Research

We have a world-class reputation for our research in hospitality, tourism, transport and events. Our excellent facilities and vibrant research culture attract researchers and doctoral students from around the world, creating a diverse, creative and stimulating research community.

Spotlight on our research

Our research has great impact, and we are proud to highlight our achievements through a series of short films, told by our research authors.

Impact in Conversation: Professor Allan Williams | University of Surrey

Impact in Conversation: Professor Scott Cohen | University of Surrey

Our three research centres, Cove, DIGMY and SWELL, and our new research groups HaRM and GESPi, bring together the diverse multi-disciplinary research expertise of our staff in hospitality, tourism, transport and events. We focus on the grand challenges our sectors are facing and endeavour to undertake transformational research so as to play our part in creating a better world.

Professor Scott Cohen, Professor of Tourism and Transport, School Director of Research

Research impact

We've seen our research impact policy change, improve business tools in the hospitality, tourism, transport and events industries and influence professional standards, guidelines and training. We pride ourselves in designing and delivering research which impacts on culture and society, economy, commerce and organisations, practitioner and professional services, the environment, health and welfare, public policy, law and services, the events sector, and the food sector.

Research centres

Our research is focused into three research centres.

Centre for Competitiveness of the Visitor Economy (Cove)

Centre for Digital Transformation in the Visitor Economy (DIGMY)

Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy (SWELL)

Within our Centres, we are the home to two additional research groups, GeSPI and HaRM.

Gender, Entrepreneurship and Social Policy Institute (GESPi)

Observatory for Human Rights and Major Events (HaRM)

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is home to one of the largest communities of hospitality, tourism and events PhD scholars in the world, hosting more than 50 postgraduate researchers from 20 different nationalities across all continents, working on cutting-edge topics linked to one of the three research centres.

Dr Jason Chen, Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Events Management, Director of Postgraduate Research