Marianna Sigala

Professor Marianna Sigala is a distinguished academic and researcher in digital technologies and their impact on tourism and hospitality at the University of Newcastle's Newcastle Business School. She holds a PhD from the University of Surrey and has held academic roles globally, including leadership positions at the University of South Australia and the University of the Aegean. Her research focuses on leveraging technology to enhance tourism competitiveness, sustainability, and socio-cultural well-being.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Surrey, UK
• Master of Science (Distinction), University of Surrey, UK
• Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analysis, University of Lancaster, UK

Research Interests: Marianna’s work spans digital transformation in tourism, wine tourism innovation, experience design, and smart destination management. She emphasizes holistic impacts of technology, including socio-cultural and environmental considerations, alongside economic outcomes. Her recent focus includes AI applications (e.g., ChatGPT), the Metaverse, and crisis communication strategies.

Awards:

• 2023 Wine Travel Awards ‘Author of the Year’
• 2016 EuroCHRIE Presidents’ Award
• CAUTHE Fellow (2021)
• Top 2% Global Scientist in Tourism (Stanford Study)

Leadership & Initiatives: As Director of the International Hotel School, she drives experiential learning and industry partnerships to address labor shortages. She pioneered the ICHRIE Case Study Competition and the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Cases, enhancing pedagogical innovation globally. Collaborations include EU projects on destination management and cultural heritage digitization in Eastern Europe.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Newcastle Business School’s research teams on digital tourism and hospitality innovation, fostering interdisciplinary projects with industry and international partners.