Hi Reader,

We’re happy to say that a strong number of operators have already joined the new Cycle Cities membership.

That’s a really positive sign for where the network is heading — and for the kind of community we’re building together moving forward.

This will also be the last newsletter sent to members who haven’t yet transitioned into the new membership structure.

Website Updates — Check Your Profile 👀

We’re continuing to work on improvements across the website and member profiles.

Please take a moment to review your listing and make sure everything is:

• Up to date
• Accurate
• And representing your business properly

If you spot anything that needs adjusting — or if you have suggestions to improve the platform — send me an email or WhatsApp message anytime.

This is something we’re building together, and your feedback really helps.

Symposium News 🤝

Momentum around Hamburg continues to build.

We’ve now extended the early bird pricing until May 15th — giving everyone a bit more time to secure their place at the lower rate.

We’ve also added a new ticket option with flexible cancellation, giving a bit more security for those planning ahead.

Hamburg is shaping up to be a very strong Symposium:

• Great host city
• Strong operator mix
• And the right environment for meaningful conversations and partnerships

If you haven’t secured your spot yet:

Groupwork Gold Nuggets 💛

This week, we move to a new table and a new discussion group.

These insights come from Morning Group C: Culture Keepers: Staffing & Impact (Duncan Blinkhorn, Cicely Lloyd, Judith Seidel, Rafael Lima, Sadegh Farahat)

How do you keep guides motivated during peak-season burnout?

• Adequate Staffing: Maintain a large enough guide pool so people can actually take breaks and recover during busy periods.

• Mandatory Time Off: Even when freelance guides are available, avoid scheduling too many consecutive working days. Several operators highlighted intentionally limiting long stretches of work.

• Recovery Days on Multi-Day Tours: For longer tours or multi-day trips, build in at least one proper rest day to help guides recharge physically and mentally.

• High-Quality Accommodation: When travelling, some operators provide guides with the same quality accommodation as guests — helping them feel valued, rested, and part of the experience.

• Nutritional Support: Good food matters. Making sure guides eat properly, with dedicated meal budgets during tours, was highlighted as a simple but important investment.

Peak season performance doesn’t only depend on logistics — it depends on people having enough energy, rest, and support to consistently deliver a great experience.

New: Industry Insights Series 🎙️

This week’s resource is a really interesting conversation Steve had with Christian Tänzler, President of the German Cycling Association.

The discussion touches on:

• The evolution of cycling infrastructure in Germany
• How cities are investing heavily in bike lanes and mobility
• The economic impact of cycling infrastructure
• Public health benefits
• The growing importance of bike tourism
• And how climate conditions may create opportunities for operators in cooler regions in the future

It’s a fascinating perspective — especially when thinking about where cycling tourism is heading over the next years.

Note: The subtitles were generated automatically. I’ve corrected the mistakes I managed to catch, but if a few escaped me along the way… sorry in advance

Community — What’s next ➡️

The transition into the new membership structure is now actively underway.

From here, the focus is simple:

• Better knowledge sharing
• Better tools
• Better connections between operators

And ultimately helping independent operators build stronger businesses together.

For those who still haven’t selected a membership tier: next week we’ll begin outreach to invite new operators into the network, while also updating the website with confirmed members and cities.

If you want to secure your place within the new structure, now is the right moment to do it.

👉 See the Full Membership Plan​

👉 Get Started with the New Membership​

Isabella

Managing Director (Interim)
Cycle Cities 🚲