Technological Innovation and AI for Sustainable Development in Events and Festivals

Anukrati Sharma

Dr. Anukrati Sharma is the Associate Professor of the Department of Commerce and Management at the University of Kota (A State Govt. University) in Kota, Rajasthan, India. She is the Director of the Skill Development Centre of the same University. She is also Dean (Honorary) of Tourism and Hospitality at Vishwakarma Skills University, Jaipur (A Govt. State University). She worked three years (2021- 2024) as the Head of the Department of Commerce and Management, University of Kota. In 2015, she received a Research Award from the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, for her project "Analysis of the Status of Tourism in Hadoti and Shekhawati Region/Circuit (Rajasthan): Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Prospects." Her doctorate from the University of Rajasthan is in Tourism Marketing, and she completed her dissertation research on Tourism in Rajasthan--Progress &Prospects. She has two postgraduate degree specialties --one in International Business (Master of International Business) and the other in Business Administration (Master of Commerce).

Jeetesh Kumar

Dr. Jeetesh Kumar is Head of Research Senior at the Faculty of Social Sciences & Leisure Management, Senior Lecturer at the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, Associate Director for Information Management & Documentation at the Centre for Research, and Innovation in Tourism (CRiT), and also Hub Leader - of "Responsible Tourism for Inclusive Economic Growth" hub under Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab at Taylor's University, Malaysia. His doctorate is from Taylor's University in Hospitality and Tourism, with research on the Economic Value of the Business Events Industry in Malaysia. Jeetesh has two postgraduate degree specialities: a Professional Master's in Hospitality Management and International Tourism from the University of Toulouse, France and another in Business Administration (MBA - Marketing) from Hamdard University, Pakistan. His research areas include Economic Impacts, Economic Modelling, MICE, Medical Tourism, and Behavioural Studies. He has worked on consultancy and research projects at the national/ international level and authored 60 publications, including research articles and book chapters. Twelve postgraduate students (Masters and PhDs) have graduated under his supervision, and currently, he is supervising 11 PhD scholars. He is also active in several national and international associations, conferences, and journals. He is also an associate editor for the Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism (APJIHT) and regional editor of Event Management Journal, Co-editor for two books under CABI and Emerald, and currently editing five books under CABI, Emerald, Springer and Taylor & Francis. Recently, he has offered webinars/ guest speeches for universities in the Philippines, India, Japan, Indonesia, China, Australia, and Pakistan.

Shruti Arora

Dr. Shruti Arora, currently working as an Assistant Professor (Guest Faculty) in the Department of Commerce and Management, University of Kota, Kota, Rajasthan, India. She had an experience of 14 years in education industry. Her core subjects are Marketing, General Management, International Business and Customer Relationship Management. She attended various International Conferences and her publications include various chapters in edited books and research papers in National and International UGC approved and peer-reviewed journals. She has authored a book on "Event Management and Marketing: Theory, Practical Approaches and Planning" in 2018 that is recommended and approved as a learning resource by CBSE, Department of Higher Educations, Government of M.P (Achievement) and two edited under Apple Academic Press, CRC. She is working as a Co-PI with Dr. Anukrati Sharma on a major research project under Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development Government of India. She is appointed as the BRICS Community of Practice (CoP) Researcher for promoting cross-BRICS nations' collaborations in co-authorship, co-supervision, co-examining, co-publishing in DHET and SCOPUS accredited journals, co-conferencing participation and hosting rotating BRICS workshops, seminars and guest lectures in the academic years 2023 and 2024. She has also been appointed as an External and Internal examiner for Viva-voce for graduation and post-graduation students.