Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt – How can hotels become more sustainable while managing everyday challenges such as rising energy costs, staff shortages, limited budgets, and growing guest expectations?
This was at the heart of two highly interactive stakeholder focus groups held in Alexandria and Cairo, organised by CEEBA – Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, in the framework of the EU-funded SMAC – Interreg NEXT MED project.
The sessions were facilitated by H.E. Dr. Ghada Shalaby, Former Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and moderated by Dr. Alaa Ezz and Dr. Eman Seif, DBA.
Hotel representatives, tourism and education professionals, and other stakeholders came together to share their experiences, discuss real operational challenges, and help shape practical solutions for more sustainable accommodation in Egypt.
Key Insights from the SMAC Stakeholder Focus Groups
- Energy efficiency is a top priority, both for sustainability and business savings.
- Water conservation and waste management need practical, achievable solutions.
- Staff training, skills development and retention are essential to lasting change.
- Simple procedures, clear responsibilities and realistic monitoring can make sustainability part of everyday hotel management.
- Digital tools should go beyond assessment and offer tailored, actionable recommendations that businesses can actually implement.
The key message: sustainability must work in practice, not just on paper. Every accommodation business has different needs, resources and starting points. The transition must therefore be practical, measurable and adapted to the realities of Egyptian hotels, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Towards a Simplified Sustainability Model for Accommodation
The insights gathered in Alexandria and Cairo will contribute to the further development and validation of the SMAC Simplified Sustainability Model for Accommodation (SSMA) and the AIRET AI Recommendation Tool, helping turn stakeholder feedback into concrete steps towards a more sustainable and competitive Mediterranean tourism sector.
CEEBA extends its thanks to all participants for their valuable contributions and open exchange, and to its partners for supporting this collaborative effort.
Get Involved
Are you an accommodation SME interested in upgrading your sustainability? Register here to participate in the upcoming activities of the project: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnDLmeahXNbBllAWZWeveuTnhhvKzaLOAxFrd_Q4piOiiZxw/viewform
Find out more about the SMAC – Interreg NEXT MED project here: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/smac/about/