Graduate Student Profile Bingna Lin

Shenzhen, China

College:

Rosen College of Hospitality

Degree Program:

Hospitality Management PhD

Research Focus:

Social, cultural, and economic impacts of hospitality and tourism

---

Bingna Lin sees advancing her career in hospitality and tourism as a lifelong journey beyond her professional goals. Her passion for hospitality emerged during her high school years after watching the British series Hotel Babylon, which depicted the dedication of hotel staff in creating enjoyable experiences for guests. She was captivated by the idea of working in a world-renowned hotel, surrounded by a team of exceptional colleagues, and engaging with individuals from around the globe.

Fueled by this, Lin pursued a degree in Tourism Management from Huizhou University and began working as a hotel marketing manager. During that time, she oversaw marketing campaigns and managed customer relationships to increase brand awareness and improve customer satisfaction. Soon after, she obtained a master’s in Knowledge Management and worked as an assistant officer for an online master’s program in hospitality management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. These experiences allowed her to explore her passion for hospitality education and research, deepening her love for the field.

Wanting to further her studies abroad, Lin then decided to pursue a doctoral degree in Hospitality Management at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, providing her the opportunity to step into academia while gaining valuable industry experience.

“I have been exposed at UCF to innovative academic programs, cutting-edge research, and strong industry and community partnerships,” she says. “The intellectual and supportive environment at UCF, combined with its prime location of Orlando, Florida, has offered me unrivaled opportunities to learn and work in the heart of the hospitality industry.” She describes her time here as “transformative” and credits her experience at the university with enhancing her research and teaching capabilities.

In addition to her studies, Lin is involved in various research endeavors in the hospitality industry, from exploring the influence of tourism development on poverty reduction in Honduras to conducting foodstagramming projects with coauthors. Chief among them is her doctoral dissertation, which focuses on visitor experiences in entertainment destinations like Orlando. She hopes her dissertation can contribute to university-industry collaboration and serve as a building block for the collaborative relationships between UCF and hospitality and tourism organizations.

“Overall, UCF has been instrumental in equipping me with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for a scholarly career in Hospitality Management,” she says. “I am grateful for the exceptional education and opportunities I have received at UCF [and] I am confident that my doctoral study here will have a lasting and positive impact on my future endeavors in academia and beyond.”

Lin has published 11 journal papers in various renowned journals, 17 conference papers, and one Encyclopedia Entry. She has won numerous awards for her exceptional work at UCF and beyond, including the Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship, the Etta Jean & Dr. Frank Juge Graduate Fellowship, and a scholarship from the Women’s Executive Council of Orlando.

After she graduates this summer, Lin plans to continue engaging in research and teaching activities, shaping her creative scholarship, and building a strong scholarly record as an active contributor to her field. She aims to foster partnerships that benefit academia and the industry while nurturing and inspiring the next generation of industry leaders. “I am committed to striving for excellence in all aspects of my research, teaching, and professional endeavors,” she says.

Highlights:

• Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship recipient
• Etta Jean & Dr. Frank Juge Graduate Fellowship recipient
• Women’s Executive Council Scholarship recipient, Women’s Executive Council of Orlando
• Published 11 journal papers, 17 Conference papers, and 1 Encyclopedia entry