The TRIP-LED partnership between EuroAcademy Consulting and EQ Brands is built upon a foundation of complementary expertise and a shared commitment to supporting the development of the tourism industry and local communities.
EuroAcademy Consulting, as an academic organisation, brings extensive experience in research and education, particularly in the field of tourism. They are responsible for developing the project's methodology, framework, and content of the training courses, ensuring a solid and effective foundation for the learning platform. Furthermore, their background in sustainable and innovative practices, nurtured by Norway's focus on environmental responsibility, will contribute to the project's holistic approach to experience design. On the other hand, EQ Brands offers practical experience in the tourism industry, a strong network of local businesses, and expertise in project management and IT solutions development. They are well-positioned to address the specific needs and challenges faced by the Bulgarian tourism sector and will play a crucial role in delivering training and resources tailored to tourism professionals in the region.
The partnership between these two organizations leverages the unique qualities of their respective tourism industries. Both countries are rich in cultural heritage, natural beauty, and landscapes that attract tourists year-round. However, the differences between the two countries also provide valuable learning opportunities. Norway's successful experiential tourism offers and openness to other cultures can inform and inspire the development of authentic experiences in Bulgaria, where the local tourism ecosystem can benefit from digital training. The collaboration between EuroAcademy Consulting and EQ Brands will address these needs by creating a web platform and toolset that equips tourism ecosystems with innovative approaches, leading to competitive advantages and benefits for all stakeholders. This project outcome will include a study of best practices related to providing authentic tourism experiences, drawing from the expertise and knowledge of both partners.
The synergy between the partners ensures that the project caters to the specific needs and challenges faced by the target groups in both countries, making the TRIP-LED project a truly transnational effort. By combining EuroAcademy Consulting's research capabilities and EQ Brands' practical experience, the project will deliver a comprehensive and effective learning platform that fosters skill development, digital transformation, and sustainable practices in the tourism sector.
EQ Brands is a full-service consultancy specializing in creative and innovative solutions for any business challenge. EQ Brands uses a project-based approach to service organizations. Every task and client need is settled by recruiting the most qualified team of talents contracted to produce reliable, on-time, high-quality services. EQ Brands has extensive hospitality industry experience, focusing on experience design and design thinking methodologies.
EQ Brands creates, provides, implements, and tracks training programs that seek to align Employer, Consumer, and Corporate Brand communication. Using experience design tools and resources, EQ Brands helps customer-centric organizations enter the next level – becoming experience-centric. The company provides information services and data processing. The services are targeted at clients who provide hospitality and tourism services. Information analytics are aimed at using modern ICT tools to increase the quality of service.
In the field of tourism, EQ Brands has extensive experience working with SMEs, local communities, and authorities with the following activities:
EuroAcademy Consulting NUF is an organization active in different areas of activities. It works mainly with people in the field of adult, VET education and training. In this regard, the organization is constantly organizing seminars, conferences, meetings, etc. The company is also a VET provider institution based in Oslo, offering professional trainings for students and adults in the field of Hospitality and Restaurant Management. The company works with 8 highly educated and experienced trainers, using innovative and interactive teaching methods. The Company's management team has two years of experience working on projects targeting learners' realisation of the labour market. The organization implements new approaches and methods of formal and non-formal learning in its activities. It has specific competencies and know-how that can be used as an effective tool for integration for project purposes. Through its main activities, the company strives to promote its international scope.
Every year, the company organizes an exchange of experience through the work observation of colleagues from Norway and abroad and courses for professional development for its trainers and staff, mainly in the hospitality business. In that way, the company trainers can share best practices and promote the use of new and innovative pedagogic methods and technologies. Thus, they support their professional development, promoting knowledge of shared European heritage and diversity and developing professional networks across Europe. By realizing the exchange of experience by observing the work of colleagues, our trainers spend a period of time in a host organization in order to learn new practices and to gain new ideas in its main activities. The expertise of EuroAcademy Consulting NUF in consulting and corporate training for hotels and restaurants makes it a reliable partner for the implementation of any project proposal.
Cooperating with transnational partners from Bulgaria and Norway brings numerous benefits in achieving the project objectives and overcoming specific obstacles each country faces in their tourism sector:
A) Knowledge exchange: The partnership will facilitate sharing unique perspectives, experiences, and best practices, helping to overcome limitations such as Bulgaria's seasonality and Norway's accessibility and high costs.
B) Diversification of tourism experiences: Collaboration enables the development of a comprehensive platform that caters to the diverse needs and expectations of tourists in both countries, contributing to the growth and resilience of their tourism industries.
C) Addressing the digital divide: Cooperation will bridge the digital divide between the two countries, particularly regarding digital skills and competencies (Bulgaria ranked 26th of the 27 EU Member States in the European Commission Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) in 2022), thus promoting a more competitive and digitally mature tourism sector capable of meeting evolving tourist demands.
D) Fostering and promoting sustainable practices: Collaboration will promote adopting sustainable and environmentally- friendly practices in both countries' tourism industries, addressing Bulgaria's need to preserve its natural and cultural heritage and Norway's commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. By integrating green practices into tourism experiences, SMEs can reduce their environmental impact and support global sustainability goals, such as the UN's SDGs. In addition, digital learning offers additional green benefits, such as reduced carbon emissions, paperless materials, energy-efficient technology, and flexible schedules, contributing to a more environmentally friendly approach to education.
E) Resource pooling: Combining resources, expertise, and networks, partners can efficiently develop a high-quality platform, achieve project objectives, and maximize impact on target groups. This is particularly important due to the limited resources available to tourism SMEs in both countries and the need for innovative, cost-effective solutions.
F) Cultural diversity and enhanced credibility: The diverse cultural backgrounds of partners will enrich the content and facilitate a better understanding of the European tourism landscape, addressing the growing demand for authentic and sustainable tourism experiences. Working with international partners enhances the project's credibility, making the results more appealing and reliable for the target audience.
G) Strengthened European cooperation: The project fosters a sense of European unity and collaboration, reinforcing the importance of working together to address common challenges in the tourism sector, especially regarding the need to tackle the shared challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.