EWMD International Conference 2025 AUSTRIA



Women and Tourism. Shaping the Future of Travel.


Empowering female entrepreneurs and women in leadership positions in the tourism sector goes far beyond economic success: it fosters social equality, gender justice, and cultural diversity within the industry. Women pave the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and ethically responsible future.
 
Even today, female travellers are shaping the tourism industry and driving change. They prefer safe destinations, seek unique experiences, engage with art and culture, travel sustainably, and value comfort as well as regional organic cuisine. The growing trend of solo travel strengthens women's independence while contributing to a more diverse tourism landscape.

Globally, one in eleven jobs is linked to tourism, with women making up as much as 70% of the workforce in this sector. However, they face significant challenges: limited career advancement opportunities, low wages, work conditions that make balancing family life difficult, seasonal job insecurity, and sexual harassment. Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, yet they are the ones bringing creativity, sustainable concepts, and social initiatives to the tourism industry. They develop innovative business models, advocate for fair working conditions, and actively drive change.

As women push for a more equitable and sustainable tourism industry, they must also navigate broader challenges such as climate change and overtourism, which make the need for fundamental transformation more urgent than ever.

This year’s International EWMD Conference will take place in Zell am See - a destination that directly reflects both the challenges and opportunities of modern tourism. With 2.8 million overnight stays per year, tourism plays a crucial economic role in the region, making sustainable solutions essential. Since 2018, Zell am See has been a Climate and Energy Model Region and is one of the first COâ-neutral tourism regions in the Alps.
A truly inspiring setting for a conference dedicated to transformation - led by women shaping the future of travel.



Conference Focus Areas

  • Women as Travelers – Travel patterns, priorities, and the industry’s response to this demographic.
  • Women in Tourism: Facts and Figures – Workforce distribution, employment trends, and gender disparities.
  • Women Shaping the Industry – Key areas of female leadership, industry trends, and long-term developments.
  • Future Prospects – The state of tourism in Salzburg, Austria, Europe, and worldwide, with a focus on climate change and overtourism.





Conference Program

The program details will be updated continuously. All registered participants will remain up to date with our conference app which has been distributed to all registered participants.


Friday, September 19th,  18:30 - 22.00
Get Together & Conference Registration

We meet for initial networking, conference registration, information exchange and refreshments with Austrian snacks and drinks at Neue Post - Upside Down Hotel. A traditional house built in 1862 that has reinvented itself.

The event will take place in the Lapponia Bar at the hotel. 

https://neuepost.at/en/upside-down-town-hotel  



Saturday, September 20th 8:30
Conference Registration & Coffee at Ferry Porsche Congress Center

After the Second World War, the Porsche design office was relocated from Gmünd to Zell am See: Ferry Porsche, the son of Ferdinand Porsche, worked there on the development and production of cable winches and tractors. The congress center was named after him: It is a multifunctional event venue that can accommodate up to 1,200 people and is located in the center of town. 

Ferry Porsche Congress Center 



9:00
Meet your moderator Stefanie Rummel

Stefanie Rummel is an internationally sought-after soft skill trainer, voice expert, executive coach, and performing artist. With a background in medicine and  voice science and her fluency in English, German, and French, she empowers leaders and teams across cultures. Rummel is an accomplished speaker and award-winning singer, who brings profound know-how , stage presence and empathy as a host and trainer to exclusive global events.

Stefanie is a long-standing member of EWMD.

www.soft-skill-seminar.de



Morning Surprise



9:40
Welcome Addresses

Dagmar Köttl (EWMD President Austria) together with Nadine Nembach und Tanju Cepheli (EWMD Presidents International) welcome the participants from the entire EWMD network.



10:00
Keynote: Iaia Pedemonte: Gender Responsible Tourism (GRT)

Iaia Pedemonte is a free lance journalist and founder of genderresponsibletourism.org. She wrote for magazines and newspapers. Pedemonte has undertaken assignments for International Organizations, among which the UNDP for a sustainable ecotourism project in Yemen. She reported worldwide about women’s empowerment and about development in tourism destinations. 

Her initiative GRT - Empowering Women through tourism - explores the question of how discrimination against women in tourism can be eliminated worldwide. GRT has drawn up a guideline - 6 pillars against gender discrimination. These include: Promoting equal access to opportunities in tourism for women; Promoting Women's Voices and Leadership; Promoting the quality, as well as quantity of women's engagement in the tourism sector.

Home - Gender Responsible Tourism




10:30
Coffee Break and Group Photo Session

Sweet Austrian pastries are a must with coffee in the land of Viennese coffee tradition. A basket of organic fruit is available as a healthy alternative. Our event photographer Conny Faistauer will take the obligatory group photo and will also be happy to photograph the individual chapters. 

https://www.fotoatelier-faistauer.at



11:00
Dagmar Lund-Durlacher: Tourism & Sustainability

Dagmar Lund-Durlacher holds a doctorate in social sciences and economics. She has been researching and teaching in the field of sustainable tourism for many years, having shifted her focus from traditional consumer behavior research and marketing in recent years to the topics of corporate sustainability and responsibility, climate change, mobility, sustainable gastronomy and transformation processes in tourism. She is the founder of the Institute for Tourism Sustainability, Vienna and a founding member of the Center for Sustainable Tourism (ZENAT e.V.), Berlin, Germany. She is active in numerous international scientific networks and works as a scientific and technical consultant for national and international organizations.

About my work - Lund Durlacher




11:45
Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger: Tourism in Austria - facts, challenges and vision

Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger has been Managing Director of the Austrian National Tourist Board since 2023. She has 23 years of experience in the tourism industry. After studying tourism and economics, she began her career in marketing and sales for international hotel chains, lead destination marketing for CEE and Scandinavia at the Vienna Tourist Board and founded an agency connecting tourism partners with major consumer brands.

Steharnig-Staudinger has a clear vision of how to strengthen the “Holidays in Austria” brand with initiatives in the areas of digitalization and sustainability as well as a focus on culture, nature and culinary delights. Her aim is to promote the tourism sector as a holistic system and emphasize its importance for the Austrian economy.

austriatourism.com





12:30
Lunch Buffet

We meet for an active lunch buffet at bar tables: an exchange on individual travel behavior, travel plans and next destinations, the requirements for the perfect vacation, travel anecdotes, etc




13:30
Group Discussion 

Stefanie summarizes the conversations that took place over lunch: What unites EWMD women when it comes to traveling? She also presents the results of the conference registration survey.




13:45

Podium Discussion 

Moderated by former EWMD International President Ursula Boehle.

Participants: Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger (Austrian National Tourist Office), Dagmar Lund-Durlacher (Institute for Tourism Sustainability),  Mateja Bauer (eurotravel, President EWMD Salzburg), Nadia Bruckner (Upside Down Town Hotel)

Moderator Ursula Boehle has been an active force in the European Women's Management Development International Network (EWMD) since 2003, serving as Co-President on national and international level for several years; now an active member in the Vienna chapter.
With over ten years at Accenture early in her career, she built extensive expertise in data analytics and people management, particularly focusing on how AI can enhance human resources and organizational effectiveness. As Global Head of People Analytics Consulting at the F-Top Institute, Ursula pioneers strategies that balance technology, structure, and people. Her work explores how businesses can leverage data to optimize talent, foster innovation, and create sustainable workforce structures. Based in Vienna and Burgenland, she combines analytical precision with a people-centered approach, transforming data insights into practical corporate solutions.

Ursula's forward-thinking perspective continues to influence organizational management, demonstrating how thoughtful analytics can shape more effective, innovative workplace environments while maintaining focus on the human element of business transformation.



14:40
The Journey of EWMD International

The two co-presidents Nadine Nembach and Tanju Cepheli talk about the goals, projects and encounters of EWMD and the associated experiences they had on their EWMD trips last year.





15:00
Regina Samson: Her Story, Her Journey: Women Travelling Through Time

In her talk, Regina explores the history of travel from a female perspective – from its earliest traces to the present day. Through the stories of three remarkable women – a philosopher, a nomad, and an empress – who sought freedom through travel and left behind stories that continue to inspire us today, it shows how women used travel to cross boundaries, seek freedom, and find their voices. The central idea: when women shape travel, they shape not only their own stories, but also the narratives the world tells about them. 

EWMD Int's Communications Director Regina Samson is a cultural scientist, founder and designer of tourism experiences. 



15:30
Renate Ecker: Zell am See-Kaprun as a tourist destination

Thanks to numerous initiatives by Renate Ecker, Zell am See-Kaprun has developed into an international year-round destination. Ecker has 30 years of experience in the tourism industry and was Managing Director of the Zell am See-Kaprun Tourism Association for 13 years. She implemented product developments, professional marketing strategies, internationalization initiatives and a new strategic orientation, which won international awards. Renate Ecker has been working in strategic tourism consulting for two years, specializing in innovation management, product and service development and personnel and organizational development, etc.

eckerconsulting.at






15:45

Closing Plenary Session

Stefanie summarizes the results and experiences of the day and gives an outlook on what awaits the congress participants on Sunday.





18:00
Boat Tour at the Lake Zell

Relaxing tour at the lokal lake after a day full of new inspirations, encounters, and impressions. Enjoy the view with a glas in your hand and get ready for dinner and party.

Schifffahrt am Zeller See – Zell am See Kaprun Kitzsteinhorn Schmitten





19:30
Dinner & Dancing Party

EWMD celebrates exclusively on several floors of the Villa Crazy Daisy, which is run by two women. In fine weather, we have a great view of the lake and the mountains from the terrace.  After dinner with regional and seasonal delicacies, drinks await at the bar and dance floor with DJ Goody Black.

Three Floors of All-Day Dining & Drinks – Villa Crazy Daisy







Sunday, September 21st 9:00
Sunday Morning Activities in Zell am See

The Sunday morning offers the opportunity to get to know a variety of tourist, regional and other activities in Zell am See. You can choose from a guided tour of Zell am See, visits to local (tourism) businesses run by women, and further local activities. 

The participation at the single activities is limited and follows the first come first serve principle. 

Registration for the various tours takes place at the conference registration desk (Friday evening, Saturday morning).




Activity 1

Guided Tour Museum Voggturm

Travel with us through the history of Zell am See! Angelika Gautsch guides you through the museum, focusing on the history of tourism in Zell am See. The interactive exhibition “Mythos Zell am See” explores the history, art, and culture of the town and its region, from the first human settlements to the present day. Around Lake Zell, there are two fascinating customs that are part of the intangible UNESCO cultural heritage: Trestern and Ranggeln. The tower alone is worth a visit! Even today we cannot say when exactly, why and by whom this fortified building was erected. However, there is much to suggest that it was built around the middle of the 12th century - a presentative building, reflecting the power and influence of the Swabian-Bavarian noble family. 




Activity 2
City Tour

Ludwig Thalhammer provides interesting insights into the history and sights of the town of Zell am See. He guides visitors through the historic old town and along the lake promenade: St. Hippolyt parish church, "Österreich-Brunnen", Rosenberg Castle (town hall), promenade and Elisabeth Park, Voggturm tower. Zell am See was founded in 740 AD and was granted town status in 1469. For a long time, the area was characterized by agriculture, crafts, and the salt trade. In the 19th century, tourism began with the “summer retreats” of the nobility and wealthy citizens. This grew with the first ski lifts in the 1930s.




Activity 3
Guided brewery tour "Pinzga Bräu"

With “Pinzga Bräu am See”, the family business wants to continue the tradition of brewpubs on Lake Zell. The beer is produced using its own heat and electricity, and the eight 500-liter tanks are cooled with lake water – setting an example of self-sufficiency.  Great importance is also attached to the use of local raw materials in the production of the unfiltered beer. Brewing takes place in the winter garden of the Bräu restaurant with a five-hectoliter brewing system from the Bavarian “brewing capital” of Bamberg. With two brewing days per week, the brewery produces an annual output of at least 45,000 liters. Master brewer Valentin Klien leads the tour of the microbrewery and invites visitors to sample the beer.




Activity 4
New Hotel Concept

Hotel manager Nadia Bruckner personally guides you through the newly opened “Upside Down Town Hotel – Neue Post” in the center of Zell am See. You will learn how traditional alpine charm is combined with modern, urban design here.  The hotel's special cuisine is also presented: regional ingredients are combined with international influences to create creative dishes. The hotel has been an integral part of Zell am See since 1862.  With the renovation, Nadia Bruckner and her partner Darijo Vujicic are focusing on preserving history with a coolness. This philosophy is also reflected in the new name: “Upside Down Town Hotel” honors the tradition and history of the hotel while at the same time turning the familiar upside down and exuding the vibrant flair of international metropolises.




Activity 5
Mariloise Jordan

Mariloise Jordan has been working as a freelance painter since 1951. Initially, she received commissions for club flags, which she painted based on historical models. Later, she painstakingly restored old flags and taught herself embroidery techniques.  She paints magnificent watercolors and votive tablets, has written and illustrated books. But Marielouise Jordan is best known for her impressive egg artworks. From tiny quail eggs, exotic birds such as emus, common pigeons and ducks to giant ostrich eggs, everything is included.




Registration for the various tours takes place at the conference registration desk (Friday evening, Saturday morning).








12:00
Farewell Lunch

You are invited to a local meal in a traditional restaurant: The Steinerwirt is one of the oldest houses in Pinzgau. It was first mentioned in writing in 1350 and has been known as an inn since 1622. Spend the last hours of the EWMD Conference 2025 networking and saying goodbye together with the organizers.

Steinerwirt - Tradition & Moderne vereint in Zell am See ð






Fees and Registration


The registration will be open from April 1st - July 31st

  • Members: Early Bird from April 1st - May 31st: € 280
  • Members: regular. After June 1st - July 31st: € 360
  • Non Members: April 1st - July 31st: € 410

The registration fee covers Get Together, Conference, Boat Tour, Dinner, Sunday morning program, Farewell Lunch. 


We suggest that you pay the registration fee via bank transfer and not via credit card.
This helps us to save money which we can use for the conference.



Green Event



The aim is to organize the event in accordance with the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Meetings/Events. All decisions regarding the planning, implementation and evaluation of the event are based on these criteria. Key aspects include local value creation, energy efficiency, waste avoidance and environmentally friendly travel to and from the event. Information at www.umweltzeichen.at


Venue: Zell Am See




The EWMD International Conference will take place in Zell am See, a picturesque town in the Salzburg region of Pinzgau. Zell am See is a popular year-round destination to visitors from around the world, offering something for everyone. In winter, guests can enjoy a variety of snow sports, while summer brings opportunities for hiking, golfing, and swimming. With around 2.8 million overnight stays per year, tourism is by far the most important economic factor. The town therefore offers a wide range of accommodations – from hotels and holiday apartments to cozy guesthouses – as well as a diverse culinary scene with restaurants and cafés.
However, this thriving tourism industry also faces significant challenges due to climate change. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have led to glacier melt, uncertain snow conditions for winter tourism, and increasing floods in the summer, as well as dry spells.


The Ferry Porsche Congress Center provides the ideal setting for the conference. Equipped with the latest seminar technology and centrally located just a few steps from Lake Zell, it offers a stunning view of the surrounding mountains – especially Kitzsteinhorn, a 3,203-meter high glacier in the Hohe Tauern mountain range.

After the Second World War, the Porsche design office was relocated from Gmünd to Zell am See: Ferry Porsche, the son of Ferdinand Porsche, worked there on the development and production of cable winches and tractors. The congress center was named after him: It is a multifunctional event venue that can accommodate up to 1,200 people and is located in the center of town. 

Ferry Porsche Congress Center 





Travel Information

By train 

Zell am See train station is connected to the national and international long-distance train network. 
If a connection does not lead directly to Zell am See station, a regional train can be taken from the 
Salzburg, Wörgl or Schwarzach-St. Veit stations, you can take a regional train.


The FPCC (Conference location) is about a 2-minute walk from Zell am See train station. 


By bus 

Flixbus connects various cities with the City of Salzburg, from where you can continue your journey by 
regional train. 
Flixbus https://www.flixbus.at/

Green Event: Top reasons for traveling by public transport:


  • Up to 10 direct train connections from Austria and abroad to Zell am See daily
  • Zell am See train station is located directly in the town center and 450 steps from the FPCC
  • Zell am See-Kaprun mobility card - free public transport for guests and visitors
  • Excellent public transport connections from Zell am See (bus, Pinzgaubahn)
  • Walking distance to the old town, restaurants, the lake and the cable car on the mountain
  • From Summer 2025: All public transportation within the province of Salzburg is free to Salzburg tourists
By car 

Carpooling improves the ecological footprint 
Parking (max. €38/day) and e-charging stations with green electricity available on site.


  1. From the direction of Vienna: Vienna  - A1 - St. Pölten - Salzburg A 1/ E 55 - Reichenhall A 8 - Steinpass B 312 - Unken - Zell am See B 311
  2. From the direction of Munich: Munich A8 - Inntal highway junction A8 - Traunstein B 306 - Exit Siegsdorf - Steinpaß B 312 - Unken - Zell am See B 311
  3. From the direction of Zürich A1 - Winterthur A1 - St. Gallen A1 - Feldkirch A 14 - Bludenz A14 - Landeck Inntalautobahn - Imst - Innsbruck B 312/E 60 - Exit Wörgl - Kitzbühel B 161 - Paß Thurn - Mittersill B 168 - Zell am See B 311
  4. From the direction of Milano / Mailand P14 - Brescia A 4 - Trient A 22 - Bolzano/Bozen A 22 - Sterzing Brenner - Innsbruck - Exit Wörgl - Kitzbühel B 161 - Paß Thurn - Mittersill B 311 - Zell am See B 311
By airplane 

Arrival by plane
Passengers can reach Zell am See within 80 kilometers from Salzburg Airport and 180 kilometers from Munich airport. 

From Salzburg Airport you can use public transportation by train or by bus or take the airport shuttle to Zell am See: 

Public bus from Salzburg to Zell am See



Mobility Card 
  • From the arrival and for the entire duration of your stay, you are entitled to free travel on all public transport throughout the province of Salzburg. For more details, please visit: https://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/en/sustainability/mobility/guest-mobility-ticket
  • We recommend downloading the corresponding app (via the QR code at the bottom of the above website). Please make sure to register using the same email address you used for your hotel booking.
  • Ask your hotel to activate the Mobility Card in advance of your arrival.
  • Simply present the QR code in the app during ticket inspections.


Hotel / Accomodation Information


Green Hotels in Zell am See [see list]
within walking distance to conference location Ferdinand Porsche Zentrum (FPCC):



230 m to FPCC
Pension Hubertus***

https://www.hubertus-pension.at/en

rooms between € 176 and € 196 (double) and € 103 to € 113 (single)

small contingent for EWMD Conference

Talk to Beate Mondré +43 (0)664  933 99 41

300 m to FPCC
Alpin Sporthotel****

https://www.sporthotelalpin.com/en/

rooms between € 140 (single) and € 210 (double) (Breakfast included)

Lake view + € 20        

450 m to FPCC
Das Romantikhotel Zell am See ****

https://www.romantik-hotel.at/en/holidays/romantic-salzburg-austria.html

rooms (double) from €  230,-

600 m to FPCC
Hotel St. Georg****

https://www.stgeorg-hotel.at/en/

rooms from € 149 (single) and between € 198 and € 272 (double)

130 m to FPCC
Hotel neue Post

https://neuepost.at/en

Big hotel, not certified as green hotel

80 rooms        

230 m to FPCC
Hotel Berner ****

https://www.bernerhotel.com/english/hotel.html

family-run hotel, not certified as green hotel

Single Room: 170€ 

Our conference sponsor !!!

Sponsors




Consulting PLUS Management





Buchbinderei
Berit Baumann




Fees and Registration


The registration will be open from April 1st - July 31st

  • Members: Early Bird from April 1st - May 31st: € 280
  • Members: regular. After June 1st - July 31st: € 360
  • Non Members: April 1st - July 31st: € 410

The registration fee covers Get Together, Conference, Boat Tour, Dinner, Sunday morning program, Farewell Lunch. 


We suggest that you pay the registration fee via bank transfer and not via credit card.
This helps us to save money which we can use for the conference.