BeCiTi begins its journey: Benidorm's tourism innovation hub

• Based in El Torrejó, it will be a space open to startups, companies, institutions and citizens and will be aligned with the state PID and PIA
• The initial phase will focus on presenting the project to potential participants and signing the first agreements with companies.
• Among the objectives is that the technological solutions can be tested in the city.

The Benidorm Innovation Hub, a pioneering smart tourism innovation center created with the aim of driving the sector's transformation through sustainability, technology, and collaborative intelligence, has begun its journey. This was announced today by Mayor Toni Pérez at a press conference, where he also presented the graphic image of BeCiTi, the hub's name, which stands for Benidorm Smart Tourism Innovation Center. 

Toni Pérez recalled that "when Benidorm set the goal of becoming the world's first certified smart tourism destination," a milestone achieved at the end of 2018, "a roadmap was designed for each of the pillars on which this model pivots," with the creation of this hub being key in the innovation department. A center that "is already taking its first steps and is fully aligned with the national Smart Destination Platform (PID) project, promoted by Segittur and which will be headquartered in Benidorm, and also with the Open Innovation Platform (PIA), proposed by this same state agency and which will also be housed in our city."  

The BeCiTi project is part of the Benidorm DTI + Seguro Sustainable Tourism Plan and was developed in collaboration with Bosonit, a technology consultancy specializing in data and advanced analytics and one of the leading companies in implementing solutions based on generative artificial intelligence.

According to the mayor, the hub will be located in the El Torrejó municipal center, whose facilities will be adapted to accommodate this innovation center.

In fact, "last week, the Local Government Board approved the adaptation works, which will be phased to minimize disruption to the activities of the services and organizations it houses." The project has a budget of nearly €300,000, which also includes assistance in defining and implementing the hub and a year of service. 

Toni Pérez explained that BeCiTi is "a hub for attracting talent, development, innovation, and competitiveness." Broadly speaking, it's a space open to startups, companies, institutions, and citizens, which champions open innovation as a driver of change, generating ideas, validating technological solutions, and building a more competitive and resilient tourism industry. In short, it's "a meeting place for debate and collaborative work for all stakeholders who have something to say and, above all, something to contribute, making Benidorm the epicenter of tourism innovation in the Mediterranean." 

The mayor stated that "the goal we set for the project is to accelerate the transition toward sustainability in its three dimensions—environmental, economic, and social—by connecting talent, technology, and the region, through the promotion of open innovation to transform local challenges into global solutions."

He added that "obviously, the goal is for the technological solutions and developments" that emerge from BeCiTi, or "at least as many of them as possible, to be tested and implemented in the city."

BeCiTi Operation

BeCiTi organizes its activities around a multi-sector innovation network comprised of public and private stakeholders, from leading corporations and administrations to universities and technology centers. Its methodology is based on innovation cycles focused on five strategic challenges: energy sustainability, water sustainability, sustainable mobility, hotel processes, and tourism data management.

Each cycle promotes the co-creation of solutions through working groups, ideation sessions, and open calls for technology startups and SMEs, culminating in proofs of concept in real-world environments with the support of mentors and experts.

BeCiTi will provide collaborative spaces, training programs, strategic events, and access to funding. This is not a conventional accelerator: BeCiTi is a dynamic engine that offers visibility, networking, and direct validation of solutions, but with real scaling potential.

BeCiTi is not only an innovation hub, but also "a brand that represents Benidorm's commitment to a smarter, more sustainable, and collaborative tourism model," Pérez stated. It's a platform for building partnerships (SDG 17), fostering talent, and addressing the major challenges of the tourism sector from a shared perspective. 

With this initiative, Benidorm consolidates its position as a national and international benchmark in tourism innovation, opening the doors to a new future where tourism and innovation go hand in hand.

Path to reach the hub

As the mayor explained during his appearance, Benidorm did not arrive at this Innovation Hub "by chance or accident, but rather its implementation is the logical consequence of a tourism management policy based on intelligence and data sharing." "For years," he continued, "in Benidorm we have known the benefits that data sharing brings to planning and management. We have been doing this for some time with the hotel association Hosbec, the water concessionaire Hidraqua, and other companies and organizations." 

During this time, "Benidorm has been and continues to be a great laboratory where major innovation-related projects have been developed, such as the project for airspace management for the use of drones; to ensure accessibility for people with visual impairments; to understand beach flows and influxes; to organize sandy areas during the health crisis imposed by Covid; or the one that has allowed us to obtain environmental indicators. And the private sector, the hotel sector for example, has also invested in innovation to grow in quality and efficiency with projects like the Technology Room." 

"And now this hub, BeCiTi, is here to reorganize and drive new challenges." Pérez concluded by stating that, with its launch, "we are once again becoming the epicenter of tourism innovation for the entire Mediterranean and Europe."

About Bosonit

Bosonit is a technology consulting firm specializing in data and advanced analytics, and one of the leading companies in the implementation of solutions based on generative artificial intelligence. It helps companies and institutions transform and innovate with disruptive methodologies, tools, and technology. Bosonit focuses on R&D, collaboration, and innovation as the driving forces behind all its projects, generating impact and maintaining a focus on the user. At BeCiTi, Bosonit will contribute its extensive experience in project management, energizing open innovation ecosystems, and fostering collaboration around key technological challenges.