HANSEN receives a TYPO3-powered Tourism Portal Modernization

HANSEN is the central platform for all tourism service providers, B2B partners and tourism professionals in Hamburg. Operated by Hamburg Tourismus GmbH (HHT), the portal provides information on cooperation opportunities, participation formats, training programs, projects, and campaigns related to Hamburg’s tourism industry. 

When HANSEN sought to improve the overall quality of the platform they began an open tender for an agency to take on the project and deliver a successful relaunch. atlantis dx won the open tender and was selected as the agency to transform the platform.

The previous platform faced a number of challenges that limited its overall effectiveness. Its provisional nature, including an unsatisfactory frontend where content was difficult to find, and a backend which was not easy for editors to work in, were major drawbacks that would need to be improved. 

HANSEN’s goal was the complete relaunch, restructuring, and modernization of the portal both technically and visually to offer users and editors alike an improved experience. Upon taking on the project, atlantis dx created a comprehensive concept featuring a completely revised structure and redesigned navigation system that would address key pain points. 

The implementation phase featured an agile workflow where customer ideas were discussed in detail, with comprehensive consulting provided to guide the selection and integration of various portal features. Continuous feedback loops ensured alignment with client goals throughout the project. 

TYPO3 was integrated with a MySQL database, allowing for editors and content managers to seamlessly manage and maintain content. Other key features of the implementation included the following: 

Search Functionality: Quick access via a keyword-based categorizable suggestion search. Keyword tagging of editorial content is now also possible, with keywords also being categorized in line with editor needs. AJAX  technology integration also enables dynamic and flexible search results without visible page reloads. Individual suggestion search was integrated with k-Search to streamline finding relevant information. 

Programming Languages and Frameworks: PHP, JavaScript and CSS were chosen for the technical implementation, alongside frameworks like Bootstrap, Vue, and jQuery to enable a responsive, dynamic design. 

Behavior Analysis: MATOMO was implemented for comprehensive behavioral insights. 

Server: Jenkins was integrated to ensure pipeline automation and the reliable publication of updates, with MySQL serving as a database for efficient management of tourism offers.

In addition to these major improvements, a rarely used TYPO3 feature was also effectively utilized during the project’s implementation. Specifically, two new page types were created and utilized as categories for the suggestion search. 

The collaboration with atlantis dx was great, very determined and wonderfully solution-orientated! Without this commitment, the relaunch would not have gone so smoothly.
The set-up of the TYPO3 backend is very customer-focused and meets our needs perfectly.

– HANSEN

The impact of the changes were immediately clear. Navigation across the site was simplified, with the highly positive user feedback being a testament to the work performed by the atlantis dx team. 

Furthermore, the long-term vision outlined by the agency, including a future roadmap featuring the planned integration of digital academy and e-learning modules, event calendar integration, and barrier-free optimization of the portal, all reflect atlantis dx’s commitment to building long-term relationships with their clients.

TYPO3 offers the flexibility, scalability, and security that organizations need to manage complex digital experiences with ease. But the real success comes from partnering with the right TYPO3 agency — one that understands your goals and can bring your project to life.

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