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Expertise: Human-Robot Interactions, the use of AI in Hospitality and Tourism, Digital Marketing, Social Media, Mobile Technologies, Information Technology Adoption, Destination Marketing, Research Methodology, and Statistical Analyses.

Dr. Ahmet Ozturk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hospitality Services at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He holds a Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration with a concentration in Information Systems from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science degree in Tourism and Hotel Management from Mersin University, Turkiye.

Dr. Ozturk’s research primarily focuses on Human-Robot Interactions, the use of AI in Hospitality and Tourism, Digital Marketing, Social Media, Mobile Technologies, and Information Technology Adoption. He is the author of more than 90 refereed papers in leading academic journals and proceedings of international conferences. His publications have appeared in high-impact indexed journals including International Journal of Information Management, Computers in Human Behavior, Information Systems Frontiers, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, International Journal of Hospitality Management, Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, and Current Issues in Tourism. Additionally, Dr. Ozturk edited a book titled “Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategies for Tourism and Hospitality Organizations,” published by Goodfellow Publishers.

Dr. Ozturk serves on several editorial and advisory boards for international academic journals and conferences. He is also the Coordinating Editor responsible for overseeing papers related to information technology in one of the leading SSCI-indexed journals, the International Journal of Hospitality Management (IJHM). Additionally, Dr. Ozturk served as the Guest Editor for a special issue spanning two volumes, titled “Online Social Media in Hospitality and Tourism,” for the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology.

Dr. Ozturk’s teaching areas include Management Information Systems, Research Methods, and Statistical Analyses. In his current position, he teaches courses in Digital Marketing, Social Media, Information Systems, and Big Data Management at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Additionally, he teaches Quantitative Statistics at the doctoral level. Dr. Ozturk has been a WAC Fellow Scholar since 2015, a role in UCF’s Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) faculty development program that supports the development of research-based writing outcomes and assessment strategies.

Dr. Ozturk is ranked among the top 2% of scholars in the world in the field of Sport, Leisure & Tourism and has received several awards for his research contributions, including the Research Excellence Award from Oklahoma State University, the Best Paper Award from the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, the Best Paper Award from the International Hospitality Information Technology Association (iHITA), the Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Award (Highly Commended), and the Research Incentive Award from University of Central Florida.