CapsuleT Builds the Next Wave of Travel Tech
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The Greek tourism sector is entering a phase where technology is no longer a complementary asset but a core driver of competitiveness. In this landscape, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels has emerged as one of the most influential institutional forces shaping the industry’s transition toward innovation. Through strategic initiatives that connect hospitality businesses with emerging technologies, the Chamber is actively building the foundations of a modern, resilient and investment ready tourism ecosystem. The CapsuleT Travel & Hospitality Accelerator, launched in 2019, stands at the center of this strategy, functioning as a bridge between the needs of hotels and the solutions offered by the country’s most promising startups.
On Wednesday, September 2, CapsuleT welcomed ten new startups selected for the 9th Cohort of its Acceleration Program, marking the beginning of another cycle of collaboration between young technology companies and the Chamber that represents Greece’s entire hotel sector. Opening the event, Konstantinos Kallioudakis, Member of the Board of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and Executive Advisor of CapsuleT, emphasized that the exponential rise in demand for technological solutions has reshaped the priorities of hoteliers. He noted that CapsuleT brings innovation closer to hospitality businesses by identifying and accelerating solutions—both services and products—that respond directly to operational and market needs. His remarks highlighted the Chamber’s role not only as an institutional representative but as a development catalyst investing in tools that strengthen the competitiveness of Greek tourism.
CapsuleT Director Katerina Saridaki presented the structure of the five month program, which includes business and AI workshops, mentoring sessions, presentations, meetups with tourism executives, on site visits to hotels and leading travel agencies, and participation in major industry exhibitions and conferences. Offered entirely free of charge, the program is designed to accelerate market entry, enhance extroversion and create conditions for investment, partnerships and meaningful networking.
The ten startups joining the 9th Cohort—ArtStay, ClinicaGo, Culizen, Depnos, Loomee, OverGrid AI, Pricinger, StayMate, Unloket and WhenWines—represent a new wave of tourism tech entrepreneurship. Their solutions address niche market needs and reflect the sector’s shift toward personalization, operational efficiency, data driven decision making and enhanced guest experience. Their participation confirms that tourism today is a complex ecosystem where technology plays a decisive role in shaping growth trajectories.
The success of CapsuleT is reinforced by a strong network of strategic partners. The People’s Trust supports the program for the sixth consecutive year, funding the monetary awards for the three winners of the competition, while Aegean Airlines serves as the official air carrier for the cohort. Additional partners—including NBG Business Seeds, Nelios, PwC Greece, TÜV AUSTRIA Hellas, Blue Functor and Investing For Purpose—contribute expertise and resources that strengthen the accelerator’s impact. At the same time, established tourism startups such as Clio Muse Tours, Ferryhopper, Triparound and Welcome Pickups participate as community partners, offering insights and connections within the broader travel tech ecosystem.
The presence of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels behind this initiative underscores its developmental role in a rapidly evolving market. The Chamber is not confined to institutional representation; it actively invests in innovation pipelines that enhance the sector’s global competitiveness. CapsuleT has become one of Europe’s most recognizable tourism tech accelerators, demonstrating that the Chamber’s strategy is not merely a policy choice but a structural necessity for the future of Greek hospitality.
As the tourism industry demands speed, adaptability and technological readiness, the Chamber’s decision to support new businesses and new ideas stands as one of the most impactful steps toward shaping the sector’s next chapter. The 9th Cohort of CapsuleT is more than a new cycle of activities; it is further proof that the future of Greek tourism will be built through innovation, collaboration and the creation of a robust ecosystem connecting businesses, technology and institutional leadership.
