What we do

MAST PLUS  supports accommodation SMEs across eight countries of the Mediterranean in turning sustainability from ambition into everyday practice. Building on the initial MAST project, it moves from study to implementation by piloting and validating an integrated Sustainability Solution under real operational conditions.

At its core, the project combines the Sustainability Protocol, Self-Assessment Tool and Implementation Manual developed during the study period, into a practical and easy-to-use framework. This enables SMEs to assess their sustainability maturity, structure their transition and navigate certification pathways in a clear and manageable way.

Through structured pilot testing with at least 50 accommodation SMEs across Mediterranean partner countries, the project calibrates these tools to diverse territorial contexts, distinguishing contextual barriers from design limitations and ensuring cross-border transferability.

Supported by Communities of Practice and a strong transnational partnership, MAST PLUS reinforces knowledge exchange, peer learning and stakeholder engagement, strengthening the conditions for effective uptake.

By consolidating pilot results into transferable approaches and policy-aligned strategies, we actively bridge the gap between sustainability ambition and SME-level circular practice, driving the transition towards more resilient, competitive and future-proof Mediterranean tourism ecosystems.

MAST PLUS – Testing and validation phase

MAST Plus represents the operational phase of the initiative, focusing on the real-life testing, validation and consolidation of the MAST Sustainability Solution. Building on the study phase, the project is structured around four interconnected stages that ensure both technical robustness and contextual adaptability.

The first stage focuses on pilot preparation, where territorial ecosystems across seven EU and IPA regions are analysed to identify regulatory, market and operational conditions influencing sustainability uptake. This enables the adaptation of tools and the definition of a harmonised yet flexible piloting methodology.

The second stage is the pilot implementation, during which accommodation SMEs deploy the MAST Plus Sustainable Solution—comprising the Sustainability Protocol, Self-Assessment Tool and Implementation Manual—in real operational settings. This phase generates concrete evidence on how contextual factors affect adoption and performance.

The third stage introduces Community of Practice (CoP) support and co-creation mechanisms, bringing together SMEs, certification experts, consultants and support organisations. Through structured exchange and peer validation, the CoP reinforces implementation, supports continuous adaptation and strengthens the durability of results.

The final stage focuses on sustainability and transferability, where cross-territorial insights are consolidated into a Transfer and Policy Alignment Strategy. This ensures that validated approaches are scalable, transferable and aligned with Mediterranean governance frameworks, paving the way for replication beyond the pilot territories. 

Initial MAST project – Study and development phase

The initial MAST project focused on analysing the systemic barriers preventing accommodation SMEs from adopting sustainable practices across the Mediterranean. It developed the core components of the MAST Sustainability Solution—the Sustainability Protocol, Self-Assessment Tool and Implementation Manual—translating complex certification standards into structured, SME-adapted actions.