Das Bergische

What Das Bergische does

Das Bergische GmbH is the official regional destination marketing organization (DMO) for the Bergisches Land in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Operating from its headquarters at Bergisches Haus in Bergisch Gladbach, the organization promotes outdoor recreation (hiking, cycling, water sports across 12 regional dams), wellness offerings, accommodations, dining experiences, and group travel packages to leisure tourists, families, and event organizers visiting the four-district Bergisches Land region.

The company's core product is an integrated digital tourism platform centered on dasbergische.de, supported by the Erlebnisapp Das Bergische mobile application for location-based visitor information. The platform's underlying technology stack is assembled from third-party providers rather than proprietary in-house systems: neusta destination.one handles website development, Microsoft provides cloud infrastructure and Teams for internal collaboration, Google supplies analytics, OpenStreetMap powers interactive mapping, Komoot enables route sharing, and mailingwork manages email distribution. Core product features include an online accommodation booking system with date and guest-count selection, an interactive map of hiking/cycling routes and points of interest, a regional event calendar, and curated activity programs such as Bergisches Wanderland (hiking) and Bergische Radwoche (annual cycling week). No public API, SDK, or proprietary AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Das Bergische operates as a public-private partnership (GmbH) owned by four stakeholders: three district governments (Oberbergischer Kreis, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis) and the Das Bergische e.V. association. Revenue is generated primarily through accommodation booking transaction facilitation and packaged travel/group services, with pricing set by individual partner establishments rather than centralized. Distribution relies on the website, mobile app, physical tourist information centers across the region, six social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok), email newsletter, and a network of premium regional marketing partners including Schwalbe (cycling), AggerEnergie and BELKAW (energy/telecom), and Erzquell Brauerei/Zunft Kölsch (beverage). Managing Director Gabi Wilhelm leads the organization, which has 11-50 employees and no external venture or private equity investment.

Name

Das Bergische

Legal name

Das Bergische GmbH

Website

https://dasbergische.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Das Bergische GmbH is the official regional destination marketing organization for the Bergisches Land in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, operating a digital tourism platform and mobile app that market hiking, cycling, water sports, accommodations, wellness, and culinary experiences to leisure travelers, families, and group organizers across four districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Tourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHADAA

Full-Service Destination Management (Ground Handling & Onsite Operations)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Destination Management Companies (DMCs) & Incentive Travel Specialists

SECONDARYTHAKAEAA

Inbound DMCs (Full-Service Ground Handling)

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Local Tour Operators & Destination Services (DMCs)

SECONDARYTHAHADAF

Experiential & Cultural Programming (Tours, Activities, CSR/Voluntourism)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Destination Management Companies (DMCs) & Incentive Travel Specialists

SECONDARYTHAKAEAF

Adventure & Outdoor Local Operators (Trekking/Safari/Diving)

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Local Tour Operators & Destination Services (DMCs)

Keywords

• Regional tourism services
• Hiking cycling tours
• Accommodation booking
• Destination marketing
• Outdoor recreation activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergisch Gladbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tourism Services and Booking: The organization facilitates visitor bookings for accommodations and tourism experiences across the Bergisches Land region, generating revenue through tourism-related services including group packages, travel packages, and event management.
2. Travel Packages and Group Services: Revenue generated from packaged travel offerings for groups and individual travelers, including group packages, travel conditions for package holidays, and connected travel services with security certificates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Das Bergische is a regional Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the Bergisches Land area of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It markets the region as a tourism destination and operates a digital platform (website, mobile app, interactive map, online booking system, event calendar) that connects visitors with local accommodations, restaurants, hiking and cycling experiences, water sports, wellness offerings, and cultural events. The company also books group packages and coordinates travel programs for bus operators and corporate groups visiting the region.

Product overview

Das Bergische is a regional tourism organization operating the Das Bergisches Land destination platform, which serves as a comprehensive digital hub for tourism in the Bergisches Land region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The organization is led by Das Bergische GmbH and represents a partnership between the Oberbergischer Kreis, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, and Das Bergische e.V. The platform offers a unified digital experience combining an experience app (Erlebnisapp Das Bergische), activity programs (Bergisches Wanderland, Bergische Radwoche), online booking services, an interactive map, event calendar, and various tourism information services. The offering functions as a single integrated destination management system rather than a modular platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Naturarena Bergisches Land: The destination brand name used for tourism marketing of the Bergisches Land region, appearing on travel packages and booking services.

Products and services

• Erlebnisapp Das Bergische Mobile application for visitors to the Bergisches Land region, providing interactive trail maps, points of interest, offline navigation, and event information for self-guided tourism experiences.
• Bergisches Wanderland Branded hiking program covering the network of marked hiking trails across the Bergisches Land region, packaged and promoted as a cohesive long-distance and day-hike product.
• Bergische Radwoche Annual cycling week event program promoting the Bergisches Land region to cycling tourists through themed rides, partner offerings, and a coordinated regional program of activities.
• Accommodation mediation (\u00dcbernachtungsvermittlung) Booking and mediation service connecting visitors with partner hotels, guesthouses, and holiday apartments across the Bergisches Land via the organization\u2019s online booking system.
• Group packages (Gruppenangebote) Pre-arranged and customized travel packages for bus tour operators and corporate groups, bundling transportation, accommodation, dining, and guided experiences across the Bergisches Land.
• Wellness and health experiences (Wellness- und Gesundheitsangebote) Wellness and health-related tourism offerings promoted in the Bergisches Land, leveraging the region\u2019s nature, spas, and active outdoor experiences as a health-tourism product.
• Dining and culinary experiences (Bergische Kaffeetafel) Culinary tourism offerings centered on the traditional Bergische Kaffeetafel and regional cuisine, promoted through partner restaurants across the three districts.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Schwalbe (Ralf Bohle GmbH)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner of Das Bergische. Schwalbe is a leading bicycle tire manufacturer providing marketing support and brand association with cycling activities in the region.
• AggerEnergieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner and local energy provider supporting regional tourism marketing initiatives and sustainable energy projects in the Bergisches Land.
• Erzquell Brauerei / Zunft KölschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner and regional brewery providing culinary tourism connections and local beverage offerings for visitors to the Bergisches Land region.
• Bergischer Sportsfreund alkoholfreiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional non-alcoholic beverage brand associated with sports and active lifestyle tourism in the Bergisches Land.
• BELKAWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner - local energy and telecommunications provider supporting regional tourism and marketing activities.
• neusta destination.one GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite design and development partner responsible for the technical implementation of dasbergische.de platform and digital infrastructure.
• Microsoft CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud services provider for document storage, cloud infrastructure services, and cloud-based application software including Teams for internal communication.
• Oberbergischer KreiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment shareholder providing regional support, funding, and institutional backing for the tourism organization.
• Rheinisch-Bergischer KreiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment shareholder providing regional support, funding, and institutional backing for the tourism organization.
• Rhein-Sieg-KreiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment shareholder providing regional support, funding, and institutional backing for the tourism organization.
• Das Bergisches e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation member and shareholder providing additional regional tourism support and network connections.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Booking.com: Global online travel agency dominant in accommodation bookings. Comparable as the broader incumbent against which Das Bergische's direct booking system competes for accommodation demand in the region.
• GetYourGuide: Global tours and activities marketplace. Comparable as a broader platform that distributes regional tours, activities, and experiences — competing for activity-provider mindshare that Das Bergische curates locally.
• Tourismus NRW e.V. State-level tourism marketing organization for North Rhine-Westphalia. Comparable as the parent-level DMO that aggregates regional destinations like Das Bergische within its broader NRW promotion strategy.
• Visit Berlin: Berlin's official tourism marketing organization. Comparable as a German public/PPP-backed destination marketing organization at much larger scale, illustrating the broader German DMO model Das Bergische operates within.

Direct peers

• Teutoburger Wald Tourismus: DMO for the Teutoburg Forest region in NRW/Lower Saxony. Comparable to Das Bergische as a German regional tourism organization focused on outdoor activities, hiking trails, and visitor information services.
• Sauerland Tourismus: Regional destination management organization for the Sauerland region in North Rhine-Westphalia. Directly comparable to Das Bergische as a public-backed regional DMO promoting outdoor activities (hiking, cycling) and accommodations in a neighbouring NRW nature region.
• Moselland Tourismus: Regional tourism organisation for the Moselle valley. Comparable to Das Bergische as a German regional DMO combining outdoor activities, accommodations, dining experiences, and event marketing in a defined German region.
• Eifel Tourismus: Regional tourism marketing organisation for the Eifel region in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. Comparable as a German regional DMO promoting hiking, cycling, nature experiences and regional culinary offerings to leisure visitors.

Emerging players

• Komoot: Germany-based route planning platform for hiking and cycling. Already integrated with Das Bergische (link/footer) and directly comparable as a digital partner/channel for trail discovery in the same outdoor tourism vertical.
• Outdooractive (Outdooractive AG): European outdoor activities and route platform headquartered in Germany. Comparable as a digital platform that aggregates hiking, cycling, and sightseeing tours — overlapping with Das Bergische's interactive-map and route content offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/das_bergische
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKVwfoV9uhxLx9YOtjht4oQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/dasbergische.tourismusorganisation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dasbergische
• Instagraminstagram.com/dasbergische
• TikToktiktok.com/@dasbergische
• Pinterestde.pinterest.com/dasbergische

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Das Bergische