Best-RMG Reisen Management

What Best-RMG Reisen Management does

BEST-RMG Reisen Management AG (BEST-REISEN) is a Filderstadt-headquartered, member-owned cooperative (organized as an Aktiengesellschaft) that serves roughly 660-700 independent, owner-operated travel agencies across Germany. Founded in 1990 as an alternative to tour operator chains and franchise retail, the cooperative aggregates member purchasing power and delivers a centralized stack of technology, marketing, training, and supplier-representation services. Its core commercial proposition is that the ~700 member agencies, as shareholders, collectively generate a Sortimentsumsatz of €1.374 billion in FY 2024/25 (up 3.2% year-over-year), with a claimed €2.7M average turnover per agency — the highest leisure turnover per agency in the German market per company-issued commentary.

The cooperative's product surface centers on BEST-Connect, an intelligent CRM and marketing automation platform that combines human and artificial intelligence for personalized customer targeting and automated campaigns; BEST AERTiCKET, a flight ticket wholesaler/consolidator with access to 5.5M+ fares across 170 airlines; and the BEST FrontOffice technology package bundling Amadeus Selling Platform Connect, Sabre, IRIS.plus, SYNCCESS Mid- and BackOffice CRM, Bistro Portal, Paxlounge, and GIATA hotel data. The technology stack is augmented by a Flightpro B2C flight IBE, a NumBirds ML cross-sell module (deployed April 2025), the Camino blockchain validator node (February 2025), and a member mobile app ('Mein Reisebüro'). Beyond technology, the cooperative operates training (WeltKlasse Expertenakademie, Nachwuchs-Offensive youth program), community formats (BEST-Live talks, Taste the BEST events, Innovation Circles), and sub-brands including TUI Premium Partner (25+ year exclusive partnership) and B4C – BEST for Customer (a four-tour-operator fair cooperation label).

BEST-REISEN's revenue mechanics combine (i) commissions and volume-based rebates negotiated with 100+ tour operators and airlines based on aggregated member booking volumes, (ii) BEST AERTiCKET ticket markups with a standardized €30 service fee per flight ticket under AGB terms, and (iii) technology and service subscriptions covering BEST-Connect, BEST FrontOffice, and ancillary tools. The cooperative is profitable, having paid an 11% per-share dividend in FY 2024/25 (16.5% in FY 2023/24 including a 5.5% special dividend). Central headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, with leadership transitioning in 2026 as long-serving CCO Cornelius Meyer departs (effective June 30, 2026) following internal promotions including Lara Holtfoth (Head of Marketing & Events) and Jochen Köhler (Head of Sales & Community).

Name

Best-RMG Reisen Management

Legal name

BEST-RMG Reisen Management AG

Website

https://best-reisen.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Best-RMG Reisen Management AG is a member-owned cooperative serving roughly 700 independent German travel agencies, providing the BEST-Connect CRM and marketing automation platform, BEST AERTiCKET flight consolidator, and aggregated purchasing and supplier representation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Filderstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cooperative membership fees / commissions: BEST-REISEN generates revenue by aggregating the purchasing power of its ~660-700 member travel agencies. Member agencies collectively generate a Sortimentsumsatz (total assortment/portfolio turnover) of over €1.3 billion annually. The cooperative earns commissions and volume-based rebates from travel suppliers (tour operators, airlines, hotel groups) based on aggregated booking volumes of its members. The cooperative is shareholder-owned; revenue benefits flow back to member agencies.
2. BEST AERTiCKET Consolidator: BEST AERTiCKET, the flight ticket wholesaler/consolidator directly attached to BEST-REISEN, provides member agencies access to 5.5+ million flight tariffs across 170 airlines including net fares, published fares, tour operator fares, and ethnic fares. It earns revenue through markups on ticket prices and service fees, and saves member agencies IATA bank fees and BSP billing charges.
3. Technology and service subscriptions: Member agencies pay for technology packages (BEST FrontOffice), the BEST-Connect platform, and services provided through the cooperative's central office. The service fee for flight ticket mediation is €30 per ticket per AGB.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Best-RMG Reisen Management AG (BEST-REISEN) is a German sales cooperative (Vertriebskooperation) founded in 1990 that aggregates the purchasing power of approximately 660-700 independent, owner-operated travel agencies. It delivers member agencies a proprietary technology stack (BEST-Connect CRM and marketing automation, BEST FrontOffice with GDS systems, BEST AERTiCKET flight consolidator), marketing campaigns, professional training (WeltKlasse expert academy, Nachwuchs-Offensive youth program), and community platforms. The cooperative generates combined Sortimentsumsatz of over €1.374 billion (FY 2024/25) and earns revenue from commissions on aggregated booking volumes, service fees, and technology subscriptions.

Product overview

BEST-REISEN is a cooperative of independent, owner-operated travel agencies owning the organization itself, serving approximately 700 member travel agencies. The product portfolio centers on BEST-Connect, an intelligent CRM and marketing automation platform combining human and artificial intelligence, supplemented by BEST AERTiCKET for flight ticketing and consolidator services, the BEST FrontOffice Technikpaket for reservation system access (Amadeus, Sabre, IRIS.plus), and specialist modules such as BEST-Compass for demand analytics, BEST-Care for complaint management, and the Flightpro-Flug-IBE for online flight bookings. Additional offerings include the TUI Premium Partner distribution system and B4C sortiment label. Members also benefit from marketing services, training programs (WeltKlasse Expertenakademie), community events, and the Nachwuchs-Offensive youth development program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BEST-Connect: Intelligent CRM and marketing automation software platform for travel agencies, connecting human and artificial intelligence for customer relationship management and targeted marketing campaigns.
• BEST AERTiCKET
• BEST FrontOffice

Products and services

• BEST-Connect Intelligent marketing automation and CRM platform for member travel agencies combining human and artificial intelligence for personalized customer targeting, automated campaign management, customer segmentation, automated transactional emails, real-time offer delivery, and analytics dashboards.
• BEST AERTiCKET Flight ticket wholesale consolidator providing member agencies with access to over 5.5 million flight fares across 170 airlines including net fares, published fares, tour operator fares, and ethnic fares. Integrated with Amadeus Far Wizard, Pilot, and GDS systems.
• BEST FrontOffice Technikpaket Technical equipment package providing member agencies one-click access to reservation systems including Amadeus Selling Platform Connect (3x basic licenses), Amadeus Far Wizard, Sabre Vacations/NEO, IRIS.plus, Bistro Portal (up to 5 users), Paxlounge (up to 5 users), SYNCCESS Mid- and BackOffice CRM, and GIATA Extranet Hotel Guide.
• Flightpro-Flug-IBE B2C flight booking engine (Internet Booking Engine) integrated on member agency websites providing real-time availability for scheduled flights, GDS content, low-cost carriers, NDC content, and charter flights.
• TUI Premium Partner Exclusive travel agency sales system operated under strategic partnership with TUI Deutschland GmbH for over 25 years. Provides member agencies with enhanced support, dedicated product management, and preferential commercial terms from TUI.
• B4C – BEST for Customer Sortiment label and curated selection of four preferred tour operators (Bentour, Chamäleon, Olimar, schauinsland-reisen) operating under a 26-point fair cooperation charter designed to maximize customer benefit in the distribution relationship.

Quantifiable outcome

• €1.374 billion total Sortimentsumsatz with ~500 agencies (€2.7M per agency) — described as the highest leisure turnover per agency in Germany
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TUI Deutschland GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990BEST-REISEN and TUI Deutschland have maintained a strategic partnership for over 25 years. Together they operate the 'TUI Premium Partner' exclusive travel agency sub-system. A dedicated taskforce (14-member project team) was formed in 2025 to develop future frameworks for collaboration over an 18-month period. The partnership includes joint TUI Premium Partner owner trips, TUI Campus visits for BEST-Youngsters, co-sponsored events, and the TUI Academy charity collaboration (€20,000 donated in 2024).
• B4C – BEST for Customer (Bentour Reisen, Chamäleon, Olimar Reisen, schauinsland-reisen)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerB4C – BEST for Customer is a sortiment label created in 2020 based on a 26-point fair cooperation charter initiated by BEST-REISEN member agency owners. Four preferred tour operators (Bentour, Chamäleon, Olimar, schauinsland-reisen) operate under this label, committing to fair and transparent cooperation. Joint initiatives include the 'Krasseste Inforeise der Welt' (The Most Awesome Info Trip in the World) — a 6-day fam trip to Istanbul, Lisbon, and Marrakesch for 20 participants selected via training webinars and quiz competitions.
• nicko cruisescoreGTM or Marketing Partnernicko cruises is the main sponsor of the BEST-REISEN Nachwuchs-Offensive youth program and hosts the annual graduation cruise for BEST-Youngsters. The cruise line also sponsors online training sessions (Starter Program) with personality development trainer Frieder Kraus and hosts fam trips (e.g., nickoSPIRIT river cruise Cologne–Amsterdam–Nijmegen). The 2026 annual conference will be held aboard the VASCO DA GAMA. The partnership generated strong revenue growth for nicko cruises with BEST-REISEN agencies.
• LUXURY DREAMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in February 2026, 'The Future of Excellence' is a long-term alliance between BEST-REISEN and LUXURY DREAMS to position member agencies in the luxury and lifestyle travel market. LUXURY DREAMS provides curated access to 5-star resorts, private villas, yachts, and signature experiences, plus exclusive consortia rates. It also serves as a knowledge partner offering 'Luxury Learning Labs,' 'Inspiration Talks,' and events. Target: help every BEST-REISEN agency become a luxury travel expert.
• Allianz PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllianz Partners co-sponsors the 'Reisebüro Akademie Bootcamp' (part of the Nachwuchs-Offensive), providing short impulse sessions on travel protection topics to 25 BEST-Youngsters across three full-day training units (May–June 2026). Also a sponsor of the WeltKlasse Expertenakademie 2026.
• G AdventuresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerG Adventures partnered with BEST-REISEN for the GO BEST social media info trip format. Nine BEST-REISEN expedients traveled to Morocco (April 2026) accompanied by Dana Bauche (BEST-REISEN social media expert) and G Adventures representatives to create social media content. Two further GO BEST trips are planned for 2026: to Iceland with TrollTours and the Mekong with Lernidee Erlebnisreisen.
• Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Condor, World2MeetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIberostar Hotels & Resorts, Condor, and World2Meet partnered with BEST-REISEN's Nachwuchs-Offensive to host a 5-day info trip to Mallorca (April–May 2026) for 16 BEST-Youngsters. The trip included 13 hotel inspections across four Iberostar properties, cave visits, Alcudia old town tour, and a full island tour.
• TrollTours, Lernidee ErlebnisreisenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrollTours (Iceland) and Lernidee Erlebnisreisen (Mekong) are partners for the GO BEST 2026 inforeise program, joining G Adventures (Morocco) in offering specialized destination experiences combined with social media training for BEST-Youngsters.
• DERTOUR Group (Aldiana, Sentido)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDERTOUR Group, including hotel brands Aldiana and Sentido, is the main sponsor of the BEST-REISEN annual conference 2025 (held at Aldiana Club & Sentido Naga Bay, Egypt, with 560+ participants). The group was also represented at the 2025 annual conference with CEO Ingo Burmester and CEO Karl Pojer.
• CondorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCondor co-sponsored the Mallorca info trip (with Iberostar and World2Meet) for BEST-Youngsters and was represented at the 2025 annual conference by CEO Peter Gerber. Also airline partner for the BEST AERTiCKET consolidator.
• TUI Care FoundationminorOthersBEST-REISEN collaborates with the TUI Care Foundation on social impact projects. At the 2024 annual conference, €20,000 was raised via lottery for the TUI Academy program (youth vocational training in tourism in developing countries). The TUI Academy Zanzibar was visited by BEST-REISEN TUI Premium Partner owners during a fam trip in March 2025.
• XSP Marketing und Kommunikation GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerXSP Marketing und Kommunikation GmbH (Beate Zwermann) serves as BEST-REISEN's external press and communications agency, handling media relations, press releases, and press inquiries.
• byDistinctionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerbyDistinction, an agency specializing in exclusive travel property representation, partnered with BEST-REISEN to host a luxury fam trip to Crete (May 2025) at the Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa for five member agency partners, strengthening luxury travel sales expertise.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schmetterling International: Schmetterling is a German travel agency cooperative/network offering independent agencies consolidated purchasing, technology, and distribution. Directly comparable as another cooperation model competing for the same inhabergeführte Reisebüros in Germany.
• RTK Reisebürokooperation: RTK is one of Germany's largest travel agency cooperations, providing independent agencies with commercial terms, technology, and marketing support. Directly comparable to BEST-REISEN as a competing cooperation/buying group targeting the same German independent travel agency channel.
• Lufthansa City Center: German travel agency network/franchise system serving independent owner-operated agencies with aggregated purchasing power, GDS access, and marketing services — structurally analogous to BEST-REISEN's cooperative model and a direct competitor for the same inhabergeführte agency segment.
• AERTiCKET: Independent flight consolidator (AERTiCKET Flugservices GmbH), distinct from BEST-REISEN's subsidiary BEST AERTiCKET. Directly competes in flight wholesale/consolidation for the same German travel agency customers, offering similar multi-airline fare access.

Others

• Sabre Corporation: GDS provider whose Sabre Vacations/NEO is bundled in BEST-REISEN's technology package for member agencies. Functions as a technology/infrastructure partner within the cooperative's distribution stack.
• Travelport: Global GDS provider competing for the same travel agency distribution technology contracts as Amadeus and Sabre. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but its commercial terms shape BEST-REISEN's technology economics.
• Schauinsland-Reisen: One of the four B4C (BEST for Customer) preferred tour-operator partners of BEST-REISEN and a key sortiment contributor. Adjacent participant in the same German leisure distribution ecosystem; not a direct competitor but tightly coupled commercially.
• Amadeus IT Group: Global GDS provider whose Amadeus Selling Platform, Amadeus Far Wizard, and NDC content are bundled into BEST-REISEN's BEST FrontOffice and BEST AERTiCKET offerings. Critical upstream technology enabler and ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• TUI Deutschland: TUI Deutschland is both BEST-REISEN's deepest 25-year strategic partner (TUI Premium Partner) and a broader competitor — operating its own tour operator business, retail shops, and direct booking channels that overlap with BEST-REISEN's member agencies' offerings.
• DER Deutsches Reisebüro (DER Touristik): Part of REWE Group, DER Touristik operates a large retail travel agency chain alongside tour operator brands. Competes with BEST-REISEN's member agencies for end consumers, but as a much larger vertically integrated incumbent rather than a cooperation model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BestReisen1990
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/best-rmg-reisen-management-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/best_reisen
• TikToktiktok.com/@bestreisenzentrale

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Best-RMG Reisen Management