Submit your application for the 4th edition of 2026
Lab4Travel
The boost you need to stand out in the Catalan tourism innovation ecosystem
What is Lab4Travel?
Lab4Travel is an opportunity to enhance your innovative project in the tourism sector across three areas:
- Innovative knowledge, to leverage the latest trends and technological advancements to boost your project.
- Market validation, to ensure your project has real potential and strong demand.
- Present your idea to the Catalan tourism innovation ecosystem.
What is the goal of Lab4Travel?
To drive projects that enhance the traveler’s experience, improve city life, and boost the sustainability of the sector. We focus on technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship to transform the industry with real impact. If you want to make tourism a driver of change, this is your place.
What does Lab4Travel offer you?
Lab4Travel is the incubation program that drives innovative projects in tourism. It runs from May to November with weekly sessions and monthly mentoring led by leaders in the tourism, technology, and entrepreneurship sectors.
You will access a training program covering the latest tourism trends, business strategies, and the application of emerging technologies.
Meet our teachers.
You will have the support of experts and professionals from the tourism industry who will guide you in the development and execution of your project.
Meet the mentors of the program
You will present your project at the in-person GoTourism Up event in front of the sector and the program’s technical committee. You will be able to connect with other entrepreneurs, investors, and key players in the tourism ecosystem. We will help you identify and access the right funding sources for your innovative tourism initiative.
After successfully completing the Lab4Travel program, you will be able to continue receiving support through specific incubation and acceleration programs.
Incubation Program Features
- Duration: 6 months (from May to November)
- Format: Hybrid (in-person and online sessions)
- Content: Specialized modules in business model, sustainability, validation, marketing, B2B2C sales, pitching, among others.
- Final Demo Day: Presentation of projects in front of investors, key players in the tourism sector, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Top-level mentoring: Selection of professionals from the hotel sector, tech companies, marketing and business management specialists, researchers, and established entrepreneurs.
Who is Lab4Travel aimed at?
Lab4Travel is aimed at entrepreneurs, companies, and startups looking to drive innovation in the tourism value chain.
Researchers and students
University and research center technology transfer officers. Final-year students from any discipline.
Technologists
Professionals and companies in technology sectors interested in applying their skills and knowledge to the field of tourism.
Business profiles
Professionals and companies exploring new markets with high growth potential, seeking to identify opportunities and lead new projects.
Do you want to be part of the Lab4Travel program?
Fill out the form and we will contact you for an interview.
Don’t miss this opportunity!
Innovation in the tourism value chain
These are the six key segments with significant project generation opportunities
01
Transport and mobility
- Development of technologies to reduce the environmental impact of travel.
- Solutions to monitor the volume, behavior, and impact of travel in real time or predictively.
02
Stays and tourist accommodations
- Digitization of booking, check-in, access, and usage processes in tourist accommodations.
- Opening spaces to local residents for new services and products.
03
Tourism experience / visitor-centered experience
- Use of technologies such as 5G connectivity and virtual/augmented reality to explore tourist destinations.
- Creation of digital products and services to offer more realistic and innovative tourism experiences.
04
Environment and sustainability
- Develop solutions to measure the carbon footprint of travel and reduce water consumption in tourist accommodations.
- Actions to fight food waste and promote sustainable tourism.
05
Blue tourism
- Enhancing the Catalan coastline through the development of services and products linked to nautical tourism, leveraging the excellent opportunity presented by hosting the Americas Cup in Barcelona.
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Boost the blue economy to attract visitors and improve maritime infrastructure.
06
Visitor economy
- Use visitor data for behavior and trend analysis.
- Create Business Intelligence projects to manage this information and turn it into actionable insights for decision-making.
Barcelona Travel Hub promotes collaboration among the different players in Barcelona’s tourism value chain.
We connect international platforms, share knowledge and resources to foster strong synergies, and promote open innovation initiatives in the sector. Additionally, we work to raise awareness among administrations and facilitate the development of businesses and the entry of investors.
Initiative:
Collaborate:
