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The “LEAD³ – LEARN. EMPOWER. ADVANCE. DEVELOP.” project is a nationwide equality project that aims to specifically promote female careers in the tourism industry. The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) is collaborating with twelve tourism companies and organizations as well as the industry associations BTW and DRV. The focus is on individual career advancement, structural change in companies, and raising awareness of equal opportunities in the industry.

LEAD³ is aimed at women – including trans and inter women – in three career and life phases: rising talents, established professionals, and silver agers. Over a period of three years, participants will receive coaching and mentoring, while the participating companies will simultaneously develop gender equality-oriented structures.

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Broad industry alliance as a basis

The project is supported by a cross-industry alliance of tour operators, destination organizations, and other tourism stakeholders. Partners include Ameropa-Reisen GmbH, Biblische Reisen, Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus, Bentour, Tourism Turn, Tourismus Marketing Niedersachsen, Akwaba Afrika Reisen, Neue Wege, visitBerlin, KITICON, and Alsharq Reisen. Each company provides project leaders from HR, works councils, or management teams, as well as three participants for the duration of the project.

Scientific management and practical relevance

The project is being implemented at HNEE under the direction of Prof. Dr. Claudia Brözel and Theresa Schmalenbach, M.A. The aim is to combine individual skills development with organizational change and to make the insights gained available to the entire industry. The project team includes Alicia Klein M.A., Katharina Elster, and Sandra Kaliga.

Support from BTW and DRV

The Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) and the German Travel Association (DRV) are supporting LEAD³ as network partners. Over the next three years, the associations want to bring the project to the industry through open network meetings and events for all genders and promote the exchange of ideas on equal opportunities – in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5).

Visibility and long-term knowledge transfer

In addition to coaching and organizational development, LEAD³ focuses on visibility in the industry. Female role models, examples of good practice, and project results are communicated via the website, LinkedIn, industry events, and publications in order to provide sustainable impetus for the tourism industry. Funding background LEAD³ will run until October 31, 2028, and is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) as part of the program “Shaping the transformation of work through social partnership.” The project is co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

There is still one place available for companies in the LEAD³ program. Interested parties can contact claudia.broezel@hnee.de.

Further information on the project will be available at ITB 2026 on the Green Stage in Hall 7.1b. The session “Beyond Intentions: Making Gender Equality Stick in Tourism” will take place there on March 3 from 5:15 p.m. to 5:40 p.m.

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Worldia is introducing a new loyalty program for travel consultants on January 1, 2026. With the Worldia Club, the specialist for modular travel is specifically strengthening its cooperation with stationary sales. The program combines a transparent points system with attractive bonus levels and exclusive rewards – and is designed to strengthen ties with travel agencies in the DACH market in the long term. Each travel agency will receive a personal partner account where points, status levels, and benefits can be viewed at any time.

‍Simple points system for all bookings

For each confirmed booking, partners receive 1 Worldia point per euro spent. Once the customer's trip is complete, the points can be redeemed flexibly – including for vouchers and rewards from over 150 partner brands in the areas of gastronomy, fashion, hotels, and entertainment. All information on available rewards, promotions, and the current points balance can be found on the personal dashboard. Points are valid for 24 months from the customer's departure date.

“We know how important dedicated travel agents are to our mutual success. With the Worldia Club, we offer them a program that creates real added value – transparent, attractive, and tailored to their needs,” explains Lisa Gerbens, Deputy Managing Director of Worldia.

Bonus levels with additional benefits

As sales increase, partners move up to higher bonus levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black, and Platinum. Depending on their level, they benefit from additional bonus points and extended advantages. Regular promotions and challenges are also planned, through which travel consultants can earn additional points. The first campaign starts with bookings for the USA and Canada – between December 15 and January 16, 1.5 points per euro of sales will be awarded.

Strengthening the sales partner system

With its new loyalty program, Worldia is strengthening partnerships in the DACH market and further expanding its service and incentive structure for travel consultants. At the same time, the company is creating additional incentives to make cooperation even more attractive and efficient in the long term. Interested parties can find details about the program and register HERE. The team will answer any questions about the Worldia Club at club@worldia.com.

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Worldia transformiert die USA-Reisen für 2026: Statt klassischer Pauschalangebote bietet der Spezialist dem Reisevertrieb maßgeschneiderte Erlebnisreisen, die flexibel konfiguriert werden können und authentische Begegnungen, Sportkultur sowie legendäre Routen verbinden. Highlights sind das 100-jährige Jubiläum der Route 66, die exklusiven Möglichkeiten für frühe Buchungen rund um die Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft 2026 sowie besondere Sport- und Kulturangebote. Ergänzt wird das Portfolio durch flexible Fly & Drive-Pakete, Zug- und Glamping-Reisen sowie besondere Aktivitäten von Hubschrauberflügen über den Grand Canyon bis zu Begegnungen mit den First Nations in Kanada.

Neue Angebote für 2026

Sportfans profitieren von umfassenden Themendossiers zu fünf großen US-Sportarten (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS), die nicht nur Tickets vermitteln, sondern auch kulturelle Einblicke und lokale Highlights bieten. Zum 100-jährigen Jubiläum der Route 66 ist eine 19-tägige Erlebnisreise ab rund 2.300 Euro buchbar. Außerdem erweitert Worldia frühzeitig sein Angebot für die FIFA-Weltmeisterschaft 2026. Acht neue Zugrouten entlang der Ostküste sowie grenzüberschreitende Strecken zwischen den USA und Kanada runden das Portfolio ab.

Umfassende Zielkompetenz in den USA und Kanada

Worldia unterteilt die USA in zehn geografische Zonen und bietet für jede Zone detailliertes Expertenwissen zu regionalen Besonderheiten wie den Nationalparks im Westen, dem Nordosten oder den Südstaaten. Allein in New York stehen 110 Hotels, 18 Reiserouten und 100 Aktivitäten zur Auswahl. Insgesamt umfasst das Angebot für die USA über 3.000 Hotels, mehr als 90 Reiserouten und über 600 Aktivitäten. Unter Sleep Differently finden Reiseprofis 114 alternative Unterkünfte – von Glamping bis zu einzigartigen Lodges – davon 77 in den USA und 37 in Kanada. „Wir bieten dem Reisevertrieb nicht nur ein Portfolio, wir liefern tiefgehende, praxisnahe Expertise für jede Region“, erklärt Lisa Gerbens, stellvertretende Geschäftsführerin und Head of Source Markets US & DACH bei Worldia.

Flexible Reisen und besondere Aktivitäten

Die USA und Kanada lassen sich über voll flexible Fly & Drive-Angebote kombinieren. Ergänzende Highlights sind Hubschrauberflüge über den Grand Canyon, Ranchaufenthalte in Montana und Wyoming, Cajun-Kochkurse in New Orleans, Begegnungen mit den First Nations in Kanada oder Weinrouten in Kalifornien und dem Napa Valley. Auch Zugverbindungen mit Amtrak und Brightline erweitern das Angebot um zusätzliche, komfortable Reiseoptionen.

CityPASS oder Aussichtsticket inklusive

Ab dem 15. Dezember erhalten alle Buchungen von mindestens vier Nächten in den USA kostenfrei einen CityPASS für Boston, Houston, Seattle oder San Francisco oder ein Ticket für die Aussichtsplattform ONE Vanderbilt, SUMMIT. Die Aktion gilt für Buchungen bis zum 16. Januar 2026.

Kontakt für PartnerInnen-Registrierung

VertriebspartnerInnen, die sich für die Nutzung der Worldia-Plattform registrieren möchten, können ein Erstgespräch mit den zuständigen AnsprechpartnerInnen vereinbaren. Für die Einführung neuer Agenturen stehen Philipp Seltenheim und Angela Marchenko zur Verfügung. Weitere Informationen sowie die Möglichkeit zur Terminvereinbarung finden Interessierte HIER.