Stargrowth

How Artificial Intelligence is Being Tested

In a Hotel in Bovec (Slovenia)

Through the introduction of a virtual assistant, the Alp Hotel utilized co-financing from a European project. Numerous opportunities are available through various European tenders for small and medium-sized enterprises with ideas and aspirations.

The Alp Hotel in Bovec now has a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence. This service was developed through the European Star Growth partnership. It represents just one of the opportunities available to Slovenian businesses through various European tenders.

As part of a European-supported project, the Alp Hotel acquired a virtual assistant that answers guests’ questions at any time about the best hiking trails, booking adrenaline activities, or recommending local cuisine. Žnider SABA, the company owning Alp Hotel, undertook the digitization project within the framework of the Star Growth partnership. This EU co-financed project is aimed specifically at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism industry that wish to develop innovative solutions. The Slovenian partner in the Star Growth consortium is the Ljubljana Technology Park.

Seeking Innovative Solutions for New Services

“After the closure of the Kanin ski resort, we focused in our meetings on introducing additional services for guests,” says Aljaž Žnider, director of Žnider SABA. “After brainstorming ideas with the late acting director of Tourism Soča Valley, Marko Miklavič, who emphasized the importance of digitalization and new tourism products, we began intensively developing innovative solutions. Director Miklavič inspired us with his idea of digital solutions and the potential of tapping into European funds. Thanks to the support from Ljubljana Technology Park, we obtained co-financing through the Star Growth program and the European Union, which allows us to fulfill these ambitions.”


For the project’s implementation, they selected Vandri, a company that developed an advanced system available to guests 24/7, providing personalized information and assistance with planning their holidays. “We believe the new digital solution will improve our business in many ways. It will reduce the workload on our reception staff, enabling guests to access information more quickly and conveniently, significantly enhancing their experience in the Soča Valley. The exact functionalities and development possibilities of our digital assistant will become clearer over time, but we are excited about the opportunities ahead,” Žnider explains.

What is the Star Growth Project?

The Star Growth partnership offers companies that succeed in the tender up to €7,500 in incentives. Although the current call is closed, the project aims to support 90 small and medium-sized businesses in rural tourism and ecotourism in Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Romania, and Italy. It focuses on strengthening their sustainability strategies and capabilities while aligning with the unique needs and advantages of their local environments. The project also encourages innovative practices and solutions that enhance resilience to shocks, increase social, economic, and environmental awareness, and promote responsibility.

The original publication is from the Slovenian Newspaper Finance.si:

Link: V bovškem hotelu preizkušajo umetno inteligenco

Finance is a leading voice in the Slovenian business market, offering trusted insights and analysis to its dedicated readership. With several thousand subscribers to its print edition and hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors to its online portal, Finance.si delivers fresh news and expert commentary daily, ensuring its influential position in the industry remains strong.

Photocredits: Andrej Firm

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