The new on-site visit of the HCH’s accelerator was successfully completed on October 2–3, 2025, in Kos, as part of the 8th Cycle of the Acceleration Program.

The purpose of this initiative, as with every regional trip of Capsule^T, was to create meaningful connections between startups and the tourism market, to exchange know-how with industry professionals, and to identify both opportunities and challenges that hospitality businesses face in practice.

A total of 16 startups took part in the trip — eight from previous cycles and winners of the accelerator (Deliverback, EV Loader, Hotellisense, Orbito Travel, SmartINN.ai, Unlimited Adrenaline, Vivestia και Wastecloud — as well as eight teams from the 8th Acceleration Cycle: Ask Navina, Bookerty, Caravelo/Umbrella Add On, Discoverly, New Generation Hotelier, Plana, SAIL-E and Tundra Ventures.

Day 1

The first day began with visits to iconic tourism businesses on the island, giving the teams the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into hotel operations, needs, and best practices.

The day kicked off with a visit to Mitsis Selection Blue Domes, where teams discussed with executives large-scale hospitality management and the use of technology in enhancing the guest experience. This was followed by a visit to Neptune Luxury Resort, where the teams were introduced to sustainability practices and technology tools that support efficiency and customer experience. The day continued at Ktima Akrani, where participants toured the facilities and enjoyed a lunch featuring local products and wines of the island.

In the evening, at Maritina Hotel, the event titled “New Technologies for Hospitality and Tourism” took place in collaboration with the Kos Hoteliers Association.

The event was opened by Mrs. Mary Triantafyllopoulou, President of the Kos Hoteliers Association, Mrs. Konstantina Svynou, Deputy Regional Governor of Kos – Nisyros, Mr. Theodosis Nikitaras, Mayor of Kos, and Mrs. Katerina Saridaki, Director of Capsule ^T.

During the event, the startups Deliverback, EV Loader, Hotellisense, Orbito Travel, SmartINN.ai, Unlimited Adrenaline, Vivestia and Wastecloud presented their innovative technological solutions, aiming to enhance the guest experience, improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and optimize hotel operational processes.

The event concluded with a networking session among startups, hoteliers, and local market representatives, where ideas and insights were exchanged on the practical implementation of these technological solutions.

Day 2

The second day was dedicated to further visits and direct engagement between startups and leading hotels of Kos.

The first stop was Kos Aktis Art Hotel, where the teams discussed with management the experience of running a city hotel that combines design, functionality, and authentic hospitality.

The next stop was the Blue Lagoon City Hotel, where the hotel team shared their needs and highlighted the areas in which technology can provide meaningful solutions and improvements to both operations and the guest experience.

Afterwards, we visited the Aqua Blu Boutique Hotel + Spa — a luxurious adults-only boutique hotel featuring the award-winning Cuvee restaurant, which showcases the property’s unique gastronomic identity.

The visit to Gaia Hotels focused on development strategy and the importance of technological tools for sustainability and customer experience, while the day concluded at Atlantica Marmari Palace with a particularly productive discussion on collaboration opportunities with startups and the integration of innovative solutions in day-to-day operations.

The second day confirmed the value of such initiatives: teams gained an in-depth understanding of the local tourism landscape, exchanged ideas with industry professionals, and identified areas where technology can truly make a difference.

The Capsule^T Travel & Hospitality Accelerator warmly thanks the Kos Hoteliers Association and Mrs. Triantafyllopoulou for their hospitality and invaluable support in organizing the visit, as well as all the hoteliers and entrepreneurs who welcomed the program’s teams to their premises.

Special thanks are also extended to the hotels that hosted the accelerator’s teams throughout their stay on the island:
Maritina, Mitsis Ramira, Natura Park Village Hotel & Spa, Andromeda Hotel Apartments, and Pelagos Suites Hotel + Spa, for their warm hospitality, excellent service, and contribution to the smooth execution of the program.

The on-site visit to Kos was yet another vivid example of Capsule^T’s mission: bringing innovation in direct contact with the market and strengthening the dialogue between startups and tourism professionals — building bridges of collaboration for the future of Greek tourism.