Calypso: Launching Event 12 th June 2013, Brussels Introduction to STEEP Project By Mr. Danny Silva, Project Manager

Understanding the STEEP Calypso Project and Platform through the five ps: Steep (Calypso) Platform 1.- The PROJECT 2.- The PLATFORM 3.- The POTENTIAL 4.- The PROGRESS 5.- The PARTNERSHIP

What is CALYPSO? The Calypso initiative helps specific target groups go on holiday – while at the same time increasing tourism in the low season. Calypso promotes exchanges between different countries/areas. Calypso seeks to support 4 groups: underprivileged young adults (aged 18-30) families facing financial or other pressures people with disabilities Seniors and pensioners who cannot afford travel or are daunted by the challenges of organizing a journey. The Calypso exchange model: promotes off-season tourism, particularly in regions where tourism is well developed but highly seasonal gives less-known, small or emerging destinations the opportunity to promote themselves to a broader range of European tourists encourages sustained employment in the tourism industry by extending jobs beyond the peak season.

The Project The Social Tourism European Exchanges Platform (STEEP) project was launched in April 2012 It aims to create an informative and transactional platform linking the supply and demand behind social tourism throughout the European Union. The STEEP Platform aims at facilitating transnational travel & tourism in Europe for four target groups: seniors, youth, families and people with disabilities. The STEEP project will run in a Beta version until the 30 June At the end of the project, it is foreseen that the Platform be associated to a new non-profit structure with a specific European Scope. This Project is now carried out by a consortium of seven European Organizations active in Social Tourism and led by the International Social Tourism Organization (OITS-ISTO). The Steep Platform seeks to support organizations, groups and operators who plan, organize and provide travel experiences to the specific target groups by offering them quick and easy access to offers and packages across Europe. Ecalypso.eu is a marketplace and more… The STEEP platform also serves to educate and inform stakeholders interested in beating low seasonality or attracting new market segments through multiple references on Social tourism. It also contains an array of publications, best practices, news and background data. Ultimately it is the meeting and sales place for the vast community of European social tourism stakeholders.

The Platform The STEEP platform Consists of 2 distinct areas: PUBLIC – comprised of useful data regarding Best practices, Social tourism research, Calypso Initiative actions, recent news and current information on holiday offers(available for sale in the Private area) and other useful resources and calls. PRIVATE – Open to members it aims at bringing the offer & demand within social tourism into one location. The tools allow for quick and simple transactions between buyers & sellers. It is an info and sales point. Useful tools allow building a profile, packages and pricing for sale directly through the Platform. Ecalypso.eu can also give the opportunity for parallel tourism services providers to find and cooperate with each other. One service provider can promote their tourism packages completely detailed with prices and attract groups, organizations, operators to purchase and/or promote the offers. i.e. Coach touring service providers and Accommodation providers can liaise with other members of the platform which may be able to offer parallel services such as activities, accommodation and meals.

The Potential is a unique tool helping the tourism industry cover low seasonality through supporting the DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCTS and packages for SPECIFIC NICHE MARKETS / TARGET GROUPS. STEEP services will support and endorse parallel activities which bring specific offer and demand together. STEEP services will aid in the development of partnerships, joint package development and other needs to members and partners of the tool. Through STEEP services offer a B2B service which sells specially designed offers and packages aimed at specific target group associations or specialist operators, inform and educate stakeholders on the advantages of providing Social Tourism offers and packages. Ecalypso.eu and the STEEP team will support the development of B2B partnerships which correlate and compliment one another in order to simplify the production travel packages.

The Progress PROJECT PHASE:  Platform Development  Member adherence conception  Networking opportunities  Establish administrative structure TRANSITION PHASE:  Networking  Member adherence  Dissemination Events  Establish operational entity  Project cooperation ESTABLISHMENT PHASE:  NON Profit  Service provision (to Members)  Education & Training  Maintenance of established structures  Consultancy Apr.12 – Jun.13 Aug.13 – Jan.14

PARTNERSHIPS STEEP platform Sustainable model which aims to respect the vision and philosophy of Social Tourism. Access to ecalypso.eu possible through: Buyer/Seller basic membership offering access to private area and all data at a yearly fixed value. Buyers add an operational Commission fee stipulated within the limitations of the Commercial Charter. Partnership agreement a yearly fixed contribution giving full access to the organization and its represented members. Partnership will imply board roles, access to project developments and proposals, commission free transactions, voting rights and a minimum 3year commitment to the partnership.

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