Focus BC Discusses Smart Destinations at Algarve Tech Hub Summit

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the future of tourism, urban management, and visitor experiences. As cities look for smarter ways to improve mobility, sustainability, security, and hospitality services, the concept of Smart Destinations continues to gain momentum across Europe.

In March 2022, Focus BC returned to the Algarve to participate in DISRUPT’22, an event integrated into the Algarve Tech Hub Summit and focused on innovation, smart cities, and tourism technology.

What Are Smart Destinations?

The term Smart Destinations is used by the European Commission to describe cities and regions that use technology and innovation to improve tourism experiences, public services, and operational efficiency.

By combining data, connectivity, and digital platforms, Smart Destinations aim to create better experiences for residents, tourists, businesses, and public authorities.

At DISRUPT’22, the discussion focused on how cities can use technology not only to attract more visitors, but also to better understand urban dynamics and make more informed operational decisions.

Focus BC at DISRUPT’22

During the event, Sandro Batista, Managing Partner at Focus BC, spoke about some of the biggest challenges faced by Smart Destinations and how technologies such as Mapify IoT can help cities collect, process, and visualize operational data in real time.

The presentation explored how IoT sensors distributed across a city can generate valuable insights related to:

• Tourism flows

• Mobility patterns

• Urban operations

• Visitor behavior

• Public space management

• Sustainability initiatives

By transforming data into actionable insights, cities can improve tourism strategies, optimize services, and create more connected and efficient urban experiences.

Collaboration and Innovation in Tourism Technology

The session also featured other industry and academic experts, including:

• Professor Dimitrios Buhalis from Bournemouth University

• David Santos Gonzalez from Vodafone

The event brought together technology companies, public entities, and innovation leaders to discuss the future of digital transformation in tourism and city management.

How Mapify and City as a Platform Support Smart Destinations

At Focus BC, solutions such as Mapify and City as a Platform are designed to help organizations better understand and manage complex environments through location intelligence and operational visibility.

City as a Platform combines:

• Mapify technology

• IoT integration

• Real-time operational data

• Collaborative mapping tools

• Google technologies

This integrated approach allows cities, tourism organizations, and public services to better monitor urban activity, improve communication, and support smarter decision-making processes.

Watch the Presentation

The full DISRUPT’22 session was streamed live on Facebook Live. Focus BC’s presentation starts at 1:54:50 in the event recording.