Tourism in Luzern: five startups win the Startup Innovation Camp

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06.05.2019
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More than 550 guests from 80 countries convened at the 6th World Tourism Forum Lucerne (WTFL) to discuss the challenges brought and possible solutions for the digitally transforming travel industry. As part of the event, an international jury awarded five winners of the Startup Innovation Camp.

Companies in the travel, tourism and hotel industries are confronted with the constantly changing innovative digital business models. Alongside established companies such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Uber, new companies such as GetYourGuide are taking the lead in disrupting the market. How can traditional and established companies address these technology-driven changes to remain at the forefront of innovation? This was one of the main questions addressed at the 6th World Tourism Forum Lucerne (WTFL).

More than 550 participants from 80 countries convened in Lucerne to gain insight on innovation, talent and diversity management in the travel industry. Besides the keynotes Karolin Frankenberger, Professor of Strategic Management at the University of St. Gallen, Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, Head of the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research, addressed the audience underlining the strength of Switzerland as being a hub for innovation.

The WTFL is also a platform to showcase startups innovations as part of the Start-Up Innovation Camp. More than 250 startups from 56 countries applied for the innovation camp and only 15 finalists made it to the next round. Following their pitches, an international jury selected five winners that received a $20’000 cash prize and a 2-year coaching program run by experienced managers and entrepreneurs.

The winners include;

Trip Boutique, Zurich (Destination) - offers tailored trips based on customer style, interests and taste

Prognolit, Winterthur (Hospitality) – offers a solution that uses machine learning Algorisms to help restaurants to forecast the number of guests to enable them to prepare the right amount of food.

RoomPriceGenie, Zug (Transaction) – is an online hotel revenue management software that enables boutique hotels and B&Bs to improve their pricing strategy.

KITRO, Zurich (Impact) – is developing a food waste management device to combat food waste.

EuroTube, Zurich (Mobility) – is developing technologies and building test infrastructure for sustainable vacuum transportation.

The future of Tourism in Luzern
Last year WTFL and its partners launched the "Tourism by Tomorrow" project to make Lucerne the hub of innovation for the tourism industry. Schedule to kick-off in 2021, the project will provide a digital platform to bring start-ups together with investors and service providers, one-week camps for Swiss and global start-ups and various knowledge building programs to strengthen the innovative power of the Swiss tourism industry.  Through the project, WTFL and its partners also aim to build an ecosystem based on its structured database which continuously tracks down promising enterprises in the fields of tourism, travel, mobility and health.

'Tourism by Tomorrow' is supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the New Regional Policy (NRP), the city of Lucerne, various cooperation and industrial partners.

(Press release/ran)

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