Ekaterina Koll at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates.
Dr. Ekaterina Koll is a scholar and practitioner with extensive international experience in both academia and the hospitality industry. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and master’s-level training in Spain. She has contributed to hospitality education and research across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. A recipient of multiple research fellowships and government grants, including the prestigious Ernst Mach Research Grant and Belt and Road Scholarship, Dr. Koll has played an active role in projects supported by the Austrian Ministry of Education and the Pacific Asia Travel Association. She is also involved in global research on retail tourism with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Her teaching portfolio includes courses in strategic hospitality management, entrepreneurship, digital marketing and luxury brand communication.
Publication Profile
Scopus
Orcid
Google Scholar
Educational Details
- Ph.D. in Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), Hong Kong SAR, 2019–2022
Focus: Customer Insights, Marketing, Experience Design
-
M.S. in Hospitality Management, Escuela de Alta Direccion y Administracion (EADA), Spain, 2012–2013
-
B.A. in Public Administration, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Russia, 2007–2012
Professional Experience
Dr. Ekaterina Koll is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Zayed University in Dubai, UAE (since August 2023). She is also a Teaching Missions Professor at IMC Krems, Austria (2024–2025) and held a Visiting Fellow position at Duy Tan University, Vietnam in Summer 2023. Prior to that, she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2022–2023) and a Visiting Fellow at the Salzburg University of Applied Science, Austria (2021–2022). From 2019 to 2022, she served as a Teaching Assistant and Research Fellow at SHTM, POLYU. Her earlier career includes key hospitality industry roles such as Director of Quality, Guest Relations & Loyalty at Marriott International (St. Regis and Le Meridien) in Shanghai (2014–2019), and Management Trainee at Hyatt and Metropark (2011–2014) in Russia and Hong Kong. She also worked as a Research Assistant at RPANEPA, Russia (2010–2012).
Research Interest
Dr. Koll’s research lies at the intersection of hospitality and tourism management, with a strong focus on:
-
Customer insights and experience design
-
Digital and strategic marketing
-
Luxury management and service excellence
-
Tourism entrepreneurship and market analysis
-
Netnography and qualitative research methods
-
Global retail tourism and economic empowerment in travel sectors
Author Metrics
-
Total Citations: 332
-
h-index: 5
-
i10-index: 4
-
Notable Contributions: Research on customer experience design, digital marketing in tourism, luxury hospitality, and global retail tourism
-
Ongoing Projects:
-
Retail Tourism Trends and Insights (in collaboration with WTTC)
-
Experience Design and Netnography (Austrian Ministry-funded)
-
Economic Empowerment in Tourism during COVID-19 (PATA project)
Top Noted Publication
1. Digital Nomads’ Lifestyles and Coworkation
Authors: E. Chevtaeva, B. Denizci-Guillet
Journal: Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, Vol. 21, 100633 (2021)
Citations: 180
DOI: [Link if needed]
Summary:
This highly cited study investigates the rise of coworkation—the combination of coworking and vacation—through the lens of digital nomads’ lifestyles. It identifies key motivations, destination preferences, and challenges faced by location-independent professionals. The findings inform destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and hospitality service providers about designing more suitable infrastructure and experiences for this growing tourism segment.
2. Coworking and Coliving: The Attraction for Digital Nomad Tourists
Author: E. Chevtaeva
Conference Proceedings: Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2021 (ENTER Conference)
Citations: 91
Summary:
This conference paper explores how the integration of coworking and coliving facilities serves as a key pull factor for digital nomad tourists. It offers a typology of digital nomad profiles and provides practical implications for urban planning, real estate, and hospitality service developers targeting the mobile workforce.
3. Travel While Working Remotely: A Topological Data Analysis of Well-being in Remote Work Trip Experiences
Authors: E. Chevtaeva, B. Neuhofer, R. Egger, M. Rainoldi
Journal: Journal of Travel Research, Vol. 63, Issue 2, pp. 466–480 (2024)
Citations: 23
Summary:
This cutting-edge article applies Topological Data Analysis (TDA) to map the well-being experiences of remote workers who travel while working. It uncovers patterns and insights into emotional, social, and environmental factors that contribute to or detract from well-being during “workations.” The paper sets a precedent for using advanced analytics in tourism and well-being research.
4. A Review of Communication Trends Due to the Pandemic: Perspective from Airlines
Authors: E. Chevtaeva, B. Denizci-Guillet
Journal: Anatolia, Vol. 32, Issue 1, pp. 168–171 (2021)
Citations: 19
Summary:
This short communication reviews the dramatic shift in airline messaging and service recovery strategies in response to COVID-19. It highlights changes in tone, transparency, digital engagement, and crisis response, with implications for brand trust and long-term customer loyalty.
5. The “Next Normal” of Work: How Tourism Shapes the Wellbeing of Remote Workers
Authors: E. Chevtaeva, B. Neuhofer, M. Rainoldi
Conference: CAUTHE 2022 Conference Online: Shaping the Next Normal in Tourism, Hospitality and Events
Citations: 9
Summary:
Presented at CAUTHE 2022, this conceptual paper outlines how tourism plays an active role in influencing remote workers’ well-being, proposing a model that links work-life balance, travel routines, and psychological restoration. It contributes to the evolving discourse on the intersection of work, travel, and lifestyle post-pandemic.
Conclusion
Based on her dynamic research agenda, international collaborations, funded projects, and growing citation record, Dr. Ekaterina Koll is a strong and promising candidate for the Best Researcher Award in Tourism. Her academic trajectory reflects both originality and global relevance, especially in the evolving domains of digital lifestyles and post-pandemic tourism innovation.
While she is still in the early-to-mid career phase, the quality, impact, and strategic alignment of her work with the future of tourism make her a compelling nominee. With continued scholarly output and global engagement, she is poised to become a leading voice in tourism research.