SERVICES
Heuristics Consulting & Auditing (HCA) provides specialized auditing and advisory services for the maritime, cruise, and hospitality industries, helping organizations achieve excellence in HSEQ, sustainability, and destination development. We support cruise ports, tourism authorities, and hospitality operators in building safe, compliant, and efficient operations that meet international standards. Through independent audits, performance reviews, and tailored improvement frameworks, HCA enhances operational quality, strengthens environmental responsibility, and drives sustainable growth across every stage of service delivery.
PROJECTS
HCA has led and contributed to high-impact maritime and tourism initiatives across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Our portfolio includes advisory roles in the development of the Brisbane Cruise Terminal in Australia, destination planning for Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, and the establishment of India’s first domestic cruise line from Mumbai. We also support the Saudi Red Sea Authority in designing the regulatory and operational framework for sustainable maritime tourism. Additional work includes newbuild and refurbishment projects for international cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, TUI, and Saga, and strategic consulting for the Kefalonia and Ithaca Port Authority in Greece. Each project reflects HCA’s commitment to integrating safety, quality, and sustainability into commercially viable, destination-enhancing solutions.
CLIENTS
HCA collaborates with a diverse portfolio of clients across the maritime, cruise, and hospitality sectors, including port authorities, tourism boards, government agencies, and cruise operators. Our clients trust us for our independence, technical depth, and operational understanding. We have supported organizations such as the Kefalonia and Ithaca Port Authority, Saudi Red Sea Authority, Celebrity Cruises, TUI, Virgin Voyages, Levante Ferries, and Saga Cruises, as well as destination development bodies in Greece, Costa Rica, India, and Australia. Each partnership reflects our commitment to measurable improvement, sustainable growth, and the advancement of international standards across the global tourism value chain.
ABOUT US
Heuristics Consulting & Auditing (HCA) helps maritime, cruise, and hospitality organizations raise their operational standards through measurable, sustainable improvement.
Founded by Capt. Ilias Stefanatos, a seasoned Cruise Captain and Destination Architect, HCA combines maritime discipline with hospitality excellence to deliver practical solutions in HSEQ, sustainability, destination development, and quality assurance.
Independent, data-driven, and globally experienced, HCA provides clients with the insight, systems, and confidence to achieve compliance, strengthen performance, and create destinations that meet the highest international expectations.
OUR SERVICES
Our Services
Cruise Destination Development
Every framework we deliver is built on real-world experience for ports, ships, and destinations where compliance, guest experience, and profitability must coexist. Our recommendations are tested, practical, and measurable. We design systems that teams can adopt immediately, not slide decks that stay unused.
Maritime Audits
Most consultancies approach audits from a corporate or academic angle. HCA is led by maritime and hospitality professionals who have lived the operational realities — from bridge management and shipyard projects to resort service standards. This dual background brings uncommon insight into how systems and people actually work, not just how they should look on paper.
Hospitality Assurance
HCA provides independent hospitality quality assurance and operational auditing for hotels, resorts, and tourism facilities seeking to elevate guest experience and service consistency. Our assessments cover service delivery, safety standards, hygiene compliance, and staff performance, benchmarked against leading international frameworks such as ISO, GSTC, and Forbes. We help operators identify service gaps, strengthen operational systems, and align their brand promise with measurable results.
Integrated Approach to HSEQ and Sustainability
HCA bridges disciplines often treated separately — safety, quality, environment, and service. We deliver unified strategies that align these elements into one operational model, allowing destinations and operators to achieve certification readiness, efficiency, and market growth simultaneously.