Dimitrios Buhalis
Bournemouth University

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis is a Strategic Management and Marketing expert with specialisation in Technology and Tourism.

He is currently Established Chair in Tourism and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) at the School of Services Management at Bournemouth University and Professorial Observer at the Bournemouth University Senate.

He says: “The Internet and social media have emerged as the pervasive and robust platform for the tourism destination distribution and management. The Web 2.0 and consumer generated content based on social media engagement are developing those issues further and develop them on a global scale.

“Only tourism organisations and destinations that can take full advantage of the opportunities will be able to capitalise on the benefits in the future and enhance their competitiveness. The competitiveness of tourism and hospitality organisations and destinations in the future will depend on their ability to integrate smartness in their strategic and operational management; to generate technology empowered constant innovation to manage consumer experiences and local assets and resources profitably and sustainably.

“Within this context this presentation will explore how tourism and hospitality organisations and destinations can improve their agility to maximise its technology empowered competitiveness.”