Caroline Covolo
German travel buyer association VDR is stepping up its lobbying efforts by appointing Caroline Covolo as its first internal head of policy.
Covolo, who took up her newly created role on 1 November, will be based in Berlin and takes responsibility for the strategy and development of the VDR’s political advocacy, including “monitoring political and regulatory developments at an early stage”.
VDR said the appointment would “strengthen its presence in the political sphere in Berlin”. The association previously used the services of lobbying firm von Beust & Coll but now wants to “anchor” this function internally.
Christoph Carnier, president of the VDR, explained: “Political advocacy is a core strategic task for the VDR. We aim to closely monitor political developments relevant to business mobility and to contribute the perspectives of our member companies in a constructive and timely manner. By creating this new position, we are taking the next logical step toward that goal.”
Covolo has held multiple roles in the “parliamentary sphere”, including her most recent position as a chief of staff and policy advisor in the German Bundestag, as well as working on tourism policy between 2017 and 2020.
“In Caroline Covolo, we have gained an experienced expert who possesses first-hand knowledge of political decision-making processes, while also being well-versed in the challenges facing the travel industry," added Jens Schließmann, managing director of the VDR.
“We made a deliberate decision to base this role in Berlin. We want to have a more direct presence where political decisions are prepared and made, foster personal dialogue, and ensure our concerns are brought to the table at an early stage.”