Ilka Wymar becomes commercial director at KITICON Global Networks

The Club der Macherinnen kicked off a unique network that brings women in tourism together on 3 April. KITICON Global Networks was there as a partner and supports the initiative, which is committed to empowering and promoting women in tourism. Managing Director Tina Kirfel contributed her experience in a panel discussion and spoke about the importance of networking in the industry.

A strong network for women in tourism‍

The Club der Macherinnen, founded by Anna Schwingenschlögl and Christiane Bläser, is the first network explicitly aimed at women in tourism. In a constantly changing industry, women play a central role - through their expertise, their commitment and their innovative strength. The aim of the initiative is to network women, support them in their professional development and jointly provide impetus for the future of the industry.

Commitment to networking and empowerment‍

As an agency with deep roots in tourism, KITICON Global Networks is convinced that strong networks are crucial to shaping change. ‘Personally, I am passionate about being a leader and love promoting women, encouraging them and making their strengths visible,’ explains Managing Director Tina Kirfel. ‘Any network that brings women together and supports them is important. That's why it's a matter close to my heart to support the Club der Macherinnen.’

Exchange, inspiration and new ideas in Berlin‍

The event not only offered participants inspiring examples of best practice, but also a wide range of opportunities for direct dialogue with industry experts. Workshops, presentations and interactive networking formats were organised under the motto ‘Courage MAKERS’ and provided practical inspiration for professional development. With suggestions for self-employment and entrepreneurship as well as a clear focus on collaboration and mutual support, the network sent a powerful signal for more visibility and influence for women in travel sales.

Thinking ahead together – the future of the network

At the end of the event, the participants discussed in small groups how the format could be continued in the future. It was particularly important to the two organisers to include all voices and take into account the wishes of those present. Various topics were mentioned, including technical developments such as artificial intelligence, finance and insurance, as well as work-life balance and cross-generational dialogue between young and experienced female tourism professionals.

The target group is also to be expanded in the future: All female tourism professionals are invited to become part of the network. The network sees itself as a platform for in-depth, sustainable communication and aims to strengthen both professional and personal dialogue.

The Inspire Me Award celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2025 and will once again honor leading personalities and brands in the field of luxury tourism. On October 24, the award ceremony will take place at The Fontenay in Hamburg. It is organized by LuxusInsider, the leading German luxury travel magazine, in cooperation with KITICON Global Networks from Bonn, a marketing agency with in-depth expertise in tourism marketing. The event is supported by renowned partners such as Swan Hellenic, HanseMerkur, Visit Monaco, La mer Cosmetics, Regent Seven Sea Cruises and TEFRA Luggage Service.

Honoring visionary concepts and innovative approaches
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The Inspire Me Award recognizes companies and personalities who are shaping luxury tourism with tailor-made, unforgettable and high-quality concepts. It honors innovative ideas and sustainable concepts in the following six categories: “Goosebumps Destination of the Year”, “Newcomer Product of the Year”, “Top B2B Support of the Year”, “Rising Star of the Year”, “Top Luxury Agent of the Year” and “Ambassador of the Year”. Tina Kirfel, Managing Director of KITICON GmbH & Co. KG and co-initiator of the award, explains: “Selling luxury travel requires more than an exclusive offer - it needs a well thought-out marketing strategy and the sensitivity to understand customer expectations. Luxury today not only means exclusivity, but also authenticity, innovation and the creation of unforgettable experiences."

‍Award ceremony with a unique ambience‍
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The festive award ceremony at The Fontenay Hamburg is an exclusive event that not only includes the award presentation, but also offers a high-profile networking meeting. Luxury travel experts, leading industry figures and sponsors from the high-end segment come together to discuss the latest developments and challenges in luxury tourism and provide innovative impulses. In addition to honoring the winners, guests can expect a varied program with keynote speeches, inspiring discussions with industry experts and culinary delights. “It's not just about prizes - it's about sharing visions, exchanging ideas and gaining new perspectives,” emphasizes Iris M. Köpke, co-initiator of the award and publisher of media partner Luxusinsider.

‍High-caliber jury and strong partners‍
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The independent jury of the Inspire Me Award brings together renowned experts from the luxury and tourism industry, who contribute to the selection of the winners with their sense for exceptional concepts. But strong partners equally contribute to the excellence of the award: The shipping company Swan Hellenic, known for its cultural expedition cruises, Visit Monaco, which stands for exclusive tourism, and HanseMerkur, one of Germany's leading travel insurers. The partner network is complemented by La mer Cosmetics, a specialist in high-quality marine cosmetics, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a provider of luxury all-inclusive cruises, the TEFRA luggage service, which enables comfortable travel, and the Hamburg luxury hotel The Fontenay. Melanie Haaß, co-organizer of the award, emphasizes: “Thanks to the expertise of our jury and the support of our partners, we can award concepts that offer real added value for the industry.”

Exclusive partnership opportunities
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The Inspire Me Award offers companies from the luxury sector the opportunity to present themselves as partners or sponsors in an exclusive environment. Interested companies can contact Tina Kirfel by email at  tk@kiticon.global to find out more about participation opportunities.You can find more information about the Inspire Me Award at: https://www.inspire-me-award.com/

As a partner of ConneXion Night, which celebrated its premiere at the Berlin International Tourism Exchange (ITB) this year, KITICON supports the promotion of young talent in the tourism industry. The network meeting organized by the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) and the conneccted: agency was aimed specifically at young and aspiring tourism professionals — and was more popular than initially expected. While only 250 guests were originally planned, around 300 tourism professionals eventually gathered at Berlin's Club Maaya.

The event not only offered an opportunity to support young talents starting out in the industry and provide them an opportunity to network with their peers. The organizers also had the opportunity to get to know the next generation and discover potential talents. The focus was on positioning the tourism industry as an attractive employer and “people business” that combines diverse career opportunities with an exciting and dynamic working atmosphere. ITB Director Deborah Rothe also emphasized this: “The tourism industry is not just work, but also a lot of fun. ”

“We are delighted to be one of the first partners to take part in ConneXion Night,” comments Tina Kirfel, Managing Director of KITICON GmbH & Co. KG. “As a marketing agency, we know exactly how important it is to attract young talent to the industry. Above all, because the younger generation is very different to previous generations when it comes to getting people excited about a job. Traditional career sites are no longer sufficient - social recruiting in particular plays a key role. We are already successfully supporting our customers in this area, and the positive response confirms our approach."

The up-and-coming talents were particularly enthusiastic about the various “Connexion Areas”, which offered unique networking opportunities with an exciting twist. From casual get-togethers to getting to know each other at speed dating and competitions, there was something for everyone. The lounge corner, a video booth and a telephone disco in an old telephone booth also contributed to making the evening a complete success. The event was accompanied by a DJ throughout, which also impressed the young people across the board.

In addition to KITICON Global Networks, other partners also supported the event. These included AIDA, DerTour, Hanse Merkur, Stylink, Worldia and many other exciting companies in and outside the tourism sector.

BTW President Sören Hartmann emphasizes: “We are immensely pleased with the great response from young and, in some cases, aspiring tourism professionals. Our joint idea of closing a content gap in the colorful calendar of events surrounding the world's largest tourism trade fair by specifically addressing young talent has been a complete success.” Christiane Bläser and Constanze Maltzahn, the two managing directors of the organizing agency conneccted:, were also satisfied with the event — ConneXion Night 2026 is already being planned.