Located in Rosenets Park, Hotel Kamelia is an established place for family vacations and events. In the competitive environment of the tourism sector, the sustainability of the business depends not only on the quality of the service, but also on the ability to manage costs effectively.

Energy costs are among the main operating items for any hotel facility, especially when it comes to year-round operation.

The air conditioning systems in the rooms and common areas were depreciated and inefficient. They operated noisily, with increased electricity consumption and rising maintenance costs. The need for replacement was obvious, but the lack of free capital postponed the investment.

The management was looking for a solution that would allow modernization without financial risk and without additional burden on working capital.

As part of its activities as part of the Enterprise Europe Network, DIGIHUB provided expert support through Ina Agafonova in her capacity as Sustainability Advisor on the EENergy project.

EENergy was a pilot European initiative with a budget of nearly 9 million euros, developed as a new model for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in reducing energy consumption. The project combined direct grants of up to 10,000 euros at 100% intensity with an analytical component developed in cooperation with the World Bank.

This model was not limited to funding. All applying enterprises received an individual benchmark analysis of their energy performance compared to similar companies in Europe. The reports provided a structured assessment and strategic perspective for future improvements – a tool that builds on the one-off investment in a long-term management policy.

DIGIHUB support included:

• analysis of the current energy situation and identification of priority measures;
• selection of the most suitable assets with measurable impact;
• preparation of the application for competitive European selection;
• administrative management of the project and verification of the results;
• interpretation of the benchmark report in the context of the development of the business.

Following project approval, the Camellia Hotel implemented new high-efficiency air conditioning modules, optimizing energy consumption and improving guest comfort.

The approved funding amounts to 8,206.23 euros, representing a 100% grant, fully covering the cost of the new equipment.

The modernization was implemented without interruption of operations and without financial burden for the owners. The effect was evident in the first monthly bills – lower energy consumption, quieter operation of the systems and a more stable indoor climate.

The resulting benchmark analysis provides management with additional clarity regarding the hotel's positioning relative to similar enterprises and outlines future opportunities for additional optimization.

“Thanks to the professional support from DIGIHUB, the administrative burden for us was minimal. The investment was made entirely with European funding, and the result was immediately felt in our expenses. This is a real and practical tool for business.“

— Ivo Boev, Kamelia Hotel

The case with the Kamelia Hotel is part of DIGIHUB's broader work on the EENergy project. Within the framework of the initiative, a total of seven project proposals were submitted by enterprises in the region, four of which received approval for funding at the European level, with the expert support of DIGIHUB. This places Burgas among the active participants in the pilot mechanism for energy efficiency of SMEs.

“For us, EENergy was an opportunity not just to assist in individual investments, but to show that local business can successfully compete at the European level. We submitted seven project proposals, four of which were approved – this is a serious result for a regional hub. I am glad that we were able to support enterprises that took a real step towards lower costs and more sustainable development.“

— Ina Agafonova, DIGIHUB, Sustainability Advisor to the Enterprise Europe Network 2022-2025