Dr. Yoo Ri Kim is an Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management. She holds a BSc in Geography with Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and both an MSc in International Tourism Development and a PhD in Hospitality and Tourism from the University of Surrey, UK. Before joining UCF, Dr. Kim worked as a Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management at the University of Surrey.

Dr. Kim’s research expertise lies in applied economics, spatial analytics, and entrepreneurship and innovation in hospitality and tourism. Her work has been featured in prestigious journals such as Tourism Management, Journal of Travel Research, Annals of Tourism Research, and Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research. She currently contributes to the editorial boards of Tourism Economics, Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, Journal of Smart Tourism, and Tourism Management Perspectives.

In her teaching role, Dr. Kim covers a range of subjects including Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Legal Environment in Hospitality and Tourism, Hospitality Industry Finance, Hospitality Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management in Hospitality. Additionally, she teaches Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Rijeka (UNIRI) in Croatia.

Dr. Kim is deeply committed to her students and the broader community. She advises the Rosen Entrepreneurship and Innovation Club (REIgKNIGHTS), fostering entrepreneurial mindsets among her students. Beyond academia, she actively engages with local public schools, volunteering her time to share her expertise and inspire young students pursuing higher education and beyond.

Dr. Kim welcomes new PhD students, especially those interested in exploring entrepreneurship and innovation. Her areas of focus include cutting-edge topics such as digital twins in hospitality and tourism, as well as the role of hospitality and tourism in regional economic development.