Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Luxury services; Luxury hospitality; Luxury tourism; Transformative luxury services; Transformative experiences; Authenticity; Experience design and management; Sustainable luxury research; Social sustainability; Hospitality Organisational psychology and behaviour; Employees well-being; Thriving at work; Hospitality competencies; Hospitableness; Hospitality education; Service marketing and management; Qualitative methods; Participatory and high-engagement methodologies.
Research Profile
Dr Anita Manfreda (PhD) is a senior lecturer and researcher at Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School @ Torrens University Australia. Prior to this, Anita spent over ten years in leadership roles in luxury hospitality firms in Italy, Switzerland, and Australia. Through the adoption of qualitative high-engagement and participatory research methodologies, her research investigates customer experiences and luxury consumption, with attention to the nexus between authenticity, luxury, sustainability, and customer transformations. Anita is best known for her work on luxury lodges experience quality, for which she has received a series of national and international awards. Her research interests and current national and international collaborations also include organisational behaviour and psychology applied to the hospitality industry, investigating competencies, emotions, and well-being of the hospitality workforce. Anita is a member of the TUA Centre of Organisational Change and Agility (COCA) and of various professional associations, including Executive Committee member of the Council of Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), member of the Experience Research Society (EXPRESSO), and of the Transformational Travel Council. Anita also provides training and consulting services to luxury hospitality owners and operators, leaders, and front-line staff on how to best create quality luxury experiences that are underpinned by the principles of authenicity, sustaianbility, and transformation.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Service marketing and management (Management), PhD
Award Date: 19 Jul 2023
International Hotel Management (Business) , Master, The Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Award Date: 8 Mar 2016
Cultural Tourism (Humanities) , Bachelor, University of Udine
Award Date: 8 Mar 2012
External positions
Executive Committee Member , The Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE)
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Development of Australian Luxury Service Oriented Training Programs for Staff
Manfreda, A. (Principal Chief Investigator) & Peade, M. (Partner Investigator)
1/04/24 → 30/06/24
Project: Consultancy with a Research Component
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Beyond exchange: Decoding reciprocal hospitableness in luxury lodge experiences
Manfreda, A. & Harkison, T., Jan 2025, In: Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management. 62, March 2025, p. 173-187Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Deconstructing job demands and resources: a systematic integrative review of job crafting in hospitality
Vivas Imparato, S., Manfreda, A. & Presbury, R., 2025, CAUTHE 2025: Transforming Tomorrow: Leveraging Opportunities to Create Change in Tourism, Hospitality and Events.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
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Emotional intelligent leaders and how to nurture them: a design thinking-based participatory action research
do Carmo Mateus, B. M., Presbury, R. & Manfreda, A., 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
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Hotel guest experience for people with visual impairment: towards a ‘meaningful’ conceptual model
Dinh, Z., Manfreda, A. & Khoo, C., 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
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Playful pedagogy and gamification: Developing reflective practitioners in tourism and hospitality education
Thakur, P., Manfreda, A. & Ye, I. Q., 11 Mar 2025, Rethinking Hospitality and Tourism Education: Disruptors and Transformations. Channel View Publications, p. 150-164 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Prizes
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Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 2023 Best Paper
Manfreda, A. (Recipient), Melissen, F. (Recipient), Presbury, R. (Recipient), Richardson, S. (Recipient) & King, J. (Recipient), Feb 2024
Prize: Other Research Distinction
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The Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality 2023 Fellows Commendation
Manfreda, A. (Recipient), Feb 2024
Prize: Other Research Distinction
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The Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education 2022 Best Poster Award
Manfreda, A. (Recipient), Lee, C. (Recipient) & Bisson, A. (Recipient), 8 Feb 2022
Prize: Research Recognition › Research Award
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Torrens University 2021 Higher Degree Research Excellence Commendation
Manfreda, A. (Recipient), Mar 2022
Prize: Research Recognition › Research Award
Press/Media
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An exotic escape, or empty illusion? How The White Lotus exposes the contradictions of luxury travel
4/04/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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What cost-of-living crisis? Luxury travel is booming – and set to grow further
30/12/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media
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