images, mbbirdy/vetta/getty Images, IvicaNS - Fotolia.com pages 6+7 (from left to right): Stocktrek Images/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images, R. Sebastian, michaeljung - Fotolia.com pages 8+9 (from left to right): Fotolia VI - Fotolia.com, D-BASE/Digital Vision/Getty Images, Marek Kosmal - Fotolia.com pages (from left to right): ra2 studio - Fotolia.com, Robert Lehmann - Fotolia.com, lily - Fotolia.com pages (from left to right): Hennie Kissling - Fotolia.com, Elena Korenbaum/Vetta/Getty Images, istockphoto/johnny Lye, istockphoto/roman Kobzarev pages (from left to right): Werner Heiber - Fotolia.com, Adam Gault/OJO Images/Getty Images, Ovidiu Iordachi - Fotolia.com pages (from left to right): Christian Müller - Fotolia.com, Yuri Arcurs - Fotolia.com, Web Buttons Inc - Fotolia.com pages (from left to right): Christian Müller - Fotolia.com, ra2 studio - Fotolia.com, IvicaNS - Fotolia.com, LVDESIGN - Fotolia.com, Hennie Kissling - Fotolia.com, stormarn - Fotolia.com DESIGN: PANTAMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS GMBH, BERLIN

20 facebook.com/drv.de