Fang Meng, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Research Associate in the Richardson Family SmartState Center for Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development

Dr. Meng earned her Ph.D. degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and her Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from Beijing International Studies University. Prior to joining the University of South Carolina, she held an Assistant Professor position at the Ohio University, and was an instructor/lecturer at the Beijing International Studies University. Dr. Meng serves as the Coordinator of the USC-BISU Collaborative PhD program of Hospitality and Tourism Management. 

Dr. Meng’s research mainly focuses on destination marketing and management, tourist behavior/experience, and international tourism. She has strong background in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis. Her research has been published in the top-tier tourism journals such as the Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, and Tourism Analysis. Dr. Meng has extensive research experience and participated as PI or Co-PI in a number of research projects through external and internal funding of more than $500,000. Her research project work extends to both regional- and international-levels through working and collaborating with national and state government/industry agencies such as the U.S. Travel Association, Walt Disney Inc., Ohio Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, South Carolina Economic Development Administration, and multiple peer institutions from China and the U.S.

Dr. Meng’s research achievement is recognized by the academic community. She received the Best Paper Award in International Council of Hospitality, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (I-CHRIE, 2007) and Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA, 2012; Top 3 Finalist - TTRA 2016), which represent the two most prestigious international academic and professional conferences in hospitality and tourism.

Dr. Meng is the Co-Associate Editor of the Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science. She also serves on the editorial boards of Tourism Analysis, Journal of Vacation Marketing and Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science, as well as a reviewer for over 15 academic journals, including Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Management, and International Journal of Hospitality Management. As a member in the Expert Committee in the World Tourism Cities Federation, she is often invited to international conferences and forums as a speaker and panelist. Additional professional affiliations of Dr. Meng include the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA), International Council of Hotel, Restaurant and International Education (I-CHRIE), and Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA). Dr. Meng also has extensive consulting and managerial/training experience in the hospitality and tourism industry.