Reorganisation in the business travel sector: Menzell Reisebüro joins DERPART

Menzell Reisebüro GmbH and its business travel unit will become part of the DERPART network on 1 December 2025. In future, sales in the business travel market will be handled by the DER BUSINESS Travel (DER BT) brand. The company is currently still a member of the AER cooperation for the business travel sector - by switching to DERPART, the Hamburg-based travel agency is aiming for a clear strategic realignment in the business travel sector.

Founded in the early 1950s by the Hamburg shipbrokers Menzell & Co, the company is one of the oldest privately run travel agencies in the Hanseatic city. As early as the 1970s, the travel agency specialised in business travel for medium-sized and large companies. As a founding member and later franchise partner of the FIRST Business Travel brand, the company was firmly established in the business travel market for many years. After the brand was discontinued, the company underwent a strategic reorientation and initially joined the AER cooperation.

Andreas Preuß has been an additional Managing Director of Menzell Reisebüro GmbH since 2018. He came from the branch operations of FIRST Business Travel and took over as Head of Corporate Services at the company. His Managing Director colleague Andreas Folkmann has been responsible for the tourism division since then. Together, they are driving the further development of the traditional agency with a clear focus on quality, service and sustainability.

"Our focus is on strategic development in the business travel sector. How can we improve, work more efficiently and learn new things? DER BUSINESS Travel seems to us to be the ideal partner for this," says Andreas Preuß. "Modern technology and, more importantly, the personal and professional exchange will benefit both our team and our customers. From the very first moment, we had the feeling that we were dealing with absolute professionals who are passionate about business travel - just like us."

The team was particularly impressed by the technological solutions in the DERPART network - above all the DORS control tool and the newly developed DERfare full content system. At the open house at the Frankfurt headquarters in March, Preuß was able to get a comprehensive picture of the system, familiarise himself with various departments and talk to employees. "The visit only confirmed our decision - we experienced a highly professional environment there, in which genuine dialogue takes place at eye level," Preuß continues.

Andreas Weber, Managing Director of DERPART, welcomes the new partner: "The team around Andreas Preuß not only brings decades of experience to the table, but also a great openness to innovation. We are delighted that the Hamburg-based company has decided in favour of DER BUSINESS Travel - and this confirms our self-image as a modern, partnership-based network for strong entrepreneurship."

The Menzell Reisebüro team currently comprises 13 employees, eight of whom work in the business travel sector.

The next events in the Open House series at the DERPART headquarters in Frankfurt will take place on 1 July and 12 November. Participants will gain an insight into the system, structures and working methods of the franchise network. Register at www.derpart.com/openhouse.