Dieter Hardt-Stremayr: Keep on running
An enthusiastic man with a wealth of experience in tourism and a huge supply of new ideas, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr took over the ECM presidency at the Annual Conference in Gothenburg. His motivation and integrity might seem unbelievable yet won’t be surprising for the people who have been lucky enough to get to know him personally. During his inaugural speech in Gothenburg, no doubt, everybody understood that if they want to keep up with this man, they’re going to have to put on their running shoes.
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What is your vision for ECM’s future?
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ECM is already the leading network for sharing knowledge and expertise in the fields of city-tourism and conventions. But there are still too many people and organisations that haven’t realised its importance yet. So we have to improve that within European cities as well as within the national tourist boards and the trade press as well. We´ve got to be the logical experts when the future of cities is discussed. We´ve got to be the ones to call if anybody wants to know how the cities are doing in tourism and conventions. We´ve got to be the ones to call when there is a need for a European meeting-location. We´re the ones to call when it comes to best practice in the fields of convention and tourism.
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On what aspects of the network/association would you like to focus during your presidency?
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How can we come out of the crisis even stronger? How can we return to the path of growth? What are the adjustments we need to make back home in our organisations in order to ensure the high quality of services the traveller, the clients expect from European cities?
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Every president has a first “official act”, what do you plan to start with?
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The first official act should be the signing of the City-Break-contract with ETOA – but the unofficial acts are much more important: “listening to members’ needs.”
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A motto in your life?
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Keep on running.
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Any situations in which you wouldn’t recommend it?
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… when you’ve just sat down to a great dinner with good friends!
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Frank Magee, former ECM president, with Dieter Hardt-Stremayr
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