"The Travel Consulting Group": Leading Figures From the Travel Industry Forge an Alliance - Consulting Expertise Also for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises -

FRANKFURT, Germany and DUBAI, UAE, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Profound and, in its form, unequalled 'know-how' for the national and international travel industry: Under the umbrella 'The Travel Consulting Group', leading figures from the travel and hospitality industry offer their services, with immediate effect, in a joint advisory firm. The company, which was established by five business partners in the 1st quarter of 2012, will operate out of Frankfurt and Dubai. Their professional consulting services are not only available to large national and international companies and investors, but also to small and medium-sized companies in the travel industry. The partners of  'The Travel Consulting Group GmbH' are Jürgen Büchy,  Marc Hildebrand, Gunther Holzschuh, Wolfgang John and Prof. Dr. Adrian von Dörnberg, who belong to the circle of the most prominent representatives of the German travel industry.

Prof. Dr. Adrian von Dörnberg: "We have set ourselves the agenda, through high-level consulting expertise, to develop new economic opportunities, sustainable growth and viable business models for existing and future businesses, suppliers and investors in the travel industry. Our clients have access to professional consultants whose practical and scientific expertise is based on years of experience and, above all, a wide network of contacts in all segments of the global travel industry."

Jürgen Büchy commented further: "Our target groups for 'The Travel Consulting Group' at national level, apart from the traditional tourism companies and suppliers, are small and medium-sized companies who previously did not seek the services of a consultancy firm due to cost reasons. We want to develop an entirely new approach, making the advice of experts more accessible for small and medium-sized businesses."

According to Marc Hildebrand, at the international level, in addition to the global players of the travel industry and investment companies, there are many businesses that require the services of a consultancy firm to help them enter their product offerings to the international marketplace.

"We see great potential in international companies that are interested in the German-speaking and European markets, as well as regions in the Middle East and North Africa. They are looking for professional consultants with real expertise in the travel industry who can draw upon years of experience," said Wolfgang John.

Gunther Holzschuh: "With 'The Travel Consulting Group', we have created a company that is undoubtedly unique with its offering of services and networking.  The consultancy expertise 'Made in Germany', which we can offer to the travel industry, is unparalleled."

Some of the partners of 'The Travel Consulting Group' have been successful as individual consultants for many years. Jürgen Büchy is known as one of the most distinguished heads of the German travel industry. After top positions at the German airline companies Condor and Lufthansa - his last position as Director of Sales Germany in the LH Board Department Passage - he was Chairman of the Management at Start Amadeus GmbH. After this engagement, he was responsible for the worldwide distribution and sales of tickets for the Deutsche Bahn in the role of Chairman of the Managing Board DB Vertrieb (Sales) GmbH until September 2011. In 2010, he was elected as honorary President of the DRV (German Travel Association). In addition to his voluntary activities, Jürgen Büchy is Chairman of the Supervisory Board for Ameropa-Reisen (Travel) GmbH, and is also active as a management consultant.

Marc Hildebrand has been active in the global travel industry since 1989, and is regarded as a specialist for business travel and the globalization of companies in the travel and hospitality sector. Among other things, he was Director of Global Business Development for HRG in London; Global CEO for TUI/TQ3 Travel Solutions (now BCD Travel); and General Manager Central & Eastern Europe for American Express International. Marc Hildebrand also has management experience in the international hotel industry and real estate development. Before he formed his own executive consulting company in 2009, he was CEO for Accor Hotellerie Deutschland (Hotels Germany) GmbH.

Gunther Holzschuh is a recognized expert in the segment Multi and Cross Channel Distribution. The areas of stationary travel distribution in e-commerce, call centers, TV travel-shopping and GDS were the main responsibilities of Gunther Holzschuh for reputable companies in the global travel and telecommunication industries; expansion of logistics, further development and restructuring were also assigned to him. In senior management positions, he was active for DHL Worldwide Express; for the Mondia Touristik GmbH/Via1 GmbH; as Managing Director for Galileo Germany; as Regional Director Central Europe for Galileo International; and as Chairman of the Management for Otto Freizeit und Touristik GmbH. Gunther Holzschuh is self-employed as an executive management consultant since 2011.

Wolfgang John brings with him over three decades of airline experience. After holding various management positions at Deutsche Lufthansa, he has held positions as CEO, Managing Director, Personnel Director, and member of the Advisory Board for various companies, such as Start GmbH and Amadeus Marketing Company, Aero Lloyd Flugreisen, Hapag-Lloyd Flug, and TUI Germany. Wolfgang John is a recognized expert in the design and development of sales and marketing systems, as well as restructuring and establishing effective organizational structures for charter airlines. He has been active since 2007 as an independent consultant, and has made a name for himself as specialist for airline start-ups.  

Prof. Dr. Adrian von Dörnberg offers 'The Travel Consulting Group' decades of experience in the travel industry. Amongst other things, he was active as a consultant for McKinsey; a member of the Board at Deutsche Lufthansa; a member of the Advisory Board at DER; Chairman of the Holding-Management at Arkona Touristik (AIDA Cruises); and member of the Board at Europäischen Reiseversicherung AG (European Travel Insurance). He also sits on the Executive Board of the 'Travel Industry Club' and is Professor for Economics/Business Administration and Tourism at the University of Worms. As a management consultant and project manager, Adrian von Dörnberg consults numerous national and international companies in the global travel industry.

For the representative office in Dubai, which will manage the dynamic markets in the Middle East and North Africa, 'The Travel Consulting Group' was able to win over the renowned international expert Benjo van Laarhoven.  In his professional career, Benjo van Laarhoven was active in the travel branch as Executive Vice President for Alshamel International/Carlson Wagonlit Travel, based in the Middle East; as Vice President Client Development for Central Europe, based in Frankfurt; and as Managing Director BCD Travel and SVP Global Sales BCD Travel based in London.

Contact:
The Travel Consulting Group
Benjo van Laarhoven
Rimal 6
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Tel. +971-552699789
E-Mail: benjo.v.laarhoven@the-tcg.com
http://www.the-travel-consulting-group.com
 
Headoffice
The Travel Consulting Group GmbH
Gervinusstraße 5 - 7
60322 Frankfurt/Main
Tel. +49-69-17-32-69-05


For further press related questions or interviews:
 
Jürgen Büchy - +49-160-97-420-044
Marc Hildebrand - +49-174-150-5500
 
or
 
Thomas Wilde
w&p Wilde & Partner Public Relations
Tel: +49-89-17-91-900
Mobil:  +49-172-890-37-38