Volkmar Mair's journey from family business to European media titan

A 26-year-old took over a modest publishing house—and turned it into a legacy. Discover how ambition, acquisitions, and the Marco Polo brand redefined travel media.

, and Administrator

2026 May 15 . 6:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows an old book with a map of the city of Frankfurt, Germany. The map is detailed and... — The image shows an old book with a map of the city of Frankfurt, Germany. The map is detailed and shows the streets, buildings, and other landmarks of the area. The text on the book provides additional information about the map, such as the names of the streets and landmarks.

Volkmar Mair's journey from family business to European media titan

Volkmar Mair, born in Innsbruck on May 6, 1931, built one of Europe’s most influential media groups. Starting with a small family business, he expanded it into a tourism publishing giant. His work earned him prestigious honours, including the Federal Cross of Merit.

Mair took control of the family publishing house in 1957 at just 26 years old. His first major move came in 1967 when he bought a stake in Kompass, later taking full ownership. Over the decades, he continued growing the company through strategic acquisitions.

In 1991, he launched the Marco Polo brand, which became widely recognised in travel publishing. Seven years later, he acquired Falk Verlag, further strengthening the group’s market position. He also merged Hallwag and Kümmerly & Frey in Switzerland, expanding operations across Europe. The company rebranded as MairDumont in 2004, reflecting its evolution into a leading media group. Leadership later passed to the third generation, with Stephanie Mair-Huydts and Markus Schneider taking charge in 2010.

Mair’s contributions to tourism media were recognised with the Tyrolean Order of the Eagle in Gold. His legacy endures through MairDumont, which remains a key player in European travel publishing. The business continues under family leadership today.