Throughout the challenging year just ended, it was critically important to maintain contact with the participants in the Visitor Economy, while continuing to supply them with information and data on a wide range of tourism and business-related topics. Updated daily, the b2b.vienna.info website acts as a central reference point for the industry. Tourism companies could use the service to find out all the latest on Covid-19 and funding and support schemes, stay up to speed on guidelines affecting businesses serving the Visitor Economy and check the Vienna Tourist Board’s market observation dashboard for regular updates on developments for 24 major incoming markets. Visitors to the website could also use it to look up texts and videos covering Vienna Tourist Board events.

The Vienna Tourist Board’s Luxury Cercle is specifically geared towards providers in the Visitor Economy that serve the luxury segment and provides information about luxury travelers. More than 70 businesses are members, including 20 hotels, 30 art and culture providers and 21 artisanal manufacturers. A hybrid meeting for these specialist providers took place in September. Tom Marchant, founder of the UK’s Black Tomato Group, which specializes in travel and lifestyle services for the luxury segment, was the keynote speaker. Director of Tourism Norbert Kettner presented the Vienna Tourist Board’s luxury strategy. The event provided a valuable source of information while allowing the professionals involved to compare notes and plan joint activities in the segment.

The market monitoring dashboard introduced in 2020 was continued in 2021. In it, experts from the Vienna Tourist Board process both quantitative and qualitative market data to provide an overview of the current situation and prospective travel demand for 24 incoming markets. Regularly updated, dashboard.wien.info provides in-depth information on a range of areas including travel restrictions, economic forecasts, transport links, online search trends and purchasing power to give a comprehensive overview of the state of play in key markets worldwide. The dashboard is free to access for the general public and only available in German.

“Vienna. Imagine the Future.” was the banner chosen for the 2021 Tourism Conference. Attracting a total of 500 participants, the event took place on November 11 at Vienna City Hall as a hybrid meeting. A group of international experts – including keynote speakers Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director for Exhibitions & Conferences at the Singapore Tourism Board; Sabine Haag, Director of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna; Spanish national tourist office Turespaña Director General Miguel Sanz Castedo; and trend and future research specialist Christiane Varga – talked about what sustainability means for a modern capital like Vienna, as well as the role played by a city’s visitor economy in its sustained recovery and high quality of life. A bespoke prevention plan was put in place for the conference, with proof of 2G status (vaccinated or recovered) a condition of entry. Attendees were also asked to take voluntarily PCR tests before the event as an additional precaution.

In partnership with the Austrian Professional Hotel Association at the Vienna Economic Chamber, the Vienna Tourist Board developed the Safe Stay safety seal specifically for the capital’s accommodation sector in 2020. By complying with the protective and hygiene measures set out in the list of criteria – in addition to the statutory regulations – accommodation providers are able to apply for Safe Stay certification. Free of charge, the seal also provided an additional marketing opportunity for accommodation providers. By December 31, 2021, a total of 79 operations had been awarded the safety seal.