This insightful book is the first to explain the basics of blockchain and its applications in the service industry, as well as potential future implementations of the technology.
Embellished with explanatory diagrams throughout, this book predominantly focuses on blockchain as a prominent driver of digital transformation within the service sector and explores its potential applications within the tourism and hospitality industries. Expert-led and logically structured, chapters explore a plethora of concepts within the service industry and explain the possibilities of blockchain technology and its pros and cons. Key topics include blockchain and its current and potential future impact on food and agricultural supply chains, the sharing economy, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), financial systems and payments, medical tourism, sustainability and smart contracts. The book seeks to inspire and influence industry figures to plan ahead and develop business strategies using blockchain.
International in scope, this engaging volume will be of pivotal interest to industry experts, as well as researchers and tourism, hospitality and technology students interested in learning more about blockchain and its potential for the service industry.
About the Author: Irem Onder is an Associate Professor at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at University of Massachusetts Amherst. She obtained her PhD from Clemson University, South Carolina and master's degree in information systems management from Ferris State University, Michigan. Her main research interests include information technology and tourism economics, specifically big data analysis, smart destinations, decision support systems, blockchain, and tourism demand forecasting. She serves in the editorial boards of Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Economics, and Journal of Information Technology and Tourism. Her research has been published in journals such as Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Economics, and Journal of Information Technology and Tourism.
Fulya Acikgoz is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bristol, UK. Her research focuses on technology marketing and information management, and social media. She published in journals including Journal of Business Research, Psychology& Marketing, Technovation, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Behaviour & Information Technology, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, and International Journal of Technology Marketing.
