Tourythm is consistently continuing what we started with bluecontec in 2012.
We believe in the power and impact of tourism to bring the future to life and be financially successful at the same time.
Sustainability as a success and business model in tourism has been our passion for over 25 years.
We know the industry from the perspective of the tour operator TUI, where Andreas was environmental and quality manager for over 13 years, as founder of the largest German sustainability initiative Futouris e.V. and as consultant and coach to many tourism stakeholders and regions in Germany, Europe and worldwide.
We are convinced that tourism will always be an industry of the future, because it fulfills a basic human need.
Travel.
And travel can be so many things.
It connects people and places.
It can be an ambassador and peacemaker, a mediator and a source of inspiration.
This power inherent in travel is what fascinates us about tourism.
Sustainable, future-proof and preferably regenerative tourism is a matter close to our hearts.
We have been passionately committed to this for 25 years, because we believe that tourism can be a real leading industry for our future.
For us, the future can only be shared.
The world has often become too complex for individual tourism stakeholders to tackle new challenges alone.
We therefore always think about projects cooperatively or, ideally, co-creatively.
For us, thinking in networks and relationships is the most sensible way to a productive and more liveable future.
For us, sustainability is not a concept, but an attitude that affects all the activities of a region or a company.
It should be part of the corporate culture in order to be lived.
We think sustainability holistically, integrally and preferably even regeneratively.
For us, the successful principles of nature are the basis of life, which should also be the basis of our business activities.
We don’t just want to talk about it, we want to set a good example ourselves.
That’s why we’ve spent five years helping to set up the sustainability association Futouris e.V. on a voluntary basis as founders and board members, have been a company reporting for the common good since 2023, are committed to a global community of tourism changemakers and are signatories of the “Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action and Tourism”.
Together we are stronger than alone.
We want to inspire, invite and motivate.
Sustainability does not work through dogmatism.
We believe that it is important to question, rethink and realign tourism as it is practiced today.
But we are aware that we can only “invite” people to do so.
The term “sustainable change” is overused these days and is an emotive topic.
We want to show what is possible and not tell anyone what to do.
For us, sustainability and regeneration are based on the sum of the positive relationships that we can build with each other and with all stakeholders in our network.
Only if we live trust and respect and actively and consciously shape relationships can we build sustainable, resilient organizations.
After all, good figures, data and facts are often the result of good relationships and not the other way around.
Andreas Koch arbeitet seit 25 Jahren im nachhaltigen Tourismus. Nach seinen 13 Jahren bei der TUI Deutschland, bei der er die Bereiche Qualität und Umwelt verantwortete, gründete er mit Gleichgesinnten den Verein Futouris e.V., deren Vorstandsvorsitzender er über fünf Jahre war.
He founded bluecontec, and now Tourythm, in 2012 to help tourism players and destinations become more sustainable. His passion and conviction is that sustainability is not a concept, but a business model. It makes hotels and restaurants more successful in the short and long term and strengthens the tourism region.
After training in the building trade, Torsten Merker studied industrial engineering.
This was followed by engineering positions at LURGI and HOCHTIEF AG as well as two positions as managing director in medium-sized companies, including at a university-related project management company for energy and resource efficiency.
Since 2006, he has been a consultant for energy and resource efficiency with a focus on the hotel and tourism industry.
After training as a chef in upscale gastronomy, Harald Gratenau worked in various top restaurants.
After his subsequent studies at the Hamburg Hotel Management School, he has been working as a project manager for Tourythm since 2022.
In addition to organizational matters, his work focuses on putting sustainable concepts into practice.
As a chef, the topic of more sustainable menu design is particularly close to his heart.
Harald believes in the common sense behind a sustainable economy, but always remains pragmatic and focuses on the problems of the people who ultimately make things happen.
Maria has been working in Sustainable Tourism, specializing in environmental protection and social responsibility, for nearly 30 years. Through her role as the head of the Sustainability Division at GRECOTEL, the leading hotel chain in Greece and a sister company of TUI AG, she was responsible for 25 hotels over a span of 20 years.
Since 2013, she has been running her own consultancy in Frankfurt in close cooperation with the Tourythm team for projects in Europe and Germany.
These experiences have allowed her to successfully implement sustainability systems (GSTC, ISO 14001, ISO 2200 etc) and solutions, delivering tangible results for both companies and destinations.
As a digital nomad and full-time content curator, Pooja’s love for Mother Earth and travel translates to her work in responsible tourism.
She is passionate about helping brands make their communications effective, putting storytelling and community empowerment at the heart of her projects.
She travels the world slowly, looking for new experiences every day!
Together with Andreas and Patricia, Pooja is building the Tourythm community.
Patricia is a tourism professional, heritage lover and enthusiastic journalist with a passion for languages.
Through her work, she combines her background in the hospitality industry with her love of the media.
Patricia is interested in all things related to sustainability and innovation and wants to be an advocate for positive change.
Together with Andreas and Pooja, Patricia is building the Tourythm Community.
