IFTM recently hosted the 5th International Tourism and Retail Service Management Conference (TRMC2023)

The Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) hosted “The 5th International Tourism and Retail Service Management Conference (TRMC2023)” on 19-20 October 2023. The conference, themed “Strengthening the synergies between tourism and retail in an uncertain era” aimed to bring together scholars and industry professionals from around the world to discuss and explore the forward-thinking ideas, challenges and opportunities that the future may hold for these industries, especially after the pandemic.

IFTM hosted the inaugural conference in 2018. The 2021 and 2022 events had been online-only. The TRMC Consortium now includes several prestigious global institutions at the leading edge of research and knowledge, focusing on the nexus of tourism and retail services. This year, the conference is being organised in partnership with five other higher education institutions. They are: the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina, in the United States; Breda University of Applied Science, in the Netherlands; Nankai University, in Mainland China; Sunway University, in Malaysia; and Hangzhou City University, in Mainland China. The conference is being held in hybrid format – with in-person presentations and ones streamed online, and it marks the first face-to-face conference that IFTM hosted after the pandemic.

Keynote speakers included Prof. Hanqin Qiu, Dean and Distinguished Professor from Hangzhou City University, China; Prof. Rich Harrill, Research Professor and Director of International Tourism Research Institute at College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, University of South Carolina, USA; and Prof. Lisa Wan, Associate Professor and Acting Director from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. A number of influential industry speakers were invited to speak at TRMC2023, including Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of Macao Government Tourism Office; Mr. James Guntrip, Vice President of Store Operations in Macao for luxury retailer DFS; Mr. Edison Chen, Vice President of Destination Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Shanghai-based multinational travel service conglomerate Trip.com Group; and Dr. Esra Calvert, President of Esra Calvert Consulting, a U.S.-based tourism consultancy.

The conference attracted more than 90 participants. About a quarter were online attendees, and more than 50 research papers were presented at TRMC2023.

The 2024 edition of the TRMC series is to take place at Breda University of Applied Science in the Netherlands.

Check out the amazing moments from the unforgettable TRMC2023

The 3rd International Tourism Retail and Service Management Conference (TRMC2021)

Important dates

Abstract submission

12 Aug 2021

Full paper submission

Video presentation submission

E-poster video submission

12 Sept 2021

Registration deadline

26 Sept 2021

The 3rd International Tourism Retail and Service Management Conference (TRMC2021) builds on previous conferences hosted by the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies in 2018 and Nankai University (China) in 2019. This is a two-day all-virtual conference held between October 12-13, 2021 (Malaysia Time Zone). The conference will be hosted by the School of Hospitality and Service Management at Sunway University in partnership with the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, University of South Carolina (USA) and Nankai University (China). The main theme of this conference is “Developing Sustainable Tourism Retailing”.

The theme of sustainability is highly relevant given the significant changes to the retail industry brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. As tourism destinations have had to close-up all around the world, the retail landscape has been significantly impacted. Looking to the future, how will tourism destinations sustainably reopen their attractions, facilities and retailing to tourists? As shopping is being shifted online, there is also a need to question how the retail offering will have to innovate to entice customers back? What will the future retail environment look like? How will the retail experience have to change? This begs questions of not only identifying market and financial sustainability, but also the question of long-term environmental sustainability.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE CONFERENCE HOST

TRMC 2019 Conference was successfully held in Tianjin China

The second International Conference on Tourism and Retail Service Management (TRMC 2019) with theme: New Challenges and Opportunities in Tourism and Retail Services was held on 27-28 October 2019 in Tianjin, China. The TRMC 2019 was hosted by the College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University, China and co-ogranised by the IFTM and the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management of the University of South Carolina, United States. The conference has attracted more than 150 experts and professionals, scholars and industry members from tourism and retail service management to attend.

Prof. Leonardo A. N. Dioko was one of the keynote speakers and he delivered welcome speech on “The Strategic Use of Color in Retail Branding—Avenues for Research”. Faculty also shared their research findings in the parallel sessions:

• Dr. Catherine Li presented “Perceptions and Preferences of Generation Z on Organizational Culture of High-end Hotels in Macau”

• Dr. Eve Ren presented “Luxury Shopping Abroad: What do the Chinese tourists look for? “

• Dr. Fernando Lourenco presented “What is important for retail education? Views from retail experts from Macao”

• Dr. Sandeep Basnyat presented “Where is domestic tourism heading in Nepal?”

• Dr. Jenny Guan presented “Breakthrough the Bottleneck of Sustainable Development: Religious and Cultural Tourism in Macao” and “Towards an Understanding of Smart Tourism in Macau”

• Prof. Leonardo A. N. Dioko presented “The influence of weather on visitor spending in Macao”

• Prof. Wilco Chan presented “Toward the Gourmet Food Truck under Outline Development Plan of the Greater Bay Area”

• Dr. Laurie Baker-Malungu presented “Cultural Intelligence (CQ): An Essential Component of Talent Retention in Hospitality”

Since the first TRMC held in 2018, it has received strong support and extensive attention from experts, scholars and industry professionals in the world of institutions, tourism and retail services, and has become an international event in the field of tourism and retail services. The next TRMC will be held in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, to be hosted by Sunway College.

TRMC2019 Conference (27-28 Oct 2019, Tianjin China)

The INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON Tourism and Retail Service Management 2019 (TRMC2019) with theme: New Challenges and Opportunities in Tourism and Retail Services hosted by College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University, China will be jointly organised by Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao SAR, China and College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, University of South Carolina, USA on 27-28 October 2019 in Tianjin China.

The Conference theme is “New Challenges and Opportunities in Tourism and Retail Services”. In 2019, we are facing decelerating economic growth globally, which brings both serious challenges and tremendous opportunities for tourism and retail industries. The emerging issues and changes call for more discussions and serious investigation.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Abstract submission: Due on or before June 5, 2019

Acceptance notification: July 5, 2019

Early bird registration deadline: July 20, 2019

Full paper submission deadline: September 15, 2019*

Final registration deadline: September 27, 2019

Conference begins: October 27, 2019

* For inclusion in proceedings, authors and contributors MUST submit complete manuscript AND register by the September 27, 2019 registration deadline.

For more information, please visit the Conference’s website https://www.tourismandretailconference.org/

The International Conference on Tourism and Retail Management 2018

IFT will be hosting the International Conference on Tourism and Retail Management (TRMC) 2018 in Macao SAR, China on 3-4 December. The TRMC jointly organized with the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, University of South Carolina, USA, and Nakai University Collage of Tourism and Service Management, China.

Educators, students, and practitioners are invited to a pioneering conference that focuses on cutting-edge developments occurring in the nexus of the tourism and retail management fields. The theme of the conference is “Advances in Tourism and Retail Services”. The dramatic, rapid, and concurrent growth of tourism and retail industries creates both tremendous opportunities and serious challenges, forcing organizations and communities to ponder many questions requiring serious investigation and debate. If your current practice, interest, or research touches upon this or other related theme, we invite you to join the stimulating discussion and debates that TRMC will stage for this purpose. 

For more information about the conference, please visit http://www.ift.edu.mo/trmc