Executive Dean

Executive Dean

Prof. Ivan Ninov

General

Prof. Ivan Ninov is the Executive Dean of Al Rayyan International University College (ARIU) in partnership with the University of Derby, which is the premier higher education institution for hospitality management, tourism management and international business management education in the State of Qatar. In his role as Executive Dean, he is responsible for the overall management of the university including all academic, academic support, administrative and financial operations.

Prof. Ninov has extensive international academic and managerial experience, having lived and worked in Europe, the United States, Dubai, and Qatar. His main areas of expertise are Strategy Formulation and Implementation, as well as Quality Assurance and Improvement. He serves as a Director on the Board of Directors of the International Center of Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism Education (THE-ICE), the most reputable international accreditation agency for academic programmes in hospitality and tourism management. Prof. Ninov is also a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of EuroCHRIE, in his capacity as Treasurer.

Throughout his career Prof. Ivan Ninov has been involved in the management of academic institutions, numerous research and consultancy projects, and has been awarded as a researcher within his field. In addition to this, he serves as an editor and reviewer for several academic journals and conferences, and as an external reviewer for hospitality and tourism management programmes.

Prof. Ninov holds a Ph.D. degree in Hospitality Administration, and a Master of Science degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management from Texas Tech University in the USA. He also holds an MSc degree and a BSc degree in Tourism from Sofia University in Bulgaria.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Hospitality Administration, Texas Tech University, USA
  • MSc in Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional Management, Texas Tech University, USA
  • MSc in International Tourism Management, Sofia University, Bulgaria
  • BSc in International Tourism Management, Sofia University, Bulgaria

Areas of Expertise

  • Strategic Planning
  • Strategy Implementation and Evaluation
  • Quality Assurance
  • Business Consulting

Publications

  • Abdallah, A. & Ninov, I. (2023). Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Education in a Rapidly Transitioning Industry: the future of tourism and hospitality education in the GCC region.. Journal of Tourism Insights, 13(1). article 10.
  • Dutt, C. S., Ninov, I., & Ninov, V. (2022) Air crews’ mindfulness experiences: Destination memories. Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality. DOI: 10.1108/CBTH-12-2020-0301
  • Dutt, C., Ninov, I., & , V. Ninov (2021). Memories of the frequent traveler: The impact of mindfulness on airline crews. International Journal of Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality Research.
  • Alhallaq. A., Ninov, I. & Dutt, C. (2020). The perceptions of host-city residents of the impact of mega-events and their support: the EXPO 202o in Dubai.
    Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 13(3), pp. 374-396.
  • Dutt, C. & Ninov, I. (2017). Expatriates learning: The role of VFR tourism. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 31, 253-264.
  • Dutt, C. & Ninov, I. (2016).  The role of mindfulness in tourism: Tourism businesses’ perceptions of mindfulness in Dubai, UAE. Tourism, 64 (1), 81-95.
  • Dutt, C. & Ninov, I. (2015). Tourists’ experiences of mindfulness in Dubai. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, November 2015
  • Shakhgaleyeva, A. & Ninov, I. (2015). How does the physical environment influence customer experience in upscale restaurants? Refereed poster presented at the 2015 EuroCHRIE Annual Conference.
  • Bea, A. & Ninov, I. (2015). Hotel managers’ perceptions of hospitality management graduates’ competencies. Full refereed paper presented at the 2015 ICHRIE annual conference.
  • Dutt, C., Ninov, I., & Haas, D. (2015). The effect of VFR tourism on expatriates’ knowledge about the destination. Full refereed paper presented at the annual IACUDIT conference.
  • Mitropolou, M., Ninov, I., & Christodoulidou, N. (2015). Social media messages on Facebook: An analysis of five-star hotels-to-consumer communications. Full refereed paper presented at the 4th International Interdisciplinary Business-Economics Advancement Conference.
  • Athanasakos, S. & Ninov, I. (2015). Increasing sustainability awareness amongst employees in five-star hotels. Full refereed paper presented at the 2015 TTRA-Europe Annual Conference
  • Dutt, C. & Ninov, I. (2014). The effect of VFR tourism on expatriates’ knowledge about the destination. Submitted to Tourism Management.
  • Al Hallaq, A. & Ninov, I. (2014). Why do people go to spas? An analysis of benefits sought by spa-goers (2014). Refereed poster presented at the 2014 EuroCHRIE Annual Conference.
  • Govender, I. & Ninov, I. (2014). The future of theme parks in the UAE: A general managers’ perspective (2014). Full refereed paper presented at the 2014 EuroCHRIE Annual Conference.
  • Venter, C. & Ninov, I. (2014). An employee perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility practices in five-star hotels. Refereed poster presented at the 2014 International CHRIE conference.
  • Huang, J., Ninov, I. & Christodolidou, N. (2014). A qualitative analysis of the evolving relationship between hotel operators and online travel agents. Full refereed paper presented at the 2014 International CHRIE conference.
  • Heisele, A. & Ninov I. (2014). Hotel managers’ perceptions of disabled travelers’ needs. Full refereed paper presented at the 12th Asia-Pacific (ApacCHRIE) Annual Conference.
  • Buder, S. & Ninov, I. (2013). Examining hospitality management students’ motivations to study abroad (2013). Full refereed paper presented at the 11th Asia-Pacific (APacCHRIE) Annual Conference.
  • Ryan, C., Ninov, I., & Aziz, H. (2012).  Ras Al Khor – Eco-tourism in constructed wetlands: Postmodernity in the modernity of the Dubai landscape. Tourism Management Perspectives, 28 (7), 751-764.
  • Ryan, C. & Ninov, I. (2011). Dimensions of destination images – the relationship between specific sites and overall perceptions of place: The example of Dubai Creek and ‘Greater’ Dubai. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 28 (7), 751-764.
  • Ninov, I. (2011). A PESTEL analysis of Dubai’s hotel industry. Refereed paper presented at the 9th Asia-Pacific (APacCHRIE) Annual Conference.
  • Ninov, I. (2011). Review of “Handbook of tourist behavior: Theory and Practice”, Routledge, London and New York (2009) pp. xiii+263 (HBK), ISBN: 10:0-415-99360-1. Tourism Management 32, 200–201
  • Ryan, C. & Ninov, I. (2009) Place perceptions – the relationship between specific sites and overall impressions of place: The example of Dubai Creek and “Greater” Dubai. Full refereed paper presented at the 2009 EuroCHRIE Annual Conference.
  • Ninov, I., Adams. C., Hughes, P., & Dodd, T. (2008). Support for rural tourism: An exchange and convergence model. Full refereed paper presented at the 2008 ICHRIE Annual Conference, won the “Best Paper Award” in Tourism.
  • Ninov, I. (2008). Dubai’s booming hotel industry: A SWOT analysis. Conceptual paper presented at the 6th Asia-Pacific (APacCHRIE) Annual Conference.
  • Ninov, I. (2008). Strategic reasoning by analogy: Do hospitality senior managers use it? Working paper presented at the 2008 EuroCHRIE Annual Conference.
  • Ninov, I., Adams, C., Hughes, P., & Dodd, T. (2006). An exchange and convergence model of residence support for rural tourism. Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research, 11, 162-169.
  • Ninov, I., Adams, C., & Hughes, P. (2006). Decision makers’ attitudes and perceptions of rural tourism development: A grounded theory approach. Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research, 11, 62 – 72.
  • Ninov, I. and Adams, C. (2005). Attitudes and perceptions of local residents and decision-makers toward rural tourism development.  Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research, 10, 694 – 696.
  • DeFee, D., Ninov, I., Adams, C., & Shumate, S. (2002). Foodservice management faculty attitudes and use of the World Wide Web and e-mail.  Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research, 7, 171 – 174.