Esther Kim

Biography

Dr. Esther Kim is an Assistant Professor at the Feliciano School of Business of Hospitality and Tourism. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in hospitality management. Her undergraduate degree is in hospitality management from Sejong University in Seoul, South Korea. She received her MS degree from Purdue University. Dr. Kim brings more than five years of experience in the hospitality industry to the program. Her experience includes management positions in lodging operation at the Marriott brand hotel, revenue management, and corporate planning at the Millennium Hotels and Resorts Group, and hotel distribution channel management at SHR. Her research interests include consumer behavior in e-commerce and revenue management. Dr. Kim has received research awards, including the Best Paper, 25th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. She has published work in Journal of Services Marketing, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Journal of Travel Research, and Cornell Hospitality Quarterly.

Education

• BBA, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea
• MS, Purdue University
• PhD, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Research

Hospitality Management, Revenue Management, Consumer Behavior

Publications

• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Jang (2012). Brand Equity and Willingness to Pay a Price Premium for a Hotel Room.. 17th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2018). It’s your birthday! How far will you go for a great dinner?. 2018 West Federation Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education Regional Conference
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2017). Influence of Online Travel Reviews: Avoiding Risk Vs. Reward Seeking.. iHITA 2017 Annual Conference- International Hospitality Information Technology Association
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2018). How far will you go? The role of effort reduction in consumer response to online restaurant reviews.. 23rd Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism
• Journal Article: S. Tanford, E. Kim (2019). Risk versus Reward: When Will Travelers Go the Distance?. Journal of Travel Research
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2018). Does location matter? The influence of customer reviews and distance in travel decisions. . 2018 International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, T. S, S. Baloglu (2020). The correlates of destination image: A meta-analysis. 2019 West Federation Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education Regional Conference
• Journal Article: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2019). Seeking reward or avoiding risk from restaurant reviews: Does distance matter?. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
• Journal Article: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2019). Simultaneous effects of multiple cues in restaurant reviews. Journal of Services Marketing
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2019). The level relatedness as a factor in purchasing behavior for hotel add-on items.. 24th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2020). Unexpected discount and unplanned hotel add-on purchase online. West Federation Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education Regional Conference
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2020). Consumer response to a surprise discount: Mental accounting and thinking style. . 25th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism
• Conference Proceedings: J. Ha, K. Park, E. Kim (2022). “What do you want from luxury dining experiences?” Exploring experiential consumption at luxury restaurants. THEREPS 2022
• Journal Article: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2021). Turning Discounts Into Profits: Factors Influencing Online Purchasing Decisions for Hotel Add-on Items. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly
• Journal Article: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2021). The windfall gain effect: Using a surprise discount to stimulate add-on purchases. International Journal of Hospitality Management
• Conference Proceedings: M. Kim, E. Kim, E. Kim (2022). Post-COVID Hotel Cancellation Policy: The Stimulating Effect of Risk Triggers. The International Tourism Conference 2022
• Conference Proceedings: J. Tang, S. Joe, E. Kim, E. Kim (2023). Effective Color Marketing for Restaurants: The Matching Effect of Color and Sustainability. 2023 WEST Federation Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education
• Journal Article: C. Chen, E. Kim, M. Schuckert (2023). Haute couture-to-table? A study of luxury fashion-brand restaurants/Cafés. Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, M. Kim (2023). The effective cancellation policy and the awareness campaign for the reduction of restaurant no-shows. THEREPS 2023
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim (2023). No More No-Shows: Optimizing Cancellation Policies and Awareness Campaigns for Restaurants. ABEAI 2024
• Journal Article: E. Kim, E. Kim, M. Kim, S. Tanford (2023). Post-Pandemic hotel cancellation policy: Situational cues as perceived risk triggers. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Journal Article: E. Kim, S. Tanford (2023). When will consumers splurge on travel? Effective add-on selling strategies. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights
• Book Review: E. Kim (2023). Hotel revenue management: The post‐pandemic evolution to revenue strategy. By D. Roberts, 2022. 146 pages. ISBN 978‐1637421918 (paperback). Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal
• Journal Article: E. Kim, E. Kim, M. Kim, J. Tang (2024). The matching effect of local food and color on ethical dining behaviors: the roles of credibility and green image. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
• Journal Article: E. Kim, S. Lee, E. Kim, M. Kim (2025). ESG in the digital age: Enhancing customer perception through strategic communication in restaurant mobile ordering.. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, M. Kim, E. Kim (2025). Too Smart to Feel? AI Autonomy and Emotional Sensitivity in Travel Planning. 2025 AKHT International Conference
• Journal Article: E. Kim, E. Kim, M. Kim (2025). Empathetic language in AI travel services: The moderating effects of system adaptivity and AI disclosure on user intentions. Current Issues in Tourism
• Journal Article: E. Kim, L. Cain, E. Kim (2025). Optimizing food delivery sustainability: The roles of nudging and choice architecture in promoting carbon-free delivery and reusable containers. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
• Conference Proceedings: S. Lee, M. Kim, E. Kim, E. Kim, K. Park (). Framing the Future: How Construal Fit in ESG Messaging Shapes Restaurant Brand Image. The 30th Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) Annual Conference
• Journal Article: E. Kim, J. Tang, M. Kim, E. Kim (2025). The effects of restaurant cancellation policies and no-show awareness campaigns on reservation behaviors. International Journal of Consumer Studies
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, J. Min, T. Legendre, C. Heo (2025). Exploring psychological mechanism of discounting: Integrated promotions, effortful discounts, and customer perceptions in Luxury Hospitality. THEREPS 2025
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, J. Tang (2024). Battle with Restaurant No-Shows- Optimizing Cancellation Policies and Awareness Campaigns for Restaurants. APAC Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education
• Conference Proceedings: L. Cain, E. Kim, E. Kim (2024). Greening the Delivery: Nudging Sustainable Choices in the Food Delivery App Landscape. International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education
• Conference Proceedings: E. Kim, E. Kim (2024). Understanding User Intention in AI-Driven Travel Recommendation Service. THEREPS 2024
• Journal Article: E. Kim, J. Tang (2024). Tackling No-Shows in Fine Dining: Insights into Cancellation Policies and Consumer. Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management

Honors & Awards

• Best Presentation Award, 2017 Annual Conference- International Hospitality Information Technology Association (June 2017)
• Best Presentation Award, 21st UNLV Graduate Research Forum (February 2019)
• Best Paper Award, 25th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism (January 2020)
• Best Paper Award, The 2022 Tourism Sciences Society of Korea (July 2022)
• Best Poster Award, The 2024 Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Conference for Researchers, Educators, Practitioners, and Students (April 2024)
• Outstanding Paper Award, The 2025 Academy of Korea Hospitality and Tourism International Conference (July 2025)
• Best Commendable Paper, The 2026 International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (July 2026)
• Best Poster Award, The 2026 Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Conference for Researchers, Educators, Practitioners, and Students (April 2026)