AER Kooperation –
Digital Membership Platform for the Travel Industry
Website, extranet portal, community app and online events from a single provider
AER Kooperation
Role of dgtl.ai:
Development and operation of the digital infrastructure (website, extranet portal, community app, event streaming)
The Challenge
AER Kooperation brings together travel agencies and tour operators. What sets it apart is its high proportion of specialist tour operators: at over 40%, it is regarded as the largest cooperative in this segment. Its almost 1,000 business units include owner-managed companies whose DNA lies in organising and selling travel. AER equips them to position themselves in the market and prepares them for developments in the industry.
AER’s core competence lies in aviation, where the cooperative also has its roots. A strong network of national and international holdings creates synergies, safeguards key business areas and ensures diversification.
The Approach
A multi-year partnership, not a one-off project
dgtl.ai supported AER Kooperation over several years with digital building blocks that built on one another, from the website and the extranet portal through to event technology.
At the heart of the platform was AERport, the password-protected extranet portal. There, members found a categorised news feed on topics such as aviation, law, training and sustainability, an active community forum, and access to partner services and marketplace integrations.
For personal exchange, AER Kooperation used the same app in two ways: all year round as a community platform for members, and once a year as the event app for its main conference. Members did not have to learn a second system.
During the pandemic, dgtl.ai also enabled event streaming via AER’s own online event platform, so the cooperative stayed in touch with its members even without face-to-face meetings.
Building Blocks for
AER Kooperation
From website to event streaming
Website
dgtl.ai developed and ran AER Kooperation’s previous website.
AERport Extranet Portal
The central, password-protected member platform with a categorised news feed, a community forum with more than 120 discussion threads, a calendar of recurring online formats, partner access and a member directory with personal profiles.
Community and Event App
The same app served members all year round as a community platform and was used once a year as the event app for AER Kooperation’s main conference.
Online Event Streaming
With dgtl.ai’s online event platform, AER Kooperation was able to stream events while in-person gatherings were not possible during the pandemic.
The Result
1,000
120+
Added Value for
AER Kooperation
A digital home for around 1,000 member businesses
One digital home instead of scattered channels
Instead of coordinating newsletters, mailing lists and one-to-one conversations, information, exchange and scheduling for around 1,000 member businesses came together on one central platform.
Community among independent businesses
The forum let owner-managed travel agencies and tour operators that otherwise act independently exchange ideas directly, from legal questions to cooperation offers.
Continuity during the pandemic
The streaming solution kept the cooperative in touch with its members when in-person meetings were not possible.
One system for everyday use and the annual conference
Because the same app ran all year for the community and once a year for the main conference, members did not have to learn a second system.
Why This Model Works
Year-round community platform + annual event + crisis-proof streaming option =
one continuous digital home instead of separate, disconnected tools.
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Last updated: 6 October 2026
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