Scaling Experiences
Development program for companies
The aim of the project is to implement scaling-up development programme involving ca 80 new growth SME’s acting in hospitality and creative industry sectors mainly in rural areas in EU Eastern border regions. The programme is designed using innovative Experience Economy business model. There are two rounds of the programme, for which you can apply using the application form. First round 9/2025-5/2026 and second round 9/2026-5/2027.
Rise your business from a Service Economy to a Experience Economy!
What we want to achieve?
In hospitality sector more value basically means more experiences. Therefore, partners have decided to use the Experience Economy concept/business model when addressing abovementioned challenges. This concept enables to companies to make the transition to the higher stage in value chain- from Service Economy to the Experience Economy. It means that instead of offering services companies should focusing in offering real memorable experiences to the visitors.
More value more business!
Ca 95 companies from Experience economy sector (Est, Lat, Fin) are involved to the project from these ca 70 demonstrate real achievements in scaling-up. Via participation in this project, companies from hospitality sector are able to redesign their strategies and offers using the Experience Economy concept/model, so they are able to distinguish in the market and to offer memorable experiences to the visitors with higher economic value comparing to their current operations.
What we want to achieve with the development programme?
With Experience Economy concept/model it is possible to increase the capacity of new SME’s from hospitality sector to:
1. To reach new customer groups, especially foreign visitors
2. Design new offers and services in a creative way, in order to offer real memorable experiences to the visitors
3. To increase the economic value of the offers and services
Rise your business from a service economy to a Experience Economy!
Content of the development programme
1 day – Business-specific initial mapping: indicators, targets and development plan
1 day – Training on the principles, opportunities and tools for development using Experience Economy model
1 day -Training on value creation and workshop on quick thinking methods
3 days -Educational and networking trip to Estonia 29.-31.10.2025
3 days –Educational and networking trip to Latvia 23.-25.3.2026
3 days -Individual coaching in companies with product development expert
2-3 days -Lectures, international webinars and networking opportunities
Minimum 3 days -Independent work within the company to develop new experience products
1 day -Company-specific final review: indicators, achievement of objectives and progress of the development plan
How to stand out like a black sheep?
Via participation in this project, companies from hospitality sector are able to redesign their strategies and offers using the Experience Economy concept/model, so they are able to distinguish in the market and to offer memorable experiences to the visitors with higher economic value comparing to their current operations.
How can my company apply for the programme?
Creative and hospitality businesses that want to quickly and actively develop their business for a higher stage in value chain- from Service Economy to the Experience Economy. The company must have been established within 7 years and be a micro-small or at most medium-sized enterprise from the South Savo or South Karelia region. The application form is used to apply and soon to come. The selection will be made on the basis of a defined set of criteria. Other requirements: fluency in English and a genuine willingness/commitment to work in your own company’s development during the programme for approx. 20 days/programme.
effort = progress
Facts
Scaling up hospitality sector SME´s by using Experience Economy business model
Info
Budget
Keywords
Project partners
- Tartu Centre for Creative Industries
- Association of local Authorities of Lääne-Viru
- NGO Vidzeme Creative Hives
- Latgale Region Tourism Association
- XAMK South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences