Melanie Gerhardt, Director Crisis Management at DERTOUR Group, will reveal the behind-the-scenes of crisis management in tourism at the RTG Summit to be held in Mainz on October 9, 2026. In an era where extreme weather events, geopolitical conflicts, and other extraordinary developments force tour operators to make complex decisions quickly, professional crisis management will be one of the main topics of the event.

Gerhardt will share her experiences in her speech titled “Krisen richtig kommunizieren” (Communicating Crises Correctly) within the scope of rtk Dialogtage. She will explain how to prepare for future crises based on lessons learned from real events.

Over 25 Years of Experience in Global Crises

For over 25 years, Melanie Gerhardt has been working in crisis management in various extraordinary situations, from extreme weather conditions to geopolitical developments. Together with her team, she coordinates the travel group's operations during crises that arise in different parts of the world.

This process is not limited to operational decisions alone. Communication also constitutes one of the fundamental elements of crisis management. In critical situations, rapidly evaluating information, clearly conveying decisions made, and reliably informing passengers and business partners about current developments are of great importance.

Technology and Artificial Intelligence are Changing Crisis Management

At the RTG Summit, Gerhardt will also address the opportunities offered by modern technologies and artificial intelligence in crisis management. Especially in rapidly evolving events with large amounts of information flow, digital systems can support analysis and coordination processes.

The speech will focus on practical experiences gained from real crises. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how decisions are prepared under time pressure and what conclusions can be drawn from past events for future crises.

RTG Summit Brings Tourism Industry Together in Mainz

The RTG Summit is being held as part of the rtk Dialogtage 2026 program. The event brings together expert presentations with industry discussions and personal meetings.

In an era where extreme weather events and geopolitical uncertainties are increasingly directly affecting the travel industry, crisis communication is also gaining more importance in the daily work of tour operators and travel agencies. Image: © AI-generated image