eTravel World at We Love Travel! 2020

The Creative Force of the Crisis: Digital Turnaround in Tourism?

Bernd Nawrath discussed with Steffen Faradi, CEO at Midoco Holding GmbH; Uwe Frers, CEO at PiNCAMP l ADAC Camping; Barbara Heinbockel, Head of Digital Management at Tourism Agency of Schleswig-Holstein and Lukas C.C. Hempel, Managing Director and Founder at bookingkit

Watch the panel here.

According to Barbara Heinbockel, the crisis shows how important digital solutions are for travelers. To Lukas C.C. Hempel the crisis feels like coming from the worst year to the best year of all times in terms of digitization, if done right: The pandemic worked like a catalyst for tours, activities and attractions, if done right. Steffen Faradi shared how Midoco dealt with the impact of the crisis and emphasized the importance of business partnerships and relationships with customers and employees. Uwe Frers sees the crisis as an accelerator for digitization and a heightened level of acceptance on the consumer side to use digital solutions.

Building Trust - They Key Element of the 'New Normal'?

Torsten Sabel, COO and Founder at Customer Alliance hosted and moderated the panel about 'Building Trust' and discussed with Cynthia Paynter, Vice President & Revenue Manager at Accor Hotels Deutschland GmbH; Arturo Ortiz, Tourism Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain; and Christian Tänzler, Spokesman at visit Berlin - Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH how to gain the consumers trust back.

Read this brief article about the panel in the ITB Newsroom.

Travel Technology Round Table - Experienced Pioneers meet Start-Ups

Lea Jordan, Co-Founder & Head of Marketing at techtalk.travel hosted and moderated the Travel Tech Round Table with Olga Heuser, CEO and Co-Founder at DialogShift; Michael Riegel, CEO & Founder at Comtravo and Sascha Hausmann, Partner at the Venture Capital Fund Howzat Partners and CEO at Busy Rooms.

Watch the full length panel here:

From Michael Riegel's point of view the crisis is causing market distortions as never experienced before in the business travel segment. He feels this also means new opportunities. Sascha Hausmann holds that economic markets are currently kept alive artificially. Therefore it's too early to say what will really change.

According to Olga Heuser the pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of the hotel industry. In her opinion especially guest-facing technology can help in times of social distancing and insecurity to engage and stay connected with guests.

Read the brief article about the panel in the ITB Berlin Newsroom.

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About We Love Travel! - A Tourism Recovery Pop-Up

The We Love Travel! Event presented by ITB Berlin and Berlin Travel Festival supports the recovery of the tourism industry and offers a platform for personal encounters for all players involved - buyers, hoteliers, travel bloggers, cultural institutions, destinations, publishers and travellers alike. From 16 to 18 October 2020, the Tourism Recovery Pop-up will combined virtual and in-person formats. The concept of this unique event in the Arena Berlin includes exhibition space, numerous networking formats, presentations and discussion panels, as well as online formats that appeal both to trade visitors and the travelling public. For more information visit www.welovetravel.berlin