Series of workshops with the Vienna Experts Club: a voice for industry representatives

February/March, 2019. An initiative of the Vienna Tourist Board, the Vienna Experts Club is geared towards people working in the capital’s hotel industry, at incoming travel agencies and information services, as well as employees and partners of the Vienna Tourist Board. The Vienna Experts Club brings together a broad and intriguingly diverse range of functions: experts from sales and marketing, reception, administration, visitor services, the meeting industry and management are at the heart of a lively exchange and provide a true representation of opinions and sentiment in the Viennese tourist industry.

While preparing the Visitor Economy Strategy 2025, we worked closely with the Vienna Experts Club to set up a series of wide-ranging workshops in which a total of 480 participants convened at seven different events to discuss Vienna’s future as a destination for tourism.

How will our jobs change, what can the Vienna Experts Club contribute to future strategies and what do these developments mean for Vienna as a tourist destination? These questions gave club members and the Vienna Tourist Board plenty to think about. Sustainability at all levels, like environmental friendliness, climate protection and how to balance the needs of tourists and residents, were among the key topics raised by the industry representatives. While discussions were occasionally animated, all those present were quick to agree that Vienna is a modern, forward-looking, international and open-minded city. And although it is constantly developing, moving with the times and pushing technological advances, it has not lost sight of – and continues to lovingly cultivate – its world-famous charm, unique history and precious traditions.