After three years of project implementation, the EU ECO-TANDEM project is coming to an end. We have carried out numerous activities that contribute to a greener and more sustainable tourism, and helped numerous tourism professionals in capacity building, provide professional guidance and financial support. We met and involved around 650 stakeholders in the tourism and sustainability sectors, who accompanied us on this journey. EU ECO-TANDEM created a network of cross-border and transnational cooperation, fostering knowledge sharing and ECO responsible shift, thus supporting the traditional SMEs to adopt a more responsible and eco-sustainable mindset and approach in the delivery of their services, products, or processes. The EU ECO-TANDEM has conducted three project activities in total: EU ECO-TANDEM Academy ; BIZ Programme ; and the Network . The EU ECO-TANDEM Academy is a 10-week online course that is composed of theory-based ECO-TANDEM Education Programme and the practically oriented ECO-TANDEM Training Programme. 463 people registered to the Academy in which 80% of applicants stated that they had increased their knowledge and capacity in sustainable tourism. The positive feedback and recognition of the Academy led to a good start of the project. The attendees are enthusiastic and are ready for the upcoming journey of the EU ECO-TANDEM project, the BIZ Programme. The Consortium partners organised 9 info-days and 9 workshops in Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Austria, and Greece) The events help us not only to better understand the tourism SMEs, i.e. what are the obstacles they faced when green transition? What are the main eco-challenges they are currently facing, but also to promote sustainable tourism and the upcoming project activity- the BIZ Programme, which is the protagonist of the EU ECO-TANDEM. The BIZ Programme values cross sectorial and transnational cooperation. Each TANDEM is composed of one traditional tourism SME and one innovative startup that provides sustainable solutions to tackle the eco-challenges. The TANDEM will then analyse the eco-challenge, obstacles, and come up with a solution. Eventually, 39 TANDEMs were selected as Winner TANDEMs and were provided with financial support. Of course, the project has received valuable support from our network. All these endeavours are not possible if there were not the External TANDEM Advisors and the High Level Advisory Board members. The knowledge and support they provided throughout the BIZ Programme was indispensable. The 2 pools of experts assisted the project selecting the most suitable and competitive companies and the Plan of Actions that are the most effective with the biggest potential to bring a green change in the tourism sector. The EU ECO-TANDEM Ambassadors are also one of the reasons for the project’s success. The 29 Ambassadors from 13 countries across the globe have been helping EU ECO-TANDEM to promote and disseminate the project on a wider scope. The project was broadcast on podcast, radio, online newspapers, and was even presented at an international tourism congress! Now the project is coming to an end, looking back it is an intense but insightful, challenging but exciting journey. And we are happy to see the impact we make in the tourism sector. Spreading knowledge and awareness in the sustainable tourism sector, helping tourism companies to green transition their business, elevating the tourism offers. The results were celebrated during the BIT event in Milan on the 14th of February 2023, where over 100 stakeholders visited the ceremony and witnessed the achievement we have done! The journey to sustainable tourism is not over yet, check out our website to continue our journey with us! https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/

City Pension Košice and Cyrkl are jointly implementing measures to improve waste management within the hotel environment. City Pension Košice has the ambition to be an intelligent and ecological Pension for modern city guests by 2027. As part of the EU ECO-TANDEM project, this small family business in Košice decided to start its transformation into a sustainable Pension facility in cooperation with Cyrkl, experts in sustainability in waste management. As Tomáš Marcinko, owner of the Pension says: "We are planning step by step implementation of the waste management upgrade for our Pension based on consultations and recommendation from our partner Cyrkl. Travel has changed radically after the Covid crisis, accommodation facilities should prepare for the inevitable changes that await us. City Pension Košice is aware of the necessity to adapt to changes, which is why we are changing into an innovative Pension for modern city guests. Even though we are not a large player on the market, we have been a stable player since 2011 and we care about our city and communities in Košice." Thanks to the EU ECO-TANDEM project City Pension and Cyrkl cooperated in TANDEM as follows: Waste Analysis took one-week monitoring of the waste produced by the employees and visitors resulting in identifying key areas where it is possible to increase the rate of waste sorting. Waste sorting support and employee education were provided by comprehensive consulting services, personal visit to the Pension, and discussions with the client. Bio-waste under the microscope . Cyrkl's analysis pointed out shortcomings in this area with specific recommendations proposed, including how to properly collect kitchen bio-waste and how to subsequently dispose of it. Zero waste practices in practice . The Pension was provided with specific recommendations and guidelines for the purchase of ecological items, cosmetics, and cleaning products without packaging to reduce the generation of plastic packaging waste. What is the lesson learned? The best waste is no waste!

Among all the projects that were implemented in Germany funded by the EU ECO-TANDEM BIZ Programme, the local Grant Manager ITKAM selected the Progressive Web App plazy Wiesbaden as one of the best practices. Find out more in this article!

The tourism industry is currently facing considerable challenges. Companies in the sector have to reckon with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy transition, the transition to less polluting means of transport, water management and waste management. The 39 winning TANDEMs of the EU ECO-TANDEM Biz programme are tackling such challenges with their sustainable tourism projects. The 39 TANDEMs, each consisting of a tourism SME and a start-up, received micro-financing to implement a sustainable tourism pilot project from 15 February to 15 May 2023. The TANDEMs, awarded during the AWARDING CEREMONY held at the BIT international tourism fair in Milan on 14 February 2023, are: MOBILITY MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE 1) SME QUOVAI srl (IT) + startup Etikbnb (DE) 2) SME APS Molise Explace (IT) + startup I Bicipedi srls (IT) 3) SME Penzion ZET (SK) + startup Everyone on the bike (SK) 4) SME Chianciano Associazione Turistica (IT) + startup Up2You srl (IT) 5) SME Istes srl (IT) + startup Declaps S.R.L. (IT) 6) SME Piceno 2.0 srl (IT) + startup Retroreisen (DE) 7) SME Nextwork società cooperativa (IT) + Fine & Wein (DE) 8) SME Greener Vibes (IT) + startup CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o. (SK) 9) SME Medintur (IT) + startup socialbnb (DE) 10) SME ccf-gmbh (DE) + startup Plazy GmbH (DE) 11) SME HolidayPirates (DE) + startup Faircations GmbH (DE) 12) SME AUTHENTIC PUGLIA TOURS (IT) + startup REDOMAP (IT) 13) SME Buspaket Derenbach (DE) + startup Travel The World GmbH (DE) 14) SME OutBe s.r.l. società benefit (IT) + startup TRIARK S.R.L.S. (IT) COVID-19 RECOVERY MEASURES CHALLENGE 15) SME Trawellit srl (IT) + startup boatsandgo (IT) 16) SME Pintaudi Tourism (DE) + startup BRUNETTI SAS di Brunetti Mario Co . (IT) 17) SME Moxie. s.r.o. (SK) + startup ELEXIA s.r.o. (SK) 18) SME Wiesbaden Congress & Marketing GmbH (DE) + Plazy GmbH (DE) 19) SME JUNITY, s. r. o. (SK) + startup Ing. Norbert Pánisz novotravel (SK) ENERGY CONSERVATION CHALLENGE 20) SME Nebo nad Stiavnicou (SK) + startup Obnova s.r.o . (SK) 21) SME Maladinovo s.r.o (SK) + startup Solved s.r.o. (SK) 22) SME Agritours Slovakia CK s.r.o. (SK) + startup d.sign s.r.o. (SK) 23) SME Legendhotels Slovakia s.r.o . (SK) + startup A.F.F. s.r.o. (SK) 24) SME TatryPEM s.r.o (SK) + startup Klimapatenschaft Tourismus GmbH (DE) 25) SME mein kleinHOTEL Franchise und Vertriebs GmbH (DE) + startup L & C creative office (DE) 26) SME Ecotravia (DE) + startup L & C creative office (DE) 27) SME SLC - VIP HOSPITALITY SERVICES di Silvia Lambertucci (IT) + startup Klimapatenschaft Tourismus GmbH (DE) 28) SME Casa Canale (IT) + startup Traveleco s.r.l. s.b. (IT) WATER CONVERSATION CHALLENGE 29) SME JANIS LIPTOV,s.r.o. (SK) + startup Solved s.r.o. (SK) 30) SME Gymes turist s.r.o. (SK) + startup Solved s.r.o. (SK) 31) SME SCamp s.r.o. (SK) + startup Atelier Papaver s.r.o . (SK) WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE 32) SME Kaštieľ Gbeľany, s.r.o. (SK) + startup CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o. (SK) 33) SME Hotel michelangelo srl (IT) + startup CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o. (SK) 34) SME Marina di Petrolo s.r.l (IT) + startup CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o. (SK) 35) SME Mountain Gate Suites & Spa s.r.o. (SK) + startup CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o. (SK) 36) SME Elegance travel s.r.o (SK) + startup CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o. (SK) 37) SME Amenite Italia srls (IT) + startup greenstorming GmbH (DE) 38) SME DAIRA spol. s r.o. (SK) + startup JRK SLOVENSKO s.r.o (SK) 39) SME Martox s.r.o. (SK) + startup CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o. (SK)

On 14 February 2023, the Awarding Ceremony of EU ECO-TANDEM was celebrated at the international trade fair BIT - Borsa Internazionale del Turismo in Milan. During the Awarding Ceremony, 39 TANDEMs composed of a tourism SME and an innovative start-up from Italy, Germany and Slovakia were awarded for their innovative green solutions proposed in their Plan of Action. The TANDEMs were about to start the implementation of a sustainable tourism pilot project! The awarded companies are the winners of the EU ECO-TANDEM Biz Programme , which promotes green tourism initiatives through co-funding from the European Union's COSME programme. The ceremony was opened with welcome greetings from the project coordinator (Marika Mazzi Boém, Innovation Strategy Director, X23 Srl). After the opening speech, the leading personalities from the world of tourism and sustainability gave the attendees inspiring speeches on the importance of green transition the tourism sector: - Maria Elena Rossi, Marketing and Promotion Director of ENIT- The Italian National Tourism Board; Maria Elena Rossi gave a warm welcome and brief introduction of the Awarding Ceremony. - Angela Gerekou, President of the Greek National Tourism Organisation; Angela Gerekou showed the participants a stunning video of Greece, and introduced the country’s tourism situation. How important it is to incorporate sustainability in this industry. - Francesca Martignoni, Tourism Marketing Specialist; Francesca Martigoni gave a speech on WHY AND HOW TOURISM MUST BECOME SUSTAINABLE? The role of technology in tourism innovation. - Vanda Maráková, Director of the Matej Bel University, Slovakia, Department of Tourism. Professor Maráková gave a speech on the Sustainability Skills for Tourism Businesses Afterwards the 39 TANDEMs were called to the stage (in person or virtually) and awarded one by one by the project partners X23, SocialFare, ITKAM and SBA. The awarding event was rich in moments of exchange and interaction, to share - almost in the final stage of the project - experiences and results, and to celebrate and disseminate the positive impacts that EU ECO-TANDEM PROGRAMME has had in the field of sustainable tourism. Almost 200 people attended the event in person and more than 300 watched the livestream. The EU ECO-TANDEM team is grateful to have been able to celebrate this moment with the protagonists of our Biz Programme. Until 15 May 2023, the TANDEMEEs will have time to implement the projects selected for funding. To stay up-to-date, keep following our eco-blog and our social media! And in case you missed the Awarding Ceremony, watch the livestream now!

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the vision of tourism development in Italy for the next few years is focusing on VALUE GROWTH, meaning to be capable of generating economic, social and cultural sustainability. The value of the tourism offers, the value of tourism and local businesses, are of importance of the market. Creating a model for measuring the sustainable tourism will be essential in order to: · support the development of innovative products and services while reducing impact on the environment, · focus on issues related to the conservation of the ecosystem, biodiversity as well as reduction of the impacts of climate change · promote a sustainable development, as a contribution to the green recovery and to overcome the effects of the crisis in the context of the Covid19 pandemic. Furthermore, before leaving on vacation, Italians look for information on naturalistic aspects (45%), on the historical and cultural context (36%), on food and wine specialties (26%), on the socio-economic context (13%) and on local crafts (11%). In addition to being a driver of choice, sustainability must be able to be verified through certifications: 53% prefer a certified structure while on vacation as long as the price is the same, 14% also and are willing to spend more (22% among those with a high economic status). The survey also shows that Italians consider eco-sustainable tourism to be very / quite interesting (48%) and the related certifications for tourism companies that guarantee respect for the environment (49%). Only 17% are aloof and unaware. The generation gap on the issue of sustainability is evident. The Millennials (from 1981 to 1995) and the so-called Generation X (from 1960 to 1980) are the ones most interested in a sustainable approach to vacation. The very young of Generation Z (before 2010s) and the Baby Boomers (1946 - 1965) follow, while only the Veterans (born before 1946) are negatively distinguished. 12.9% of Italian hospitality companies believe that slow tourism is the strong point of their tourism offer. The same figure is close to 20% in the North East and 19% in the North West, it stands at 14% in hotels while it exceeds 18% in campsites and agritourism. Thinking about the post-pandemic world, there is a 13.4% growth of Italian hospitality companies believe that slow tourism will be the strong point of their tourism offer of the future. To spend quality time with family, to slow down the pace of the days are some of the needs of tourists related to a sustainable holiday, in search of the absence of chaos and mass tourism.

EU ECO-TANDEM Programme, aimed at promoting sustainable development in the tourist sector, has been featured for the second time at the TTG Travel Experience, one of the most important touristic fairs that took place in Rimini, last 13rd October. “EU ECO-TANDEM, a follow-up to the Italian matchmaking event: sustainability explained by the project ambassadors”, was the title of the meeting, organized by ENIT-Italian National Tourist Board, the Communication Leader of the project. The event has offered a unique opportunity to share experiences, ideas, reflections, results and objectives regarding the project coming from the tourism and sustainability sectors, in particular from the TANDEMS that have been formed, ready to face the green challenges they will be involved in over the near future. These “TANDEMS” are the result of the extensive participation by companies in the matchmaking events held during September/october in Berlin, Bratislava and in Italy in a hybrid format, during which non-tourism start-ups and SMEs in the tourist sector had the chance to meet and “match up”, with the support of technicians and experts in the sector. Now, the second phase of the project is about to begin: from the 24 th of October the TANDEMS will be editing their Plan of Action to rise to the challenge they have identified together. They will have to submit their Plans by December 7, 2023. The best of these Plans will be rewarded with a voucher to implement their project in early 2023. The green heart of ECO-TANDEM is ready to grow! Ample attention will also be reserved for the other projects co-funded by the European Union of which ENIT is a partner. The EU project WeMED_NaTOUR, coordinated by ENIT, is dedicated to the coastal destinations of the western Mediterranean, with the aim of developing transnational, eco-smart tourism packages for the school tourism market. The ECO-CRUISING FU_TOUR project, coordinated by X23 Srl (Italy), of which ENIT is a partner, seeks to exploit the ecological potential of the SMEs in the tourism sector in the western Mediterranean and cross-border cooperation to create new market opportunities for eco-cruising tourism, focusing in particular on Millennials and Gen Z.

In September 2022, we finally brought together (in person or online) the tourism and non-tourism companies that had registered for the EU ECO-TANDEM Biz Programme. Project partners from Italy, Germany and Slovakia organised 3 local matchmaking events. Let's have a look! September 6 th – German matchmaking event at Rent24 coworking  Our partners ITKAM and HHL kicked off the matchmaking series with an hybrid event in Berlin, one of the European Capitals of startups! The Berlin event was an opportunity for German participants and their pre-matches to receive more detailed information about the next steps, to network and to clarify some doubts about the programme rules. On the day of the event, 16 TANDEMs made their creation official by signing the Commitment Agreement.

The EU ECO-TANDEM team is thrilled to announce that the EU ECO-TANDEM Biz Programme is finally taking off!