Robert McKenna

Robert McKenna is a Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management at Ulster University Business School, Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management. With over 30 years of industry experience in hospitality and tourism operations across the UK, Ireland, and USA, he bridges practical expertise with academic instruction. His teaching focuses on Food & Beverage Operations Management, Research Methods, Industrial Placement, Performance Metrics Analysis, and Business Plan/Research Paper modules for second-year students.

• Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Catering Management (Manchester Metropolitan University, 1995)
• Master of Science in International Hospitality, Travel, Tourism & Leisure Management (Ulster University, 2003)
• Master’s in Education (ongoing)

His research spans Food and Beverage Operations, Revenue Management, Service Excellence, and Student Transition. Recent work explores school outreach programs for hospitality career promotion and educational progression. His articles focus on revenue strategies, educational bridging programs, and industry-academia integration. McKenna is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2015) and received the Ulster Education Excellence Award (2025).

• Ulster Education Excellence Award - Distinguished Collaborative Education Excellence Fellowship (2025)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) (2015)

He chairs the Ulster University Business School Employability Sub Committee and actively collaborates with institutions like Shannon College of Hotel Management (external examiner). His industry roles included CEO of Tourism Training Trust and franchise owner. Current research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and professional development.