GreenHost in Reggio Emilia: European Cooperation for More Sustainable Hospitality

The GreenHost project made a new stop in Italy! On 4–5 November 2024, Reggio Emilia

hosted the 3rd Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), a two-day gathering that brought

together 19 partners from 7 European countries — Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The meeting offered an important opportunity to share project progress, assess completed activities and jointly define the next steps. Beyond the technical discussions, the collaborative atmosphere strengthened the partnerships and reinforced a shared vision: contributing to a more sustainable, responsible and innovative tourism and hospitality sector.

CSL La Cremeria and AITR – Associazione Italiana Turismo Responsabile ensured the

hospitality and organisational support for the meeting.

What Emerged from the Meeting: An Overview of GreenHost Activities

During the two days in Reggio Emilia, partners worked together in focused sessions to

advance the main Work Packages of the project. Here are the key highlights.

● Project Monitoring and Quality Assurance

The University of Macedonia presented an overview of the project’s progress, assessing

activities against the timeline and providing valuable guidance to ensure coherence, quality and effective implementation across all work packages.

● Development of the GreenHost Platform

AITR led discussions on the evolution of the project’s digital platform, which will become a virtual hub offering networking opportunities, job postings, and a new “Community” section designed to support group creation and stakeholder interaction.

● Integrating Environmental Footprint Tools

The IPP team shared preliminary research findings and facilitated discussions on the next steps for integrating environmental footprint methodologies into hospitality training programmes.

● Innovative Curricula for VET Training

SSGT presented updates on the development of the GreenHost curriculum and new

educational tools for VET institutions, aiming to strengthen green skills within the tourism sector.

● Mobility and International Opportunities

Together with CETT, partners worked on planning upcoming mobility schemes in Greece

and Spain, aimed at VET learners, higher-education students, recent graduates and young tourism professionals. Activities will also involve the tourism industry through

apprenticeships and placements.

● Communication and Dissemination

MTBG coordinated the communication and outreach activities, outlining strategies to expand the project’s visibility, engage additional stakeholders and ensure long-term impact.

A Shared Path Toward Greener Hospitality

The Reggio Emilia meeting reaffirmed the value of cooperation among partners in building tools, knowledge and practices that can support more sustainable hospitality management across Europe. The ideas exchanged and the motivation shared during the sessions represent an important step forward in the implementation of GreenHost.

Connecting with Local Stakeholders in Reggio Emilia

On 5 November, GreenHost partners met with several local stakeholders at the Mercato

Campagna Amica del Tricolore for a networking session and an exchange of good

practices. The meeting brought together project partners and local actors engaged in

responsible tourism, sustainable hospitality services, and community-based development linked to local cooperatives.

Through informal conversations, participants explored opportunities for collaboration, future mobility placements, and meaningful connections between education, industry and responsible tourism initiatives. Building these bridges between education, businesses and community organisations is essential to making the GreenHost mission a lasting reality.