The Quality Summit – Revenue through Excellence, is the title of the upcoming „Day of Coach Tourism“ on 12th January 2026, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. With high-profile keynote speakers we will explore the success factors of quality leadership in a breathtaking setting – thematically, content-wise, geographically, and semantically. The conference aims to achieve a quality summit and what better location than at the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain peak, one of the highlights of the 43rd edition of this industry forum.
Is quality worth it? In marketing, it’s considered the „best return on investment.“ Made in Germany relies on this – especially in tourism, as the global marketing efforts of the German National Tourist Board emphasise. Within Germany, quality is just as sought after as scarce service staff.
Incoming, Study tours, Destinations and climate friendly mobility are the focus of the industry forum.
Study tours are a model for high-quality cultural and round-trip tours. Guido Wiegand, Head of Marketing at Studiosus, the largest study tour operator, and Chairman of FUR ReiseAnalyse, knows how to translate market research findings into commercial success. These are important benchmarks, especially for coach operators that want to achiece success with less premium options in group tourism, as well as in the special interest group and coach hire business.
Petra Hedorfer, Chair of the German National Tourist Board, highlights growth opportunities in international marketing. How can coach tourism tap into this to benefit from the dollar, yen, and yuan? This is one of the exciting questions covered in this debate. Coach operators set standards for quality in tourism and transport, a statement that Christiane Leonard, Managing Director of the bdo – Federal Association of German Coach Companies (bdo), supports. Spectacular destinations motivate group travel. Walter Rutz, Managing Director of GaPa Tourismus GmbH, host of the „Day of Coach Tourism,“ presents Garmisch-Partenkirchen as a best-practice high-quality destination.
Quality contributions will be provided by Vincent Dewaele, General Manager of BUSWORLD, on the latest bus technology and international perspectives by Jay Munro-Michell, Head of Buyer Network & Senior Manager Central Europe of ETOA European Tourism Association, as well as other international trade visitors.
The „Day of Coach Tourism“ offer the tourism sector opportunities to get involved, as stakeholders address questions and contributions from the plenary session.
Dieter Gauf, creator of the „Day of Coach Tourism,“ offers four keynote speeches and quality features for this quality summit and the kickoff of a new season: „Other key members of the coach tourism value chain have already announced their contributions to the discussion, such as cultural and group tour operators, tour guides and tour operators as the core of quality, customer organizations, research and teaching—as well as from events and destinations where coaches do not always have the right of way.“
„The conference format ‚Topics – Theses – Challenges‘ provides a platform for critical contributions. Suggestions can be submitted in advance by email.“ (Original quote from Wolfgang Gauf, co-organizer of the „Day of Coach Tourism“).
Participation in the „Day of Coach Tourism,“ including the high-quality tourism program the day before, is free of charge for professionals: Excursion through the Partnach Gorge with a guided tour of the ski jumps (weather permitting), lunch and a guided tour of the town, as well as the evening get-together. The industry forum offers a wide range of opportunities for networking and personal exchange with colleagues.
Inbound tourism, study tours, destinations, and climate-friendly mobility: four quality ingredients for tourism’s recipe for success. Expert statements, interaction with the plenary, and networking at the 2026 Industry Kick-off.
The „Day of Coach Tourism“ on Monday 12th January 2026, at the Congress Center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Starts at 10:00 a.m. through to approximately 2:30 p.m. Following this GaPa invites you to a late lunch and collegial discussions.
Tourism Program: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Registration and information: www.tag-der-bustouristik.de
Please send advance discussion contributions to: organisation@tag-der-bustouristik.de
The attached invitation program flyer provides information.