2020 Conference

Smart tourism has become a new buzzword for academics and practitioners. Earlier contributions focused on the nexus between smart technology and customers through applications that improve interaction and enrich tourist experiences. We adopt a much broader perspective of “smart tourism”. Smart tourism refers to socially sustainable approaches, new but lasting business ideas or environmentally friendly actions towards green tourism, including integrated solutions for transport and local agriculture. Tourism is subject to numerous challenges such as unbalanced tourism, shortage of skilled employees and increasing commodification and resortization. Thus, the guiding question of this conference is “smart tourism – smarter tourists”?

This TTRA Europe is an opportunity to explore the determinants and outcomes of smart tourism both within firms and destinations, across countries and cultures. We invite researchers and practitioners to share their research and expertise to shed more light upon the different perceptions and current and future challenges. The conference will provide a platform for researchers and experts in the tourism industry and encourages young scholars to discuss their work with them. We especially encourage industry partners to present their innovative (smart) projects in the designated practitioner sessions.

Submissions of abstracts and papers are invited relating, but not exclusively, to the following themes:

• Digitalization and new technologies in tourism
• Challenges and opportunities in Alpine tourism
• Governance on the local, regional and national level
• Community engagement in tourism development
• Creative destination marketing strategies
• Case studies of smart and sustainable tourism products
• Entrepreneurship and creativity in tourism
• Family firms and family dynamics
• Small and micro-entrepreneurship in tourism
• Small and large scale sporting events and winter sports
• CSR of businesses and destinations
• Innovation (processes) in tourism businesses and organizations
• HRM management and employee attraction/retention
• Carrying capacity and overtourism
• Mobility and transport for tourism
• Linkages between agriculture and tourism
• The creative industries and tourism services
• The role of architecture and design in tourism
• Social innovation in tourism

Deadlines:
Submission deadline – Thursday, 30 January 2020
Notification of acceptance – Thursday, 20 February 2020
Revised final version – Tuesday, 10 March 2020

Papers must be written in English, follow the instructions and use the templates available: [Registration and Submission] 

The TTRA European Chapter will select the best conference paper and the best PhD paper, the author(s) of which will be announced during the Conference Farewell Ceremony on Wednesday, 29 April 2020.

Following the inspiring doctoral sessions in Angers 2017 and Ljubljana 2018 we dedicate a whole day to dissertation research. Working towards a PhD is one of the most intensive and rewarding learning experiences, but it can also be challenging and frustrating. In a warm and collegial atmosphere, PhD students will have the opportunity to present their dissertation projects (the overall project or in case of a cumulative dissertation also a single paper project) and gain valuable feedback from highly experienced researchers in the field.

We are looking forward to welcoming you and discuss your research related to tourism development, management and marketing/ consumer behavior. This may include a wide range of aspects such as sustainability, innovation or entrepreneurship and various methodologies.

Get to know other likeminded people from your field and join us in this exciting event!

The doctoral colloquium will be chaired by:

• Mike Peters (University of Innsbruck)
• Scott McCabe (University of Nottingham)
• Andreas Kallmünzer (La Rochelle Business School)

The overall deadlines apply:
Submission deadline – 30 January 2020
Notification of acceptance – 20 February 2020
Revised final version – 10 March 2020

PhD students pay a reduced conference fee of 200 €. They can join all events and sessions of the regular conference. The best PhD presentation will be awarded at the conference dinner on Wednesday, 29 April 2020.

This is the preliminary program. Updates are ongoing – please stay tuned!

Alternative [link] to the program.

 

Our Conference Speakers are listed below.  Updates are ongoing as speakers/sessions are finalized.

Industry Keynote Speaker: Stefan Ortner – Managing Director LO.LA

Topic: Alpine Safety as a key factor for quality management in ski resorts

Stefan Ortner is Managing Director and one of the five founders of Lo.La Peak Solutions GmbH. He has a degree in business administration and is also a risk management expert, certified risk manager, expert and chairman of the avalanche commission of his home town.

LO.LA captures and reduces risks in alpine regions. Efficient safety and risk management systems are crucial for operators of exposed, alpine infrastructure. The consequent observation of risk-exposed areas and the well-structured handling of hazards are base-requirement and quality features in alpine regions. In addition to the technological aspects, the knowledge and experiences of local experts are indispensable components of a successful risk management. LO.LA blends local knowledge with target-group-oriented, digital tools and allows for an efficient safety and risk management.

Academic Keynote Speaker: Sue Beeton, PhD – TTRA President

Topic: Smart Tourists – Smart Giving: Volunteerism and Philanthropy

Prof Beeton is a travel and tourism researcher and writer and President of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA). A member of TTRA since 1999, she is the founder and Inaugural President of the Asia Pacific chapter of TTRA which won the Chapter Achievement Award in 2016 and has a Chapter award named in her honour.

She became involved in tourism in the late 1980s through guiding horseback tours, and witnessed first-hand the growth of tourism and its effects on local communities. She was a founding Board member of the Victorian Tourism Operators Association, the first industry association of its kind in Australia. As such, Prof Beeton represented the needs of tourism operations on public land and contributed to the development of the first tourism accreditation program in the country. This early work in the tourism industry has given her a strong sense of the linkages between industry practitioners and academia.

Her work has a strong international focus, from Australia to Japan, Europe and the US. For over a quarter of a century, Prof Beeton has conducted tourism-based research into community development and public land management; but is best known for her work in film-induced tourism and pop culture. As well as producing numerous academic papers, book chapters and reports, she has published a range of research-based books, including Ecotourism: a practical guide for rural communities, Community Development Through Tourism and Tourism and the Moving Image, along with two editions of the acclaimed monograph, Film-Induced Tourism.

In 2019 Prof Beeton was awarded the TTRA Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to tourism research and scholarship.

Academic Keynote Speaker: Dr. Arno Scharl – Head of the New Media Technology Department at MODUL University Vienna

Topic: Web Intelligence for Smart Tourism Applications

Arno Scharl is a Professor of Information Systems at MODUL University Vienna’s Department of New Media Technology, and the Managing Partner of webLyzard technology. He regularly serves as Coordinator or Work Package Leader in large-scale R&D projects on the national (FFG) and European level (EU Horizon 2020, FP7). His current research interests focus on Web intelligence and big data analytics, opinion mining, information visualization and the integration of semantic and geospatial Web technology. Previously, he held professorships at the University of Western Australia and Graz University of Technology, and was a Visiting Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley.

 

Academic Keynote Speaker: Dr. Barbara Neuhofer – Head of Experience Design at Salzburg University of Applied Science

Topic: What do Astronauts and Tourists have in common? New Perspectives for Tourism Experience Design

Barbara Neuhofer is a Professor and Head of Experience Design at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Austria.

As an educator, speaker, advisor and experience designer, Barbara researches, writes, and speaks about experience design as a philosophy, mindset and toolset to guide human experiences and business transformations across the physical and digital realms.

Barbara has published over 30 scientific articles, book chapters and conference papers, and has shared her work at over 60 conferences and industry events around the globe, from Austria to Australia. Most recently, Barbara was invited to give a talk-performance at TEDxBucharest 2019 on “The Global State of Awe”, where she co-created an immersive sensory experience at the intersection of science and arts, aimed at giving insight into the awe-inducing event and mindset transformation that astronauts have when looking at Earth from space.

Barbara’s work has been recognised with more than ten international scientific research, teaching and paper awards. In 2013, Barbara received the ITT PhD Student of the Year 2013 Award at the House of Commons, the British Parliament.

Barbara has served on the Board of Directors of IFITT, the International Federation for IT and Travel & Tourism as Treasurer and Director of IFITT Next Generation from 2013-2017. As the youngest ever-elected board member, Barbara co-founded the IFITT NextGeneration and the IFITT Doctoral Summer School for young emerging scholars in the global eTourism community.

Academic Keynote Speaker: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis – Director of the eTourism Lab and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research (ICTHR)-Bournemouth at Bournemouth University

Topic: From Smart to Ambient Intelligence Tourism

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis is a Strategic Management and Marketing expert with specialisation in Information Communication Technology applications in the Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Leisure industries. He is Director of the eTourism Lab and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research (ICTHR)-Bournemouth at Bournemouth University in England.

He is also Editor in Chief of the most established Journal in Tourism: Tourism Review, now and SSCI Journal in its 74th volume. Professor Buhalis’ research is referenced widely, being the 3rd most cited for tourism and 1st most cited for hospitality 18th on strategy and 30th in Marketing on Google Scholar with more than 38000 citations and h-index 82. Dimitrios current research focus includes: Real Time and Nowness, Smart Tourism and Smart Hospitality, Social Media Context and Mobile Marketing (SoCoMo), Augmented Reality, Technology enhanced Experience Management and Personalisation, Reputation and Social Media Strategies, Accessibility and Special Diet (Alergens) Tourism. Dimitrios is a Founding Member and past President (2010-2014) of the IFITT (International Federation for Information Technologies in Travel and Tourism). He served as the First Vice President of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (2017-2019). He also served as an Executive Board Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Affiliate Members for the periods 2013-2015 and 2017-2019.

Academic Keynote Speaker: Dr. Aris Ikkos – Research Director, Institute of Greek Tourism Confederation, SETE

Topic: Greek Tourism: How smart data guides Greek Tourism Strategy?

Dr. Ikkos coordinates and monitors INSETE’s Research and Scientific Projects since 2014. INSETE is the Research Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation.

INSETE’s current research programme supports the following three objectives: a) Documenting Greek tourism with a view to preparing policy plans for its development in a sustainable way and improving accuracy of forecasting of tourism KPIs, b) Improving the Quality of Greek tourism and c) Addressing Manpower and Training issues in tourism.

He has also been consulting the Greek Tourism Industry since the late ’80s and he has been involved in numerous projects ranging from destination development and regional tourism planning to market research and investment appraisal for all forms of private and public tourism infrastructure (e.g. resorts, hotels, marinas, casinos, spas, managed attractions and conference centers). He has also carried out projects in Cyprus, the M. East, N. Europe and the Caribbean.

Dr. Ikkos holds a Ph.D. (Econ) from the University of London. He is also a Certified Trainer from the UK Institute of Training and Development. He is the only Greek member of the by-invitation-only International Society of Hospitality Consultants and he has also been a member of The Academy of Experts, a body providing accreditation of Expert Witnesses.

Industry Keynote Speaker: Prof. Harald Pechlaner, Head of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and Head of the Center for Advanced Studies at the EURAC

Topic: Smart destination: Is there another side of the coin?

Harald Pechlaner is Professor of Tourism and Head of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany and Head of the Center for Advanced Studies at the European Academy of Bozen/Bolzano (EURAC research), Italy. Since 2014 Harald Pechlaner is Adjunct Research Professor at the School of Marketing/Curtin Business School in Perth/Western Australia. His research is focused on destination governance, leadership and design, entrepreneurship and global challenges for regions and destinations. He is (co-) author and (co‐) editor of more than 60 books and about 150 research articles.

Prof. Harald Pechlaner is President of the AIEST (Association Internationale d’Experts Scientifiques du Tourisme) with domicile at the University of St. Gallen/Switzerland. Founded in 1951, AIEST is the worldwide oldest association of scientific experts in tourism. Pechlaner was President (2002-2012) of the German Society of Tourism Research (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tourismuswissen­schaft). Since 2016 Harald Pechlaner is a full member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. In 2017 the German Federal Ministry of Economy in Berlin has launched a National Competence Center for Tourism, where Prof. Pechlaner holds a role of a Scientific Director.

Conference registration fees (includes all receptions, lunches, dinners and a field trip):

PhD: 200 € (includes free TTRA membership for one year)

TTRA Members: 240 € before March 16th / 340 € after March 16th

Non–members: 340 € before March 16th / 440 € after March 16th

Registration/Submission is now open!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER/SUBMIT

 

Papers must be written in English, follow the instructions and use the templates available here or at the submission portal: https://www.conftool.com/ttraeurope2020.

Research paper

PhD Research Day

Applied (industry and sector) papers

Please prepare a report of min. 500 words and max. 5 pages, excluding references.

 

We are happy to announce that the following hotels offer a limited number of rooms for ttra2020 delegates. Please book directly at the hotel and make sure you mention the ttraEurope conference affiliation and the keyword “ttraEurope 2020” when booking your room.

Hotel Zach (5 min by foot) [more information]

• single room 95 EUR/ night (including breakfast)
• triple room 135 EUR/ night (including breakfast)

Note: Please book via the enquiry form on the hotel website by 27.02.2020.

Hotel Grauer Bär (just opposite the conference venue) [more information]

• single room 95 EUR/ night (including breakfast)
• double room 135 EUR/ night (including breakfast)
• triple room 195 EUR/ night (including breakfast)
• please make sure you book by 27.02.2020.

Note: Please book by 27.02.2020. Because a limited number of rooms was reserved for ttraEurope delegates, the website might not show room availability for the period of the conference. In this case, book via the enquiry form on the hotel website.

Hotel Congress Innsbruck (10 min by foot) [more information]

Note: Because a limited number of rooms was reserved for ttraEurope delegates, the website might not show room availability for the period of the conference. In this case, book via the enquiry form on the hotel website.

• single room 99 EUR/ night (including breakfast)
• double room 119 EUR/ night (including breakfast)
• please make sure you book by 27.03.2020.

Founded in 1669, the Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck is the largest university in the Western part of Austria. Emperor Leopold I financed the original institution by introducing a new extraordinary tax on salt extracted in the neighboring city of Hall. Located at a traditional north-south crossroads connecting Europe, we are oriented internationally while positioned locally.

Today, the University comprises of 16 faculties and 81 departments. You find relevant numbers on last year’s performances at the Intellectual Capital site, and strategies and plans for the next few years at Development Plan. The University has always been a supporting pillar of the Tyrolean society and has influenced the region tremendously. Many scientific cutting-edge discoveries have been made at this institution.

TTRA Europe 2020 will be held at the SOWI campus and the theology nearby – just a 5 min walk from the old town.

SOWI campus
Universitätsstraße 15
6020 Innsbruck
AUSTRIA

[Find your direction]

Innsbruck is located in the heart of the Alps and is surrounded by stunning mountains with year-round options for tourists. The city is easily accessible.

For more information, see www.innsbruck.info.

How to get there:

By Bus or Train:

• to Innsbruck Airport and by public buses (around 3 Euros one-way) or taxi within 10 minutes into the city center
• to Munich Airport and by train (from around 30 Euro one-way, early booking means lower prices), air port shuttle (around 50 Euro one-way) or bus (from around 20 Euro one-way, early booking means lower prices) to Innsbruck

By Train:

• Please book tickets at your preferred railway company (the Austrian one is https://www.oebb.at/en/) to “Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof” (HBF), public buses or walking will bring you to all destinations in the city center within a few minutes. From Vienna, travel time to Innsbruck is around 4,5 hours.

By Car:

• Munich – Kufstein (A 12) – Innsbruck
• Vienna – Salzburg – Kufstein (A 12) – Innsbruck
• Switzerland – Arlberg – Landeck (A 12) – Innsbruck
• Italy – Brenner (A 13) – Innsbruck

tba

Team SME and Tourism
Univ.-Prof. Mike Peters
Karl-Rahner-Platz 3
6020 Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck, Department of Strategic Management, Marketing and Tourism
ttraeurope2020@uibk.ac.at
www.ttraeuropeconferences.com

The conference app is now available: