Keynote Speakers

Fernando Perna (University of Algarve, Portugal)

Fernando Perna is a Full Professor at the High School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of Algarve (Portugal), and National Director of CiTUR – Research Centre for Tourism Innovation and Development. With degrees in applied economics, energy and environment policy, he is best known for his works in evaluating the socio-economic impact of large-scale tourism events, nautical/maritime tourism economic planning, and regional development and competitiveness, with more than 20 research and educational project coordination. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate level, in Portugal and abroad through university partnerships in E.U. countries, Norway, Morocco, Cabo Vert, Algeria, and China. Acting as a member of international and national Editorial Boards of scientific journals in tourism, management, and economics, he has published over 15 works, including scientific papers, books, and book chapters.

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Elizabeth Wada (Anhembi Morumbi University, Brazil)

Completed post-doctorate at UFPR – PPG in Tourism (2016), holds a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences from the University of São Paulo (1994), Master in Communication Sciences from the University of S. Paulo (1989), Specialist in Marketing Administration from EAESP / FGV (1982. She is the Coordinator of the PPG in Hospitality and the Professional Master in Food and Beverage Management at the Anhembi Morumbi University and a researcher at the Institute for Social and Technological Research and Development (ISAM). Acts as a teacher in the following disciplines: Management and Strategic Planning in Hospitality; Hospitality and Stakeholders; Hospitality and Competitiveness in Services. She has experience in the fields of Tourism and Hospitality in Latin America, with an emphasis on Management of Accommodation Facilities and in the following topics: hospitality, strategic planning, tourism, business tourism (corporate travel, business events, and incentive travel), corporate mobility, services, and innovation. She is the administrative-financial director of ANPTUR (National Association of Research and Graduate Studies in Tourism) and Vice President of Finance for MPI Brazil Chapter (Meeting Professionals International). He is a member of the Board of Bourbon Hotels & Resorts.

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Mara Franco (University of Madeira, Portugal)

Mara Franco holds a Ph.D. in Business and Management Studies from the School of Economics and Management of the University of Porto. She is an Integrated Researcher of CiTUR-UMa and an Invited Adjunct Professor at the University of Madeira, lecturing curricular units in Management and Marketing fields. Currently, she coordinates research in carrying capacity in tourism, consumer behavior in tourism, and tourism market characterization. She is an author and co-author of publications presented in peer-reviewed conferences and of scientific papers published in indexed international journals. She is also coordinating the Tourism Observatory of the University of Madeira.

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Mary Guerra Ashton (Feevale University, Brazil)

Mary Ashton holds a Ph.D. degree and a Master’s degree in Social Communication (PUCRS – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Specialist in Tourism Production and Management and Bachelor of Tourism (PUCRS). Full Professor at Feevale University, researcher and professor in the Tourism and Gastronomy courses, and the Professional Master in Creative Industry. Leader of the Creative Industry Research Group. Member of the committee of the Master in Creative Industry, CEP, and CONPPG of Feevale University. Develops research on creative cities, cultural projects, tourism production and consumption, and generation of socioeconomic development.