I. Academic Education 

Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign                                                          May, 2009

Dissertation Title: What can revenue-optimizing firms do about their deal-seeking consumers: The role of price patterns, timing and cancellation policies in travelers’ advanced booking decisions

Committee Chair: Dr. Zvi Schwartz 

M.S. in Recreation Administration, California State University, Sacramento                          2004

Thesis Title: Social impacts of tourism: A case study of resident perceptions of recreation development on the Crystal Basin Area, Eldorado County, California

Committee Chair: Dr. Deepak Chhabra 

B.A. in Library and Information Science, National Taiwan University, Taiwan                      2000 
 

II. Honors, Awards and Grants

Grant-in-Aid Award 2012

This $1500 grant is awarded by the Office of Provost at Temple University.

Fox School-Wide Inter-Disciplinary Forum for Young Scholars Interdisciplinary Fall 2011

This $500 seed funding aims to facilitate inter-disciplinary collaborative research projects that span several disciplines within and outside the Fox School.

TTRA Travel Research Grant 2011

This award is presented every two years. The recipient will receive $4,000, up to $300 for travel allowance to be used with the complimentary registration to the 2011 Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual Conference. This grant is awarded to an individual for the development of a research technique or methodology. The recipient is responsible for the application of a traditional or a presently available research technique or methodology in a particularly creative manner which may increase its usefulness. The criteria are based on the researcher’s ability to improve measurement, decrease costs and improve information for better application and understanding by management. The project must show significant benefits to the travel and tourism industry.

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit 2011 Best Paper Award

This award recognizes one conference paper which is well written, employed a sound methodology, and will take an important contribution to the industry.

Fox School-Wide Inter-Disciplinary Forum for Young Scholars Interdisciplinary Spring 2011

This $500 seed funding aims to facilitate inter-disciplinary collaborative research projects that span several disciplines within and outside the Fox School.  

Best Conference Paper 2011

16th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism 

Summer Research Award for 2011

This $7,000 award is granted to tenured track faculty at Temple University who demonstrated outstanding research ability in the field of interest.  

Harrah Hospitality Research Center 2010 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award in Hospitality

The Center highlights industry achievements by giving annual academic excellence award. This award is given each year to recognize and encourage outstanding research. It carries a $1,500 cash prize, an engraved plaque for both the winner and the dissertation chair, a $500 travel allowance, and a complementary registration to the Summit. 

The 2008 Emerald/European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Highly Commended Award in the Hospitality Management Subject Category 

Conference Travel Award for ROC Students Abroad Fall 2008

2008 International CHRIE Annual Conference. July 30-August 2, 2008, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Dissertation Fellowships for ROC Students Abroad 2007-2008

This $15,000 grant is to honor outstanding doctoral candidates who are Republic of China (a.k.a. Taiwan) citizens in the American Region.

2008 Christine Ziebarth Howe Award 
This award recognizes a doctoral student (out of 32) from the University of Illinois Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism who demonstrates academic excellence.  

Conference Travel Award for Graduate Students

The 12th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. January 4-6, 2007, Houston, TX. 

Best Paper Award

The 12th Asia Pacific Tourism Association & 4th Asia-Pacific CHRIE Joint Conference. June 26-29, 2006, Hualien, Taiwan. 

III. Teaching Experience 

Undergraduate Level:

THM 3196 Research Methodology         Fall 2009; Spring & Fall 2010; Spring & Fall 2011; Spring 2012 

THM 3320 Special Topics: Hospitality Management                Fall 2009 

THM 3323 International Tourism                                                                                                    Fall 2011 

THM 4321/4396 Hospitality Management Systems                          Spring 2010, 2011, 2012 

Graduate Level:

THM 5321 Advanced Data Analysis in Tourism and Hospitality               Fall 2010 

IV. Research Contributions 

      Articles: Referred Publications 

1. Yu, X., N. Kim, C. Chen, and Z. Schwartz (Accepted for publication). “Are you a tourist? Tourists’ self-identification and the definition of tourism”, Tourism Analysis
2. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz (Accepted for publication). “On revenue management and last minute booking dynamics”, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
3. Schwartz, Z., and C. Chen (Accepted for publication). “Hedonic motivations and the effectiveness of risk perceptions oriented revenue management policies”, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research
4. Chen, C., Z. Schwartz, and P. Vargas (2011). “The search for the best deal: How hotel cancellation policies affect the search and booking decisions of deal seeking customers”, International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30(1), 129-135.
5. Schwartz, Z., and C. Chen (2010). “The peculiar impact of higher room rates on customers’ propensity to book”, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 22(1), 41-55.
6. Schwartz, Z., and C. Chen (2010). “Advanced booking decisions of risk-averse, deal oriented travelers”, Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management, 19(2), 188-197.
7. Chen, C., J. Ruseski, and Z. Schwartz (2009). “Room rates as signals of quality, sellout risk and the prospects of getting a better deal: Analytical model and empirical evidence”, Tourism Economics, 15(2): 367-380.
8. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz (2008). “Timing matters: Travelers’ advanced booking expectations and decisions”, Journal of Travel Research, 47(1): 35-42.
9. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz (2008). “Room rate patterns and customers’ propensity to book a hotel room”, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, 32(3): 287-306.
10. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz (2006). “The importance of information asymmetry in customers’ booking decisions: A cautionary tale from the Internet”, Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 47(3): 272-285.
11. Chen, C., D. Chhabra, and K. H. Tatsugawa (2004). “Resident perception of the effect of tourism: A case study of the Crystal Basin recreation area, California”, e-Review of Tourism Research, 2(4).

Publication of proceedings of conferences, meeting, etc. National or International level (Refereed)

       

1. Chen, C., and L. Xie “Cancellation policies and pricing strategy practices in U.S. hotels." The 13th annual Pricing Conference. August 18-20, 2011. Syracuse, NY.

2. Xie, K., L. Xiong, C. Chen, and C. Hu “Understanding active loyalty in hotel reward programs through customers’ switching costs and perceived program value.” 2011 International CHRIE Annual Conference. July 27-30, 2011, Denver, CO.

3. Schwartz, Z., and C. Chen “On revenue management and last minute booking dynamics.” 2011 International CHRIE Annual Conference. July 27-30, 2011, Denver, CO.
4. Xie, L. and C. Chen “Name-Your-Own-Price or posted price? That is the question: A game theoretical perspective.” The 18th Annual iHITA Conference. June 19, 2011. Austin, TX.
5. Chen, C., and L. Xie “How valuable is valuable enough? Unveil the mystery of hotel loyalty programs.” Caesars Hospitality Research Summit. June 8-10, 2011. Las Vegas, NV.
6. Yu, X., Kim, N., Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz “Are you a tourist? Tourists’ self-identification and the definition of tourism.” 16th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. January 6-8, 2011. Houston, TX.
7. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz “Consumers perceptions and booking decisions as time nears the date of stay.” 2010 INFORMS Revenue Management and Pricing Conference. June 16-18, 2010. Ithaca, NY.
8. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz “The impact of hedonic and utilitarian motivations on the hotel customers’ risk perception.” Harrah Hospitality Research Summit. June 9-11, 2010. Las Vegas, NV.
9. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz “Hotel cancellation policies and booking decisions of deal seeking customers”. 14th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. January 4-6, 2009. Las Vegas, NV.

10. Chen, C., Z. Schwartz, and P. Vargas “The search for the best deal: How hotel cancellation policies affect the search and booking decisions of deal seeking customers.” Journal of Information Technology and Tourism Workshop Series (Topic: Tourism, Search and the Internet). November 13-14, 2008, Vienna, Austria.

11. Schwartz, Z., and C. Chen “Is it a good hotel? Is it a good deal? Will the hotel sell out? The peculiar impact of room rate signaling on consumers’ expectations and hotels’ revenue maximization.” 2008 International CHRIE Annual Conference. July 30-August 2, 2008, Atlanta, Georgia.

12. Chen, C., J. Ruseski, and Z. Schwartz “Room rates as signals of quality, sellout risk and the prospects of getting a better deal: Analytical model and empirical evidence.” The 5th Asia Pacific CHRIE & 13th Asia Pacific Tourism Association Joint Conference. May 23-27, 2007, Beijing, China.
13. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz “Timing matters: Customers’ advanced booking expectations and their propensity to book a hotel room.” The 12th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. January 4-6, 2007, Houston, TX.
14. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz “Beyond price integrity and last-minute deals: The impact of price patterns on hotel room booking decisions.” The 12th Asia Pacific Tourism Association & 4th Asia-Pacific CHRIE Joint Conference. June 26-29, 2006, Hualien, Taiwan.
15. Chen, C., and Z. Schwartz “The impact of on-line advanced reservation information on tourists' willingness to book.” The 24th International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators Conference. October 20-23, 2005, Chicago, IL.
16. Chen, C., D. Chhabra, and K. H. Tatsugawa “Resident perceptions of the effect of tourism upon their lifestyle in the Crystal Basin Area, Eldorado County, California.” California & Pacific Southwest Recreation & Park Training Conference. March 10-13, 2004, Anaheim, CA.

      Research-related activities 

Ad hoc Reviewer

ICHRIE                 2012

International Journal of Hospitality Management                                                                                  2011

Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism                                                                      2011

Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management                                                                      2011, 2012

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research                                                                               2010, 2011

Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing                                                                    2010

Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism                                                                                            2009

Annual Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism Proceedings          2009, 2011 

Guest Speaker

Department of Hospitality Management, Tunghai University, Taiwan             January 7, 2010 

Guest Lecturer

Adventure Tourism (RST 199)

University of Illinois, Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism                                         Spring 2009 

Principles of Retailing (BADM 321)                                                                              

University of Illinois, Department of Business Administration                                                       Fall 2008

                 

The Internet and Advanced Booking Consumer Behavior – Section II       Summer 2006

Jinling Executive Seminars Program. Purdue University, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management