The transition towards a more sustainable and digitally enabled hospitality sector requires more than awareness. it requires people with the skills, knowledge and mindset to drive change. This belief lies at the heart of the EcoSmart Hospitality project and will be brought to life during the upcoming multiplier event “EcoSmart Hospitality European Living Lab: From Learning Modules to Country Case Studies”, which will take place as part of the EMBS Summer School 2026 – Green Business in Europe.
More than a dissemination activity, this event has been designed as a dynamic European learning environment where participants will actively engage with EcoSmart Hospitality’s educational resources, methodologies and digital tools. By bringing together students and future professionals from different European countries, the Living Lab will create a unique space for collaboration, knowledge exchange and practical experimentation.
From Project Results to Real-World Application
EcoSmart Hospitality was created to support the green and digital transition of the hospitality sector by equipping VET providers, educators and SMEs with innovative resources that strengthen sustainability and digital competences. The project develops training modules, practical case studies, assessment tools and an Interactive Knowledge Hub designed to help hospitality organisations navigate emerging environmental and technological challenges.
The multiplier event represents a key milestone in the project’s journey. Rather than simply presenting project outcomes, participants will be invited to use EcoSmart resources as working tools throughout the Summer School experience. This approach transforms project results into practical instruments for analysis, reflection and problem-solving.
Through direct interaction with the learning materials and digital resources, participants will gain first-hand experience of how sustainability and digitalisation can be integrated into hospitality organisations and how these challenges vary across European contexts.
A European Living Lab for Sustainable Innovation
Hosted within the framework of the European Master in Business Studies (EMBS) Summer School, the event benefits from a highly international and multidisciplinary setting. The 2026 edition of the Summer School focuses on Green Business in Europe and explores topics such as sustainable value creation, circular economy, digital transformation, organisational resilience and responsible innovation.
This context offers an ideal environment for EcoSmart Hospitality. Participants from different countries will work together in international teams, bringing diverse perspectives, experiences and national realities to the discussion. The result will be a genuinely European learning experience where ideas can be tested, compared and enriched through intercultural collaboration.
Developing Country-Based Hospitality Case Studies
One of the most innovative aspects of the Living Lab is the practical assignment that participants will undertake during the week.
Working in international groups, participants will analyse sustainability and digitalisation challenges within the hospitality sector of a selected European country represented in their team. Drawing on EcoSmart Hospitality’s learning modules, existing case studies and Knowledge Hub resources, each group will develop a country-based case study that examines:
- Key sustainability and digitalisation challenges facing the hospitality sector.
- Existing practices, opportunities and barriers.
- National contextual factors influencing implementation.
- Recommendations inspired by EcoSmart Hospitality approaches and resources.
The activity encourages critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving and the practical application of project knowledge. At the same time, it demonstrates the transferability of EcoSmart methodologies across different European settings.
Strengthening the EcoSmart Knowledge Hub
The multiplier event will also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the project by increasing engagement with the EcoSmart Knowledge Hub.
Participants will become active users of the platform, exploring its resources and applying them throughout the Living Lab activities. Their experience and feedback will provide valuable insights into how the platform supports learning, knowledge transfer and professional development.
Furthermore, selected case studies produced during the Summer School may be further refined and considered for inclusion in the Knowledge Hub, expanding the collection of educational resources available to hospitality professionals, educators and learners across Europe.
Building Future Leaders for the Green and Digital Transition
Beyond the immediate outcomes of the event, the Living Lab aims to contribute to a broader objective: preparing the next generation of hospitality and business professionals to lead sustainable transformation.
The students participating in the EMBS Summer School represent future managers, consultants, entrepreneurs and decision-makers who will influence organisations and industries across Europe. By engaging them with EcoSmart Hospitality’s resources and approaches today, the project helps foster the competences needed to support tomorrow’s green and digital transitions.
The EcoSmart Hospitality European Living Lab demonstrates how Erasmus+ projects can move beyond dissemination and create meaningful opportunities for active learning, collaboration and innovation.
By combining project resources, international expertise and participant engagement, the event will showcase the practical value of EcoSmart Hospitality while generating new insights and knowledge for the wider hospitality ecosystem.
As Europe continues its journey towards a more sustainable and digitally resilient future, initiatives such as the EcoSmart Hospitality Living Lab highlight the importance of empowering people with the skills and tools needed to transform ambition into action.