RDA Annual Conference 2023
24th - 26th October 2023
in Krakow
This year's RDA Annual Conference will be held in Krakow from October 24th to 26th in cooperation with the Polish Tourism Organisation.
Demographic change will cause the potential customer group of coach and group tourism to grow in the coming decades - that is good news! On the other hand, the aging of society will further aggravate the shortage of skilled workers. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) could help conserve human resources - but how is AI used properly? The possible use of regenerative fuels (reFuels) in coaches will also be interesting, with the aim of being able to meet both the agreed climate protection targets and the mobility needs of the coach industry in the future - without changing drive systems.
In addition, we look at our host country Poland, one of the most important destinations for coach and group tourism in Europe. Look forward to an interesting programme with historical, cultural and culinary highlights in Krakow, a modern, open and young city that will inspire you!
Programmme for download
Registration
To register for the RDA Annual Conference 2023 please use the
Please note that we charge a conference fee of 245.00 € plus VAT per person (price for RDA members: 195.00 € plus VAT).
The conference fee includes:
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RDA Warm-Up at Restaurant Stara Zajezdnia, incl. food and drinks
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Participation in the conference programme at CKF_13, incl. coffee break and conference drinks
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Lunch, incl. drinks
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RDA Evening at Crystal Palace, incl. food & drinks
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Touristic excursion programme
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all bus transfers
Participation in the RDA Annual General Meeting, which takes place during the RDA Annual Conference, is only permitted for RDA members.
Conference venue
The Conference on 25th October 2023 will be held in the modern conference centre CKF_13 Fabryczna.
The conference centre CKF_13 is located at Fabryczna Street 13, in the historical part of the multifunctional Fabryczna City complex, located on the site of the former Polmos vodka distillery, in a wellconnected part of Krakow.
The Mercure Krakow Fabryczna City conference hotel is located directly next to the CKF_13. The Ibis Styles Krakow Centrum is within walking distance (1.1 km) from the conference venue. There will be a transfer offered from the ibis Krakow Centrum and Novotel Krakow Centrum to the conference venue.
Conference hotels
Hotel | Price per night/SR | Price per night/DR | Booking |
Mercure Krakow Fabryczna City | 490.00 PLN* (approx. 110.00 €) | 570.00 PLN* (approx. 129.00 €) | |
Ibis Styles Krakow Centrum *** | 300.00 PLN* (approx. 68.00 €) | 340.00 PLN* (approx. 77.00 €) | via e-mail to HB579-RE@ACCOR.COM |
ibis Krakow Centrum | 370.00 PLN* (approx. 84.00 €) | 410.00 PLN* (approx. 93.00 €) | via e-mail to h3372-re@accor.com |
Novotel Krakow Centrum **** | 510.00 PLN* (approx. 115.00 €) | 560.00 PLN* (approx. 126.00 €) | via e-mail to h3372-re@accor.com |
* In case of last-minute bookings, the indicated contingent prices may no longer be available. Therefore, we kindly ask you to book your hotel room as soon as possible.
Please note that the RDA will not be able to make any hotel reservation for you.
There will be a transfer offered from ibis Krakow Centrum and Novotel Krakow Centrum to the conference centre CKF_13.
Arrival
By car
The distance from Berlin to Krakow is about 600 km.
By train
Krakow‘s main train station is centrally located in the city centre. There is a direct Eurocity connection from Berlin Gesundbrunnen (via Berlin-Lichtenberg and Frankfurt/Oder) to Krakow. It is also possible to travel by train from Vienna without changing trains.
By plane
Kraków Airport (KRK), known as Saint John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice, is Kraków‘s international airport and is located just 11 kilometres from the city centre.
Eurowings offers flights to Kraków from the following airports:
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Berlin Brandenburg (1 Stopp)
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Dresden (1 Stopp)
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Dusseldorf (Direktflug)
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Hamburg (1 Stopp)
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Munich (1 Stopp)
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Stuttgart (Direktflug)
Ryanair flies non-stop to Krakow from the airports:
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Berlin Brandenburg
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Dortmund
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Memmingen
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Nuremberg
Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines as well as LOT Polish Airlines offer direct flights to Krakow from
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Frankfurt
Programme of the RDA Annual Conference 2023 in Krakow
24th October 2023 – Pre-evening programme

- from 7.00 p.m.
RDA Warm-Up at Restaurant Stara Zajezdnia
At the RDA Warm-Up in the Tram Restaurant Stara Zajezdnia, a historic site in the heart of Krakow‘s Kazimierz district, we will already set the mood for the RDA Annual Conference. A buffet with Polish specialties as well as a selection of self-brewed beers or other (also non-alcoholic) drinks will ensure everyone‘s physical well-being.
25th October 2023 – Conference programme at CKF_1

- from 9.00 a.m.
Admittance & Registration for the RDA Annual General Meeting - 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
RDA Annual General Meeting (for members only) - 12.00 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.
Lunch & Networking - 1.30 p.m. – 5.15 p.m.
Conference programme - 5.15 p.m.
End of the conference programme
25th October 2023 – Conference programme (in German)

- Host:
Thorsten Wagner
Thorsten Wagner, who has been at home in the coach trade press since 2002, is regarded as a renowned expert in the coach sector. The editor-in-chief of the trade magazine „Bus Blickpunkt“ and author of specialist books has a particular affinity for technical developments in coaches, which he also drives himself for test drives.
- 1.30 p.m.
Welcoming address
Rafał Szmytke, President of the Polish Tourism Organisation
Rafał Szmytke has been with the Polish Tourism Organisation since 2001, serving as its president since 2008. Previously, he was Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of the Polish Tourism Development Agency and the Centre for Tourism Education, while also acting as plenipotentiary of the Minister of the State Treasury at the Institute of Tourism.
- 1.50 p.m.
Demographic change: Causes – consequences – adjustment opportunities
Dr. Reiner Klingholz, Expert on demography and director of the Berlin Institute (2003–2019)
Reiner Klingholz is one of Germany‘s most distinguished demographic and development experts. From 2003 to 2019, he was director of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development, and from 2009 to 2019, he was also on its executive board. The demography expert has received numerous awards for his work focusing on climate change and demographic development.
- 2.40 p.m.
Artificial intelligence: The right use is a great opportunity for tourism businesses to remain competitive in difficult times such as staff shortages, inflation or crises like COVID-19
Prof. Dr. Wolfram Höpken, Professor for Business Informatics at the University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten and director of the Institute for Digital Transformation and LAB4DTE (LAB for Digital Transformation & Entrepreneurship)
His main research fields are data science, data mining and big data analytics as well as ICT systems in tourism. Previously, he was head of an eTourism research center in Innsbruck and worked at Amadeus Germany for over 10 years. - 3.15 p.m.
Coffee break
- 3.45 p.m.
Renewable fuels: Without them, we will miss the Paris Agreement targets and will not be able to tap the potential for greenhouse gas reduction in coach tourism in time
Dr.-Ing. Olaf Toedter, Head of New Technologies and Ignition Systems at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Dr.-Ing. Olaf Toedter is, among other things, project leader of „reFuels - rethinking fuels“ and the innovation platform InnoFuels of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport as well as part of the research group management Vehicles and Environment in the profile region Mobility Systems Karlsruhe and expert advisor of various international conferences. - 4.30 p.m.
Open discussion on the topic of reFuels
- 4.50 p.m.
Poland: Safe coach travel destination
Konrad Guldon, Director of the Polish Tourism Organisation in Germany
Konrad Guldon works for the Polish Tourism Organisation, where he took over the position as Director of the Polish Tourism Office in Berlin in 2019. A native of Szczecin, he is married and has 3 children. - 5.15 p.m.
End of the conference programme
25th October 2023 – Evening programme

- from 7.00 p.m.
RDA Evening at Crystal Palace
On the evening of the conference, we head to the Crystal Palace, which is located directly in the heart of Krakow‘s Old Town. Enjoy the view of the Krakow Cloth Hall and St. Mary‘s Basilica in a relaxed atmosphere while casually exchanging ideas with partners and colleagues. An exclusive buffet and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks complete the evening‘s culinary experience.
26th October 2023 – Excursion programme (three options available)


© Przemek Czaja
Option 1: "Wieliczka" Salt Mine & Old Town of Krakow
- 9.00 a.m.
Departure at the Hotel MERCURE Fabryczna and transfer to Wieliczka - 10.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.
The "Wieliczka" Salt Mine
Guided tour (in German) of the salt mine. During the tour, there will be a light lunch in the underground restaurant 125 m below ground. - 1.00 p.m.
Transfer to Krakow - 1.30 p.m.
Guided tour of the Old Town
Wawel Hill, Royal Route, Main Market Square (Cloth Hall) - 4.00 p.m.
Transfer back to the hotel - 4.30 p.m.
Arrival at the Hotel MERCURE Fabryczna - from 7.00 p.m.
Joint dinner for participants staying in Krakow until the next day (on a self-pay basis)

© Przemek Czaja

© Przemek Czaja
Option 2: Old Town of Krakow & Jewish District Kazimierz
- 9.00 a.m.
Departure at the Hotel MERCURE Fabryczna and transfer to the city centre of Krakow - 9.45 a.m.
Guided tour of the Old Town
Wawel Hill, Royal Route, Main Market Square (Cloth Hall) - 1.45 p.m.
Transfer to Kazimierz (Jewish District)) - 2.00 p.m. - 3.45 p.m.
Guided Tour of Kazimierz (historic Jewish District)
a.o.: Plac Nowy, Szeroka Street, Remuh Synagogue, Old Jewish Cemetery - 4.00 p.m.
Transfer back to the hotel - 4.30 p.m.
Arrival at the Hotel MERCURE Fabryczna - from 7.00 p.m.
Joint dinner for participants staying in Krakow until the next day (on a self-pay basis)


Option 3: From Krakow to the Polish Tatra Mountains (return to Krakow on 27.10.2023)
Note: This option includes an additional overnight stay
26.10.2023
- 9.00 a.m.
Check-out and departure at the Hotel MERCURE Fabryczna
Transfer to Zakopane - 12.00 p.m.
Ride on the Kasprowy Wierch cable car
From the Zakopan district of Kuźnice to the top of Kasprowy Wierch (depending on the weather). - 1.00 p.m.
Lunch on the Krupówkach, the promenade in Zakopane - 2.30 p.m.
Time at free disposal - 4.00 p.m.
Transfer to Bukowina Tatrzańska
The place is known for winter sports, hiking in the High Tatras as well as the thermal spa Bukovina. - 8.00 p.m.
Dinner and overnight stay at the 4-star Hotel Bukovina
27.10.2023
- approx. 10.00 a.m.
Return journey to Krakow
Impressions of Krakow









Temporary programme
24th October 2023
- arrival
- from approx. 6.30/7.00 p.m.: Pre-evening programme/get-together
25th October 2023
- in the morning: RDA General Meeting
- in the afternoon: Conference programme
- in the evening: RDA Evening event
26th October 2023
- touristic programme

Contact person
Kathrin Aufderheide
Marketing & International Affairs
+49 (0)221 912772-21
kathrin.aufderheide@rda.de