ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH

What ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH does

ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH is a privately held German boutique consulting firm headquartered in Köln, founded in 1984, that has specialized in leisure and tourism advisory for over 40 years. The firm serves German federal states, municipalities, destination management organizations, and tourism operators (hotels, attractions, cultural venues) with a portfolio of professional services including tourism concepts and master plans, feasibility studies and location analyses, funding acquisition, market research and evaluation, organization and strategy consulting, workshops and specialist events, sustainability advisory, marketing concepts, and implementation management. Notable engagements include strategic tourism concepts for Heidelberg (through 2035), Dessau-Roßlau (BUGA 2035), the Rhenish Mining Area, Ahrtal post-2021-flood reconstruction, and the IGA Garzweiler 2037 feasibility study.

The firm's only proprietary technology asset is the Nachhaltigkeitsselbstcheck (Sustainability Self-Check), a free online self-assessment tool for tourism businesses, which has been adopted in Rheinland-Pfalz and is being rolled out in Baden-Württemberg and Niedersachsen. There is no broader software platform; the core deliverable is bespoke consulting engagement output. Commercial delivery is project-based, fee-for-service, conducted through direct B2B sales to public-sector buyers and tourism operators. Distribution is exclusively direct consulting engagement within Germany, supported by the firm's website, workshops, and professional networking, with no digital self-service, marketplace, or reseller channels.

Name

ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH

Legal name

ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH

Website

https://ift-consulting.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH is a Köln-based German boutique consulting firm that has advised federal states, municipalities, and tourism operators on tourism concepts, feasibility studies, and sustainability for over 40 years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Consulting

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability Training, Consulting & ESG Advisory (Operational Playbooks, Staff Training) (THAAANAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Tourism consulting services
• Feasibility studies
• Destination management
• Sustainability advisory
• Market research tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Germany

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements including tourism concepts, feasibility studies, market research, strategy consulting, sustainability advisory, and implementation management. Revenue is project-based and recurring from public and private sector clients in German tourism.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH is a German consulting firm that advises federal states, municipalities, associations, and tourism businesses on leisure and tourism development. It delivers tourism concepts, master plans, feasibility studies, market research, sustainability advisory, marketing concepts, organizational and strategy consulting, funding acquisition support, workshops, and implementation management for destinations and operators across Germany.

Product overview

ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH is a tourism and leisure consulting firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of consulting services, not a software product company. The company provides integrated consulting offerings including Tourismuskonzepte/Masterpläne (Tourism Concepts and Master Plans), Machbarkeitsstudien/Standortanalysen (Feasibility Studies and Location Analyses), Fördermittelakquisition (Funding Acquisition), Marktforschung/Evaluierung (Market Research and Evaluation), Organisations- und Strategieberatung (Organization and Strategy Consulting), Workshops/Fachveranstaltungen (Workshops and Specialist Events), Nachhaltigkeitsberatung (Sustainability Consulting), Marketingkonzepte (Marketing Concepts), and Umsetzungsmanagement (Implementation Management). These services work together as an integrated consulting approach, where projects typically combine analysis, strategy development, and implementation support for destinations and businesses in leisure and tourism across Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tourismuskonzepte, Masterpläne (Tourism Concepts, Master Plans) Development of tourism concepts and master plans for destinations, regions, municipalities, and businesses, including participation processes that create shared visions and coordinated action plans for public investment planning.
• Machbarkeitsstudien, Standortanalysen (Feasibility Studies, Location Analyses) Examination of feasibility of tourism projects in infrastructure, visitor attractions, museums, and businesses, assessing market competitiveness, demand, revenues, and economic viability.
• Fördermittelakquisition (Funding Acquisition) Identification and outreach for suitable financing pathways, funding programs, and co-financing partners for infrastructure projects, networks, and larger marketing initiatives.
• Marktforschung, Evaluierung (Market Research, Evaluation) Market research providing essential data foundations for developing tourism destinations and offerings, including trend analysis, stakeholder expectations, and evaluations of measure and investment effectiveness.
• Organisations- und Strategieberatung (Organization and Strategy Consulting) Organization concepts and strategy plans creating clear responsibilities, efficient processes, and viable financing structures for professional, future-oriented tourism work.
• Workshops, Fachveranstaltungen (Workshops, Specialist Events) Strategy sessions and workshops facilitating broad acceptance and shared understanding for concepts and projects through interactive rounds combining knowledge and perspectives.
• Nachhaltigkeitsberatung (Sustainability Consulting) Advisory service helping destinations and tourism businesses systematically consider ecological, economic, and social requirements and develop and implement appropriate sustainability measures.
• Marketingkonzepte (Marketing Concepts) Development of marketing concepts as basis for successful positioning, product development, and communication of destinations and businesses, including brand concepts.
• Umsetzungsmanagement (Implementation Management) Support ensuring concepts become effective reality, including task structuring, stakeholder coordination, and step-by-step implementation with long-term security focus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 projects completed in 20 years across German tourism destinations and businesses
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RMP Stephan Lenzen LandschaftsarchitektencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on garden show projects including the Landesgartenschau Niedersachsen 2030 in Duderstadt and the International Garden Exhibition IGA Garzweiler 2037. Jointly producing feasibility studies and landscape planning concepts.
• Runze + Casper Werbeagentur GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on multiple projects including the IGA Garzweiler 2037 feasibility study, Biosphäre.Regional-Nachhaltig tourism project for Elbe-Schaalsee, and Biotürme and Kunstgussmuseum concept study in Lauchhammer. Focus on marketing, communication, and brand development.
• Planersocietät DortmundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Biosphäre.Regional-Nachhaltig project (Bio.Re-Na) in the Elbe-Schaalsee biosphere region of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, with focus on mobility.
• Atelier Brückner GmbH StuttgartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubcontractor collaboration for the Schloss Herdringen feasibility study, with Atelier Brückner as project lead, supporting repositioning of the castle as a cultural and event venue.
• Montenius ConsultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the IGA Garzweiler 2037 feasibility study alongside RMP and Runze + Casper.
• Deutsche Sporthochschule KölnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint study on 'Tourism and Climate Change in North Rhine-Westphalia – Options and Perspectives', including expert workshops, regional conferences, and digital conferences.
• Erlebniskontor GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Spreepark Berlin viability study, including demand and economic analysis and regional economic impact assessment.
• Grün Berlin GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther consulting on implementation steps for Spreepark Berlin following the viability study.
• ö_Konzept Zwickau/HalleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cultural tourism feasibility study for Burg Schönfels, including vision, goals, strategies, tourism profiling, and economic viability.
• Jasinski.Architektur.Studio CottbusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Biotürme and Kunstgussmuseum ERZ + KOHLE concept study in Lauchhammer, focused on usage concepts and market analysis.
• SWUP GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Bundesgartenschau (BUGA) Dessau-Roßlau 2035 feasibility study.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft: Big-4 advisory firm with public-sector and tourism practices delivering strategy, transformation, and ESG advisory — competes for scaled framework contracts where ift's boutique size is a constraint.
• Roland Berger GmbH: Global strategy consultancy with a tourism and public-sector practice that competes for high-profile destination strategy mandates — broader portfolio but overlapping on large public-sector tourism framework contracts.

Direct peers

• dwif-Consulting GmbH: Germany's largest dedicated tourism and leisure consulting firm, offering feasibility studies, market research, and strategy advisory to DMOs, municipalities, and tourism operators — directly comparable to ift's core service portfolio.
• Akzente Tourismus + Strategie / Tourismuszukunft: German tourism strategy consultancy advising DMOs, regions, and tourism businesses on sustainability, digitalization, and destination development — closely aligned with ift's advisory portfolio.
• BTE Tourismus- und Regionalberatung GmbH: German tourism and regional consultancy providing feasibility studies, market research, and strategy advisory to public-sector clients — a closely comparable boutique peer serving the same German public-sector buyer base.
• PROJECT M GmbH: German place branding and tourism development consultancy working with cities, regions, and DMOs on strategy, positioning, and stakeholder processes — overlapping with ift's destination and master planning work.

Regional players

• Kohl & Partner Tourismusberatung: Austrian tourism consultancy serving destinations, municipalities, and tourism businesses across the DACH region with strategy, branding, and feasibility services — comparable offerings in a neighboring German-speaking market.
• mascontour GmbH: Swiss tourism consultancy advising destinations and operators on strategy, product development, and market positioning — directly analogous service mix in another German-speaking market.

Others

• Futouris e.V. German tourism industry initiative for sustainability, partnering with DMOs and operators on ESG programs — overlaps with ift's sustainability consulting focus and could be a partner, competitor, or ecosystem enabler depending on mandate.
• ETC - European Travel Commission: European non-profit promoting Europe as a tourism destination, producing market research and sustainability intelligence — tangentially comparable as a tourism strategy and sustainability advisory organization operating in the same ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ift_beratung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ift-freizeit-und-tourismusberatung-gmbh

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 ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH