MairDumont

What MairDumont does

MairDumont GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German travel media company headquartered in Ostfildern (near Stuttgart), founded in 1948 and controlled by the Mair family. Operating as 'Das Haus der großen Marken' (the house of great brands), it owns and distributes a multi-brand portfolio of travel publishing properties including Baedeker (since 1827), MARCO POLO, DUMONT Reise, Lonely Planet, KOMPASS, Falk, ADAC Kartografie, Stefan Loose, VARTA-Führer, Escapio, and Kunth, alongside acquired subsidiaries Die Gestalten Verlag and teNeues. Its product surface spans print (travel guides, atlases, hiking and cycling maps, image books, travel literature, magazines), digital (e-books in EPUB/Mobi/PDF, online travel portals, mobile apps with GPS and live tracking for outdoor tours), and marketplace services (Escapio's curated luxury hotel portal aggregating 40+ booking sites).

The core technology stack rests on a digital publishing platform with e-book conversion across formats, GPS-enabled mobile navigation apps (KOMPASS-Karten Touren-App, Falk Map App), travel portals with integrated weather and climate data, and a GeodatenManagement division for spatial data and cartographic production. KOMPASS maintains approximately 1,000 titles including 700 hiking, cycling, and ski-tour maps in 1:25,000-1:50,000 scales. MairDumont makes money through a combination of one-time print and digital product sales, transaction-fee-based publishing distribution services to third-party publishers (DK, Ravensburger, Random House, Bonnier, Gruner + Jahr, Jonglez, and as of 2026 Rother Bergverlag, Michael Müller Verlag, Trescher Verlag), marketplace commissions through Escapio hotel referrals, and licensing of print and digital rights. GTM motion is a hybrid of channel-partner distribution, event-driven promotion (book fairs, author readings), and marketplace listing, with an 'alles aus einer Hand' logistics principle covering Germany directly and Austria and Switzerland through regional partners.

MairDumont serves two principal customer sets: end consumers (individual travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, luxury hotel seekers) via retail, e-commerce, and travel portals, and B2B publishing partners via integrated distribution. Since 2015 it has pursued an aggressive roll-up strategy under MAIRDUMONT VENTURES and direct subsidiaries, completing acquisitions of TripsByTips (2015), TOURIAS Mobile (2017), Kunth Verlagsgruppe (2017), greatcontent AG (2018), Die Gestalten Verlag (re-engaged 2017), teNeues (2024), and the freytag & berndt cartography division (2025), the latter through Kompass Karten GmbH creating what the company positions as the world's largest cartography publisher.

Name

MairDumont

Legal name

MAIRDUMONT GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://mairdumont.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

MairDumont is a German privately held travel media company, founded in 1948 and headquartered in Ostfildern, operating a multi-brand portfolio of travel guides, maps, atlases, and digital travel platforms across the DACH region, with integrated distribution services for third-party publishers and an Escapio hotel marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Publishing

NAICS

Travel Agencies (56151)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Supplier Content, Contracting & Rate Management (RFP, Negotiated Rates) (THALAGAH)

Keywords

• Travel publishing
• Travel guide books
• Cartographic maps
• Outdoor navigation
• Travel media

Headquarters

HQ city

Ostfildern

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Book and Guide Publishing: Sale of travel guides, atlases, map materials, image books, travel literature, and outdoor products through major brands including MARCO POLO, Baedeker, DUMONT, KOMPASS, Lonely Planet, Falk, ADAC Kartografie, VARTA-Führer, Stefan Loose, and Kunth.
2. Escapio Hotel Portal: Online hotel portal with hand-curated selection of 6,000 unique luxury, boutique, and design hotels. Compares real-time prices from 40+ booking sites and earns commission on referred bookings. Savings of up to 70% for users.
3. Distribution Services: Distribution services for publishing partners including DK, Ravensburger, Random House, Bonnier, Gruner + Jahr, Jonglez, and newly Rother Bergverlag, Michael Müller Verlag, Trescher Verlag. One order, one delivery, one invoice model.
4. Digital Products: E-books in EPUB, Mobi, PDF formats; mobile apps including KOMPASS-Karten Touren-App, Falk Map App, Marco Polo Touren App, Marco Polo Reiseplaner App, Kompass App; online travel portals.
5. Licensing and Rights: Licensing business for print and digital products, including brand licensing and international sales of publishing content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MairDumont is a leading European travel media company that publishes and distributes travel guides, atlases, maps, and outdoor cartography across multiple heritage brands including MARCO POLO, Baedeker, DUMONT Reise, KOMPASS, Lonely Planet, Falk, ADAC Kartografie, and Stefan Loose. The company operates across print, digital, and mobile formats, and also runs the Escapio hotel marketplace and provides B2B publishing distribution services across the DACH region.

Product overview

MAIRDUMONT is a leading European travel media company positioned as 'Das Haus der großen Marken' (The House of Great Brands) with a multi-brand portfolio strategy. The company offers a comprehensive media spectrum spanning print, online, and mobile channels. The product portfolio is organized into sub-brands (MARCO POLO, Baedeker, DUMONT Reise with multiple series, KOMPASS, ADAC Kartografie, Falk, Lonely Planet, Stefan Loose, VARTA-Führer, Escapio) and product categories (Reiseführer, Reiseliteratur, Bildbände, Atlanten, Kartenmaterial, Magazin, Outdoor, E-Books, Reiseportale, Mobile Apps). Core offerings include travel guides in various formats (traditional, smart/spiral-bound, digital/e-books), cartographic products (hiking/cycling/ski maps in 1:25,000-1:50,000 scales with GPS coordinates), travel magazines (DuMont Bildatlas), outdoor products with digital apps, travel portals, and B2B solutions. The company operates business divisions for geodata management, image archives, licensing, media, and business solutions, with MD Ventures as a venture capital subsidiary focused on travel technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MARCO POLO: Compact travel guides with innovative services and insider tips
• DUMONT Reise
• BAEDEKER
• KOMPASS
• ADAC Kartografie
• Falk
• Lonely Planet
• STEFAN LOOSE Travel-Handbücher
• Escapio
• Kunth Verlag
• VARTA-Führer
• Holidu
• Journi
• MD Ventures

Products and services

• Baedeker Travel Guides Traditional travel guides offering comprehensive A-to-Z destination information with infographics, fold-out 3D illustrations, themes, background, and current tips, available in formats including the spiral-bound Baedeker Smart edition. Targeted at travelers seeking detailed, authoritative destination content.
• MARCO POLO Travel Guides Compact travel guides featuring innovative services and insider tips, including city guides, outdoor guides, and language guides for travelers seeking practical, portable content.
• DUMONT Reise Travel Guides Travel guides published across multiple series including DuMont Direkt (compact city guides), DuMont Bildatlas, DuMont Reise-Handbuch, DuMont Reise-Taschenbuch, DuMont Reiseabenteuer (adventure travel), DuMont Eskapaden, and DuMont True Tales, for travelers with diverse interests.
• KOMPASS Outdoor Maps and Hiking Guides Outdoor and cartography brand with approximately 1,000 titles including 700 hiking, cycling, and ski tour maps at scales 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 with GPS navigation coordinates and weather-resistant printing.
• Lonely Planet Travel Guides International travel guides for independent travelers, backpackers, and cultural explorers, including phrasebooks and image books. Licensed brand offering for German-speaking markets.
• ADAC Kartografie Maps Mapping products published under the ADAC brand including maps and atlases for motorists and travelers in the German market.
• Falk Route Planning and Navigation Maps Route planning and navigation products including the Falk.de portal and Falk Map App for travel planning and route calculation.
• Stefan Loose Travel Handbooks Travel handbooks aimed at responsible, independent travelers exploring destinations on their own paths.
• VARTA-Führer Restaurant and Hotel Guides Restaurant and hotel guide brand offering curated recommendations for travelers seeking dining and accommodation options.
• Escapio Hotel Booking Portal Online hotel marketplace offering a hand-picked selection of 6,000 unique luxury, boutique, and design hotels worldwide. Compares real-time prices from 40+ booking sites with savings up to 70% and earns commission on referred bookings.
• KOMPASS-Karten Touren-App Mobile outdoor navigation app featuring integrated live-tracking for hiking, cycling, and ski tours using GPS-enabled maps with coordinate grids across multiple European regions.
• E-Book Travel Guides Digital versions of travel guides available in EPUB, Mobi, and PDF formats for e-readers, tablets, smartphones, and PCs, featuring offline maps, Google Maps integration for online route planning, and keyword search across content.
• Travel Portals (marcopolo.de, dumontreise.de, lonelyplanet.de, stefan-loose.de) Online travel portals providing destination content, maps, weather, climate tables, current local times, and planning tools for travelers across multiple MairDumont brand properties.
• Kunth Image Books and Calendars High-quality illustrated travel books, image volumes, and calendars from the Kunth Verlag subsidiary, including DuMont Bildatlas image books.
• DuMont Bildatlas Travel Magazine Monthly large-format travel magazine featuring high-quality images, background information, and key attractions overview for popular destinations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Savings of up to 70% on hotel bookings through Escapio price comparison
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rother BergverlagcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 November 2025Market leader for hiking guides will be distributed by MairDumont starting January 1, 2026. Previously distributed via GRÄFE UND UNZER (GU). The partnership underscores trust in MairDumont's long-standing experience and strong market presence in travel, outdoor, and leisure.
• Michael Müller VerlagcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 November 2025No. 1 in individual travel guides segment will be distributed by MairDumont starting January 1, 2026. Previously distributed via GU. The partnership strengthens MairDumont's position as the leading distribution house for travel content.
• Trescher VerlagcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 November 2025Known for high-quality individual travel guides and expert in unusual destinations will be distributed by MairDumont starting January 1, 2026. Previously distributed via GU.
• Bielefelder VerlagsanstaltminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 October 2025Bicycle map program was integrated in summer 2025, expanding MairDumont's cartographic offerings.
• Freytag & BerndtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025MairDumont acquired the cartography division of the traditional Viennese company Freytag & Berndt through its subsidiary Kompass Karten GmbH in October 2025. Combined with KOMPASS, this creates the world's largest cartography publisher.
• teNeuescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024MairDumont subsidiary Die Gestalten Verlag acquired teNeues image book publisher. All approximately 20 employees were transferred. teNeues publishes high-quality illustrated books and calendars.
• inzumiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 July 2021Content marketing partnership for individualized and personalized travel guides under the MARCO POLO brand. inzumi provides online technology for automated multimedia guide generation for tourism businesses.
• Die Gestalten VerlagcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2017Strategic partnership formed after Gestalten completed restructuring in self-administration. MairDumont became strategic partner as of May 1, 2017. Gestalten was subsequently fully acquired and is now a MairDumont subsidiary.
• TOURIAS MobilecoreTechnology or Integration · 27 January 2017Würzburg-based specialists in mobile travel guides, travel companions, and CRM tools. Acquired by MairDumont as of January 1, 2017. MairDumont Ventures had initially invested in TOURIAS in 2015.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fodor's Travel: Long-established American travel guide publisher producing Fodor's guides and digital travel content — direct competitor for English-speaking leisure travelers with similar mid-market positioning to MARCO POLO.
• Rough Guides: UK-based travel guide publisher producing Rough Guides and Make My Day digital content — competing for independent and adventurous travelers in the same guidebook category with similar editorial depth and price positioning to MARCO POLO and Stefan Loose.
• Lonely Planet: Global travel guide publisher (now owned by NC2 Media) producing travel guides, phrasebooks, and image books for independent travelers. Direct competitor in the same product category; MairDumont actually holds the German-territory license for Lonely Planet, making it simultaneously a peer and licensee.
• Frommer's: American travel guide publisher (now under Frommer Media LLC) producing budget-to-mid-range travel guides — competing for value-conscious independent travelers with overlapping product positioning to MARCO POLO and DUMONT Direkt.
• Apa Publications (Insight Guides / Insight Vacations): Singapore-based publisher of Insight Guides, Insight Compact Guides, and Berlitz travel guides — direct competitor in illustrated and cultural travel guides with overlapping target audience of culturally curious independent travelers.

Emerging players

• Bradt Travel Guides: Independent UK-based travel guide publisher specializing in 'unusual' destinations — comparable niche positioning to Trescher Verlag and Stefan Loose for off-the-beaten-path travel guides, though at smaller scale.
• Moon Travel Guides (Avalon Travel): US-based travel guide publisher (part of Avalon Travel/Hachette) targeting independent and outdoor travelers — comparable positioning to MARCO POLO Outdoor and KOMPASS for experiential travel content.

Broad incumbents

• Michelin Travel Publications: Travel guide division of the Michelin Group producing the Michelin Guide, Green Guide, and digital travel content — broader incumbent with restaurant/hotel evaluation heritage and significant B2C brand value in travel content.
• Dorling Kindersley (DK Travel, Penguin Random House): Illustrated travel guide publisher (DK Eyewitness, Top 10, Road Trips) under Penguin Random House — competing in the visual travel-guide category alongside Baedeker, with the backing of a global trade publishing conglomerate.
• National Geographic Travel (Disney): Travel media brand under National Geographic Partners (Disney majority-owned) — competing with MairDumont's illustrated travel books (DuMont Bildatlas, Lonely Planet Bildbände) and travel portal content with strong visual storytelling.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company-beta/1100487
• Facebookfacebook.com/marcopolo.online
• Instagraminstagram.com/mairdumont
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mairdumont
• Xx.com/md_media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MairDumont