An Associate Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr Qu Xiao specializes in teaching and researching in the fields of strategic management, and hotel development and investment. Previously, Dr Xiao was an instructor in the School of Hospitality Management at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr Xiao had worked for over 10 years in hotel and tourism consultancy prior to becoming an academic. Serving as Senior consultant in Hospitality Advisory Services and J&Q Consulting, he conducted a number of projects related to hotel investment and development strategies, branding strategies, management contract negotiations, operator and franchise evaluation, and strategic alliance formation. Previously, he also held various management and operational positions with major U.S. hotel chains including Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott and ESA Hotels.

Dr Xiao’s industry and research work had been extensively published and cited in the world-class journals, magazines and conferences, including the annual conferences of the International Hotel Broker Association, International CHRIE, Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, International Journal of Hospitality Management, Lodging Hospitality, and International Hotel Management Journal, among others.  Since joining The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2007, Dr Xiao had been invited to train hundreds of corporate executives and GMs from renowned international and China’s domestic hotel groups and developers, such as Shangri-la, Marriott International, BTG-Jianguo Hotels, New Century Hotels, Jinling Hotels & Resorts, GDH Hotel Groups, China Jinmao Group, OCT Hotels, R&F Properties, etc. He was frequently invited to speak at the region’s hotel conferences, such as China Tourist Hotel Association’s 2008-2011 Annual Hotel Chain Development Conferences, Horwath HTL’s 2009-2012 Annual China Hotel Development and Financing Conference, Asia Hotel Forum’s 2008-11 International Hotel Investment Summit, and the Questex’s 2011 Asia Hotel Investment Annual Conference. As the Co-Program-Chair, Dr Xiao represented the School of Hotel & Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in organizing the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th International Forum on China Hotel Brand Development in Guangzhou (2008), Nanjing (2009) and Hong Kong (2011), and Sanya (2012).

Dr Qu Xiao holds a BA from Beijng Normal University in Chinese Language and Literature, a Master of Hospitality Management from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at University of Houston; and a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in Hospitality Strategic Management and Real Estate.