The Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) is playing a key role in developing the Simplified Sustainability Model for Accommodation MSMEs
Turning sustainability ambitions into practical solutions for accommodation micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the Mediterranean.
Within the framework of the Interreg NEXT MED SMAC project – Sustainability Model for Accommodation MSMEs, the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) is playing a key role in developing the Simplified Sustainability Model for Accommodation MSMEs (SSMA), an innovative approach designed to make sustainability more accessible, measurable and achievable for tourism businesses.
Recognising that smaller accommodation enterprises often face significant challenges in adopting complex environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, the SSMA aims to bridge the gap between ambitious sustainability objectives and everyday business realities.
Over the past months, DUTH has coordinated a comprehensive process combining technical research, stakeholder engagement, feedback evaluation and model validation.
Through two Technical Committee Meetings, held in May and August 2026, project partners worked collaboratively to identify relevant international sustainability frameworks, translate complex ESG requirements into practical assessment criteria and ensure that the proposed model responds to the diverse operational and geographical contexts of Mediterranean accommodation businesses.
A particularly important milestone was the stakeholder consultation process, including the first Stakeholder Meeting hosted at the Drama Chamber of Commerce in June. Tourism professionals contributed valuable insights into the challenges, priorities and opportunities associated with implementing sustainable practices.
Their feedback has been instrumental in refining the model, ensuring that it is not merely a theoretical framework but a practical, adaptable and user-oriented tool.
Alongside the development of the SSMA, significant progress has been achieved in the creation of the AIRET digital platform, which will support accommodation enterprises in assessing and improving their sustainability performance.
The beta version of AIRET has already been developed and shared with project partners for initial testing, marking an important step towards translating the project’s research and methodological work into accessible digital solutions.
The work undertaken by DUTH demonstrates the importance of combining scientific expertise with meaningful stakeholder participation.
By integrating international sustainability standards with the everyday realities of tourism MSMEs, the SMAC project seeks to empower smaller accommodation providers to adopt more responsible business practices, strengthen their competitiveness and contribute to a greener, more resilient Mediterranean tourism sector.
Because sustainability should not be a privilege reserved for large enterprises. It should be an achievable opportunity for every tourism business, regardless of its size.
Through transnational cooperation, applied research and digital innovation, SMAC is helping turn this vision into reality.
The SMAC project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
Last Update
15/10/2026
Next Med