The HELIX project sets ambitious objectives related to fostering the Balkan-Med hospitality sector`s competitiveness. In particular, the HELIX initiative strives to promote and support entrepreneurs and SMEs from the target region to adopt, use and develop the sustainable development approach.
Strategically, the realization of this plan requires conduction of in-depth research which to define the current state, the need of change and the preparedness of the target groups to walk in a new direction. Hence, during the first activities of the HELIX project, parallel in all participating partner countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and FYROM) were held a number of studies in regard to: (a) current situation of the hospitality sector; (b) existing practices related to the adoption of innovations and new business models for transfer to sustainable development; (c) attitudes of tourism and travel business in regard to the sustainable development concept, existing stimuli and challenges in the adoption of innovations and many others.
As a result of the held activities – desk and field research, discussions and interviews with expert researchers and with business representatives – the formed experts working groups elaborated the first project deliverables:
- Needs Assessment Report
The Needs Assessment Report reflects the current state of the sector in the Balkan-Mediterranean sector, incl. the sectoral needs and challenges related to education and training, human resources, innovation and sustainability.
The collected data, together with the conclusions and recommendations, will provide the input resources necessary for building an effective proposal in support of the sector’s development.
- Regional action plan
The Regional Action plan, in turn, reviews and assess the need of actualization of both national and regional so the hospitality SMEs are encouraged to become more active into the adoption of technological and non-technological innovations, business models and joint cooperation and thus, to effectively transit to sustainable development.
- Database with best practices
This database includes more than 200 successful examples that confirm the positive effects that the business gains through the adoption of the sustainable development approach. The developed portfolio reviews models that are both recently adopted and run in a long-term. The majority of the best practices present hospitality enterprises from the countries of Balkan-Med region, but some examples extend to Europe and the world.
The best practices database is complemented by a roadmap, which provides to all interested parties the necessary set of guidelines for successful and accelerated introduction of innovations and achievement of sustainable business development.
All developed intellectual outputs (deliverables) are published in the current website`s relevant section and are at the disposal of all interested stakeholders.
