The 2nd IQS Travelthon Attracts More Participants in Support of Sustainable Tourism

The second edition of the IQS Travelthon, organized by the Department of Tourism, Sustainability, and Innovation, brought together more than 60 secondary school baccalaureate and vocational education students who competed in 14 groups on the morning of Saturday, 25 November to work on developing a sustainable and regenerative voyage.

The second edition of the IQS Travelthon, organized by the Department of Tourism, Sustainability, and Innovation, brought together more than 60 secondary school baccalaureate and vocational education students who competed in 14 groups on the morning of Saturday, 25 November to work on developing a sustainable and regenerative voyage.

Featuring collaboration from the Barcelona City Council, the event aimed to "raise awareness among new generations about more sustainable ways of engaging in tourism and, at the same time, raise interest in the sector," stated Dr Gilda Hernandez-Maskivker, Director of the Department of Tourism, Sustainability, and Innovation at IQS.

During the event, the students worked together towards responsible tourism that has a positive impact on the destinations visited. In the first round, three finalists were chosen to present their project (travel design), one of which would be chosen as the winner by jury and audience votes. The jury consisted of Dr Daniela Freud, Coordinator of the Undergraduate Programme in Tourism and Hospitality Management at IQS; Toni Mascaró, CEO of eMascaró; Cesar Herrero, Sales Director at Ávoris Corporación Empresarial; and Xavi García, Cluster Manager at the Tech Tourism Cluster.

The students who won first prize were from CSI de Jesuitas Sant Ignasi Sarrià, and they earned 400 euros to make the trip they designed to San Vicente de la Barquera in Cantabria. Second place went to the team of students from IES Cavall Bernat, and third place also went to students from Jesuitas Sant Ignasi Sarrià. There was also special award for the school that contributed the most groups, Col·legi Canigó.

In addition to collaboration from the Barcelona City Council, the Travelthon was sponsored by the Tech Tourism Cluster, eMascaró, ACAVE, Ávoris Corporación Empresarial, Kayak del Ter, and the mentoring travel agencies Bracap and Nadiu.

The "travel hackathon" also featured Chema Carrasco, TVE program director and presenter, as the facilitator of the event.