Personalisation and Tailored Experiences

The tourism sector is adopting advanced technologies to meet the growing demand for personalised experiences. Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) are transforming how travellers interact with destinations. Hotels, for instance, are integrating these technologies to offer differentiated experiences, such as interactive entertainment spaces and gamified activities.

Digital Transformation and Sustainability

Augmented reality in museums and historical cities allows tourists to visualise the past of the places they visit. Additionally, the incorporation of AI and other technologies facilitates the creation of innovative and multisensory culinary experiences. Social media plays a crucial role in connecting with Generation Z, using platforms like Instagram and TikTok to influence travel decisions and effectively promote tourist destinations.

Key Benefits:

• Enhanced Engagement: Immersive technologies increase tourist participation and interest.
• Unique Experiences: Personalisation and gamification provide memorable travel experiences.
• Operational Efficiency: AI and digital technologies optimise tourism management and improve sustainability.

DigitalPress Group celebrated an unforgettable evening this Wednesday with the presentation of the 4th @ Awards of their newspaper Regiondigital.com. The event took place in the charming Gardens of the Hotel Ilunion Las Lomas in Mérida and was hosted by Diego Casillas, director of Miextremadura.com, alongside Elena Cárdenas, an actress from ESAD Extremadura.

More than 200 attendees enjoyed an evening full of good vibes and memorable moments. They were all honoured with the iconic @ symbol designed by the renowned Extremaduran sculptor Miguel Sansón.

These awards stand out for recognising innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact in the region, thus celebrating the talent and dedication of the awardees. This year’s gala has once again solidified Regiondigital.com’s commitment to excellence and the development of Extremadura.

Julio González Morales, CEO of DigitalPress Group, congratulated the awardees and highlighted the crucial role of RegionDigital.com throughout its 24-year history, praising the commitment and loyalty of the team. Looking to the future, he expressed optimism about continuing to innovate and lead projects both in Spain and internationally. He also advocated for simplifying administration for freelancers and businesses. Additionally, he announced plans to strengthen their role as providers of software and digital content, integrating artificial intelligence with specialised journalistic work.

You can visit the full news story on the official Regiondigital.com website.

Founded in late 2020, Boldest is a startup revolutionising how travellers interact with online tourist information. Specialising in the creation of premium interactive maps, Boldest enhances the traveller experience with intuitive and engaging digital tools, optimising marketing and sales for any tourist destination.

Problem It Solves

Modern travellers have little time and seek visual and interactive content to aid their decision-making. Current tourist information is outdated, leading to ineffective promotions and high abandonment rates. According to Expedia’s “Path to Purchase” report, the process from inspiration to purchase can take over two months. Boldest allows destinations to present themselves in a novel and entertaining way during this critical period.

Key Features

• Automatic Updates: Always accurate and up-to-date information.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Detailed information about each dish.
• Operational Efficiency: Optimisation of buffet management.
• Competitive Differentiation: Unique and advanced dining experience.
• Environmental Sustainability: Reduction of paper and plastic waste.
• Inclusivity: Accessible information for all diners.
• Innovative Marketing: Real-time promotion of menus and events.

Benefits and Future

This solution enhances customer experience, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability for hotels, positioning them as leaders in technological innovation in the tourism sector.

For more details, visit the official Boldest website.

Reusable Electronic Labels are revolutionising hotel buffets, enhancing the interaction between tourists and hotel staff. This advanced technology provides accurate and detailed information about each dish in multiple languages, optimising both the dining and operational experience.

Objective of the Innovation

The main objective is to significantly enhance the interaction between tourists and staff in hotel buffets, offering an informed and enjoyable dining experience for guests.

Key Features

• Real-Time Automatic Updates: Always accurate and up-to-date menu information.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Informed decisions and satisfaction of dietary preferences.
• Operational Efficiency: Optimised buffet management.
• Competitive Differentiation: Unique and technologically advanced dining experience.
• Environmental Sustainability: Reduction of paper and plastic waste.
• Promotion of Inclusivity: Accessible information for all diners.
• Innovative Marketing: Real-time promotion of menus, offers, and events.

Benefits and Future

This solution enhances customer experience, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability for hotels, positioning them as leaders in technological innovation in the tourism sector.

For more details, visit the official Electronic Labels website.

The next round of workshops for Dance Companies is just around the corner in Viminacium (SB), Merida (ES), Volos (GR), Ostia (IT) for its first round and Tharros (IT).

In all the involved communities the workshop is addressed to a wide spectrum of people: elder people, young people, people with disabilities, meaning any range of the active population in the communities.

Particularly, there is a strong interest for young people having previous knowledge on dance and theatre, as an opportunity for new learning experience on dancing techniques and acting approaches and above all, to promote the interaction between the dance companies, students and local professionals, in order to learn and understand needs and concerns of each other.

Together with a planned visit to archaeological spaces so that visitors can make progresses structuring their performing approach during Dancing Histor(y)ies Festival. Video diaries and communication materials to be collected in order to share this emotional experience among project partners.

DH Festivals press conference presentation – Rome

Dancing Histor(y)ies Festivals are about to start, and we have proudly announced the calendar during a general press conference held in Rome on May 23rd.

Complete Schedule of the Dancing Histor(y)ies Festival

• 25 May–25/27 July: Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica
• 24/26 June: Viminacium Arheološki park/Archaeological park
• 05/07 July: Festival de Teatro Clásico de Mérida
• 12/14 July: Tharros Area Archeologica
• 06/09 September: Volos

This press conference has also seen a detailed presentation of the first international dance showcase to be experienced in Ostia Antica (IT) – one of the most poignant archaeological and ethnoanthropological legacies in the Mediterranean – which has kicked off with its preview date on May 25th and will follow up on July 25/27. More info and the detailed plan of activities and schedule of our amazing contemporary dance groups are available on the official DH website.

Keep following all the steps of the project, we are ready to dance and create new bonds with local communities!

The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

DATA MANAGEMENT

In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 we hereby inform you that your personal data are part of a specific database for the collection and management of personal data within the project Dancing Histor(y)ies (from here onwards referred to as the “Project”) whose Joint Data Controller is Associazione Enti locali per le attività culturali e di spettacolo, with headquarters in Via Pasquale Paoli n.25 – 09128 Cagliari, VAT number: 01859050922 together with the other Joint Data Controllers defined by the GDPR agreement signed within the Dancing Histor(y)ies consortium.
The Joint Data Controllers may process the personal data collected for the period necessary to fulfil the obligations established in the Partnership agreement concluded between the Joint Data Controllers and other project partners and/or in the Grant agreement concluded between the Joint Data Controllers and other project partners and the European Commission.
Interested parties can contact the Data Protection Officer (DPO) by sending an email to: dancinghistoriesdpo@gmail.com to have a complete view of the GDPR or to exercise each of the following rights: access to their personal data; obtain a copy of the personal data; correct personal data; delete your data; limit processing; request data portability; exercise the right of objection; file a complaint.

Last Friday, 7th June, the Cáceres Business Circle organised the VII Business Network Gala, a notable event that honoured entrepreneurs who have significantly contributed to the development of our region.

In a night filled with sparkle and excitement, the Cluster awarded the Tourism2024 prize to Mrs. Pilar Acosta, CEO of Gran Hotel Don Manuel. Upon receiving this prestigious award on behalf of her entire team, Pilar highlighted the importance of collaboration with an inspiring message: “Tourism is a collective effort by administrations, business owners, and citizens; we must strive together for quality.“

The gala also reserved a special moment to honour Mrs. María José G. Curto, president of the Cluster, who received the Personal Award in recognition of her 35 years of dedication. This award celebrates her outstanding career in generating business and employment, significantly contributing to the economy of Cáceres. María José has been a pivotal figure, not only in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector but also in numerous activities related to tourism and associations, raising Extremadura’s profile both nationally and internationally.

We Travel Hub has launched Travelfinder, an innovative tool designed to monetise tourism services and maximise the economic potential of businesses in the sector. Travelfinder allows hotels, tourist accommodations, restaurants, and activity companies to generate additional revenue by offering complementary services to their customers.

Description of Travelfinder

Travelfinder is a customisable travel metasearch engine that helps tourism businesses offer a wide range of services such as accommodation, transportation, dining, and activities. Businesses can integrate this metasearch engine into their websites, social media, emails, and even physical spaces through displays with QR codes. This tool makes trip planning easier for customers by providing all necessary services in one place.

Objectives and Benefits

The main objective of Travelfinder is to generate a triple impact:

• For Tourists and Travellers: Providing more options and enhancing the user experience by facilitating the booking of complementary services.
• For the Geographical Area: Diversifying the tourist offering and promoting awareness and conservation of local heritage.
• For the Community: Increasing the flow of visitors and contributing to local economic development.

Key Features

Travelfinder allows tourism businesses to customise the search engine with their logo and the services they wish to offer. It is a versatile and easy-to-use solution, accessible from any communication channel. Businesses receive 80% of the commissions generated from bookings and advertisements displayed through the metasearch engine.

Implementation and Usability

Businesses can implement Travelfinder for free, benefiting from a tool that optimises the user experience and provides a comprehensive view of the destination’s tourist offerings. This tool not only enhances customer satisfaction but also generates additional revenue through cross-selling of tourism services.

Real Travel transforms the stories of regions into tourist experiences through a mobile tool. This application facilitates the connection, promotion, and management of destinations and tourist services, offering multimedia guides accessible on mobile devices. It enhances local attractions and resources, diversifying the offerings and educating users about local heritage. Additionally, the app allows for the collection of relevant data for territorial planning. Real Travel is free, and its content is developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, creating digital tourist guides with global reach thanks to geolocation. It is available for both Android and iOS.

Generating a Triple Impact on:

• Tourists/Travellers: Providing more options for resources and tourist activities.
• Geographical Area: Diversifying the tourist offering and raising awareness about local heritage preservation.
• Community: Increasing visitor flow and local economic development.

Features:

• Multi-destination Coverage: Addresses multiple destinations without territorial segregation.
• Enhanced Visibility: Increases the visibility of destinations at national and international levels.
• Traveller-Destination Connection: Facilitates connections between travellers and destinations, generating significant economic development.
• Value-Added Services: Offers added value through research and curation of tourist resources.
• Diverse Offerings: Diversifies the tourist offering based on local and cultural identity.
• Comprehensive Information: Provides information on attractions, tourist guides, activities, and more.
• Global Visibility: Enables global visibility for businesses and tourist services.
• Promotion and Sales Channel: Transforms the app into a channel for promotion, connection, and sales for local businesses.

Festival de Teatro de Mérida includes dance in its programme through this project’s ‘Off-Festival’, with performances by artistic partners from Sweden and the Czech Republic, along with another performance by a local dance company.

The workshops and residencies will take place over 7 days and will allow the artists to interact deeply with the historical environment and cultural community of Mérida.

The performances are designed to connect the archaeological sites with dance and the local community, offering a unique experience for both artists and audiences.

Key dates in Merida

Festivals Calendar

New technologies play a crucial role in helping businesses meet tourists’ needs at every stage of their journey. The following outlines the key phases within this strategy.

Inspiration, Planning, and Booking

At this stage, the digital strategy of destinations should focus on the main channels tourists use to plan their trips:

• Websites: The primary source for information, planning, and booking. It is vital that these websites are responsive across all devices and equipped with a Content Management System (CMS) that allows for content updates and caters to different tourist profiles.
• Social Media: Increasingly important for promoting a destination and as a direct communication channel with tourists. Chat features on these platforms are essential for immediate interaction.

Share and Retain

At the end of their trip, tourists share their experiences and contact details, opening up new opportunities for destinations to engage:

• WiFi in Strategic Areas: Keeps tourists connected and enables data capture through a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) programme.
• Segmentation and Personalised Communication: Destination Management Organisations can segment visitors and communicate personally, enhancing marketing strategies based on each user’s behaviour.