News

First RCDTT International Advisory Committee Meeting on 12 Oct 2024

On October 12, 2024, the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) held its first International Advisory Committee (IAC) Meeting. This important gathering coincided with the IMPACT2024 Conference co-organized by School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and Smith Travel Research (STR) SHARE Centre, bringing together leading experts from the global tourism and technology sectors.   Mr. Steve Hood, chair of IAC of RCDTT and co-organizer of the IMPACT2024 conference, welcomed the members and highlighted the importance of digital transformation in enhancing tourism experiences. Following his remarks, Prof. Haiyan Song, director of RCDTT, provided an overview of the RCDTT's recent activities, achievements, and future directions. Committee Members engaged in meaningful discussions, sharing best practices and identifying areas for future research collaboration. They also explored exciting initiatives, including upcoming collaborative research activities, funding applications and publications.   As the meeting concluded, members expressed their gratitude for the diverse insights shared and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a collaborative global network with a strong impactful research track record and look forward to further advancing the RCDTT’s mission.

Prof Haiyan Song’s Participation in the Smart Tourism Forum

On 3 September 2024, Prof. Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT, was invited to be a Speaker at the Smart Tourism Forum organized by China Mobile Hong Kong, in collaboration with Legislative Council of Functional Constituency (Tourism), the Federation of the Hong Kong Hotel Owners, and the Hong Kong Hotels Association. The forum aimed to promote smart tourism and boost productivity in the sector, attracting around 40 representatives from various tourism businesses, associations and the Tourism Commission. During the event, Prof Song addressed current trends of Digital Transformation in the hospitality and tourism industry. He discussed the applications of smart tourism, including big data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, the Internet of Things in hospitality, and ecological intelligent systems, which deepened attendees' understanding of these innovations. From the discussions, participants agreed that there is an urgent need for the hospitality and tourism industry to go through a digital transformation in order to remain competitive. They also recognized the importance of cross-sector collaboration to develop smart tourism solutions.

Big Congratulations to Our RCDTT-Hotel ICON Grant (2024) Awardees!

We're excited to share the awardees of the Hotel ICON Grant. These teams are at the forefront to drive digital transformation in the hospitality and tourism industry. Let's celebrate their achievements and look forward to the positive impacts their research will bring to us! Name Project Title PI: Prof. Li Mimi Co-I: Dr Xiao Qu, Mr Huang Yuzhou A Multi-modal Generative Intelligent Video Creation Platform for Hotel Content Marketing   PI: Dr Liu Anyu Co-I: Prof Wu Chenguang, Dr Lin Pearl   The Development of a Dynamic Pricing and Forecasting Restaurant Revenue Management Platform PI: Dr Wang Dan Co-I: Prof. Sun Ya-Yen, Prof. Dolnicar Sara   Developing An Automatic Data-Driven Carbon Emission Diagnose System for Hotels: The Hotel ICON Prototype PI: Dr Li Neil Hengyun Co-I: Dr Fan Wenqi, Dr Yu Bruce X. B., Dr Cai Danting   Social Media Marketing Effectiveness Prediction: A Novel Deep Multimodal Fusion Approach

RCDTT signs a research collaborative agreement with Hotel ICON

The Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Hotel ICON Limited have signed a research collaborative agreement, with the aim of supporting interdisciplinary research projects led by RCDTT members across various faculties and departments in PolyU. A collaboration agreement signing ceremony was held on 7 August 2024. The ceremony commenced with an opening remark by Prof. Kaye CHON (Dean and Chair Professor of SHTM, PolyU), followed by speeches from Prof. Haiyan SONG (Director of RCDTT, PolyU) and Mr Ian LEE (General Manager of Hotel ICON). Their speeches exemplified the shared enthusiasm and commitment to drive digital transformation in the hospitality and tourism industry. The Agreement was signed by Prof. Haiyan SONG and Mr Ian LEE, under the witness of Prof. Kaye CHON and Ms Carol CHEUNG (Director of Human Capital of Hotel ICON). Members from RCDTT also attended the signing ceremony, sharing the joy of this significant collaboration. The signing ceremony concluded with a sense of optimism and anticipation for the collaborative projects that lie ahead. Both RCDTT and Hotel ICON look forward to the potential impact of this partnership and the research initiatives from experts in various fields that will benefit Hotel ICON and drive digital transformation in the boarder hospitality and tourism industry.

RCDTT Members Visit Trip.com in Shanghai for Potential Research Collaboration

Our RCDTT members, Prof. Haiyan SONG, Prof. Mimi LI, and Dr HUANG Guoqiong Ivanka recently visited Trip.com Group in Shanghai. During the visit, we explored Trip.com's Museum Wall to explore its history and the Control Room of global business operations. Following this, a meeting was held between RCDTT and Trip.com executives, including Mr. XIAO Quanwu (Senior Director of Big Data & AI and Director of the Laboratory at Trip.com), Mr. SUN Bowen (General Manager of Inbound Tourism & Executive Secretary-General of Trip.com Institute), Mr LI Dongfang (Director of Data and Deputy Director of the Laboratory at Trip.com), Ms. Shumin JIANG (Data Analysis Manager at Trip.com), and Ms CHEN Lingyao (Senior Researcher at Trip.com Institute).   During the meeting, discussions focused on potential collaboration in research related to digital tourism transformation, pro-poor tourism, and ESG in the hospitality and tourism industry. RCDTT and Trip.com Group also explored the possibility of jointly applying for major research grants from the NSFC, RGC, and other major funding agencies in Hong Kong and the mainland of China.   A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaborative partnership is currently being developed to integrate the synergies between the two parties. Additionally, we have invited Mr. Sun Bowen to speak at the SHTM’s Impact2024 conference.   This visit and meeting mark an important step towards fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange between RCDTT and Trip.com Group.   We look forward to sharing more news about this partnership!

RCDTT Members visited Fuda Hotel Group in Yulin and Guilin

Our RCDTT members, Prof. Haiyan Song, Dr Fei (Faye) Hao and Dr Wenqi Fan, recently paid a visit to the Fuda Hotel Group in Yulin and Guilin, with the aim of exploring potential collaboration opportunities and sharing insights on leveraging technology for the growth of the hotel and tourism industry. During the visit, our RCDTT members had the opportunity to tour the rooms and public areas of the hotels under Fuda Hotel Group in Yulin and Guilin. We engaged in discussions about the operation of the Fuda Hotel group, including progress towards achieving a five-star rating and the planned implementation of smart technology. Additionally, we shared updates on RCDTT's latest developments and projects, covering digital innovation trends and strategies for enhancing customer experiences. The discussions were productive, and both parties expressed enthusiasm about the potential for collaboration in the future

Research Seminar delivered by Dr. Ya-Yen Sun

On 6 June 2024, Dr Ya-Yen Sun, Associate Professor at the School of Business, The University of Queensland (UQ), delivered an insightful research seminar on "Decarbonizing Tourism: A Macroeconomic Framework for Tracking Progress and Allocating Responsibilities" to faculty members from SHTM and RCDTT, as well as our PhD students. The seminar emphasized the urgent need for information to track sectoral carbon emissions and identify areas requiring policy interventions in the context of rapidly decarbonizing tourism. Dr Sun presented a macroeconomic framework capable of tracking and benchmarking tourism mitigation progress against net-zero milestones, using the case study of Australia to illustrate the current status and areas for improvement. The seminar also highlighted the allocation of responsibility for emissions mitigation across various stakeholders, providing a holistic approach for all tourism stakeholders. The interactive Q&A session during the seminar further enriched the discussion, making it a truly insightful event. We express our sincere gratitude to Dr Sun for delivering the enlightening research seminar and to Dr Dan Wang, Associate Professor of the SHTM & Associate Director of the RCDTT, for chairing the seminar. We eagerly anticipate more engaging sessions in the future.

RCDTT Members’ Participation in the FB-SHTM Joint Symposium

The FB-SHTM Joint Symposium, which took place on 4 Jun 2024, was held successfully with the participation of our RCDTT members. The symposium brought members and students from the Faculty of Business and the School of Hotel and Tourism Management together to explore the intersection of business and hospitality, in line with the theme of exploring "New Research Frontier in the Service Industry". The symposium commenced with an inspiring opening remark from Prof. Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor of the SHTM, setting a high standard for the day's discussions. Prof. Song Haiyan, Associate Dean and Chair Professor of the SHTM, Director of RCDTT, and Dr. Ren Li, Assistant Professor of the Department of Management and Marketing, skillfully moderated the morning and afternoon sessions, guiding the dialogue and ensuring a seamless exchange of ideas. The Symposium was concluded by Prof. Chi Nien Chung, Chair Professor of Strategic and Organization Management, and Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Studies) of the Department of Management and Marketing, with inspiring closing remarks. The symposium featured a series of engaging presentations and discussions, providing a platform for in-depth conversation and knowledge exchange. Participants had the opportunity to gain valuable insights of the latest trends and challenges in the business and hospitality sectors, as well as to network with peers and experts in the field. Our RCDTT members, including Dr. Richard Qiu, Dr. Anyu Liu, Prof. Mimi Li, and Dr. Neil Li, also delivered insightful presentations that have significantly enriched the symposium. Thank you to everyone who participated in making this joint symposium a resounding success. We are already looking forward to the next edition and the future collaboration between different faculties.

Big Congratulations to Our RCDTT Grant Awardees!

We're excited to share the awardees of the RCDTT Grant. These teams are at the forefront of integrating digital technology into the tourism industry to develop innovative and sustainable solutions. Let's celebrate their achievements and look forward to the positive impacts their research will bring to us! Name Project Title PI: Prof. Fu Xiaowen Co-I: Prof. Tsui Wai Hong Kan, Dr. Qiu Richard Tianran, Dr Chen Tiantian Digital Transformation, Tourist Privacy and Experience Modelling - AI-assisted prediction and optimization model for personalized tourism services PI: Prof. Hsu Cathy Hui-Chun Co-I: Dr Yang Tong, Prof. Stantic Bela Dual-role host-guest interactive gaze: Resident and tourist sentiment in an interaction perspective using big data analytics PI: Prof. Li Mimi Co-I: Dr Wang Dan, Prof. Cao Jiannong, Dr Hu Bin, Prof. Yao Cheng A Multi-modal Generative AI-Driven Interactive Tour Guides Interpretation System for Historical Landmarks and Museums PI: Dr Li Ming Co-I: Prof. Huang George Q., Dr Liu Anyu, Dr Zhao Zhiheng TouristESG: A blockchain-based tourist data sharing platform for ESG certification PI: Dr QIU Richard Tianran Co-I: Dr JIAO Xiaoying, Dr ZHANG Hanyuan, Prof. LI Gang, Prof. WU Doris Chenguang, Prof. WANG Yafei, Dr WENG Chunfei The assessment and monitoring of sustainability impact of tourism: An extension from tourism demand forecasting PI: Dr Xu Yang Co-I: Dr Li Hengyun Neil, Dr Zhao Zhan Advance the modeling of tourist intra-urban destination choice: Crowdsourced data fusion and development of discrete choice models

RCDTT signs a MoU with Yunji Technology

On May 9 2024, Prof. Song Haiyan (RCDTT director), Prof. Mimi Li (RCDTT Associate Director) and Dr Wang Dan (RCDTT Associate Director) are invited to visit Yunji Technology Beijing Headquarters to discuss the digital transformation of the hospitality and tourism industry in mainland China and Hong Kong with ZHI Tao, CEO & Founder of Yunji Technology and Zhang Xingguo, Chairman of the Digital Special Committee of China Hotel Association. During the visit, RCDTT signed a cooperation intention with Yunji Technology, with the aim of leveraging our respective academic, technical research, and industrial application advantages in the field of AI + robot. The collaboration is intended to promote application development through exchange and cooperation. Yunji Technology, as a pioneer in the field of AI + robot services, has always emphasized the importance of the integrating production, education, and research. The company not only operates dual academician workstations in the industry but also contributes to the development of over 20 national and group standards. In 2023, the company collaborated with experts, scholars, and technical elites from well-known local and international universities and enterprises to establish a digital research institute aimed at advancing the development and application of large model technology in the hotel industry. AI + robot services not only enhance service efficiency but also demonstrate significant potential in personalized experiences, digital analysis, and operational optimization. They have emerged as a new driving force for innovation in the hospitality and tourism industry, and this innovative technology is gradually expanding to the Hong Kong market. During the discussion, Zhi Tao pointed out that the digitalization of the hotel industry in mainland China has entered a critical stage, the AI + robot service of Yunji Technology is expected to bring a more far-reaching impact to the industry. Prof. Song highly recognized the development strategy and AI + robot service products of Yunji Technology, and looked forward to collaborating with Yunji Technology on one of the important projects of RCDTT - "Improving business operation efficiency and consumer experience using AI and robotics". We wish the collaboration can further promote the use of service robotics and to bring about new changes in the hospitality and tourism industry in Hong Kong.