PARTNERS
DPSD is the first department of Design Engineering in Greece, which has been founded in September 2000 on the island of Syros in the Aegean Sea. DPSD’s mission is to foster high quality education, learning and research in the field of product and systems design. To achieve this, it follows an interdisciplinary approach, combining the creative use of knowledge and ideas drawn from a wide range of disciplines in arts and sciences. Particular emphasis is put on the use of new technologies. The TouristHub project team consists of academics and experts affiliated with DPSD’s Interactive Systems Design Laboratory. The staff has an extensive experience in the ICTs/tourism convergence field, i.e. the development of mobile tourist guides, mobile tourism recommender systems, tourist tour optimization, e-marketing in tourism, promotion technologies in thematic tourism.
Other areas of research include the design and implementation of information systems, information mining, big data management and analysis, cloud computing, human-computer communication, user experience design. Over the years, the Department has succeeded in creating a strong profile in research and development. This is demonstrated by the participation of its members in a number of highly competitive projects financed by national or European funds, i.e. H2020 SMARTBUY, H2020 BigDataOcean, H2020 SELIS, MED-ROUTE, CIP7 HoPE, FP7 eCOMPASS, Mytilene E-guide (Operational Program Leader+), AlumniNet (Operational Program Digital Convergence ).
CTI is one of the largest research and development (R&D) organizations in Greece, employing a large number (more than 300) of experienced and specialized scientists (including many Professors) in Greek universities, postdoctoral researchers, computer engineers, PhD candidates, postgraduate students, as well as technical and management personnel. CTI participates in TouristHub through the research team ALGOCUR (Algorithms, Optimization, and Security). The ALGOCUR team members have extensive experience in the research fields of mobility in smart cities, systems optimization and large-scale networks, innovative algorithm technologies for the development of smart services, transportation systems and tourism, innovative algorithm services for big data management and analysis, cryptography and data security, augmented/virtual reality. With regards to the research area of ICT applications for tourism, ALGOCUR members have substantial expertise, mainly in the design of optimal tourist routes and the development of mobile context-aware tourist guides. This expertise is demonstrated by the large number of scientific publications, as well as the participation in highly competitive research projects financed by national or European funds (H2020 SMARTBUY, H2020 ORGANICITY, CIP/FP7 HoPE, FP7 MOVESMART, FP7 eCOMPASS, FP7 SMARTSANTANDER, FP7 SPITFIRE).
NT, a member of the Science and Technology Park (STEPC) in Heraklion – Crete, was founded in September 2005, and keeps a permanent office in the STEPC district. The company has a proven background in the delivery of Internet and mobile solutions, with particular emphasis in the integration with existing back-end IT systems. The company’s current customers include over 40 municipal and regional authorities in Greece, universities, private companies, and a number of professional associations. NT, which is ISO 9001:2008 certified, operates in both the private and public sectors, and has implemented a wide range of complex projects. In the tourism sector, NT has been actively involved in projects focusing on web portals, as well as smartphone/infokiosk/augmented reality applications. The company’s most prominent project in tourism is MitosTravelGuides Platform and Hotels_U (“Mobile App as a Service” for hotels). NT’s research team that participates in TouristHub, has a proven track record of managing complex deliverables in the areas of mobile and e-tourism.
GBS is a newly founded and rapidly growing tourist enterprise offering innovative travel and tourist services via its internet platform. GBS is the first Greek-owned company operating in the field of online tourist services, with an emphasis on hotel services and tourist activities/ trips. GBS also maintains a strategic cooperation with One Tourismo, a company developing online services for travel and tourism businesses. The key services provided by the online platform of GBS are: (a) searching for and booking accommodation; (b) searching for and reserving places in organized activities and excursions; (c) searching for and booking ferry tickets. In addition to the B2C provisioning of services, GBS has also developed a B2B service provision network through the establishment of affiliate programs. The GBS team that participates in TourisHub will contribute their experience and know-how in managing and implementing innovative e-tourism projects, i.e. the design and development of efficient and effective information systems and functional services addressed to tourists (B2C), as well as tourism-related businesses (B2B).
ECO is an incoming tourism travel agency bearing the distinctive title Greekferries Club. ECO was founded in 1995 and is based in Heraklion – Crete. Its focus lays on incoming tourism in Greece, particularly ferry trips, i.e. online booking and issuing tickets through the websites www.greekferries.gr, www.ferries-booking.com, www.greece-ferries.com and www.ferries-greece.com. ECO provides online services to more than 40 shipping companies, the majority being Greek, Italian, and Turkish-owned. The company has also developed software projects/ platforms, such as CRM for the appropriate management of customer lists, ERP for the appropriate management of business resources, and also a backoffice for administering and clearing the daily transactions. Among others, the company has created the affiliate marketing program greece-unlimited.com, with approximately 150 partners, most being tourism professionals and individual travel bloggers. ECO’s senior management personnel have over forty years of experience in Greek tourism. Additionally, the company hosts an in-house IT department for website maintenance and project development, B2C & Β2Β.