December 2025

Volume 26, Issue 5

Newsletter of School of Hotel & Tourism Management
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS

Professor Haiyan Song, Professor Cathy Hsu, Professor Faye Hao, Professor Seunghun Shin and Ph.D. student Mr Jacky Yang attended the 3rd World Conference on Smart Tourism in Macau, China on 17–20 December 2025. Professor Song delivered a keynote speech entitled "A Critique of Tourism Studies – A Large Language Model Approach" and participated in the Distinguished Scholars' Session "Multidisciplinary Insights for Hospitality & Tourism"; Professor Hsu participated in the special session "Global Research Agenda in Hospitality & Tourism"; Professor Hao and Mr Yang presented a co-authored paper titled "Talking Digitalization: The Automation–Augmentation Paradox in Tourism Industry"; and Professor Shin gave a special lecture entitled "Integrating Perspectives: An Introduction to Multi-Method Research Approaches".

Professor Honggen Xiao participated in a meet-the-editors panel at the 6th Jiangsu Provincial Tourism Society Youth Branch and the 4th Frontier Forum on Youth Tourism Research in Nanjing, China on 14 December 2025.

Dean Kaye Chon made a keynote speech entitled "From Tradition to Transformation: Evolving Hospitality and Tourism Education for a Dynamic World" at the Service Management Transformation and Development Forum and the 4th China Hotel Management Research Academic Annual Conference in Shenzhen, China on 12–14 December 2025.

Professor Antony Wong presented a paper entitled "From Play to Pilgrimage: The Role of Aesthetic-Collectible IPs in Kidult Tourism" at the Popular Culture Tourism Stakeholders Summit in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on 12–14 December 2025.

Dr Roshis Shrestha presented a paper entitled "Tackling the Impacts of Climate Change on Mountain Tourism: A Mixed-Method, Community-Based Approach to Developing Pathways for Regenerative Tourism" at the 12th TTRA Asia Pacific Annual Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal on 6–9 December 2025.

Professor Mimi Li conducted a keynote speech at the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area Interdisciplinary Cultural Tourism Forum in Guangzhou, China on 6–7 December 2025.

Professor Janelle Chan and Professor Dori Davari attended the ANZALS 2025 Conference in Sydney, Australia on 1–4 December. Professor Chan presented a paper entitled "Stigma to Strategy: Rehabilitated Offenders as a Workforce Solution in Tourism". Professor Davari presented a paper entitled "The Dynamics of Destination Curiosity: Exploring Situational Forces in International Travel".

Professor Haiyan Song, Professor Mimi Li and Professor Dan Wang attended the 2025 Digital Economy and Tourism Development Conference in Yangjiang, Guangdong, China on 29–30 November. Professor Song gave a keynote address entitled "AI and Tourism Research". Professor Wang took part in a panel discussion entitled "Practices of Digital Transformation in Tourism", chaired by Professor Li.

Professor Pearl Lin presented a paper entitled "Enhancing Experiential Learning in Hospitality Education Through Dual Digital Twin Implementations" at the 10th International Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education in Vienna, Austria on 28–30 November 2025.

Dr Roshis Shrestha presented as a plenary speaker at the 1st BIC International Conference in Chitwan, Nepal on 28–29 November 2025. During his visit to Nepal, he also visited Balkumari College.

Professor Faye Hao presented a co-authored paper entitled "Beyond Traditional Paradigms: Avatar-Led Cross-Cultural Training Development in Hospitality Industry" and chaired a parallel session on "Digital Technologies" at the Mediterranean Tourism Knowledge Exchange and Policy Conference in Malta on 26–27 November 2025.

Professor Dori Davari attended the TOURISE Global Tourism Summit 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 11–13 November.

Professor Haiyan Song presented a paper entitled "Tourist Satisfaction Index Development – A Large Language Model Approach" at the EuroCHRIE 2025 Conference in The Hague, Netherlands on 10–13 November 2025.

Professor Simone Bianco attended the 4th Global Congress of Special Interest Tourism & Hospitality in Xiamen, China on 7–10 November 2025.

Professor Michael Lin attended at the 2025 Frontiers in Hospitality and Tourism Annual Research Symposium in Guangzhou, China on 7–9 November.

Professor Haiyan Song delivered a keynote speech entitled "Assessing Tourism and Hotel Business Performance – A Demand Perspective" at the Menduner China Tourism and Hotel Conference 2025 in Suzhou, China on 7 November 2025.

Professor Kam Hung attended the 18th China Cruise Shipping Conference in Guangzhou, China on 7–8 November 2025.

Professor Sam Kim delivered a keynote speech, "Can New Technologies Lead to Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism?" at the International Symposium on Sustainable Development and Future Mobilities in Nanjing, China on 1 November 2025.