The collaboration is taking place within the framework of the European Cassini Program #EUSpace and is under the auspices of SETE (Greek Tourism Confederation).
The Sani/Ikos Hotel Group and Impact Hub Athens announce their partnership within the context of the 10th Cassini Hackathon, an initiative of the European Union aimed at utilizing data from European space programs (such as Copernicus, Galileo, and EGNOS) to create innovative solutions for sustainable tourism.
Initiated by Impact Hub Athens and the Sani/Ikos Group, Greece is among the ten organizing countries of this year’s Hackathon, which will be held using a common methodology at a European level, with the simultaneous dissemination of the solutions that emerge.
The Cassini Hackathon Greece is under the auspices of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) and will take place in Athens, in a hybrid format (both in-person and online), from November 7th to 9th, 2025, at Impact Hub Athens, with the central theme being sustainable tourism.
The Hackathon aims to bring together young people, students, and professionals from different fields—entrepreneurs, researchers, designers, and data scientists—to develop innovative and practical ideas that address the current challenges in the tourism sector, ranging from resource management and reducing the environmental footprint to enhancing the participation of local communities.
At the same time, it will serve as the first meeting of key stakeholders in the field, as members of the academic and business communities will attend, engaging in interactive dialogues with the participating teams, strengthening networking and knowledge exchange.
“Sustainability is an integral part of tourism development and the well-being of local communities. Through our collaboration with Impact Hub Athens, we are creating a framework for cooperation and experimentation, bringing together different stakeholders and experts to exchange knowledge, explore new ideas, and promote innovation towards a sustainable, resilient, and socially and environmentally friendly tourism model,” said Eleni Andreaidi, ESG Senior Director at Sani/Ikos Group.
The 10th Cassini Hackathon features an exceptionally strong panel of mentors, combining experts from the fields of space technology, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The participation of renowned professionals ensures that the Hackathon teams will receive high-level guidance, enhancing the quality of proposals and the potential to develop solutions with a real impact on sustainable tourism. Among the mentors are:
Eleni Andreaidi, ESG Senior Director of the Sani/Ikos Hotel Group
Angeliki Papageorgiou, Events Manager, SETE
Dimitra Niniou, Senior Corporate Communications Manager, Marketing Greece
Elena Nikitopoulou, International PR & Communications Manager, Marketing Greece
Stefan Schneider, Space Downstream Entrepreneurship Officer, MDI, EUSPA
Rinetta Mitsi, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Goody’s–Everest Group
Chiara Konti, Partner – Head of Sustainable Development Services, EY Greece
Vasso Kotsaki, Head of Corporate Communications, TÜV Austria Hellas
Kostas Mavropoulos, Head of Sustainability and Water Related Engineering Division, TÜV Austria Hellas
Konstantinos Hoidas, New Initiative Director, Lamda Development
Betty Tsakarestou, Associate Professor, Panteion University
Representatives of the tech community from companies CAIUS and The UX Prodigy
“Our collaboration with the Sani/Ikos Group confirms that the future of tourism in Greece passes through cooperation, innovation, and the participation of local communities. Our goal is to create a shared space for dialogue and co-creation, where businesses, organizations, researchers, and citizens will develop solutions that enhance the sustainability and resilience of destinations. Tourism can and must become a lever for social and environmental regeneration, and this initiative is an important step in that direction,” said Dimitris Kokkinakis, Co-Founder of Impact Hub Athens.
The collaboration between Impact Hub Athens and Sani/Ikos Group extends beyond organizing the Cassini Hackathon and will develop through a series of actions and initiatives that will be implemented until 2026.
The two organizations, leveraging their systematic activities and expertise in sustainability and sustainable tourism, will strengthen the connection between the business and scientific communities, focusing on innovation, green tourism development, and the protection of destinations.
About Impact Hub Athens
Impact Hub Athens is a dynamic hub of multi-stakeholder innovation and social entrepreneurship in the heart of Athens, founded in 2013. As part of a global network with over 100 hubs in 60 countries and 5 continents, Impact Hub Athens is a core of visionaries, social entrepreneurs, and innovators. With the mission of promoting a fair and sustainable world, Impact Hub Athens supports businesses and organizations in harnessing entrepreneurship and profitability for the benefit of both people and the planet.
Impact Hub Athens connects entrepreneurs and pioneers with large organizations, investors, and the public sector to foster collaborations. Through this curated networking, Impact Hub Athens facilitates inclusive and sustainable innovation on a scale that can make a difference.
About Sani/Ikos Group
The Sani/Ikos Hotel Group is a leader in sustainability and sustainable tourism, with numerous international awards and certifications in areas such as environmental management and carbon neutrality. The group is a member of the United Nations Global Compact for businesses and the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (UNEP, UNWTO, Ellen MacArthur Foundation).
As part of its sustainability strategy, the group has set an ambitious triple goal for zero carbon emissions by 2030, the complete elimination of single-use plastics, and nearly zero waste to landfill by the end of 2025. Additionally, the group has developed programs for the study and protection of Mediterranean biodiversity in collaboration with scientific bodies, and each year supports over 60 NGOs for actions promoting education, health, social cohesion, culture, and equality.
Today, all of the group’s resorts operate on 100% renewable energy with guarantees of origin, with Sani Resort in Halkidiki being the first carbon-neutral resort in Greece. The group invests in photovoltaic parks, energy-saving systems, the electrification of facilities and fleets, charging infrastructure, as well as CO₂ absorption and offsetting initiatives. At all of its resorts, it applies advanced technologies such as full water recycling for irrigation, composting of organic waste, artificial intelligence applications to reduce food waste, and replacing plastics with biodegradable or reusable packaging, among many other initiatives.
