Smart Tourism Research Center - STRC

Explore the cutting edge of tourism research! 💡

We are delighted to share that the KHU-UNLV Bilateral Research Seminar is taking place. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from leading academics as they discuss the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of hospitality and tourism, from AI's role in decision-making to the metaverse.

The session will be moderated by Prof. Chulmo Koo (Kyung Hee University) and Prof. Seyhmus Baloglu (University of Nevada, Las Vegas).

Presentations on:
- Metaverse Hotels: What drives customer intention to use them?
- Fair AI: How transparency in AI can act as a heuristic in tourist decision-making.
- AI-Powered Reward Systems: The effect on program adherence and skill improvement.
- AI: Human or Machine? The impact of AI-generated review summaries on helpfulness.

Schedule:
🕙 Seoul (KST): Wednesday, October 22, 2025 — 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
🌎 Las Vegas (PDT): Tuesday, October 21, 2025 — 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🌟 Calling all tourism and hospitality professionals, researchers, and tech enthusiasts! 🌟

Get ready to dive deep into the future of our industry with the JHTM Webinar: Digital Technology Advances and Futures in Tourism and Hospitality: Research Pathways!

We are excited to share this fantastic opportunity to explore how cutting-edge digital technologies, including Generative AI, big data, and ICT, are revolutionizing tourism and hospitality.

Join an incredible lineup of leading scholars and industry experts as they discuss:
- The dynamic Greek Travel Tech Ecosystem
- The impact of Generative AI on big data research
- Future research directions in ICT in Tourism and Hospitality
- AI-Powered Smart Tourism 2.0 and the perception of AI
- The transformative role of AI and technology in hospitality and tourism

🗓️ Date: Friday, 17th October 2025
⏰ Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM CEST / 7:00 – 8:30 PM CST / 9:00 – 10:30 PM AEST

Webinar Chair: Professor Marianna Sigala (University of Newcastle, Australia; Editor-in-Chief, JHTM)

Featured Presenters:
- Katerina Saridaki (CapsuleT Accelerator)
- Professor Juho Pesonen (University of Eastern Finland)
- Dr. Eva Martin Fuentes (University of Lleida)
- Professor Chulmo Koo (Kyung Hee University)
- Provost Cihan Cobanoglu (Virscend University)

Don't miss out on these invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of our industry!

➡️ Join here: https://uonewcastle.zoom.us/j/85337364745
🗓️ Add to your Google Calendar: https://calendar.app.google/qJ5mMsepaK9crWAz5

📢 Smart Restaurants: Transforming Korea’s Dining Experience with AI and Robotics 🍴🤖

Korea’s restaurant industry is rapidly embracing AI, robotics, and unmanned technologies to improve efficiency and enhance customer service.

✨ Key Highlights:
Lotteria: AI kiosks recommend menus by age and time, while “Alpha Grill” robots automate cooking.
Munmak Rest Area: Robot chefs prepare 150+ dishes per hour, reducing waiting times.
L7 Hongdae: Smart food lockers enable seamless, contactless pick-up.
Kangwon Land Resort: Service robots save 7,000+ work hours annually, improving customer engagement.

These innovations mark a new paradigm in Korea’s smart restaurant ecosystem, combining operational efficiency with enhanced customer experiences.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://m.news2day.co.kr/article/20250910500149

📢 Social Science Research Methodology – Lecture Series for Publication in Top Journals 📢

Hosted by the Association for Smart Tourism (AST) and Smart Tourism Research Center (STRC), this international lecture series offers cutting-edge training in research methodology aimed at top-tier journal publication.

🗓 Dates: October 1, 2025 – February 6, 2026
💻 Platform: Online via Zoom (Lectures in English)

🔑 Program Highlights
Coordinator: Prof. Chulmo Koo (Kyung Hee University)
Speakers:
Prof. Seunghun Shin (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) – Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis
Prof. Yerin Yhee (American University of Sharjah) – Experimental Research
Prof. Bora Kim (University of Surrey, UK) – Regression Analysis

📚 Lecture Topics
Sampling Distribution & Hypothesis Testing
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
Conjoint Analysis
Survey-Based Experimental Research
Moderator & Mediator Variables
Regression & Panel Data Analysis
Policy Evaluation with Difference-in-Differences (DiD)
..and more!

✨ Join us to strengthen your research skills and advance toward publishing in leading academic journals!

📩 Inquiries: [email protected]

🌐 Global Convergence Research Seminar – Prof. Yerin Yhee (American University Sharjah) 🌐

The next session of the 2025 Global Convergence Research Seminar will feature Prof. Yerin Yhee (American University Sharjah).

📅 Date: Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (KST)
💻 Platform: Zoom Meeting

🎙 Speaker: Prof. Yerin Yhee
Topic: The Human–Machine Lens: How Generative AI Shapes Tourist Decisions

Prof. Yhee’s research explores the potential impact of technology on tourist behavior and managerial strategies, with publications in leading journals such as Annals of Tourism Research, Journal of Travel Research, and International Journal of Hospitality Management.

✨ Join us for an engaging discussion on how generative AI is reshaping the future of tourism and hospitality.

🔗 The seminar will also be available later on YouTube.

Missed the session? You can now watch the full seminar on YouTube!
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDHYJ7cpCD8

🌐 Global Convergence Research Seminar – Prof. Chee-Wee Tan (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 🌐

The Global Convergence Research Seminar continues its 2025 Fall Semester with a distinguished lecture by Prof. Chee-Wee Tan, a leading scholar in management and digital innovation.

📅 Date: Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (KST)
💻 Platform: Zoom Meeting

🎤 Keynote Speaker:
Prof. Chee-Wee Tan – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

📝 Topic:
Customer Delight in AI Robotic Service and Antecedents: An Empirical Study on Hotel Service

Prof. Tan’s research focuses on the design and innovation issues of digital platforms, with publications in leading journals such as MISQ, ISR, JMIS, JOM, and JAIS. He has also held honorary and guest professorships at renowned universities worldwide.

📽 The seminar will also be available later on YouTube.

🌐 Global Convergence Research Seminar – Prof. Chee-Wee Tan (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 🌐

The Global Convergence Research Seminar continues its 2025 Fall Semester with a distinguished lecture by Prof. Chee-Wee Tan, a leading scholar in management and digital innovation.

📅 Date: Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (KST)
💻 Platform: Zoom Meeting

🎤 Keynote Speaker:
Prof. Chee-Wee Tan – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

📝 Topic:
Customer Delight in AI Robotic Service and Antecedents: An Empirical Study on Hotel Service

Prof. Tan’s research focuses on the design and innovation issues of digital platforms, with publications in leading journals such as MISQ, ISR, JMIS, JOM, and JAIS. He has also held honorary and guest professorships at renowned universities worldwide.

📽 The seminar will also be available later on YouTube.

🌏 Korea Smart Tourism Society – Jeju Special Seminar
“Rediscovering the Tourism Value of Jeju in the Age of AI”

📅 Date & Time: September 12, 2025 (Fri) | 16:00–18:00
📍 Venue: Hanra Convention Center, Jeju Halla University

✨ Program Highlights
16:00–16:20 ▸ Rediscovering Jeju’s Value in the AI Smart Tourism 2.0 Era
Prof. Chulmo Koo (Smart Tourism Research Institute, Kyung Hee University)

16:20–16:40 ▸ The Future of Talent Development in Jeju’s Sustainable Tourism Industry
Prof. Hyunjung Kim (Dept. of Hotel Culinary Arts, Jeju Halla University)

16:40–17:00 ▸ Tourism Strategy and Achievements of Singapore
Dongyeon Kim (Deputy Director, Singapore Tourism Board)

17:00–17:20 ▸ Strategies for Jeju Tourism’s Economic Outbound Response
Kim Yeongnam (CEO, Jeju Gimnyeong Maze Park)

17:20–17:40 ▸ Starting a Business in Jeju Tourism
Yoohyun Yoo (Research Fellow, Global Business Division, Jeju CHRISE)

17:40–18:00 ▸ Panel Discussion

🎯 This seminar brings together academia, industry, and government to explore how AI can transform Jeju’s tourism value, enhance sustainability, and create global opportunities.

📢 Deadline Extended!

The 3rd World Conference on Smart Tourism (WCST 2025) has already received 97 paper submissions 🎉 — a strong sign of the growing success and global interest in smart tourism research.

💡 To give more scholars the opportunity to join, the paper submission deadline has been extended to September 15, 2025.

📍 Conference Details
🗓️ December 17–20, 2025
📌 Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR, China
🌐 Website: https://wcst.world/HOME

✨ Theme: Smart Tourism in the Age of AI: Connecting Global Communities
This premier conference invites academics, practitioners, policymakers, and industry experts to share cutting-edge insights on how AI and digital innovation are reshaping global tourism.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of WCST 2025 — submit your paper today!

WCST Leisure & Recreation, Cultural Heritage Tourism, Entertainment & Education Tourism, Sustainable Tourism Practices, Environmental, Social Responsibility,

🌐 Global Convergence Research Seminar – 2025 Fall Semester
Hosted by the Smart Tourism Research Center (STRC), Kyung Hee University

📅 Every Wednesday Morning
🕘 09:30 AM – 12:15 PM (KST)
💻 Join via Zoom: https://khu-ac.zoom.us/j/82065897910

✨ This Fall, the Global Convergence Research Seminar brings together distinguished scholars from around the world to discuss cutting-edge research in smart tourism, AI, hospitality, and global business.

Main Speakers Include:

Prof. Chee-Wee Tan (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Prof. Yerin Yhee (American University Sharjah)
Prof. Keongtae Kim (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Prof. Vincent Tung (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Prof. Gene Moo Lee (The University of British Columbia)
Prof. Luiz Mendes-Filho (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)
Prof. Chloe Kim (Copenhagen Business School)
Prof. Haiyang Xia (Australian National University)
Prof. Eunji Lee (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Prof. Ganghua Chen (Sun Yat-sen University)
Prof. Xiaoxia Fu (University of Central Florida)
..and more!

👩‍🎓 This seminar is also part of the Smart Tourism Education Platform (STEP) at the College of Hotel and Tourism Management, Kyung Hee University.

🔗 Stay tuned for weekly updates and highlights!

📢 Call for Papers — WCST 2025
🌍 3rd World Conference on Smart Tourism
📅 December 17–20, 2025 | Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR, China

The World Conference on Smart Tourism (WCST 2025) invites researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry experts to submit their work for this premier global event.

This year’s theme:
✨ “Smart Tourism in the AI Era: Connecting Global Communities”
explores how AI, big data, immersive media, and smart city infrastructures are reshaping tourism experiences, sustainability, and global connectivity.

🔑 Key Tracks

Smart Tourism: Smart cities, ecosystems, design, competitiveness, data analytics, destinations, law & governance.
AI in Tourism: AI-driven personalization, predictive analytics, smart hotels & robotics, cultural heritage preservation, ethics & privacy.
General Tourism & Hospitality: Destination management, culinary & hospitality business, mobility, sustainability, AR/VR/Metaverse, apps, and more.

📅 Important Dates

Full/Short Paper Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025
Ph.D. Workshop & Student Pitch Competition Deadline: November 1, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: September 15, 2025
Camera-Ready Submission: September 30, 2025
Conference Dates: December 17–20, 2025
Gala Dinner (Social Event): December 19, 2025

🔗 Submit your paper here: https://wcst.world/CallforPapers

Join WCST2025 and be part of shaping the future of Smart Tourism in the AI Era!

🌍✨ WCST 2025 Registration is Now Open! ✨🌍

The 3rd World Conference on Smart Tourism (WCST 2025) will be held in Macau, 17–20 December 2025, under the theme:
“Smart Tourism in the Age of AI: Connecting Global Communities.”

🔗 Website: https://wcst.world/HOME
📅 Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025

This is your chance to join leading scholars, industry experts, and policymakers to explore how AI and digital innovation are reshaping tourism worldwide.

Don’t miss out — register today and secure your spot at one of the most exciting global events in smart tourism! 🌐✈️