Roya Rahimi

Roya Rahimi is a Professor in Marketing and Leisure Management at the University of Wolverhampton, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts, Business, and Social Sciences. She is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and actively involved in multidisciplinary research projects funded by organizations such as the British Council and H2020.

• PhD in Tourism and Hospitality (Dokuz Eylül University, Turkey, 2014)
• MSc in Tourism and Hospitality Management (Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, 2008)
• BSc in Hospitality Management (Sheikh Bahaei University, Iran, 2006)
• PGCE in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (University of Wolverhampton, 2015)

Roya's research focuses on Digital Capacity Development, Consumer Behaviour, CRM, Big Data/Artificial Intelligence, and Sustainable Marketing within tourism and hospitality contexts. Her work bridges academic innovation with industry practices, particularly in emerging economies and post-disaster recovery scenarios.

Recent publications highlight her expertise in multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodologies, sustainable tourism planning, and digital transformation. She has secured grants for projects like ELEVATE (digital upskilling for women entrepreneurs in Türkiye) and AI4LABOUR (AI-driven labor force participation).

Scientific Awards & Editorial Roles:

• Cara Mentoring Fellowship (2022)
• Fellow of the Peer Review College, British Academy of Management (2021)
• Associate Editor of Tourism and Hospitality Insight (2023-present)
• Book Reviews Editor for Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology (2023-present)
• Regional Editor (Europe) for Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights (2015-2018)

Roya founded the Marketing Research Hub (2022) and the Visiting Scholar Scheme (2015), fostering international collaboration. She chairs the 6th International MTCON conference (Istanbul, 2025) and co-led the Corporate Governance and Sustainability Research Cluster (2019-present).