The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will host IMPACT2026, its flagship international academic conference, from 6 to 8 December 2026 in Hong Kong. Organized under the theme "Transforming Hospitality and Tourism for a Sustainable Future," the conference will bring together leading scholars, industry executives and policymakers to explore how sustainability, innovation and digital transformation are reshaping the future of hospitality and tourism.

Co-organized by the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT), IMPACT2026 aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice by creating a platform where cutting-edge research, business insights and cross-sector collaboration can generate meaningful impact for the global tourism and hospitality community.

Transforming the Industry Through Sustainability

The conference will focus on how the hospitality and tourism industries can respond to global sustainability challenges through innovative business models, technological advances and collaborative governance. Organizers emphasize that the event will showcase bold ideas and green innovations capable of redefining tourism development while placing sustainability at the center of future industry strategies.

IMPACT2026 is designed not only as an academic conference but also as a knowledge exchange platform connecting researchers with industry leaders and decision-makers.

Comprehensive Conference Programme

The three-day programme will include a wide range of academic and networking activities, including:

• Keynote speeches by internationally recognized scholars;
• Moderated panel discussions featuring industry leaders;
• Stand-up paper presentations;
• Poster presentation sessions;
• Welcome Reception;
• Gala Dinner;
• Extensive networking opportunities for research collaboration.

The conference also features an Undergraduate Student Research Competition, encouraging outstanding undergraduate research in hospitality and tourism.

Distinguished International Speakers

The first confirmed keynote speakers include:

• Professor Kaye Chon, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;
• Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom;
• Professor Zheng Xiang, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), USA.

Additional keynote speakers will be announced in the coming months.

Call for Papers

Researchers are invited to submit either:

• Full Papers (approximately 4,000 ± 500 words), or
• Extended Abstracts (approximately 800 ± 100 words).

The submission deadline for conference papers is 30 September 2026.

Outstanding papers will receive awards sponsored by three leading tourism journals:

• Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research
• Journal of China Tourism Research
• Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing

Authors of award-winning papers will be invited to further develop their manuscripts for consideration in these journals.

Registration

Conference registration opens on 1 October 2026, while the Early Bird registration deadline is 15 November 2026.

Registration fees are:

The registration fee includes access to all conference sessions, the opening ceremony, paper presentations, welcome reception, buffet lunches and the gala dinner.

Conference at a Glance