Opening Talk

Beyond tourism trivialities

New location, new intro format: Instead of a keynote, the DSTNCMP²⁴ in Bregenz focuses on new impulses through an "Opening Talk".

It could be a visionary discussion with lasting impact: What the three talk guests in the opening round of the DSTNCMP²⁴ in Bregenz have to offer promises deep insights into network strategies and innovation conditions.

One of them, Harald Katzmair, is the founder and CEO of the analysis and consulting firm FAS Research from Vienna. The social scientist and "management philosopher" is considered a leading expert in the analysis of social networks, focusing on power dynamics, innovation, and situational awareness analyses.

The other, Philipp Lehner, is the CEO of ALPLA. The family business from Hard near Bregenz is a leader in the production and recycling of all types of plastic packaging. Around 23,300 employees produce customized packaging systems, bottles, closures, and injection-molded parts for all applications at 196 ALPLA sites in 47 countries. ALPLA operates recycling plants for PET and HDPE in Europe, Mexico, and Thailand. The thinking of the 3rd generation family entrepreneur is characterized by international business processes on the one hand, and a commitment to innovation and circular economy on the other.

The third person in the group is Urs Treuthardt, who until 2023 was the Managing Director of Bodensee-Vorarlberg Tourismus and Convention-Partner Vorarlberg. The founder and managing director of the "encounter agency" Occursus brings 20 years of tourism experience, including 13 years in a leadership role, to the discussion. The passionate networker aims to "create space for good encounters and exchange" with Occursus. He is a co-initiator of the research platform micelab:bodensee and the data:room. This flexibly designed space is intended to lead to better decisions based on facts and interdisciplinary exchange.

Building on insights from network science and resilience theory, the three will discuss on DSTNCMP²⁴ Tuesday, whether and how tourism and internationally operating companies can learn from each other and how new paths in strategy and decision-making processes can potentially be found together.