Stuttgart’s Haus des Tourismus reaches German Tourism Award final after drawing 500,000 first-year visitors

The city-centre tourism hub is among five 2026 finalists, with ADAC Audience Award voting open until November 4 and winners due to be announced in Leipzig on November 19.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Stuttgart's Haus des Tourismus is one of five finalists for the 2026 German Tourism Award selected from 57 entries.
• Stuttgart-Marketing reports approximately 500,000 visitors to the building during its first year.
• The building combines tourism information and regional promotion with a restaurant, rooftop terrace and meeting facilities.
• Voting for the separate ADAC Audience Award closes November 4; the awards presentation is scheduled for November 19 in Leipzig.

A tourism centre overlooking Stuttgart’s central market square has become one of five finalists for the 2026 German Tourism Award, putting a recently opened visitor hub in the spotlight for its approach to combining destination advice, regional promotion, dining and meetings in one place. The Haus des Tourismus (House of Tourism) is also eligible for the separate ADAC Audience Award, with public voting running until November 4.

The finalist selection was announced on October 19 by the German Tourism Association (Deutscher Tourismusverband, DTV), which recognises innovative tourism products and projects already operating in Germany. Of 57 entries submitted for the 2026 competition, five reached the final stage, according to Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH. The German Tourism Award’s official website (in German) names the Stuttgart project among the shortlisted initiatives.

A visitor hub designed as a destination in its own right

Opened in 2025 at Marktstraße 2, the Haus des Tourismus brings together Stuttgart-Marketing GmbH, Regio Stuttgart Marketing- und Tourismus GmbH and Tourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-Württemberg. Its self-described ‘marketplace of experiences’ goes beyond a conventional tourist information desk, with visitor guidance, digital services, regional products, the knitz restaurant and rooftop hospitality, and meeting and event rooms. These facilities are also described on the venue’s official website (in German).

For visitors arriving in the Baden-Württemberg capital, the combined format creates a central starting point for exploring the city, wider Stuttgart region and the state, while giving residents and tourism businesses a shared gathering space. According to Stuttgart-Marketing, approximately 500,000 people visited the building during its first year.

Armin Dellnitz, managing director of Stuttgart-Marketing, said the nomination reflects a deliberate move to create a venue that allows people to experience the diversity of Stuttgart and the surrounding region rather than simply collect brochures. He also pointed to the first-year visitor figure as evidence of how the venue has been received.

Public vote closes November 4

The ADAC Audience Award is decided through an online vote, separate from the jury award. Voting opened on October 19 and closes on November 4, with the five nominees and ballot information available through the award website (in German). The awards are due to be presented on November 19 during German Tourism Day in Leipzig.

The nomination places Stuttgart’s multipurpose tourism building alongside projects from other parts of Germany, reflecting an industry-wide interest in visitor services that combine information, experience and local partnerships. For travellers, its central location and mixed-use facilities offer a practical introduction to the destination regardless of the award outcome.