Daphne Maria Deker

Daphne Maria Deker is a Professor of Hospitality and Hospitable Behavior at Hotelschool The Hague, where she has worked since 2011. She is also affiliated with the Department of Organisational Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, bridging organizational psychology with hospitality research.

Education:

• Master’s in Organisational and Social Psychology, Utrecht University
• PhD in Organisational Psychology, Eindhoven University of Technology

Her research focuses on hospitable behavior and the impact of robotisation in hospitality, studying guest and employee interactions with robots, and earlier work on global virtual teams. She integrates insights into guest perceptions, employee behavior, and technological integration in service industries.

In 2013, she led a RAAK project to develop employee selection instruments for hospitality, collaborating with colleagues, students, and industry stakeholders to advance research and education. Her mission emphasizes synergistic partnerships to drive innovation in both academia and practice.