October 23, 2025
56th Annual Travel and Tourism Research Association International Conference
June 24 – 26, 2026 ~ Greenville, SC
Abstract submissions are due: Monday, December 22, 2025
Please join us at the 2026 Annual TTRA International Conference, which will be conducted on June 24-26, 2026, Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
The theme for this year’s conference is Shaping the Future of Tourism: Collaborative Horizons in Research, Education, and Practice.
Tourism is undergoing a transformative shift—driven by innovation, disruption, and evolving traveler expectations—making it more critical than ever for industry leaders, academics, and practitioners to collaborate. This conference unites these voices to explore how research, education, andcross-sector strategy fuel smarter decision-making and strengthen communities. Together, we will reimagine tourism’s role in a rapidly changing world and elevate the image and reputation of the travel and tourism industry. Through dynamic dialogue and in-depth sessions, we’ll spotlight not only challenges and opportunities but also practical skills and career pathways for the next generation of tourism professionals. From policy and product development to destination strategy and professional growth, this is where ideas spark action—and where the future of tourism begins to take shape.
While we seek a diverse range of submissions, several related sub-themes to consider for your submission include:
- Crafting the Experience Economy
- Sustainability, Responsibility, and Governance
- Technology, AI, and the Digital Future of Tourism
- Tourism and Societal Well-Being
- Advancing Careers and Leadership in the Tourism Workforce
- Emerging Concepts, Theories and Methodologies
Presentation Formats
In preparation for the 2026 TTRA International Conference, we are crafting sessions that showcase the synergy between academics and practitioners, emphasizing their joint efforts to propel research and leverage data to address challenges within the tourism industry. We strongly invite abstract submissions showcasing instances of collaborative research between academics and practitioners, and both can actively engage and participate in the presentation.
All abstracts should be 500 – 2,500 words, should not be previously published, and can include work that is being developed, in progress, or completed. The TTRA International Conference offers many ways to share your research, including:
- Oral Presentation: Share your research in one of two ways: In a 15-minute oral presentation accompanied by a slide deck or other medium (e.g., spoken word, documentary, ethno-drama, etc.) or: Use a conversational approach, with a short introduction to your topic followed by a small group conversation with session attendees. The finalists for best conference paper award will be invited to present in the same session. In addition to the Best Conference Paper Award, a Best Presentation Award will be selected from among the paper award finalists, based on the quality and delivery of their presentations.
- The Ideas Fair: Visual Presentation: The presentation must be presented in person visually (as a poster, slideshow on a personal computer, or a combination) at the Ideas Fair event. The best presentation will be recognized with the Ideas Fair Winner Award. For further information and inspiration, please see here.
- Qualitative Research Methods Workshop: Presented in a non-traditional round table discussion format. The Qualitative Research Methods Workshop is a great opportunity to sharpen your skills in applying qualitative methods and analyzing qualitative data. Learn from your fellow tourism researchers during the research roundtables, where presenters will share their qualitative methods and findings. These roundtables are designed to provide opportunities for attendees to learn from each other through discussion and engagement in a more intimate setting. In addition to the research roundtables, this workshop features a conversation with experts on the use of qualitative research methods within the study of travel & tourism.
Key Dates
- December 22, 2025: Abstract submissions are due
- February 23, 2026: Authors notified of decisions on abstracts
New in 2026: Career Development Session
Bridging Generations in Academia: Career Development Dialogue. This interactive session pairs early-career scholars with senior faculty and university leaders to foster meaningful dialogue on career development in academia. Through mentorship-style conversations, participants will gain valuable insights into navigating research, teaching, service, and leadership pathways, while also receiving practical tips on job searching, positioning themselves in a competitive academic market, and preparing for career transitions. The session is designed to cultivate transition of academic pathways, foster career growth, and encourage cross-generational collaboration.
To maximize the benefits of this career development session, participating scholars are asked to prepare the following:
- Curriculum Vitae: Submit an up-to-date academic CV highlighting research interests, publications, teaching experience, and service activities.
- Career Statement (500-1000 words): Provide a short statement outlining your current career stage, aspirations and specific areas where you seek advice (e.g., publishing, grant writing, job market preparation, networking).
- Questions: Prepare 2–3 thoughtful questions to guide your dialogue with senior faculty and leadership.
These materials will be shared with senior faculty and leadership in advance to help create more personalized and meaningful exchanges. To participate in the Career Development Session, please submit the above materials directly to TT****************@***il.com. Authors will be notified of decisions before registration.
Key Date:
December 22, 2025: Material (Documents including CV, career statement, questions) submissions are due.
New in 2026: Collaborative Impact Award
Building on our tradition of recognizing individual scholarship, TTRA is proud to introduce the Collaborative Impact Award—a new honor that highlights an institution that demonstrates outstanding support for the TTRA community through submissions, participation, and engagement.
For all presentation submissions:
Please review the abstract template (.docx) to prepare your submission.
For submissions developed through collaboration between academics and practitioners, please acknowledge the partnership as indicated in the abstract template.
Authors can submit their abstracts through EasyChair
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact TTRA Academic Program Chairs:
Dr. Lu Lu (lu*******@****le.edu) Temple University, Academic Program Chair
Dr. Zeya He (ze*****@*****du.cn) Shandong University, Academic Program Co-chair
Track chairs:
Dr. Nicholas Wise (Ni*******@*su.edu) Arizona State University
Dr. Shaniel Bernard (sh******@**.edu) Virginia Tech
Dr. Sungwoo Choi (su*********@******du.hk) The Chinese University of Hong Kong University
Dr. Sarah Gardiner (s.********@**********du.au) Griffith University
Dr. Crystal Shi (cr*********@*******du.hk) The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Dr. Bora Kim (b.***@*******ac.uk) University of Surrey
Dr. Joelle Soulard (js******@******is.edu) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
We look forward to your contributions to the 56th Annual TTRA International Conference in Greenville, USA!