معرفی
James Kennell is an Associate Professor and Head of Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM) within the University of Surrey's Business School. His research focuses on the intersection of events, tourism, and society, with specializations in dark tourism, political/protest events, and digital transformation. He leads the EU RISE-funded 'Event Rights' project, exploring human rights through sport events, and chairs the International Association for Events Studies.
- Roles: Head of SHTM, Deputy Editor of Event Management, Associate Editor of Journal of the Geographical Institute ‘Jovan Cvijic’
- Affiliations: Visit Surrey Board, Organisation for Tourism, Hospitality and Management
Research Interests
Dr. Kennell's work bridges academic theory and industry practice. Key areas include:
- Dark events linked to conflict and tragedy
- Technology adoption (AI, immersive events) in tourism
- Policy and governance in visitor economies
- Sustainability and Phoenix Tourism post-crisis
Recent Publications
Recent studies include conceptual frameworks for dark events, AI readiness in exhibitions, and dark tourism's role in Lebanon's recovery. His work often emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, as seen in cross-cultural analyses of tourism policies and stakeholder engagement.
Grants & Projects
- EU RISE Project 'Event Rights' (2020–2024)
- Editorial leadership in 4+ journals
- Consultancy with NGOs and public sector agencies
Labs & Teams
He co-leads the Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy and the Centre for Digital Transformation in the Visitor Economy at Surrey.
