Berlin Airports becomes shareholder in BTM

Berlin Airports announced today that it has acquired a stake in Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH (BTM), the company responsible for marketing Berlin as a tourist destination. The Supervisory Board of Berlin Airports approved the proposal which was submitted by the Board of Management. In July 2008, Berlin Airports will acquire ten per cent of BTM and will be entitled to appoint one representative to the BTM Supervisory Board.

The Managing Director of Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH, Hanns Peter Nerger, welcomed the move: “I am delighted to have Berlin Airports join BTM as a shareholder. This formal acquisition sets a seal on our many years of successful cooperation. It also acts as a clear signal for our partners in the travel industry that we will continue to work hand in hand with Berlin Airports to boost Berlin’s appeal and development as a tourist destination, and particularly with regard to the new BBI airport.”

Commenting on the purchase, Dr. Rainer Schwarz, CEO of Berlin Airports, said: “We will intensify our cooperation with BTM, and we believe that by working together we can present the city to an international audience in a concerted, more effective manner. Together with BTM, we will working to market Berlin as Germany’s most popular and in-demand travel and congress destination.”

BTM advertises Berlin’s many attractions and services worldwide, and focuses particularly on promoting tourism, business travel, organising events, trade shows, conferences and congresses and providing information for visitors to the city.

BTM is a private-sector enterprise with the following shareholders: BTM-Partnerhotels e.V. (40%), Investitionsbank Berlin (25%), the State of Berlin (15%), Messe Berlin GmbH (5%) and TMB Tourismus -Marketing Brandenburg GmbH (5%). The ten per cent stake which has been acquired by Berlin Airports was previously temporarily held by BTM.