Experience Design & Human Transformation

In the transformation economy, experiences are shifting focus. It is no longer about only creating experiences that are extraordinary and memorable, but indeed transformative. While people often encounter transformative experiences throughout their lives, these experiences, both positive and negative, are often accidental rather than designed.

This research line focuses on how we can bridge the fields of experiences design and positive psychology to understand how we can intentionally create and occasion transformative experiences to create individual and collective wellbeing. This research area addresses the questions: What are triggers of transformation? How can businesses and employees guide transformations? What are the conditions and environments to create transformative experiences? How can transformation be integrated long-term? How can designed experiences serve as positive interventions with a long-lasting impact?

These selected recent publications may be of your interest:

Celuch, K. and Neuhofer, B. (2024) Transformative Event Experiences: A Visual In-Situ Study of Change. Current Issues in Tourism.

Celuch, K. and Neuhofer, B. (2023) Towards Transformative Event Experiences: State of the Art and Future Research. Event Management.

Neuhofer, B., Egger, R., Yu, J. and Celuch, K. (2021) Designing experiences in the age of human transformation: An analysis of Burning Man. Annals of Tourism Research, p. 91.

Neuhofer, B., Celuch, K., To, L. (2020) The psychological dimensions of transformative festival experiencesInternational Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 32 (9), pp. 2881-2901.

Experience Design & Digital Transformation

In the 21st century, digital technology has become a catalyst of change that has transformed the way we live, consume and work, learn and much more. Digital technology has changed many areas of our life’s experiences.

This research line combines experience design and digital transformation. It explores emerging digital technologies – virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, chatbots, smart tourism, big data systems – and questions around how these digital technologies shape and enhance customer experiences in multiple service contexts. Digital transformation plays a major role in co-creating experiences before, during and after and creating never-ending tourism experiences. This research line zooms out to the macro trends that shape the future of technology enhanced experiences, and zooms in on the customer journey maps on how technologies helps meet human needs and create memorable moments along all steps of the customer journey.

These selected recent publications may be of your interest:

Prodinger, B. and Neuhofer, B. (2023). Never-Ending Tourism: Tourism Experience Scenarios for 2030. In ENTER23 e-Tourism Conference, Springer.

Chevtaeva, E., Neuhofer, B., Egger, R. and Rainoldi, M. (2023) Travel while working remotely: A topological data analysis of well-being in the remote work trips experience. Journal of Travel Research.

Rainoldi, M., van der Winckel, A., Yu, J. and Neuhofer, B. (2022) Video Game Experiential Marketing in Tourism: Designing for Experiences. In Stienmetz, J.L., Ferrer-Rosell, B., Massimo, D. (Hg.) Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2022. Cham, Springer, pp. 3-15.

Grundner, L. and Neuhofer, B. (2021) The Bright and Dark Sides of Artificial Intelligence: A Futures Perspective on Tourist Experiences. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 19.

Neuhofer, B., Magnus, B., Celuch, K. (2020) The impact of artificial intelligence on event experiences: A scenario technique approach. Electronic Markets. pp.1-17.

Simon, O., Neuhofer, B., Egger, R. (2020) Human-robot interaction: Conceptualising trust in frontline teams through LEGO Serious Play. Tourism Management Perspectives, 35.

Femenia-Serra, F., Neuhofer, B. and Ivars-Baidal, J. (2019) Towards a conceptualisation of smart tourists and their role within the smart destination scenario. The Service Industries Journal, 39 (2), 109-133

Experience Design & Value Co-Creation

Experience and value co-creation has become a key idea in services and tourism marketing in the 21st century. Co-creation recognises the power of actively involving consumers in the creation and consumption of products, services and experiences.

This research line addresses the questions: How can we apply the principles of co-creation in the service fields, including tourism, leisure, and events? Who are the key actors that co-create experiences and value in the service eco-system? How can we implement digital technology to elevate co-creation to a next level? How can we co-create value together to elevate our collective human consciousness and create value for our entire eco-system?

These selected recent publications may be of your interest:

Sarlay, S. and Neuhofer, B. (2020) Sharing economy disrupting aviation: Travelers’ willingness to pay. Tourism Review. 76 (3), pp. 579-593.

Tu, P.,  Neuhofer, B. and Viglia, G. (2018) When co-creation pays. Stimulating engagement to increase revenues. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Research.

Johnson, A. and Neuhofer, B. (2017) Airbnb – An Exploration of Value Co-Creation Experiences in Jamaica. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Research, 29:9, 2361-2376.

Camilleri, J. and Neuhofer, B. (2017) Value Co-Creation and Co-Destruction in the Airbnb Sharing Economy. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Research, 29: 9, 2322-2340.

Neuhofer, B. (2016) Innovation through co-creation: Towards an understanding of technology-facilitated co-creation processes in tourism. In: Egger, R., Gula, I., Walch, D. (eds.) Open Tourism: Open Innovation, Crowdsourcing and Collaborative Consumption challenging the tourism industry. Vienna, Springer, pp.17-33.

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