The AER Annual Conference 2023 marked a new beginning after two years of planning under pandemic conditions. Held in Amsterdam, this event for the Alliance of Independent Travel Agencies (AER) brought together 500 travel agencies and 400 specialized tour operators, with a large portion focused on sustainable travel.

About AER

AER is an alliance of 500 travel agencies and 400 specialized tour operators, many of whom focus on sustainable travel. The AER Cooperation AG manages all commercial offerings on behalf of AER e.V. (registered association). The annual conference plays a key role in AER’s broader strategy: strengthening its members, fostering ongoing education, and collectively developing innovative solutions for current and future challenges.

To bring this strategy to life, embedding the association’s member meeting within a creative and dynamic event format requires thoughtful planning. The event was able to strike the right balance between formal structure and an inspiring atmosphere—ensuring delegates leave both well-informed and highly engaged.

Event Goals & Planning Considerations

After planning under pandemic conditions for two years, the Annual Conference 2023 was designed to mark a fresh start. AER aimed to strengthen the industry and create an inspiring event for its members.

The focus was on addressing current tourism challenges and providing targeted training for participants. AER wanted to create a strong network and encourage exchange between members and partners, moving away from competitive thinking toward a community of learning and sharing.

The event was designed as flexibly as possible, enabling active participation and exchange. The varying needs of all participants were considered to create an atmosphere where everyone could develop and gain new impulses. The member meeting needed to be seamlessly and appealingly integrated into the conference.