Willy Scharnow Tourism Foundation - Short Portrayal

The Founder

Willy Scharnow (1897 – 1985) was one of the most important pioneers in German tourism. In the 1950ies he developed his company „Scharnow-Reisen“ to the number two tour operator in Germany. Together with Touropa, Dr. Tigges and Hummel-Reisen Scharnow-Reisen founded TUI.

In 1953 Willy Scharnow established the „Foundation for international destination knowledge of the youth“ to grant better professional opportunities to the new generation in tourism by an improved vocational and advanced training. In honour of the founder it is nowadays named „Willy Scharnow Foundation for Tourism“.

Objectives of the Foundation: 

• Support of dedicated touristical employees
• Achievement of above-average responsibility and by thus additional motivation to work in tourism
• Research on subjects relevant to the travel trade
  
  

The 6 business segments of the Foundation:

Educational tours and seminars

Offering study tours and seminars is the foundation’s core task. In cooperation with various partners of the travel trade the foundation annually organises appr. 100 workshops and educational tours worldwide with 2.500 participants, travel agents and staffs of tour operators.

The study tours and seminars are strategically planned and comply with current market requirements and future trends. The emphasis is on long-haul travel to Asia and the Gulf Region, theme-related study tours such as cruises, culture and wellness trips and the presentation of a partner country, and to improve the knowledge of hidden domestic destinations in Germany, too. 


Scholarships for practical trainings in foreign countries

Work experiences in foreign countries are valuable enrichments to the vocational training of young travel agents and undergraduates of tourism. Therefore the Foundation grants scholarships for practical trainings in touristical companies in abroad. The financial support amounts to € 180 monthly for at least 4 and up to 12 months.


Language courses – national and abroad

Owing to the support of TUI Foundation another business segment could be built up. Since 2004 the foundation grants within dedicated budget limits a financial contribution of approx. 50% to the course fee to travel agents learning or deepening a foreign language in Germany or abroad. Since 2009 the project is financially supported by TUI Germany.

The courses are supported due to costs and duration. A confirmation of regular participation and a certificate are to be presented. All travel trade employees and undergraduates of tourism may apply for the funding.


Top score apprenticeship recognition

Jointly with the Fraport – the airport managers, Deutsche Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn the foundation annually awards the top apprenticeship qualifiers under the official German travel agency training programme arranging an informative function. Additionally they are invited to take get a special contribution for participating in a study tour of the foundation.

Since 2008 the foundation also awards the top apprenticeship qualifiers under the new learning programm Management Assistant for Tourism and Leisure.


Willy Scharnow Award

Once a year the Willy Scharnow Award is announced to companies in the travel trade for innovative and sustained projects and outstanding training programmes for travel trade staff. To motivate individual enterprises among travel agencies and hotels to apply for the award, the prize has been split up into 4 categories. The presentation ceremony annually takes place on the occasion of the ITB in Berlin.


Scientific research on subjects relevant to the travel trade

Since 1960 Willy Scharnow Tourism Foundation concluded research assignments on current trade matters if required. This business segment was institutionalised in 1999 by the foundation of the Willy Scharnow Institute at “Freie Universität” in Berlin. Various studies with a focus on vocational and advanced training were compiled until 2006, in the years 2004 and 2005 with special support of TUI Foundation.

After the study course “tourism management” was terminated at FU Berlin in 2008, the Willy Scharnow Institute is no longer sustained. At this time the foundation concentrates its contribution to the Historical Archive for Tourism (HAT), also located at FU Berlin, which keeps an impressive documentation of tourism developments from the early 19th century, until today.

Finances

The funds of the Foundation amount appr. to 7.4 m €. Interests earned from this capital plus donations and sponsoring from the travel trade ensure the efficiency of the foundation. Thus the Willy Scharnow Foundation is in the position to spend about one million euro annually on the activity programme.


Cooperation

The Willy Scharnow Foundation is supported for its services by numerous partners of the travel trade. Tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, shipping companies, associations, especially the German Travel Association (DRV), Deutsche Bahn AG, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and other airlines, members of Corps Touristique with touristical organisations worldwide, Europäische Reiseversicherung AG, Thomas Cook and REWE group as well as Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus e.V., they all contribute to the success.

Board of trustees

Klaus Laepple
President Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Berlin (Chairman)

Magdalene Hieke
Executive Partner, Reisebüro Strier OHG, Ibbenbüren (Deputy Chairman)

Josef Bogdanski
Senior Vice President, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Frankfurt

Dr. Volker Böttcher
CEO, TUI Deutschland GmbH, Hannover

Jürgen Büchy
Managing Director, DB Personenverkehr Vertriebs GmbH, Frankfurt

Wolfang Diels
Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft, München

Professor Dr. Adrian von Dörnberg
Hochschule Worms

Dr. Joachim von Einem
Executor of estate Scharnow, Bremen

Michael Frese
Managing Director, Deutsches Reisebüro GmbH, Frankfurt

Günter Geske
Managing Director, Bucher Reisen GmbH, Meerbusch

Hans-Gustav Koch
Secretary General, Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Berlin

Ursula Schörcher
Schörcher Consult, Bad Homburg

Günther Kahn
Hannover (Honorary Chairman)


CONTACT AND INFORMATION

WILLY SCHARNOW-STIFTUNG FÜR TOURISTIK
GERVINUSSTR. 5 – 7 • 60322 FRANKFURT
TEL. 069 / 27 39 07 16 • FAX 069 / 27 39 07 66
E-Mail: info@willyscharnowstiftung.de