Harwardt PR & Marketing

What Harwardt PR & Marketing does

Harwardt PR & Marketing is a privately held boutique tourism marketing and public relations agency headquartered in Hannover, Germany. Founded in 2016 by Sarah Harwardt (CEO), the firm focuses on destination representation and travel-trade marketing for the D-A-CH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), with extended coverage into the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain through a partner network. It serves tourism boards, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), convention bureaus, hotels, and tour operators, with named enterprise and government clients including the Utah Office of Tourism, Visit San Antonio, Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau, Salt Lake City, Greater ZION, MOAB, Tourisme Autochtone Québec Aboriginal Tourism, Careli Tours, and Epic One Adventures.

The service portfolio spans twelve categories: trade marketing, media and public relations, MICE marketing and sales, strategic consulting, digital and social media marketing, events and roadshows, press and FAM trips, trade and consumer show representation, visual production, reporting and analysis, training, and relationship management. Harwardt operates proprietary client-specific infrastructure including Travel Trade & Media Newsrooms for Utah, San Antonio, and Grapevine, plus the Utah Specialist Academy e-learning platform for travel-trade professionals. The technology positioning emphasizes an "AI-enhanced" approach to digital campaign optimization without disclosure of proprietary AI systems, named AI/ML personnel, models, or data assets. Industry memberships include VDRJ (Vereinigung Deutscher Reisejournalisten), Pangaea, and CWW (Connect Worldwide).

Harwardt generates revenue through professional-service fees from retained client engagements, working on a sales-led, direct B2B model with enterprise and government accounts. The go-to-market motion depends on physical presence at major trade events (ITB Berlin, IMEX Frankfurt, FESPO Zurich, Ferien-Messe Wien, IPW, Rendez-vous Canada, Loop Luxury Fair) supplemented by press trips, FAM trips, sales missions, and roadshows. No public pricing, ARR, or revenue figures are disclosed; pricing is quote-based and engagement-customized. The company is founder-owned and founder-led, with no institutional investors, venture capital, or private equity backing identified in source materials.

Name

Harwardt PR & Marketing

Legal name

Harwardt PR & Marketing

Website

https://harwardt-marketing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Harwardt PR & Marketing is a Hannover-based boutique tourism marketing and PR agency founded in 2016, serving tourism boards, DMOs, hotels, and tour operators across D-A-CH. It delivers destination representation, trade marketing, MICE marketing, digital campaigns, proprietary client newsrooms, and e-learning platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Marketing Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B) (BPAFADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Content Marketing, PR & Media Outreach (THAHAGAG), Event & Experiential PR (Launches, Stunts, Press Events) (MPAAADAM), Event PR & Communications Support (BPAFADAO)

Keywords

• Tourism marketing services
• Destination public relations
• Travel trade marketing
• MICE marketing agency
• Destination representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tourism Marketing & PR Services: Full-service marketing and public relations services for tourism destinations and travel industry clients including trade marketing, media relations, MICE marketing, digital/social media campaigns, events, press trips, and FAM trips

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Harwardt PR & Marketing is a full-service tourism marketing and public relations agency that delivers destination representation, trade marketing, media relations, MICE marketing and sales, digital and social media campaigns, events, press trips, and FAM trips for tourism boards, destination marketing organizations, convention bureaus, hotels, and tour operators targeting the D-A-CH region. The agency operates proprietary B2B Travel Trade & Media Newsrooms for destinations such as Utah, San Antonio, and Grapevine, and supports the Utah Specialist Academy e-learning platform.

Product overview

Harwardt PR & Marketing is a full-service tourism marketing and public relations agency offering a comprehensive suite of services including Trade Marketing, Media & Public Relations, MICE Marketing & Sales, Strategic Management & Consulting, Digital & Social Media Marketing, Events & Roadshows, Press/FAM Trips, Trade & Consumer Shows, Visual Production, Reporting & Analysis, and Training. The agency operates dedicated Travel Trade & Media Newsrooms (Utah, San Antonio, Grapevine) as resource hubs for tourism professionals, and manages the Utah Specialist Academy e-learning platform. Services are delivered by a team of specialists to the D-A-CH market (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) with a focus on North American and US tourism destinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trade Marketing Tourism and destination marketing tailored to the German-speaking market, connecting with key industry players through B2B and B2C campaigns that drive awareness, demand, and long-term growth. Targeted at tourism boards, DMOs, and tour operators.
• Media & Public Relations Creative communication solutions and storytelling with travel-oriented media placement, leveraging established relationships with a focus on tourism and lifestyle. Targeted at tourism boards, destinations, and lifestyle brands.
• MICE Marketing & Sales Positioning convention bureaus, hotels, and conference centers in the German-speaking MICE market through strategic campaigns, lead generation, and securing international events. Targeted at hotels, convention bureaus, and conference centers.
• Strategic Management & Consulting Development and implementation of major goals, measures, and trends to reach and inspire key target groups in the German-speaking tourism market. Targeted at tourism boards, destinations, and travel industry players.
• Digital & Social Media Marketing Creation and management of holistic campaigns covering both organic and paid channels to build lasting brand awareness and drive measurable sales, with an AI-enhanced approach for optimization. Targeted at tourism and lifestyle brands.
• Events, Sales Missions & Roadshow Concept, planning, and execution of roadshows, sales missions, and events, both virtual and in-person. Targeted at tourism boards, destinations, and travel industry players.
• Press Trips & FAM Trips Full-service organization of trips for media, tour operators, travel agencies, and MICE stakeholders including event agencies, PCOs, and corporates. Targeted at tourism boards and destinations seeking media and trade engagement.
• Trade & Consumer Shows Organization and representation at leading trade and consumer shows such as ITB Berlin, IMEX Frankfurt, FESPO Zurich, Ferien-Messe Wien, VUSA Seminars, IPW, Rendez-vous Canada, and Loop Luxury Fair. Targeted at tourism boards, destinations, and travel brands.
• Relationship Management & Product Support Continuous building and maintaining of strategic partnerships with tour operators, media, and agencies while supporting product development and growth. Targeted at tourism clients needing ongoing partner management.
• Visual Production & Brochure Fulfillment Creation of strategic visual online and offline visuals including websites, presentations, videos, B2B & B2C brochures, and collateral fulfillment. Targeted at tourism and travel brands needing marketing collateral.
• Reporting & Analysis Market research, reporting, and trend analysis to deliver current information and state-of-the-art services while guiding future strategies. Targeted at tourism boards, destinations, and travel industry clients.
• Training & Knowledge Transfer Workshops, seminars, and training sessions that empower teams and partners with the latest insights, skills, and tools in tourism marketing and MICE sales. Targeted at tourism trade partners and agency client teams.
• Utah Specialist Academy E-learning platform providing specialized courses on Utah tourism (lodging, nature offerings, stargazing, filmed locations, hidden gems, fun facts) for travel professionals in the D-A-CH region. Operated by the Utah Office of Tourism with support from Harwardt PR & Marketing.
• Travel Trade & Media Newsrooms Password-protected B2B resource portals for tourism professionals providing news, product updates, newsletters, press releases, media materials, logos, maps, and guidelines for destinations including Utah, San Antonio, and Grapevine. Targeted at travel trade, media, and industry partners.

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• VDRJ - Vereinigung Deutscher ReisejournalistenminorOthersProfessional association membership for German travel journalists, supporting media relations and industry networking in the D-A-CH tourism sector
• PangaeaminorOthersTravel industry network membership for collaboration and knowledge sharing within the tourism sector
• CWW - Connect WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorldwide travel industry connectivity network enabling global partnership reach and representation capabilities
• Extended Business Partner NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtended network covering UK & Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain to serve markets beyond core D-A-CH region

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• J/PR: Boutique public relations agency with a dedicated travel and tourism practice. Comparable as a mid-sized PR firm serving destinations, hotels, and travel brands with PR-led mandates.
• Kohl & Partner: German-speaking tourism consulting and marketing firm with deep D-A-CH market expertise. Direct peer in the German-speaking market offering destination strategy and marketing services to tourism boards.
• Sparkloft Media: Portland-based social media and influencer marketing agency specialized in travel and tourism clients. Comparable as a boutique-style tourism marketing firm offering destination social, influencer, and content services.
• Hansmann PR: Munich-based PR agency with travel and tourism clients in German-speaking markets. Comparable as a boutique German PR firm serving consumer and lifestyle verticals including travel.
• MMGY Global: Kansas City-based integrated marketing firm focused on the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. Directly comparable as a tourism-marketing specialist serving DMOs, hotels, and destinations, though at significantly larger scale than Harwardt.
• Voyager Marketing: Utah-based destination marketing agency offering full-service PR, social media, and content for tourism clients. Highly comparable in offering and tourism-specialized focus, though US-centric rather than D-A-CH-anchored.

Broad incumbents

• Finn Partners: Global public relations firm with a dedicated travel and lifestyle practice. Comparable as a PR provider serving tourism and lifestyle clients, though operating at significantly larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Serviceplan Group: Largest independent agency group in Europe with headquarters in Munich. Comparable as a D-A-CH-rooted marketing services provider, though operating across all verticals at vastly larger scale than Harwardt.
• Walker Sands: Integrated B2B marketing and PR agency with travel/tourism clients. Comparable in serving destination and travel technology clients with PR and digital services, though broader in vertical scope.

Emerging players

• Outside PR: Boutique PR agency focused on active lifestyle, outdoor, and travel brands. Comparable as a small specialist PR firm serving travel and destination-adjacent clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harwardt-marketing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Harwardt PR & Marketing