Exploring Southwest Germany

A special webinar is scheduled on September 21, 2020 at 11:00 am (UAE standard time) to explore Southwest Germany. TRAVTALK was able to discuss about the objectives with Janina Wittmann, Marketing & Sales Manager, State Tourist Board Southwest Germany; Christian Gross, Head of Incoming/MICE, Black Forest Highlands (Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH); and Angela Rieger, Sales & Tourism Manager, Outletcity Metzingen.

Shehara Rizly

QWhat are the key areas/destinations in Southwest Germany that you will focus on in this
webinar?

The webinar will be focusing on:

Main regions such as the Black Forest, Swabian Alb, Lake Constance and the region around the capital city Stuttgart (home of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz)

Key cities such as Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, Freiburg and Mannheim

Where to stay: private luxury hotels called the best of hotels in Southwest Germany

Live at the webinar: the shopping destination Outletcity Metzingen

Live at the webinar: nature destination Black Forest Highlands

Please share a round-up of each destination.

Southwest Germany

The sunny Southwest Germany marks a very special destination for holiday seekers with its diverse attractions and facilities. Starting with its historic cities, Heidelberg is one of Europe’s most romantic cities with its castle, river and university, while Stuttgart, the region’s capital, boasts art museums, opera and two of the world’s best car museums; Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. After all, this is where the automobile was patented almost 135 years ago! For travellers looking for elegance and relaxation nowhere surpasses Baden-Baden with its natural mineral spas and stylish facilities.

Here, in Southwest Germany, high-quality dining doesn’t get any better as no other area in Germany can match the number of Michelin-starred restaurants and better Gault Millau guidebook ratings that Southwest Germany offers to its visitors. Furthermore, the unspoiled countryside is perfect for hiking and biking, from the Black Forest to Lake Constance; while Europa-Park, one of the world’s top theme parks, offers family fun and entertainment. www.tourism-bw.com

Black Forest Highlands

Breathtaking nature, a wide range of leisure activities and lively culture are some of Hochschwarzwald offerings to its guests, located around ‘Feldberg’, the highest peak (1,493 metres) in Baden-Württemberg that guarantees snow for winter sports enthusiasts. With the world-famous Lake Titisee, the idyllic Schluchsee as well as countless hiking trails and mountain bike trails, the region in the heart of the Black Forest is one of Germany’s most popular travel destinations for nature lovers and active vacationers. Recreation seekers also get their money’s worth in the Upper Black Forest: switching off and refuelling is not difficult in one of the region’s high-class hotels with an almost unlimited range of wellness offers. Children are welcome to explore the diverse leisure activities, where nine Hochschwarzwald communities have already been awarded the coveted seal of quality ‘Family Holidays in Baden-Württemberg’. www.hochschwarzwald.de

Outletcity Metzingen

Internationally renowned designers such as Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, Versace and the world’s largest BOSS outlet, Outletcity Metzingen is on a par with major fashion capitals around the world and was rated as Europe’s Outlet No. 1 in 2020. The outstanding selection of over 130 brands of major designers is represented in flagship outlet stores. Reductions of up to 70 % make a visit worthwile all year round. The cosmopolitan customers fit right into the sophisticated urban setting of this high-end shopping destination, where the history of textile industry is combined with award-winning architecture, sophisticated events and unique services. In addition to fashion brands the latest opening of a redeveloped former soap factory added a selection of brands in the home and living range to the outlet and a health and safety concept is in place to ensure a safe shopping experience for all visitors. www.outletcity.com

Q Why will travellers from GCC visit these areas?

A wide range of the GCC travellers requests are accommodated by the three partners representing Southwest Germany, Black Forest Highlands and Outletcity Metzingen.

In Southwest Germany, GCC guests will explore a variety of halal restaurants offering a wide range of halal culinary options. Furthermore, GCC travellers can enjoy exclusive and private chauffeur service from SIXT.

The Black Forest Highlands offer hotels with extraordinary first-class service with a great range of spa and wellness options. Titisee, the home of the cuckoo clock, is a unique place for souvenir-shopping and German culinary highlights. An additional benefit at the Black Forest Highlands is the special red card with more than 100 attractions (leisure offers) that the guest receives for free, he stays for more than one night.

A day out at Outletcity Metzingen is about so much more than just the shopping – it is a luxury break. A variety of services ensure a seamless shopping experience. From tax-free shopping with direct tax refund on site to a childcare centre and a Muslim prayer room, Outletcity Metzingen caters to all needs of international shoppers. A variety of restaurants offer food for every taste and multilingual staff understand the guests needs.

Visitors from abroad will also be happy to hear that Metzingen is just a short distance from Stuttgart Airport. Convenient and comfortable shuttle services take visitors straight to Outletcity and nearby hotels. For a more individual and luxurious experience private transfers by limousine or helicopter can be arranged. Just two hours’ drive from Munich and Frankfurt, Metzingen is also easy to reach by car.

Q Will the three partners have joint promotions for agents, or promotion for every partner or will they offer any other programme?

The State Tourist Board of Southwest Germany offers a free online training for agents called ‘The Cuckoo Training’.  To make things easier for the agents the cuckoo training will provide them with relevant information about Southwest Germany. It combines essential facts and background information with interactive activities and unique insider knowledge. These courses are not only fun, but are also designed to increase the agents sales and commissions. Quite simply, the better informed the agents are, the better they can inform their clients (www.going-cuckoo.com).

The Black Forest Highlands encourages all GCC agents to work together with the State Tourist Board of Southwest Germany as both entities are partners in their marketing strategy. The Black Forest Highlands team is happy to answer any questions by the GCC agents about details and advises that a direct cooperation is also possible.

The VIP Shopping package is an exclusive benefit offered by Outletcity Metzingen which can be
booked with partner hotels in the region. It includes a variety of services for the clients’ individual needs, e.g. additional discounts. It will be a great add-on to any tour in Southwest Germany. An exclusive driving experience in luxury cars combines shopping in Metzingen with a tour around the Black Forest. Packages can be booked via outletcity.com. There are also direct cooperations opportunities for tour operators with Outletcity Metzingen.

The Black Forest Highlands organise incentive trips several times a year – together with the State Tourist Board of Southwest Germany and the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). With a little luck, agents will have the chance to take part in one of the trips. Individual inquiries from travel agents are always welcome too.