Dr Albert Kimbu named one of the 50 most influential educators in Global Hospitality and Travel magazine

Each year, Global Hospitality Magazine recognises and celebrates professionals in hospitality education for their contribution to the sector.

Professor Iis Tussyadiah, Dean of Surrey Business School, congratulates Albert, saying: "We are all thrilled at Albert receiving this much deserved award. His dedication, erudition and enthusiasm for hospitality education shines through in all his engagement with our students. Albert brings his research into the classroom and, since 2010, has been inspiring students at Surrey with his pioneering insights and teaching."

Albert is Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy (SWELL) and Director of the Gender, Entrepreneurship and Social Policy Institute (GESPi).

He is also a Senior Research Associate at the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Albert supervises doctoral students and teaches various subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels linked to his research focus areas.

Albert's research and teaching advances understanding of how globally recognised and localised development and entrepreneurship models can be 'glocalised' to engender equitable and fair outcomes, thereby contributing to inclusive community development and business practices in hospitality and tourism.

His teaching and research supervision has been commended by the Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE). His academic research and consultancy projects have led to the publication of numerous articles in top-tier tourism and hospitality management journals, published edited collections, invited keynotes and high-level policy and practice-influencing frameworks and reports for national governments and international organisations, such as UN Tourism, UNIDO and the World Bank.

In 2024, Albert also won the University of Surrey's Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences' Research Supervisor of the Year. He was given this in recognition for how he mentors, motivates, encourages, challenges and inspires the next generation of early career researchers and postgraduate research students, supporting them and contributing to making sure the research environment is welcoming, stimulating and inspirational.

Albert says: "I am delighted to receive this sector recognition for doing something I love! To be listed alongside all the other inspiring influential educators recognised by Global Hospitality Magazine is a real accolade - giving me more motivation to continue delivering quality teaching and research in collaboration with my amazing colleagues."