In 2022, the hospitality cluster joined a European project to stimulate the “Digitalisation of tourism businesses” as part of a consortium. Seven ambitious projects have been rewarded with financial support.
The Tourbit call for projects highlighted innovative initiatives that support the digitalisation of the tourism industry. The projects of the 7 winners demonstrate the ingenuity and creativity of the sector’s entrepreneurs, offering new prospects for more responsible and environmentally-friendly tourism. With Tourbit’s support, these promising initiatives can become reality and make an active contribution to transforming the tourism landscape.
Find out more about each of the 7 winners and their digitalization projects.
DESTINATION EVERYWHERE: Accessible tourism
Destination Everywhere, an agency specialising in accessible tourism, plans to develop WHEELTRIBE, a web platform that will connect travellers with local hosts, enabling them to book services adapted to disabled people without intermediaries. The aim is to create an integrated community in an online travel services marketplace that complies with European Union accessibility regulations and goes even further. Thanks to the financial support obtained under Tourbit, the company will also obtain the help of an expert in artificial intelligence to automate the management of the supplier database, maintain the commitment of the community and collect data to support the future development of the platform. In summary, the project aims to create a user-friendly platform that connects PRM travellers and local hosts, while complying with accessibility regulations and benefiting from AI expertise to improve management and automation.
HOTEL AMIGO: Sustainably committed luxury hotels
Hotel AMIGO, a luxury hotel in Brussels, stands out for its refined atmosphere, attentive service and quality facilities. Its privileged location close to major attractions makes it a destination of choice for discerning travellers. Thanks to the support received from the TOURBIT digitalisation project, Hotel AMIGO is committed to measuring and tracking its carbon emissions, with the aim of becoming a more sustainable business. Using a dedicated digital platform, the hotel will seek to collect accurate data, set reduction targets, take concrete action and communicate with its stakeholders. This initiative could also be replicated in other hotels in the Rocco Forte Hotels chain.
The AMIGO hotel project aims to use a digital platform to measure, monitor and reduce carbon emissions, while actively committing to sustainability.
LITTLE GUEST: The international travel platform
Little Guest, the Brussels-based online platform dedicated to family travel, is looking to increase its online visibility and conquer new markets, notably the UK. To achieve this, the company will be using Tourbit‘s financial support to develop an English-language content marketing strategy, including an audit of their natural referencing, the implementation of a digital acquisition strategy and training for their team by an external consultant. Their aim is to increase organic traffic from the UK from 8% to at least 30%, in order to better meet the needs of English-speaking families and consolidate their presence in this key market.
TERO: Events in the service of sustainability
TERO operates in the hospitality, sports and events sectors. It designs unusual activities and team-building events in unique locations, while at the same time serving cuisine based on local and organic produce.
TERO’s project is to measure and reduce its carbon footprint while involving its stakeholders. The company is facing challenges such as a lack of expertise in carbon accounting, the dispersal of data, indirect emissions, the identification of reduction actions and the risk of greenwashing. With the help received from the European TOURBIT project, TERO will be able to use an innovative solution to accurately collect and manage carbon footprint data, propose personalised actions and facilitate transparent communication with all stakeholders.
PULLMAN HOTEL Bruxelles-midi: Digital transformation in the hotel industry
The Pullman Hotel, located in Brussels near Brussels-Midi station, is a top-of-the-range establishment belonging to the international Pullman Hotels & Resorts chain. Their project involves taking up the digital challenge by offering a more modern and immersive presentation of the meeting spaces available. Currently, the hotel uses photos and e-mail exchanges to present the conference rooms, but thanks to the support received from the TOURBIT project, they will now be able to adopt a digital solution offering an immersive visual experience. The solution envisaged is to create a 360°, 3D virtual tour of the hotel, enabling guests to visualise meeting spaces precisely, even from a distance. This virtual tour will be created in collaboration with a technology partner.
The Pullman hotel’s project is to create an immersive 360° and 3D virtual tour of their meeting spaces, in order to offer an innovative experience to their customers and reduce the amount of travel (by plane, car, etc.) before the day of the event.
DISCOVERENT: The travel agency for sustainable tourism
DISCOVERENT is committed to sustainable tourism with the launch of its digital platform. Their aim is to reduce environmental impact by offering adventure trips focusing on eco-responsible accommodation, nearby destinations and local food. Thanks to the support of TOURBIT, each trip will now be subject to a carbon audit, the results of which will be published online, allowing customers to see DISCOVERENT’s commitment to environmentally-friendly tourism. They will develop a digital solution to provide a detailed analysis of the carbon footprint of each trip, in collaboration with an expert partner. In addition, DISCOVERENT will offer training to its team to maintain this solution and improve the user experience.
The digital platform project will be used to promote sustainable tourism by reducing the carbon footprint of its trips and providing transparent information to customers.
DOLCE LA HULPE BRUSSELS: Hotels face digital challenges
The Dolce La Hulpe hotel in Brussels, set in verdant surroundings, is facing the challenges of digital transformation. To meet these challenges, the hotel is going to use the financial support received as part of the European TOURBIT project to digitise its internal processes, collect and analyse precise data on its carbon footprint, and identify specific actions to reduce it. By assessing the reduction potential of these actions, the company will be able to implement effective measures to minimise its environmental impact.
Dolce’s objective is to adopt a proactive approach to sustainability through the use of digital technologies. By digitalising its processes, the hotel will be able to optimise its internal operations, reduce the resources used and improve its overall efficiency. This will strengthen its credibility in terms of sustainability and inspire other players in the industry to follow similar practices.
Thanks to this TOURBIT project, Hotel Dolce La Hulpe Brussels will be able to adapt to the challenges of digital technology and strengthen its commitment to sustainability, while offering a high-quality stay experience to its guests.
An inspiration in the hospitality sector
The team at hospitality.brussels – a partner in this European TOURBIT project – warmly congratulates them on this well-deserved distinction. We hope that this support will strengthen their motivation to continue innovating and pushing back the limits of our entrepreneurs. Their success is a source of inspiration for all hospitality businesses and we look forward to seeing the results of these digitalisation projects.
