Innovation is one of the values that define the identity of Meliá Hotels International. For this reason, the company has actively contributed to innovation in the travel industry ever since it was founded, from its agile response to the tourism boom in Spain in the sixties, to the more recent use of mobile technology in the hotel experience and brand hyper-segmentation. The company aims to continue to enhance the customer experience and satisfaction while also inspiring excellence in the tourism industry.

Combined with support for entrepreneurship, one of the foundations of its Corporate Responsibility strategy, and reinforced by its close link to the communities in which it operates, another company hallmark, this vocation for innovation has led to the creation of the first vertical incubator for tourism, catering and hotels in Spain: a new way of involving hotels with the city and its entrepreneurs, and a response to a social need for innovation.

The Innovation Centre called 'La Ronda' is located in the Meliá Zaragoza Hotel and is the result of an alliance between Meliá Hotels International and the Init Group, specialized in the implementation and development of projects that create wealth by responding to the challenges in the market and in society while also ensuring economic, social and environmental sustainability.

'La Ronda' has become the first Innovation Centre for intelligent hotel, leisure, catering and tourism management. Launched in 2013, it can house up to 10 projects in a collaborative and creative work environment. The projects currently working in 'La Ronda' are:

• Cognit: Efficient energy resource management.

• CESTE: An international business school working on adapting training curriculums to the real needs of the hotel industry.

• Espacio Agape - Nutritional coaching focused on hotel guests.

• Singular Venues - Special events in unique places, creative communication and innovation in event management.

• Garagescanner - parking.

• Link my job - Portal for employability for self-employment, relocation and entrepreneurship.

• Flor de Loto. Relaxation space.

This space is energized by Init, stimulating a culture of cooperation between companies, projects and people, and also between them and the Meliá Zaragoza hotel. Init also helps entrepreneurial projects to mature and brings people together to develop cooperative projects.

For Meliá, 'La Ronda' is a strategic project which it aims to grow and export to hotels in other cities, becoming another attribute of the company's city hotels.

Meliá Hotels International SA published this content on 27 December 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 04 January 2017 09:17:07 UTC.

Original documenthttp://meliahotelsinternational.com/en/press-room/12272016/innovation-and-entrepreneurship-successful-combination

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