Tourism Forward: Innovation in Tourism Is Already Here

Capsule^T successfully participated in the event “Tourism Forward: Innovation & Startup Edition”, which took place on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Heraklion, Crete.

The event was an initiative of InnoHUB HMU, in collaboration with the Department of Business Administration and Tourism of Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA), aiming to bring together the new generation of students, startup founders, and representatives of the tourism ecosystem in a fruitful dialogue about the future of innovation in tourism.

Capsule^T took an active role in the event, presenting three of its dynamic startups: Hotel ToolBox, Star Sleep, and Tourmie.

The teams shared their journey with the audience—from the initial idea to their entry into the market. Through open and meaningful discussions, the founders highlighted their daily challenges, strategic choices, and the opportunities arising in the ever-evolving tourism sector.

In addition to Ioannis Charalampakis, CEO of Hotel ToolBox, Eri Pavlaki, CEO & Co-Founder of Star Sleep, and Ioannis Makridis, CTO & Co-Founder of Tourmie, the panel also featured Capsule^T Director Katerina Saridaki, alongside faculty members of ELMEPA (Markos Kourgiantakis, Head of the Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Ioannis Kopanakis, Professor in the Department of Management Science and Technology, and Konstantinos Vassakis, Assistant Professor in the same department), discussing market trends and the opportunities travel tech offers to new business ideas.

The takeaway?

Innovation in tourism is not something that belongs to the future — it is already here, and it is evolving daily through the work of young people who dare, experiment, and create solutions with real impact.

Capsule^T continues to support such initiatives and to strengthen the presence of its startups in educational institutions, fostering the connection between entrepreneurship, academic knowledge, and the local community.