Our Corporate Structure
Our organigram
Our company is headed by a Chief Executive Officer, assisted by three authorised company officers. visitBerlin’s key tasks are reflected in the internal corporate structure, with four Business Divisions responsible for the various aspects of our marketing and sales activities. These are integrated into the global promotion of Berlin in the conventions sector and travel trade, the comprehensive communications and marketing activities and all the company’s sales and distribution tasks. The Media Relations / Spokesperson staff unit is directly under the Executive Management. The company’s Operational Steering departments ensure in particular that the internal processes are harmonised and aligned quickly and efficiently.
Our tasks
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Executive Management
On 1 January 2009, Burkhard Kieker was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH, which operates under the visitBerlin brand name. His principal task is to oversee the global promotion of Berlin in the tourism and convention sectors, and to maintain and develop the brand of Berlin.
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Strategic Planning & Operational Steering
Strategic Planning and Operational Steering is responsible for strategic planning, for steering the company’s operations, and for internal processes. The department’s remit not only includes corporate planning and priority setting for interdepartmental projects, but also market research and statistics, as well as visitBerlin’s central management of crisis situations.
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Media Relations
Media Relations is dedicated to expanding, developing and supporting the company’s national and international media contacts. This sphere of responsibility includes organising editorial interviews, press conferences, Berlin presentations and a wide variety of formats in Germany and approximately 25 countries worldwide, as well as planning and realising press trips to Berlin. Our Media Relations’ team has the overall objective of promoting a positive image in media reports on Berlin as a tourism and congress metropolis. The company spokesperson and deputy spokesperson are also integrated into the unit.
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Market Management
Our Market Management team is responsible for positioning and marketing Berlin globally as a top tourist destination. This includes integrating Berlin in the activities and services provided by tour operators and online travel agencies with the aim of strengthening Berlin’s profile in the markets, increasing quality tourism and opening up new markets to grow the number of international visitors to Berlin. The core tasks not only require designing and implementing market-specific actions and visitBerlin marketing campaigns, but also developing activities in the areas of health tourism, LGBTI tourism, luxury tourism and coach and cruise tourism.
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Berlin Convention Office
The Berlin Convention Office (BCO) is the official Convention Office for the city of Berlin, and promotes Berlin in the sectors of meetings, conferences, and incentives as well as major events. The BCO is responsible for positioning Berlin nationally and internationally as a top destination for meetings and conventions. The core tasks also include providing information and advice to customers on planning, preparing and organising events in Berlin. The BCO also designs its own events, participates in trade fairs and develops new congress formats.
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Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Communications is responsible for the comprehensive and concerted promotion of Berlin as a tourism and congress destination. As part of this remit, it also consults with all the individual departments in visitBerlin, advising on their communication activities for projects and specific target-groups. Marketing & Communications also initiates its own measures to generate a distinctive and positive public image to position the city of Berlin as well as visitBerlin, to heighten the visibility of Berlin as a travel destination, and to acquire new customers for the visitBerlin communications channels and hence for the company’s products.
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Product & Sales
Product & Sales supports the entire spectrum of the company’s commercial activities. This Business Division is dedicated to managing, developing and launching all visitBerlin products, as well as their marketing and distribution. The range of distribution channels includes the city’s Berlin Tourist Info Centres, which provide visitors with advice and information during their stay in the city. The field sales force additionally develops and supports the distribution channels though the hotel and retail sector. The Service Center is a main point of contact for visitors before they leave on their trip to Berlin, offering advice on all tourist products for the city and assisting with bookings. Product & Sales is also responsible for all e-commerce activities.
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Tourism Partnerships
Tourism Partnerships supports travel trade stakeholders in Berlin. It comprises three teams for cultural affairs and hotels, partner relations and CSR, and works closely with key players in the tourism sector, the twelve Berlin boroughs, the visitBerlin partner hotels and the city’s cultural institutions. The core tasks also include supporting the “Service in the City” and “HIER IN BERLIN” initiatives, both directed to Berlin’s culture of welcoming tourists, as well as developing such overarching themes as accessible tourism and CSR / sustainable tourism.
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Human Resources & Legal Affairs
Human Resources & Legal Affairs is responsible for the entire spectrum of HR tasks and consulting on legal matters. The HR team’s remit not only covers recruitment and administration, but also human resource management and development. The legal team advises, supports tender procedures and processes, and drafts company agreements and contracts.
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Corporate Services
Corporate Servicemanages and organises all the company’s administrative tasks. It comprises teams responsible for logistics, central purchasing / procurement, organisation, financial accounting and an IT team which maintains the company’s technical infrastructure.
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Controlling
Controlling is entrusted with the tasks of budget steering and control for all corporate areas, focusing in particular on liquidity analysis and planning as well as financial monitoring and controlling.
