Project Overview
SMAC – Sustainability Model for Accommodation MSMEs is an ambitious transnational project funded by the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. Coordinated by the Chamber of Drama (Greece), the project brings together seven partners from Greece, Spain, Egypt, Tunisia, and Türkiye to help small accommodation enterprises transition towards sustainability.
Duration: 30 months | Total budget: €2,321,252.02
The Partnership
Lead Partner
Drama Chamber of Commerce and Industry – DCCI
Greece – Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace
Partners
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce – ALEX Chamber
Egypt – Al Iskandariyah Region
Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations – CEEBA
Egypt – Al Iskandariyah Region
Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry - ASCAME
Spain – Catalunya Region
Democritus University of Thrace – Special Account for Research Funds, DUTH
Greece – Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tunis – CCIT
Tunisia – Tunis Region
Adana Metropolitan Municipality
Türkiye – Adana Region
Together with the seven full partners, these six Associated Partners expand SMAC’s outreach to 12 Mediterranean and neighboring countries, strengthening its impact network for sustainable tourism, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Associated Partners
- Technopolis PST S.c.a r.l. (Italy)
Expertise: Entrepreneurship support, sustainability expertise, technological innovation, and access to Italian policy makers.
Linked Partner: PP3 (ASCAME) - Union of Dannieh Municipalities (Lebanon)
Expertise: Local policy engagement, public awareness, event organisation, and tourism stakeholder access.
Linked Partner: PP1 (Alexandria Chamber of Commerce) - Greening the Islands International LTD (Malta)
Expertise: Sustainable tourism, circular economy models for islands, and support to local authorities.
Linked Partner: PP5 (Democritus University of Thrace) - Al-Quds Open University (Palestine)
Expertise: Technological innovation, AI and digital platforms, education and research management.
Linked Partner: PP6 (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tunis) - Alentejo Science and Technology Park (Portugal)
Expertise: Technological development, model design, and innovation ecosystem for SMEs.
Linked Partner: PP2 (CEEBA – Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations) - Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (Serbia)
Expertise: Sustainable mobility, communication and capitalisation, and access to tourism policy makers in the Western Balkans.
Background
Sustainability is now a key factor shaping the competitiveness of the tourism sector. Yet, most small and medium-sized accommodation businesses across the Mediterranean struggle to keep up. They often lack the resources, know-how, or technical tools needed to meet sustainability standards. Existing certification schemes tend to be too complicated or expensive for smaller operators.
SMAC addresses this gap by developing a simple and affordable model that helps these enterprises take practical, gradual steps toward sustainability.
Objectives
- Develop a Simplified Sustainability Model for Accommodation (SSMA) that MSMEs can adopt and implement step-by-step
- Build an AI Recommendation Tool (AIRET) providing customised guidance and sustainability action plans
- Train a pool of certified sustainability mentors able to assist accommodation businesses across the Mediterranean.
- Test and refine the model through pilot implementations in real MSMEs
- Formulate policy recommendations to integrate sustainability practices into regional and national tourism policies
- Establish long-term collaboration through the SMAC Network and OER-LLAB Platform (Open Educational Resource – Living Lab)
Main Outputs
- SSMA Tool – a practical framework and indicators for sustainability in accommodation
- AIRET Platform – an AI-driven decision-support system suggesting improvement measures
- Mentor Training Package & Registry – transnational training for sustainability experts
- Pilot Implementations – 35 accommodation MSMEs testing the model
- Policy Recommendation Paper – proposing policy alignment with ESG principles
- SMAC Network & Platform – continuous cooperation, learning, and visibility
Who Benefits
- Accommodation MSMEs gain a clear roadmap to start their sustainability journey.
- Tourism professionals & mentors enhance their expertise and employability.
- Policy makers & authorities receive data-driven recommendations for sustainable tourism governance.
- Local communities & tourists benefit from greener, more responsible tourism services.
Expected Impact
By making sustainability achievable for small tourism operators, SMAC strengthens their competitiveness, reduces environmental pressures, and encourages innovation across the Mediterranean tourism sector. The initiative supports the transition toward a smarter, greener, and more resilient Mediterranean, fully aligned with the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
