COLOGNE. On 13th November 2012, KölnTourismus GmbH officially took leave of its long-time procurator, Klaus Odenthal, who has gone into retirement. The ceremony was held during the Cologne Convention Bureau’s (CCB) networking event at the Maritim Hotel Cologne. The 64-year-old municipal administration director began his professional career in Cologne with the city authorities in 1966. He joined KölnTourismus GmbH (Cologne Tourist Board) in 1991, when it was still known as the municipal tourist office.
After the tourist office was transformed into a limited liability company — a process in which he assisted — Klaus Odenthal was appointed procurator and head of Marketing & Public Relations in 2007. During his approximately 20 years at KölnTourismus GmbH, Klaus Odenthal worked particularly hard to establish a close cooperation with local partners. A good example of this commitment is provided by the Köln plus Partner society, which Klaus Odenthal established. Working in an honory capacity, he managed the society, which aims to optimally exploit synergies in order to enhance Cologne’s status as a tourist location.
“I always greatly enjoyed my work at the Cologne Tourist Board,” says Klaus Odenthal. “In addition to gaining satisfaction through my efforts to advertise Cologne as a travel destination worldwide, I enjoyed working with partners to implement projects that benefit the city. I’m now entering this new phase in my life with the same energy and enthusiasm.”
Josef Sommer, Managing Director of KölnTourismus GmbH, praised Klaus Odenthal’s work as follows: “We thank Klaus Odenthal very much for his great commitment to KölnTourismus GmbH and to tourism in Cologne. And we wish him all the best for his ‘lively retirement’, as he likes to call it.”
New management structure for the Cologne Tourist Board
Following the departure of Klaus Odenthal, the tasks of the previously four-member management team will be redistributed among the three remaining managers. Managing Director Josef Sommer will continue to be assisted by Commercial Director Gabriele Meusel, who will also be responsible for visitor services in the future. Klaus Odenthal will be succeeded by Stephanie Franke, who heads the Cologne Convention Bureau (CCB) and has been on the management team since 2008.
Stephanie Franke, 38, has a master’s degree in business administration. In addition to her new responsibilities as procurator, she will head the Marketing, Brand Communication, Press and Public Relations, and Internet teams. She will also continue to manage the CCB. At the CCB, Stephanie Franke will be supported by a three-member team as well as by a part-time employee for the Meetropolis project.
