Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Jafar Jafari is Founding Editor, Annals of Tourism Research; Chief Editor, Tourism Social Science Series; Co-editor, Bridging Tourism Theory and Practice; Co-editor, Encyclopedia of Tourism; Co- Founding Editor, Information Technology & Tourism; Co-Founder, TRINET; Founding President of International Academy for the Study of Tourism; and Tourism Intelligence Forum. A cultural anthropologist (PhD, University of Minnesota, USA), with BA (English, University of Isfahan, Iran) and BS and MS (hotel and tourism management, Cornell University, USA), he is the recipient of the 2005 UNWTO Ulysses Prize, with Honorary Doctorates from Universitat de les Illes Balears (Spain), Universidade do Algarve (Portugal), and Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), Lifetime Honorary Professorship of Bundelkhand University (India), Visiting Professor of the University of Isfahan (Iran), Sun Yat-sen University (China), Special Advisor to the UNWTO Secretary General, and Professor Emeritus of University of Wisconsin-Stout (USA). Jafari@uwstout.edu

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: 11.9). He is a recipient of the University of Delaware’s Michael D. Olsen Research Achievement Award, 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 and 2024.

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-factor of 98 and over 43,000 citations (google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=p9ndUsYAAAAJ&hl=en). He is recognized and consistently ranked as one of the most prolific hospitality and tourism scholars worldwide. He is also ranked as the number 78 researcher in the United States in Business and Management category and the number 136 researcher worldwide in the same category.

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management (SSCI; IF: 11.9; Scopus CiteScore: 20.9)

Workshop Speakers

Dr. Samuel Adeyinka-Ojo, who holds a Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism from Taylor’s University Malaysia brings diverse expertise spanning academia and industry. He is an alumnus of Monash University Malaysia, Asia e University (AeU) and International University of Malaya and Wales (IUMW). Prior to his academic career, he worked across corporate roles including accounting, auditing, and marketing management in the F&B, palm kernel oil industry, and downstream of the oil and gas sector. At Curtin University Malaysia, he served as Head of Department for Management, Marketing & Digital Business (2021-2023), and Marketing Department (2017-2019). Currently he teaches corporate strategy, managing sustainable global operations for the Master of International Business program, and business ethics, tourism, hospitality and events management for the undergraduate students. He has taught M.Sc. project management courses at FHHS, Curtin University Malaysia.

A member of several prestigious professional bodies, including Chartered Institute of Marketing UK, certified member Project Management Institute USA, CMBE of Chartered Association of Business Schools UK, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) UK. He recently served as a training consultant for SCOPE Graduate Enhancement Training Sarawak [GETS] training over 300 participants in project management, and Greater Miri Development Plan 2030 project as a tourism development consultant. His academic accomplishments include numerous publications in refereed journals, forthcoming editorship of “Digital Project Management –Strategic Theory and Practice” (2025), and multiple awards including the Education Leadership Award from the World CSR Day and World Education Congress, Curtin University Student Council Choice Award, Faculty of Business Research and Development Award, and Curtin Malaysia Excellence in Teaching Awards in 2020 and 2022.

Sam was a guest speaker at the following events, symposia, and conferences: Entrepreneurship Talk Miri, Malaysia (2018), Sustainable Development Goals Symposium (SDG) Curtin Singapore (2022), UN World Tourism Day Curtin Australia (2024), ASEAN Youth Sustainability Forum (2024), and The SDGs Symposium Curtin Singapore (2024).

Dr. Yee began her career as an auditor and an accountant while she was working in Australia, Singapore, United Kingdom and Malaysia. She is currently a Professor and Director (Research Management) at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation. She is a chartered accountant and has obtained the ASEAN CPA recognition and was a council member of CPA Australia Malaysia Division for 2013-2015. She has also received the SME ICONS award in 2021. She received the Endeavour Executive Fellowship Award from Australia in 2015. She was involved in writing a strategic plan and few policies, and review of National Higher Education Strategic Plan for Ministry of Higher Education. Dr Yee’s research passions are mainly in the area relating to university-industry collaborations including evaluating and managing innovations, multicultural and multi-disciplinary approach on national/regional collaborations, business valuations, sustainability, and accounting and auditing related research areas. She received research grants from MAREF MOSTI, MoHE/MoE, Australian High Commission and CPA Australia. She holds the position of Vice President of Asian Society of Innovation & Policy and Vice President (Bilateral Relation) of Malaysia Australia Alumni Council.

Dr. Faizan Ali is an Associate Professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and is a renowned expert in recent research methodologies for consumer behavior and human-computer interaction in the hospitality and tourism industry. A scholar, teacher, and mentor, Dr Ali was ranked in the top 2% of scientists worldwide and declared as a Highly Cited Researcher for 2022 and 2023 by Clarivate Analytics. He has published over one hundred twenty (120) research papers and book chapters. He also presented at over 50 conferences and received almost 12,000 citations. Dr. Ali is also an editor and editorial board member for several hospitality and tourism journals.

Dr. Samer Yaghmour serves as Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Travel and Tourism at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With extensive experience in academic leadership, he has held prominent roles, including Vice Dean of Education, contributing significantly to curriculum development and quality assurance processes in tourism education.

Dr. Yaghmour specializes in sustainable tourism management, destination development, and the integration of emerging technologies to enhance visitor experiences. His interdisciplinary research combines marketing, cultural studies, and AI-driven innovations to redefine the future of tourism, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Through collaborations with international institutions, Dr. Yaghmour’s work focuses on responsible tourism practices, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and actively participates in global conferences, advocating for innovative solutions to promote sustainable industry growth.

Dr. Yaghmour remains committed to fostering dialogue and actionable strategies for redefining tourism towards a sustainable future, positioning him as a thought leader in industry-focused discussions.

With over 30 years of extensive experience in the hotel industry, Vasudevan Suppiah is a seasoned professional specializing in Human Resources and Training. He holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of London, a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management from the University of Portsmouth, and an MBA from University Utara Malaysia.
His academic background underpins a robust career marked by significant contributions to more than 12 hotels, including both unionized and pre-opening properties. His experience spans prominent international chains such as Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International, as well as leading local hotel operators.
Vasudevan’s career has also included a senior corporate HR role with a publicly listed company with interests in the property and hotel sector. His expertise was further recognized through his appointment as a Panel Member of the Malaysian Industrial Court, where he served for five years and participated in various tribunals as part of the Adjudication Panel.
A certified specialist in hospitality, Vasudevan holds several certifications from the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), including Certified Hospitality Trainer, Certified Hospitality Revenue Manager, Certified Hospitality Manager, and Certified Hotel Administrator. He has also pursued advanced studies in Hotel Asset Management and Strategic Marketing at Cornell University & Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management.
Vasudevan is passionate about developing innovative training solutions and has been instrumental in designing and delivering various in-house supervisory and managerial training programs. As a founding member of Asianhotelier.Org, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing professional development in the hotel industry, he has contributed to creating an online platform where hoteliers can collaborate and support future professionals.

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Prof. Emeritus Dr. Jafar Jafari

Prof. Dr. Dogan Gursoy

Workshop Speakers

Dr. Samuel Adeyinka-Ojo

Prof. Dr. Angelina Yee Seow Voon

Faizan Ali, Ph.D., CHE., CHIA.

Dr. Samer Yaghmour

Mr. Vasudevan Suppiah

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