Prof. Dr. J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak | Tourism | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak | Tourism | Professor at University of Greenwich | United Kingdom

Prof J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak is an internationally recognized scholar and strategic academic leader whose career bridges higher education, industry, and the non-profit sector with a distinguished record of research, teaching, and knowledge exchange. He holds a professional doctorate in place management and advanced degrees in engineering and management from prestigious institutions, combining a technical foundation with expertise in strategic leadership, sustainability, and urban regeneration. With extensive professional experience across leading universities, including the University of Greenwich where he currently serves as Professor and Associate Head of School (Research & Knowledge Exchange), Prof J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak has successfully managed interdisciplinary research teams, secured significant international funding, and fostered innovation through impactful collaborations across 25 countries. His research interests span urban tourism, smart cities, sustainable destination management, and place marketing, with numerous publications in world-class journals such as Annals of Tourism Research, Sustainable Development, and Tourism Review. A highly skilled researcher, he has demonstrated excellence in project design, grant acquisition, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and interdisciplinary approaches that address complex societal challenges. His achievements include serving as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Tourism Cities, where he elevated the journal to a Q1 Scopus ranking, reflecting his ability to shape global research agendas and scholarly discourse. Prof J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak’s professional memberships and fellowships with leading institutions such as the Royal Geographical Society, Higher Education Academy, and Institute of Place Management underscore his global standing and influence in the field. His awards and honors include multiple teaching excellence awards, recognition for postgraduate supervision, editorial contributions to top-ranked journals, and induction into the Hall of Fame of Urban Tourism Research. Beyond academia, he has provided policy advice to governments, contributed expert evidence to parliamentary inquiries, and played advisory roles to international organizations, showcasing the societal impact of his research. His career reflects a rare blend of scholarly rigor, leadership, and practical engagement with industry and government stakeholders, making him a trusted voice in tourism, sustainability, and place management worldwide. In conclusion, Prof J. Andres Coca-Stefaniak is a thought leader whose research, academic service, and mentorship have made profound contributions to advancing urban tourism and sustainability, while his leadership roles and global collaborations highlight his continuing potential to shape international research excellence and policy development in the years ahead.

Profile: Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

1. Florido-Benítez, L., & Coca-Stefaniak, J. A. (2025). Aerotainment – a new paradigm for sustainable development in tourism. Sustainable Development. Citations: 5

2. Florido-Benítez, L., & Coca-Stefaniak, J. A. (2025). Towards a new generation of smart tourism cities – GenAI enabled aerotainment. Cities. Citations: 3

3. Florido-Benítez, L., Morrison, A. M., & Coca-Stefaniak, J. A. (2025). Aerotainment – Toward a research agenda merging airports and theme parks in the experience economy. Annals of Tourism Research, 110, 103881. Citations: 7

4. Li, J., Morrison, A. M., Nguyen, T. H. H., & Coca-Stefaniak, J. A. (2024). Sustainable tourist behavior: A systematic literature review and research agenda. Sustainable Development, 32(4), 3356–3374. Citations: 42

5. Nandasena, G. L. W. R. N., Morrison, A. M., & Coca-Stefaniak, J. A. (2022). Transformational tourism – A systematic literature review and research agenda. Journal of Tourism Futures. Citations: 18

6. Zhong, L., Coca-Stefaniak, J. A., Morrison, A. M., Yang, L., & Deng, B. (2022). Technology acceptance before and after COVID-19: No-touch service from hotel robots. Tourism Review, 77(4), 1062–1080. Citations: 55

7. Zhan, L., Zheng, X., Morrison, A. M., Liang, H., & Coca-Stefaniak, J. A. (2022). A risk perception scale for travel to a crisis epicenter: Visiting Wuhan after COVID-19. Current Issues in Tourism, 25(1), 150–167. Citations: 61