RDA Annual Conference 2023

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• 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.

• 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)

• 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)

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