NACE 79 – Travel Agency, Tour Operator and Other Reservation Service Activities | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 79 covers the mediation of travel services by travel agencies, the organisation of travel by tour operators, and reservation services for accommodation, transport and tourist activities. Public contracting authorities regularly award business travel and conference management contracts.

What does NACE 79 cover?

NACE 79 (Travel agency and tour operator activities) classifies all companies that mediate or organise travel services — an area with sustained procurement demand from public authorities and institutions.

Public Tenders – Travel and Conference Management

Ministries, authorities and public institutions regularly tender business travel management systems and travel agency services under framework agreements.

Typical types of contract

• Business travel management: Booking of flights, rail, hotels and rental cars for service providers on public-sector contracts
• Online booking platforms (OBT): Provision and operation of corporate booking tools for public authorities
• Conference management: Organisation of conferences, workshops and business trips for international delegations
• Event transport: Shuttle services, transfer arrangements for public events
• Group and study travel: Organisation of educational trips, delegation travel, exchange programmes

Relevant CPV codes

Contracting Authorities

Typical public contracting authorities in the field of NACE 79 are:

• Federal ministries and central authorities: Framework agreements for business travel management across the entire federal administration
• Diplomatic services and foreign ministries: Travel management for delegations and diplomatic personnel
• European institutions: European Commission, European Parliament — large travel management contracts
• Universities and research institutions: Business travel by researchers to international conferences
• Educational institutions: Organisation of school exchange programmes and educational trips

FAQ

Must travel agency services be tendered? Yes — where the estimated annual contract value exceeds the national thresholds. Many federal administrations use central framework agreements tendered by a central purchasing body (e.g. BBG in Austria, BeschA in Germany).

Can public authorities book travel directly instead of via a travel agency? Authorities may also make direct bookings with airlines and hotels where there is no framework agreement obligation. Many public contracting authorities nevertheless prefer bundled solutions via a travel management system for cost control and compliance.

• NACE N – Administrative and support service activities: Parent section
• NACE 79.1 – Travel agency and tour operator activities: Sub-group
• NACE 79.9 – Other reservation service activities: Sub-group
• NACE 82 – Office administrative, support and other business support activities: Related division

Last updated: January 2026