Can a hotel serve as a point of early identification and protection for a person at risk? The European project SAFEHOST: Enhancing Early GBV Detection in the Hospitality Sector seeks to answer this question by bringing the hospitality sector closer to the prevention and response to gender-based violence.
The project is funded by the European Union’s CERV programme and is implemented by organisations from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain and Denmark. Its aim is to provide hotels and frontline staff with the appropriate tools to enable them to identify potential cases of gender-based violence at an early stage and safely refer people who need support. The hotel sector is often in direct contact with people who travel, work or stay away from their familiar environment. This daily interaction makes hospitality staff a critical link in the protection chain, particularly when dealing with vulnerable individuals or incidents that might otherwise go unnoticed.
As part of SAFEHOST, the partners will map existing practices and the barriers faced by both hotels and civil society organisations. These findings will be used to develop a training programme specifically designed for frontline workers in the hospitality sector.
The training will focus on recognising warning signs, responding appropriately and sensitively, and implementing safe referral procedures. At the same time, the project foresees the establishment of formal partnerships and referral protocols with more than 60 hotels, strengthening the connection between the tourism sector and specialised support organisations. The digital dimension of SAFEHOST is also particularly noteworthy. The project will develop a multilingual mobile application featuring an AI chatbot and referral directory, providing immediate access to information and support pathways. At the same time, a multilingual awareness-raising campaign will target both visitors and the general public.
The project consortium includes CODECA – Center for Social Cohesion, Development and Care from Cyprus, Ctl Eurocollege, Larnaka Tourism Board, Centre for European Constitutional Law, Asserted Knowledge (AKNOW), Fundación Concilia2, La Esse scs, The Phoenicians’ Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, KHRS ApS, and the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
More information is available on the project’s official website: https://safehostproject.eu/
With a focus on human dignity, equality and safety, SAFEHOST seeks to transform hospitality into a more active space for the prevention, awareness and protection of people affected by gender-based violence.
