The free Impulsa Alojamientos SBT program combines a preliminary diagnosis of the sector with face-to-face training sessions and tailored specialized advice
Gran Canaria Tourism continues to advance in the development of the Impulsa Alojamientos SBT program, a strategic initiative aimed at boosting the competitiveness, innovation, digitalization and sustainability of tourist accommodation companies located in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
This initiative builds upon an initial phase based on a comprehensive assessment of the local accommodation sector—which evaluated aspects such as consumption, supply, certification, and marketing through questionnaires and direct interviews with businesses. Based on these findings, the project has implemented a structured, practical action plan encompassing specialized training, professional networking events, and individualized technical support.
Fernando Varela, director of the Impulsa Alojamientos SBT program and the Social Gob Consulting firm, explained that "this initiative seeks to translate sustainability, innovation and digitalization into concrete decisions within establishments, providing them with knowledge, tools and specialized support to improve their competitiveness."
The program addresses, in a cross-cutting manner, the main challenges facing the tourism industry today. These include the digitization and automation of internal processes—such as reservation management, connectivity between booking engines and channels, and optimizing communication with guests—as well as the incorporation of artificial intelligence and the strategic use of data to expedite business decision-making.
Looking ahead to the upcoming events, which will take place on September 10th and 16th, “the next step is to look beyond accommodation and think about the destination as a whole. San Bartolomé de Tirajana has the opportunity to leverage the experience and capabilities of its businesses to build a more competitive, sustainable destination, better prepared for the challenges of the coming years,” according to Varela.
Furthermore, in the environmental sphere, Impulsa Alojamientos SBT delves into calculating carbon footprints, consumption inventories, energy efficiency, the circular economy, and ESG indicators. Notably, given the current regulatory framework, the initiative educates establishments on the new requirements of Directive (EU) 2024/825 (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition - EmpCo), applicable from September 2026, with the aim of strengthening transparency in environmental communications and combating greenwashing.
From training to action at the destination
Following the virtual sessions held in August, the program is holding a series of in-person meetings this week at the Gran Canaria Island Tourism Center (Playa del Inglés). This series, which began on Thursday the 3rd and includes two more sessions scheduled for the 10th and 16th of this month, features practical workshops for developing individual sustainability plans and creating personalized digital roadmaps. It will culminate in a day of joint reflection on the future of the destination under the slogan "Let's build a destination: we all build the future of San Bartolomé de Tirajana together," fostering public-private cooperation and synergy among the various stakeholders in the region.
Meanwhile, interested establishments in the municipality continue to have access to a free, personalized advisory service. Through this service, qualified experts offer technical support tailored to the specific needs of each hotel or apartment in areas such as strategy, marketing, product innovation, and environmental management. Registration for this service remains open. Impulsa Alojamientos SBT is part of the "Impulsa Maspalomas" Tourism Sustainability Plan, promoted by the Gran Canaria Island Council's Department of Tourism to boost the modernization and quality of the municipal tourism industry. The project is funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU funds, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
If you are interested in registering, you can contact programa@socialgob.org or access the registration form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHSgqAvik-OTvEZ717NkaIjMxa262Tv4Tu761xua3kRmxpTg/viewform?pli=1
