DRV elections: Benjamin Bindewald runs for president

Benjamin Bindewald decided to run for the position of DRV President just a few days ago. The 40-year-old travel agency owner and tour operator wants to breathe new life into the industry and is confident in his ability to implement change. He is focusing on digitalization. He believes too much has been neglected in this area in recent years. It's time to wake up from our deep sleep, he says in an interview with touristik aktuell.

Mr. Bindewald, when did you decide to run for office? The idea came spontaneously—but the desire to make a difference in the industry has been with me for a long time. I absolutely want to make a difference in the tourism industry. And I believe I can achieve that.

So you haven't considered running for office before? To be honest, I only had the idea three days ago while I was stuck in traffic on the highway. My gut and my common sense tell me that now is the time for something new. And I trust myself to implement change.

You'll be working with many seasoned tourism experts who have been in the industry for many years. Implementing change won't be easy. Of course, I respect that. But I also have a major advantage: I see many opportunities that we often overlook today—precisely because I come with a fresh perspective from practice. I see the opportunities we have that others no longer see.

For example? The most important topic is probably digitalization. During the coronavirus pandemic, I worked in online marketing and saw what's possible. Our industry missed this development. Now it's time to end our slumber and follow other industries that are much further ahead than us.

What does that mean in concrete terms? Let's take a look at social media. It's intangible for many, yet has become essential. Many travel agencies don't even have a social media channel. That's unbelievable. We work in the most beautiful places in the world. We have to play to this ace and utilize it. And that's only possible with authentic content, experience, and visibility.

The DRV doesn't just represent travel agencies, which you're currently championing. Do you feel confident representing the entire industry? Yes, of course. Travel agencies are the foundation, so we should start there. If there are no more travel agencies, the industry will have a huge problem. There are a lot of people who don't want to book online and feel unsafe. But I'm also an event organizer and am perfectly placed to build bridges between all the service providers. We all have to pull together and represent the industry externally with a strong voice. This has been a problem so far, unfortunately.

You're placing a strong emphasis on digitalization. What other topics do you have on your agenda? The focus is on digitalization, which must be advanced, especially given the shortage of skilled workers. Many people think tourism is great, but prefer other jobs because they pay more. We have to change that. And we can do that by becoming more visible and attractive. Those who are visible today get booked. Visibility is crucial – not just for reach, but also for trust.

What other topics are important? I want to modernize the association's work, for example, through monthly DRV town halls. There could be monthly meetings that people can attend virtually. Everyone should receive regular updates—what's new, how can we improve? Everyone should be able to submit suggestions. This option already exists, but it's used far too little. The goal is to make the work as transparent as possible and to involve everyone so that we can act as a strong association.

Do you have another focus area? As I already mentioned, increasing the attractiveness of the industry is very important to me. We need to polish up the tourism industry's dusty image. I'm thinking of support programs and benefit platforms for trainees. Or an initiative for returning professionals. Many skilled workers left the industry during the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of potential and know-how was lost, and we need to bring it back.

You're a travel agency owner, tour operator, and content creator. What would you do if you were elected? I would definitely not give up my business. Of course, it's a lot of work, but you can manage everything.

The office of DRV President also involves many official engagements. Do you feel confident traveling to Brussels and Berlin? I'm not afraid. On the contrary, I'm looking forward to it. I've been self-employed for many years and have always been a doer. I'm not afraid of talking to prominent figures or being on stage.

What do you think your chances are? I hope I win—to bring a breath of fresh air to the association and implement my ideas. I'm convinced that I'll be elected if they recognize my added value. We now have the opportunity to make an association fit for the future with new impulses and fresh ideas. It's time for new paths. For courage. And for an association that engages everyone—from the high street to the corporate board.

Benjamin Bindewald

The 40-year-old has been working in the tourism industry since 2005. After training as a tourism management assistant, he started working at a Thomas Cook travel agency in 2012 and built a travel blog on Facebook. His immense success caught the attention of Thomas Cook's management. Bindewald joined the company's social media team and was assigned the "Boarding with Benny" format.

After Thomas Cook's insolvency, Bindewald started his own business, "Besser urlauben." He created content for his own clients and launched his own tours. In 2024, he opened a travel agency.

Benjamin Bindewald will compete against VUSR CEO Marija Linnhoff and Alpha Managing Director Albin Loidl on October 10 in Berlin.

In the course of the DRV elections, 15 positions will be filled. Numerous tourism experts have applied.

Ute Fiedler