Barcelona Travel Hub (BTH), an innovation initiative supported by the Gremi d’Hotels de Barcelona, has concluded the year 2024 with a total of 21 ongoing projects, signaling significant growth for the upcoming year 2025. Since its inception, BTH has been focused on supporting startups and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, encouraging the development of innovative and sustainable solutions within this industry in the region.
The BTH acceleration program is dedicated to training and guiding entrepreneurs, promoting new business models and technologies applied to the tourism value chain. Throughout its operation, it has supported 21 projects and 33 entrepreneurs who are currently in the pre-acceleration phase. In 2024, the hub consolidated five new initiatives and expects the addition of three more in 2025, demonstrating a strong commitment to the development of technology and sustainability-oriented companies. In its first two years, the hub managed to pre-accelerate 19 projects.
The success of these projects has shown a considerable increase in local interest in the creation of innovative solutions, establishing BTH as a reference in the development of sustainable technologies for tourism. «Barcelona’s dynamism in the technological field reinforces the role of BTH. Innovation is key for tourism, one of the pillars of the local economy, to remain competitive,» commented Pere Ramon, a spokesperson for the hub.
The incubated startups are working on various solutions, from personalizing and optimizing the tourism offer through technology to using artificial intelligence and gamification to reduce resource consumption in hotels. They are also focusing on improving accessibility, promoting sustainability, and managing waste effectively in the sector.
One of the standout projects is Identify Travel, which aims to provide technological solutions and digitalization of services for companies and administrations in the tourism sector. This initiative recently raised 400,000 euros in a funding round. Another notable project is Hub City Guides, an application that streamlines guided tours management for tour operators and received 60,000 euros from Next Generation funds as part of the tourism sustainability plan.
With the support of the Barcelona City Council, BTH has positioned itself as a collaboration point between companies, entrepreneurs, and various entities, promoting initiatives that strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism in the city. «The goal is to strengthen the economic and social structure of the territory, and to achieve this, it is essential to attract talent and develop impactful projects in the sector,» Pere Ramon concluded.
In conclusion, Barcelona Travel Hub has made significant strides in promoting innovation and sustainability in the tourism industry, with a strong focus on supporting startups and entrepreneurs. As it continues to grow and attract more projects, the hub is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of tourism in the region. The success of its initiatives underscores the importance of investing in technology and sustainability to ensure the continued competitiveness and appeal of Barcelona as a premier tourist destination.
