The nine winning projects propose solutions that have a demonstrable impact, can be implemented in the short term and are sustainable in the long term, or that help to mitigate the effects of overcrowding and ensure a better social and economic distribution of tourism activity for the city as a whole.

The three grant categories were as follows: marketing digitalisation projects (€1 million), creation and consolidation of the destination’s data, tools and digital assets (€1 million) and other digitalisation, technological innovation and sustainability actions (€500,000).

The winners in each category are presented below:

Category 1. Marketing digitalisation projects

• Platform for attracting tourists to Barcelona’s shops (PATCB). Driven by the Barcelona Comerç Foundation, it will allow businesses to publish their information, while Barcelona Comerç and approved institutions will be able to post articles, campaigns, routes, events calendars and the sale of tickets for public transport and places of interest that help to decentralise tourism in the city.
• Digitisation and commercialisation of heritage (DICOPA). This project from the Clúster TIC Turisme de Catalunya Association consists of the creation of 3D digital assets of the most important elements of Barcelona’s heritage in order to integrate them into sales channels. Each model will include stories adapted for adults, adolescents and children in Catalan, Spanish, English, French, German and Italian, offering visitors a digital experience that complements the physical visit.
• Interactive screens to boost local trade. The Catalan Association of Family-Owned Retail Businesses – Comertia is behind the installation of screens in shops to serve a number of purposes, including increasing the visibility of products and promotions. They will allow direct interaction with users, with personalised information and dynamic content. The aim of this solution is to modernise commercial spaces, increase their visual appeal and facilitate the shopping process.

Category 2. Creation and consolidation of the destination’s data, tools and digital assets

• Advanced event management solution to optimise demand and distribution of tourist flows, promoted by the Barcelona Hotel Guild. The database will integrate several sources of information, such as cultural events, congresses and other programmed activities that have an impact on tourist demand.
• HUB CITY. Hub City Guides Barcelona. Clúster TIC Turisme de Catalunya Association. A programme for the management and organisation of guided tours aimed at tour operators, complemented by a mobile app to help guides in their work and, ultimately, to provide a tourism intelligence system capable of collecting information on visitors.
• PIMEC Visitor Economy Data Hub. PIMEC is implementing a platform that dynamically integrates geolocated databases on various parameters related to tourism activity and the visitor economy, in order to generate information, knowledge and intelligence that will allow it to be sized up, in addition to strengthening the competitiveness of the related associative sphere, developing new indicators, creating new services and promoting informed decision-making for companies, institutions and society.
• BOQ_DATA2024_2 Boqueria digital. The Boqueria Municipal Market Traders’ Association aims to implement advanced smart sensors to count people and develop a platform to optimise operational management and improve the movement of market visitors.
• Digital loyalty to boost local commerce in Barcelona, by the Catalan Association of Family-Owned Retail Businesses – Comertia. The initiative uses Synerise, a loyalty platform that combines artificial intelligence and data to personalise offers and recommendations to customers, and Passcreator, a tool that creates digital cards that users can store on their mobile phones, similar to airline tickets stored in an electronic wallet. The digital cards will be downloadable via QR codes located at key points such as airports, train and metro stations and shops.

Category 3. Other digitalisation, technological innovation and sustainability actions

• 365 Barcelona Sport Experiences. Barcelona Sportstech HUB23. The Sportstech concept offers personalised packages that tap into the connection between the two sectors. This will give visitors access to unique experiences that include innovative technologies applied to sport, such as augmented and virtual reality, as well as interaction with leading institutions such as the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and top professional teams.