How tourism SMEs are reporting sustainability, and how yours can too
SMEs want to become more sustainable but lack a clear path and someone to walk it with them. Banking is uniquely positioned to fill that role, and Crédito Agrícola's Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Programme is proof that it works. Two editions, 25 companies supported, and a one-to-many model that scales beyond direct participants. Applications for the 3rd edition are now open.
If you ask a tourism SME to describe its sustainability strategy, you will almost always hear the same answer. There is intention, but a lack of clarity on where and how to begin.
Finance is one of the main accelerators of the sustainable transition. And so banking, as the primary source of capital for Portuguese SMEs, is naturally one of the central partners in that process. However, the effectiveness of that partnership depends on the ability of companies to access and make use of the sustainable products available. As long as SMEs cannot measure what they do or communicate their progress, financial instruments arrive ahead of time. Crédito Agrícola and Maze created the Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Programme to fill this gap.
According to a study by ISQ and UHY published in January 2026, only 5% of Portuguese companies use sustainable finance instruments. The main obstacle is a lack of awareness and capacity to use them, particularly among smaller companies. At the same time, banks are being progressively required to report the share of green loans in their portfolios, which means they will increasingly request ESG information from the companies they finance. SMEs that are unprepared to respond risk losing access to capital.
The Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Programme gives tourism SMEs the opportunity to remain competitive in accessing finance. Over two editions, 25 companies were supported through a structured process of diagnosis, measurement and reporting, with training sessions, individual mentoring and practical tools. The result was 17 sustainability reports produced and the capacity built within each of those companies to continue this journey independently. The model was designed to scale beyond direct participants, following a one-to-many approach. The learnings from each edition are consolidated into a freely accessible Practical Guide, available to any SME in the sector that wants to take this path independently. Since its publication, the guide has recorded more than XXX views.
The value of structure
For many of the participating companies, writing the first report revealed practices that already existed but had never been organised or measured: waste separation, preference for local suppliers, community initiatives, gardens with native vegetation, among many others. The process of preparing a report organises what already exists, requires quantifying social and environmental performance, identifies what is missing and helps define priorities.
The Programme challenged us to reflect in a structured way, to define clear commitments and set concrete goals for the future. At the same time, it helped us recognise that many sustainable practices were already part of our daily routine, albeit in an unstructured way, and it helped us organise, value and bring coherence to those initiatives.
Group experience paired with individual support
The support combines two dimensions that complement each other. In collective sessions, companies share difficulties, compare approaches and realise that their challenges are, in most cases, shared by everyone. In individual sessions with mentors, they address the specific questions of their own business, at their own pace, with the depth each case requires. This individual component was the most valued by participants, with an average score of 4.9 out of 5.
The session content was relevant and applicable, contributing directly to structuring and developing the work. In addition, the ongoing support was especially valuable, as it allowed us to clarify doubts in greater depth, something that is not always possible in the context of the sessions. Overall, it was a practical and enriching experience.
— Seven O Five Hotels team
Impact is the greatest economic opportunity of our times
At Maze, our mission is to prove that impact is the greatest economic opportunity of our times. The Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Programme is one of the arguments we have to support that idea.
The results confirm that banking's role in the sustainable transition goes beyond financing, and that there is much to gain in embracing it. For SMEs to access the green capital already available, they need the capacity to understand what sustainability means for their business, to measure their performance, and to communicate their progress.
When banking invests in that capacity building, the gains are mutual. Companies become more resilient clients, with stronger strategies and greater ability to access sustainable finance in the future. The bank strengthens its relationship with its client portfolio and differentiates its offer.
Ultimately, this is where the investment finds its purpose. Throughout the programme, participating organisations identify and structure practices with concrete effects in the territories where they operate, installation of solar panels, reduction of energy and water consumption, replacement of disposable packaging with reusable alternatives, acquisition of electric vehicles, and with direct impact on people, training for employees, provision of accommodation, internal consultation programmes.
Applications for the 3rd edition are now open until October 6
Crédito Agrícola was the first bank in Portugal to create a programme of this kind. It has already validated its impact across 2 editions and is currently accepting applications for the third edition.
If you know a company in the tourism sector (hotel, local accommodation, restaurant, or other) that could benefit from the programme, share the opportunity.