What WIIF does

WIIF GmbH is an independent tourism consulting firm headquartered in Oberstaufen, Allgäu, Germany, founded circa 2007 and operating with a lean team of 7 to 10 people under two managing directors (Andreas Feustel and Matthias Wendorf). The firm specializes in developing, launching, and operating integrated digital guest card (Gästekarte) programs for destination management organizations, municipalities, and tourism associations across the DACH region, with documented engagements at more than 25 destinations including Oberstaufen, Bad Hindelang, Hochschwarzwald, the Schwäbische Alb, Saarland, Bad Salzuflen, Baiersbronn, and the cross-border DreiWelten region spanning Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The firm's core technology stack centers on integrated guest card platforms built on regional smart-card infrastructure — notably the Allgäu-Walser-Card — using contactless RFID/NFC chip technology compliant with the VDV eTicket standard. These platforms integrate hotel property management systems, ski lift and attraction access controls, electronic guest registration (elektronischer Meldeschein), and public transit (ÖPNV) systems across multiple transport verbunds. Supporting products include app-based ridepooling (EMMI-MOBIL), electric carsharing programs (Hochschwarzwald's fleet of 25 BMW i3 vehicles at 18 locations), digital travel companion apps, and a distinctive organizational consulting practice built around the proprietary "Dynamikrobuste Unternehmensführung" (dynamic-resilient management) methodology. WIIF also provides product, content, and SEO strategy consulting to ADAC Maps and has supported Vitalpin e.V., a non-profit Alpine tourism association, since its founding phase in 2012.

WIIF operates on a professional services business model, delivering bespoke, multi-year consulting engagements that span initial strategy, business model design, stakeholder management, implementation, and ongoing operational development. Engagements are quote-driven with no publicly disclosed pricing; revenue figures are not disclosed. The go-to-market is relationship-driven, supported by thought leadership, conference presence, and an extensive portfolio of award-winning case studies including the Deutscher Tourismuspreis, ADAC Tourismuspreis, and Fahrtziel-Natur Award. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external investors, venture backing, or parent company, and operates under a distinctive flat-hierarchy, open-book management model with self-determined salaries among team members.

Name

WIIF

Legal name

WIIF GmbH

Website

https://wiif.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WIIF GmbH is an independent DACH-region tourism consulting firm that designs, launches, and operates digital guest card programs and integrated mobility solutions for destination management organizations and municipalities, serving 25+ destinations across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Destination Management Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Guest Experience & Engagement (CRM, Messaging, Loyalty) (THALACAF)

Keywords

• Tourism consulting services
• Destination management consulting
• Digital guest card platforms
• Public transit integration
• Modern management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberstaufen

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. Tourism Consulting and Advisory Services: WIIF provides consulting and advisory services to tourism destinations, municipalities, and organizations. Engagements span from initial strategy and concept development through business model design, stakeholder management, implementation, and ongoing operational development. Projects are typically multi-year, long-term engagements with destination management organizations (DMOs) and municipal tourism entities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WIIF is a tourism consulting firm that designs, develops, and implements digital guest card platforms (Gästekarten) and integrated mobility solutions for German-speaking tourism destinations, municipalities, and hospitality networks. Engagements span full lifecycle from initial concept and strategy, through business model design, stakeholder management, technology integration (smart cards, ÖPNV, access control systems), to implementation and ongoing operational development. The firm also delivers organizational transformation consulting using its proprietary Dynamikrobuste Unternehmensführung (Dynamic-Robust Management) methodology.

Product overview

WIIF is a tourism consulting firm that develops and manages guest card systems (Gästekarten) for German-speaking destinations. The core offering centers on guest card products including Oberstaufen PLUS, Bad Hindelang PLUS, AlbCard, Hochschwarzwald Card, Schwarzwald Plus, Saarland Card, DreiWelten Card, and SalzuflenCard, which provide free or discounted access to local attractions, public transit, and experiences. These cards are built on regional smart-card platforms (Allgäu-Walser-Card) using contactless RFID/NFC technology and VDV eTicket standards. Supporting products include mobility solutions like MOBIL PASS ALLGÄU, EMMI-MOBIL (ridepooling), and Hochschwarzwald eCarsharing. WIIF also provides organizational consulting for dynamic-resilient management and has contributed to ADAC Maps and Vitalpin initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oberstaufen PLUS Guest Card A guest card (Gästekarte) offering free access to mountain railways, ski passes, swimming pools, and golf courses starting from the first night of stay. Designed and accompanied by WIIF since 2007 for Oberstaufen Tourismus. Drives over 25% inflation-adjusted increase in local overnight tourism value creation, with approximately €3 million distributed annually to service providers.
• Bad Hindelang PLUS Guest Card A guest card providing free mountain railway rides, ski passes, swimming pools, exclusive experiences such as cheese-making courses, and public transit to nature reserves across 250 hosts and 40 exclusive experiences. Co-developed by WIIF with Bad Hindelang Tourismus and supported by the EMMI-MOBIL ridepooling service. The PLUS program supports Bad Hindelang's €30+ million hospitality investments and €23 million cable car investments.
• AlbCard Digital Guest Card

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25% inflation-adjusted increase in overnight tourism value creation for Oberstaufen
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• TraminocoreTechnology or IntegrationTramino is WIIF's primary technology and website partner, providing the content management system and digital platform infrastructure for WIIF's own website (wiif.com) and the guest card systems WIIF designs for destinations. Tramino is based in Oberstdorf, Allgäu, Germany. They also provide booking and order system software used by WIIF's destination clients.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) — CloudFront / S3supportingTechnology or IntegrationAWS CloudFront CDN and S3 storage are used to deliver images and files on WIIF's and their destination clients' websites. AWS is used globally to increase worldwide reach and performance of tourism platforms. Standard contractual clauses are in place for EU data transfers.
• Google Ireland Limited — YouTube, Google Maps, Google FontssupportingTechnology or IntegrationGoogle services are used across WIIF's destination platforms: YouTube for video content, Google Maps for geographic visualization, and Google Fonts (locally hosted by Tramino) for typography. EU Standard Contractual Clauses govern data transfers to the US.
• IDKOM Networks GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationIDKOM Networks GmbH (Kempten, Allgäu) provides the technical infrastructure (data center) for Tramino, WIIF's website and platform provider. Tramino has a data processing agreement (AVV) with IDKOM.
• VDV (Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe VDV eTicket standard is the technical backbone for guest card ÖPNV integration across WIIF's destination projects. Guest cards function as VDV-compliant transit passes, enabling free travel across multiple German transport verbunds.
• AlbCard Erlebnispartner (Schwäbische Alb)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 160 experience partners across the Schwäbische Alb participate in the AlbCard program as service providers, offering free entry to guests. WIIF facilitates and manages these partnerships as part of the AlbCard ecosystem.
• ÖPNV-Verbünde der Schwäbischen Alb (7 transport associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven transport verbunds on the Schwäbische Alb participate in the AlbCard program, enabling seamless free public transport for guests across the entire region. WIIF brokered and designed the ÖPNV integration.
• Allgäu-Walser-Service GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllgäu-Walser-Service GmbH is the operating entity for MOBIL PASS ALLGÄU, and WIIF has been accompanying the project since initial conception through implementation (November 2024 launch) and is now responsible for ongoing conceptual and strategic development.
• Nahverkehrszüge und Busbetriebe im AllgäucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional train (Nahverkehrszüge) and bus operators across the Allgäu provide free travel for MOBIL PASS ALLGÄU holders. WIIF designed the business model and operational integration for this cross-operator public transport offering.
• DreiWelten Region Partners (Schwarzwald, Rheinfall, Bodensee)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DreiWelten Card spans the Schwarzwald, Rheinfall (Rhine Falls), and Bodensee (Lake Constance) regions. WIIF supports the cross-border guest card initiative, which enables free access to attractions across these geographically distinct areas.
• saarVV (Saarland Transport Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Saarland transport association (saarVV) integrates its transit network with the Saarland Card, enabling free public transport for cardholders throughout the entire Saarland.
• Tourismus Zentrale SaarlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourismus Zentrale Saarland is the primary client for the Saarland Card project. WIIF provided strategic and conceptual consulting from the initial idea through implementation (launch April 2017) and ongoing development.
• Staatsbad Salzuflen GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaatsbad Salzuflen GmbH is WIIF's client for the SalzuflenCard digital health spa guest card. WIIF designed the entire program from conception to launch, with a focus on guest service and digital experience.
• Bergbahnen Bad Hindelang (Cable Car Operators)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cable car operators in Bad Hindelang are key service partners in the Bad Hindelang PLUS guest card, receiving revenue distributions from the guest card fund. They also participate in the broader ÖPNV and mobility ecosystem co-designed by WIIF.
• BMW (Electric Vehicle Supplier for Hochschwarzwald eCarsharing)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMW i3 electric vehicles were selected as the carsharing fleet for Hochschwarzwald's eCarsharing program. WIIF was involved in the technical specification and procurement process for the fleet of 25 BMW i3 vehicles across 18 locations.
• ADACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIIF provides product strategy, project management, content strategy, and SEO consulting for ADAC Maps — a navigation and travel information platform for automobile, motorcycle, camper, and recreational vehicle users across Germany and Europe.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mews: Cloud-based PMS for hotels and hospitality venues globally. Operates broadly in hospitality tech where WIIF touches via hotel-software integrations for guest registration, but does not focus on the destination-level guest card layer that is WIIF's core.
• Cloudbeds: Global hospitality management platform combining PMS, booking engine, and channel manager. Comparable technology adjacency through hospitality software integrations but at a much broader property-management layer.
• TrustYou: Guest experience and reputation management platform used by hotels and destinations worldwide. Adjacent to WIIF's guest engagement scope but serves a broader B2B hospitality audience rather than DMO guest card programs.

Emerging players

• Bergfex: Leading Alpine tourism information portal for ski, hiking, and weather data across DACH. Partially overlaps with WIIF's destination content and ÖPNV/mobility use cases but operates as a consumer media brand rather than a B2G consulting partner.
• Tobias Reeck – Tourismusberatung: Independent German tourism consultant supporting destinations and DMOs on strategy and digitalization. Comparable solo/small-firm consulting positioning to WIIF though without WIIF's proprietary technology stack.
• Tourismuszukunft – Institut für Tourismus und Entwicklung: German research and consulting institute advising destinations on sustainable tourism transformation. Comparable to WIIF's organizational/methodology consulting work but with a research-heavy, sustainability-oriented value proposition.

Others

• Deutscher Tourismusverband (DTV): National umbrella association for German tourism representing DMOs and shaping national tourism policy. Ecosystem participant relevant to WIIF's B2G positioning rather than a direct competitor; awards and standards set by DTV shape WIIF's market context.

Direct peers

• Kohl & Partner Tourismusberatung: Austrian-German tourism consultancy specializing in strategy, organizational development, and destination positioning for tourism businesses and DMOs. Closely matches WIIF's consulting methodology and DACH public-sector tourism client base.
• Outdooractive: Tourism platform providing digital destination content, route planning, and API-based white-label solutions to DMOs and tourism regions in DACH. Comparable to WIIF in serving destination digitalization needs, though with a content/community orientation rather than guest cards.
• Feratel Media Technologies: Austrian-based hospitality technology provider operating the panora.at tourist information platform and webcam/information systems across Alpine destinations. Directly comparable to WIIF as a DACH-focused destination-tech vendor serving ski regions and tourist boards with inclusive-card and content infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gewiift

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 WIIF