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Prof. Kaye Chon
Dean and Chair Professor
Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation
Professor in International Hospitality Management
School of Hotel and Tourism Management
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong
Professor Kaye Chon serves as the Dean, Chair Professor, and the Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management. Before his tenure at PolyU, he held academic roles at several U.S. institutions, including the University of Houston, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Virginia Tech.
Under Professor Chon’s guidance, the School of Hotel & Tourism Management at Hong Kong PolyU has emerged as a global leader in hospitality and tourism management education. For eight consecutive years, the School has secured the top spot in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
Professor Chon is a regular keynote speaker at international conferences and has contributed significantly to academic literature. He has authored or co-authored over 200 papers in international journals and professional publications, and has written or edited 12 books. His co-authored book, Welcome to Hospitality, is used as a textbook in over 100 hospitality education programs worldwide. Currently, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing and the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research.
In recognition of his contributions to tourism knowledge, Professor Chon was awarded the Ulysses Prize by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in 2011. This prestigious award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize in Tourism,” is given annually to a scholar for their lifetime contributions to the field.
Before embarking on his academic career, Professor Chon gained industry experience in the hotel and travel sectors in the United States. He holds degrees from the University of Maryland, Georgia State University, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, and Virginia Tech.
Prof. Dr. Fevzi Okumus
William McFall “Mac” Pearce Endowed Professor
Director of Global Strategy and Strategic Engagement
College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM)
University of South Carolina
USA
Topic: "Strategic Regeneration in Hospitality: Leveraging Innovation and Knowledge"
Professor Fevzi Okumus is the William McFall “Mac” Pearce Endowed Professor and the Director of Global Strategy and Strategic Engagement at the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) at the University of South Carolina. Until August 2025, Dr. Okumus was the Pegasus Professor and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association (CFHLA) Preeminent Chair Professor within the Hospitality Services Department at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He was the Founding Chair of the Hospitality Services Department at UCF Rosen College. His main teaching and research areas include strategic management, leadership, hospitality management, services marketing, training, and lodging. He has served on and chaired/co-chaired numerous PhD dissertation and master thesis committees. He has over 350 academic publications (over 230 refereed journal articles, seven books, 12 book chapters, and over 100 conference presentations and reports). As of September 15th, 2025, his publications have received over 35,248 citations, and he has an h-index of 82. Prof. Okumus has been recognized as a “Highly Cited Researcher” in 2021; 2022; 2023 and 2024 by Clarivate, based on data from the Web of Science. Highly Cited Researchers™ are 1 in 1,000 of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management (IJCHM) (Impact Factor: 9.0) and the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights (JHTI) (Impact Factor: 4.8). He is also the Founding Editor of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Horizons (JHTH), which has been recently launched in January 2025. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. He has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions including “The Michael D. Olsen Research Award” in 2016; “The University of Central Florida Scroll & Quill Society Award” in 2017, the “CFHLA Preeminent Professor” again in 2017, and the John Wiley & Sons Lifetime Research Achievement Award from ICHRIE in 2018. In April 2025, Prof. Okumus received the “Pegasus Professor” award at the University of Central Florida, which is the highest honor for a faculty member at UCF.
Prof. Dr. Dogan Gursoy
Regents Professor and Taco Bell Distinguished Professor
in Hospitality Business Management
Washington State University
USA
Topic: "Smart Tourism & the Age of AI: Redefining Guest Experience Through Technology"
Dr. Dogan Gursoy is Regents Professor and Taco Bell Distinguished Professor in Hospitality Business Management at Washington State University and the editor of Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management (SSCI IF: 11.0). He is the recipient of the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Scholar (长江学者) award from the Ministry of Education of China. He is also the recipient of the Michael D. Olsen Research Achievement Award, Outstanding Literary award for Social Scientists, as well as the ICHRIE Lifetime Research Achievement Award. Dr. Gursoy is also one of the few hospitality and tourism scholars who received the top 1% Highly Cited Researcher Award and Recognition from Clarivate in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. According to Clarivate, the Highly Cited Researcher Award recognizes the true pioneers in their fields over the last decade, demonstrated by the production of multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in the Web of Science. Clarivate states that of the world’s scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers truly are one in 1,000.
As a leading hospitality and tourism scholar, Dr. Gursoy focuses on topics such as effects of artificial intelligence on consumer attitudes and behaviors, use of artificially intelligent devices in service delivery, sustainability, services management, tourist behavior, and hospitality and tourism marketing. Dr. Gursoy has published over 250 research publications in refereed journals and 12 books. The scientific impact of his publications is evident in the cumulative h-index of over 100 and over 50,000 citations (google scholar profile). He is recognized and consistently ranked as one of the most prolific hospitality and tourism scholars worldwide. He is also ranked as the number 39 researcher in the United States in Business and Management category by research.com and the number 73 researcher worldwide in the same category.
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Battour
Nahda University (NUB)
Egypt
A’Sharqiyah University (ASU)
Oman
Topic: "Cultural Regeneration and Ethical Innovation: The Role of Islamic Tourism and Wellness in Sustainable Destinations"
Mohamed Battour is a professor of marketing at Nahda University (NUB), Egypt. He is a Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Islamic Marketing (Q1). He is Senior A. Editor in FIIB Business Review (Scopus Q1). He serves on the editorial advisory board of some journals, including Management and Sustainability: An Arab Review (Scopus) and Review of Management Literature. He has an impressive track record of publishing numerous papers in top-ranking journals (Q1/A*). Prof. Battour’s influence extends beyond academia, as he has been invited to serve as a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences, where he shares his insights and knowledge on Islamic marketing and tourism.
Pornchai Mongkhonvanit
President, Siam University
President, Sustainable University Network (SUN) Thailand
Former Vice President, International Association of Universities (IAU)
Executive Director, ACD-University Network
Pornchai Mongkhonvanit is the current president of Siam University. He is the President of Sustainable University Network (SUN) Thailand. He is the Executive Director of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue University Network (ACD-UN). He is the former First Vice President and former Chair of the Higher Education for Sustainable Development Cluster of the International Association of Universities (IAU). He is also the President Emeritus of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) and the former President of the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions of Thailand (APHEIT) under the patronage of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Pornchai is also a former president of the Thailand Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.
He has been recognized as a Notable Prominent Alumnus in Education of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his postgraduate degree in finance, investment, and banking. He received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand. He studied and received the degree of the National Defense College of Thailand. In addition, he participated in the Institute for Educational Management at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.
Serving as President of Siam University, he provides strategic vision and leadership on Internationalization and Innovation which make Siam University become the only Private University in Thailand that has been Categorized as university that focus on Technology and Innovation by Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.
Recognized as an expert on higher education strategy, emphasizing sustainable relationships between universities and industry, Pornchai received the Medal of Honor from the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) and Kyung Hee University, South Korea. Pornchai has also received honorary professorships from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Guizhou University, China; Pornchai has been honored with the Ph.D. Honoris Causa from the Angeles University Foundation, Philippines; the University of Cordilleras, the Philippines’ Women’s University; and Asia e-University in Malaysia. He has also received the distinguished alumni award from Saint Gabriel College and Kasetsart University.
Contact E-mail : pornchai@siam.edu
Distinguished Speakers
Prof. Dr. Faizan Ali
University of Galway
Ireland
Topic: "The Future Traveler: Changing Behaviors, Values, and Market Dynamics"
Dr. Faizan Ali is an Established Professor of Marketing at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, University of Galway. His research and teaching lie at the intersection of marketing, consumer behavior, hospitality, and tourism, with a particular focus on how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, service robots, and generative AI are reshaping customer experiences and business strategy. He has published over 140 peer-reviewed journal articles, authored several books and book chapters, and earned international recognition as a Highly Cited Researcher (2022, 2023). His work appears in leading journals across marketing, management, and hospitality, and he serves on the editorial boards of several top-tier academic outlets.
Dr. Ali’s ongoing projects examine the adoption and ethical use of AI in service contexts, the role of transparency and fairness in consumer trust, sustainable hospitality practices, and the psychosocial and performance dynamics of human–robot collaboration. Through his scholarship and teaching, he aims to bridge theory and practice by promoting responsible innovation, digital transformation, and human-centered approaches to business education and service design.
Assoc. Professor Hera Oktadiana, Ph.D, CHE
Trisakti Institute of Tourism, Indonesia
Adjunct Associate Professor
Griffith University and James Cook University Australia
Topic: "Regenerative Tourism: Moving Beyond Sustainability"
Hera Oktadiana is an Associate Professor and Postgraduate Program Academic at Trisakti Institute of Tourism, Indonesia, and serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Griffith University and James Cook University, Australia, as well as an Adjunct Professor at University of Brawijaya. She is also the founder of Muslim Women in Tourism & Hospitality (M.WiTH) and the Halal, Sustainability and Inclusive Tourism Forum (HaSIM). She holds a Ph.D. from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and CHE (Certified Hospitality Educator) from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. She has served as Head of Tourism and Hospitality at several Indonesian tourism institutions. Her research focuses on tourist behaviour, Muslim tourists, Halal tourism, tourism sustainability, and tourism education, with several of her works receiving academic awards. She is also a member of the editorial board of several reputable international tourism journals and has been a speaker at various national and international tourism events.
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