From September 9 to 15, eleven students from Mainz University of Applied Sciences, along with Prof. Dr. Isabelle Hillebrandt and Prof. Dr. Matthias Eickhoff, attended the 19th COEUR Workshop in Porvoo, Finland. A total of 30 students from six universities and twelve countries developed innovative business ideas to boost sustainable tourism in the coastal region.
“TOURISM OF HAPPINESS” AS THE THEME OF THE 19TH COEUR WORKSHOP
Since 2018, Finland has been named the “happiest country in the world” on several occasions. Despite this distinction, Finland and Porvoo are not immediately the first choice for most tourists when it comes to attractive travel destinations. For this reason, the students explored the question of how Porvoo’s appeal as a tourist destination can be sustainably enhanced.
THE WORKSHOP: A MIX OF TEAM-BUILDING, COACHING, AND INSPIRATION
The week began with a focus on getting to know one another and fostering cultural exchange. The students presented the countries of their home universities: Germany, Finland, Mexico, Poland, Scotland, and Switzerland. Over the course of the workshop week, business ideas were developed, and the teams were guided by professors from the participating universities. The students received inspiring input through several keynote presentations by industry experts. In addition, two “Idea Check-Ups” were held, during which the project groups presented their ideas and received immediate feedback. Various specialized lectures were also held, such as “Design Thinking” by Prof. Dr. Isabelle Hillebrandt, “The Value Proposition” by Dr. Tomasz Dyczkowski, and “How to Pitch Perfect” by Dr. Krystian Olek. Senior Lecturer Andrew Turnbull from Scotland gave his presentation wearing a traditional kilt and offered the students some final tips for their pitch presentations. His most important piece of advice was: “Learn how to KISS.” This, however, was meant more in the sense of “Keep It Simple, Stupid.”
THE RESULT: SIX CREATIVE BUSINESS IDEAS
The students demonstrated that hard work and dedication pay off with their six innovative business ideas at the end of the week:
- Nature Nest: A glamping experience on a floating apartment with an integrated AI solution to help guests understand the starry sky
- Reconnect: A vacation experience in cabins featuring workshops led by local providers
- SPORTVOO: A sports event for families that supports local businesses
- Happy Retreat: A camp to strengthen relationships and trust in partnerships and families
- Olla Ellossa: A wellness resort for recovery from burnout
- Connect Porvoo: An app to connect local providers with tourists
The experienced jury, consisting of Anna Vähäsalo (Senior Lecturer in Business at Haagia Helia University), Katariina Kurikka (COO of OpenCO2net Oy), Marjo Hinkkala (COO of the startup ResQ Club), and Yücel Ger (Development Manager and hospitality entrepreneur) evaluated the ideas from an external perspective. Nature Nest was awarded for the best idea, Reconnect for the best presentation, and Sportvoo for the team’s greatest transformation.
During the week in Finland, participants were able to forge international friendships and grow both professionally and personally. Thanks to this unique combination, the week will be a special experience for all participants and will remain a fond memory.
