Accessible tourism day
The international trade event on accessible tourism will take place on Wednesday, 05.03.2025, from 10:30 to approx. 16:30 at Messe Berlin, CityCube, Hall A5 as part of ITB (hybrid event).
The thirteenth edition of the “Accessible Tourism Day” will take place as an in-person event on March 5, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to approx. 4:30 p.m. at the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds in the City Cube, Hall 5. Interested parties also have the opportunity to take part online (hybrid event).
The GNTB 2025 will focus on the following topics with keynote speeches, presentations and panel discussions:
- Barrier-free destination development
- Target group-specific offer design
- Barrier-free travel for children and young people
- Legal framework conditions (European disability act etc.)
- Digital innovations and AI
- Outlook. Where should accessible tourism be in 10 years' time?
The event will be opened by the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, Dieter Janecek, MP, as well as the Federal Government Commissioner for the Interests of People with Disabilities, Jürgen Dusel, and André Nowak, spokesperson for the Tourism Working Group at the German Disability Council.
The “Barrier-free Tourism Day” is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
It is implemented with the support of the state working group “Tourism for All”, the working group “Easier Travel - Barrier-free Holiday Destinations in Germany” and the Tourism Working Group of the German Disability Council (DBR).
The event will be held in German and English (with simultaneous translation).
Sign language, simultaneous and written interpreters will also be available.
The event is accessible without steps (partly via elevators) via the entrances “Messedamm”, “Jafféstraße”, the inner area of the exhibition grounds and a passage from Hall 7.
Program “Accessible Tourism Day”
Moderation
Daniela Wiesler-Schnalke, DW Akademie, Head of Media Training
10:30 am – 10:40 am
Opening
Olaf Schlieper, German National Tourist Board, Innovation Manager
10:40 am – 10:50 am
Welcome
Dieter Janecek, Federal Government Coordinator for the Maritime Industry and for Tourism
10:50 am – 11:00 am
Welcome (Video message)
Jürgen Dusel, Federal Government Commissioner for the Interests of Persons with Disabilities
11:00 am – 11:10 am
Welcome
André Nowak, Spokesman of the Tourism Working Group at the German Council for People with Disabilities and Deputy Chairman of the ABiD Institute for Disability & Participation e.V. (IB&P)
11:10 am – 11:20 am
Keynote
Her Excellency Mrs. Lina Mazhar Annab, Minister of Tourism & Antiquities, Jordan
11:20 am – 11:40 pm
Keynote
Kristy Durso, TravelAbility Ambassador, Wheel the World Partner, founder of the Accessible Travel Network, professional Speaker & Trainer on Accessible Hospitality
11:40 pm – 12:25 pm
Presentation of best practice examples
Sven-Erik Hitzer, Foundation Leuchtenburg, Founder and Board of the Leuchtenburg Foundation
Stefani Mikulec Perković, City of Zadar (Croatia), Head of Department for EU funds
Ghadeer M. Alhares, The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Jordan), Assistant Secretary- General
Hazem Zureiqat, The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Jordan), Board member
Josefine Hille, Stiftung Leben pur, Project Leader „Toilets for all“
12:25 pm – 1:15 pm
Discussion
Medium-term strategy and vision: What will accessible tourism look like in 10 years? And how will we get there?
Igor Stefanovic, UN Tourism, Coordinator for Accessibility, Cultural Tourism and Indigenous Peoples
Ivor Ambrose, ENAT - European Network for Accessible Tourism, Managing Director
Karl-Peter Naumann, Passenger association PRO BAHN, Honorary Chairman
Glenn Mandziuk, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Chief Executive Officer
Verena Bentele, Sozialverband VdK Deutschland e.V., President
Kristy Durso, TravelAbility Ambassador, Wheel the World Partner, founder of the Accessible Travel Network, professional Speaker & Trainer on Accessible Hospitality
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Break with networking – Opportunity to talk to the experts
2:00 pm - 2:25 pm
How artificial intelligence is reshaping tourism, opportunities and risks for accessibility
Anna Graf, Arvato Systems Bertelsmann, Innovation Lead Emerging Tech
2:25 pm - 2:50 pm
Lecture on the Accessibility Reinforcement Act (Developed on the basis of the European Disability Act)
Sven Niklas, Federal Centre of Expertise on Accessibility, Expert for digital accessibility
2:50 pm – 3:35 pm
Discussion
Inklusive Kinder- und Jugendreisen
Oliver Peters, Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk e. V., Hauptgeschäftsführer
Alex Nolte, Yat Reisen GmbH, Geschäftsführer
Dennis Peinze, BundesForum Kinder- und Jugendreisen e.V., Geschäftsführer
Felix Schulz, SCL Sportclub Lebenshilfe Berlin e. V., Koordinator Sport / Reisen
3:35 pm – 3:50 pm
Short break
3:50 pm – 4:10 pm
Presentation
Barrier-free nature experiences: from challenges to inclusion
Benjamin Suthe, panorama361, owner, expert for accessibility, active tourism, service quality and bleisure/workation; IU lecturer
Kerstin Emonds, Nationale Naturlandschaften e. V., Head of Tourism, Regional Development, Inclusion
4:10 pm – 4:25 pm
Developments and future opportunities for the “Travel for All” label
Isabella Hren, Bayern Tourist GmbH & Bayerische Gastgeber AG, Managing Director and CEO
4:25 pm – 4:30 pm
Farewell
Olaf Schlieper, German National Tourist Board, Innovation Manager