

Centre for Digital Transformation in the Visitor Economy
We are dedicated to researching, endorsing, and advocating the power of information technology and digital media in the visitor economy.
Research aims

In collaboration with leading academic, business, public, and third sector partners across a broad spectrum of disciplines, we provide rigorous and critical scientific foundation to deliver value to the visitor economy of tomorrow.
We focus on three core themes:
- The digital transformation in tourism, hospitality, and events; including new media and consumer behaviour, new business models and disruptive innovation, transformation in business operations and performance
- Smart systems in tourism, hospitality, and events; including artificial intelligence and robotics, sensors and internet-of-things
- Data science and innovative methodologies in tourism, hospitality, and events; including biometric research, data analytics and pattern recognition in big data.
Partners
We have extensive industry links across the hospitality, tourism and events sectors. Partners have included organisations specialising in digital media and technology, as well as a range of other prestigious organisations:
Recent events

The future of destinations online forum
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to have devastating impacts on destinations, governments and destinations have taken action to restore and invigorate the sector. This seminar drawing upon industry and academic insights aimed to consider what the impacts of the pandemic have been and how destinations are able to reposition visitor experiences during times of continued uncertainty whilst planning for the future.
Our panel of distinguished industry speakers included:
- Susan Deer, Director of Industry Relations, ABTA
- Richard Veal, MD, SimpleView
- Will Wright, co-founder, Destination Core
Our panel of Surrey academic speakers included:
Facilities
Our research group is equipped with a world-class biometric research laboratory to facilitate various consumer behaviour studies using psycho-physiological measurements. The digital lab is outfitted with an integrated system of biometric sensor equipment including remote and mobile eye-tracking, facial expression, galvanic skin response (GSR), optical heart rate, etc.
Using various biometric sensors in addition to other methodologies such as interviews and surveys, researchers are able to combine and synchronise data to enhance our investigations. Our lab allows us to experiment with the latest technology applications in tourism, hospitality, and events, such as virtual reality and social robots.


Find an expert

Professor Caroline Scarles
Director of the Centre
Researchers

Mark Ashton
Senior Teaching Fellow; Deputy Director of Teaching and Learning

Dr Graham Berridge
Principal Teaching Fellow in Events

Dr Jason Chen
Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Events Management

Professor Anita Eves
Professor of Hospitality Management

Dr Alkmini Gkritzali
Senior Lecturer in Tourism

Dr Athina Ioannou
Research Fellow in Privacy and Data Management

Professor Leo Jago
Emeritus Professor

Kerstine Lawley
Director of Learning and Teaching (SHTM) Senior Teaching Fellow

Dr Anyu Liu
Senior Lecturer in Hospitality

Dr Daisy Liu
Lecturer in Hospitality

Pablo Pereira Doel
Research Fellow

Dr Hakseung Shin
Lecturer

Dr Brigitte Stangl
Senior Lecturer in Tourism

Professor Iis Tussyadiah
Acting Head of School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Professor of Intelligent Systems in Service

Dr Tracy Xu
Senior Lecturer in Hospitality

Husna Zainal Abidin
Researcher
Surrey Affiliated Members

Professor Adrian Hilton
Director of Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing

Dr Ranjana Das
Reader in Media and Communication; University Theme Champion for Technology and Society

Dr Irina Cojuharenco
Reader, Founding Director of the University of Surrey Business and Economic Experiments (USBEE) Laboratory
Postgraduate research students

Elizabeth Ashcroft
PhD Researcher

Betty Burke
PhD Researcher

Vanessa Cumper
Postgraduate Research Student

Christy Hehir
Programme Leader and Lecturer in Events / PhD Researcher (Environmental Psychology & Travel)

Hye Rhim Kim
PhD Researcher

Max Li
PhD Researcher

Erin Ling
PhD Researcher

Ikram Nur Muharam
Postgraduate Research Student

Lauren Siegel
PhD Researcher