Projects, activities and events

The Legend of Robin Hood comes to STTAR-Centre - December 2024

On Friday 6 December, STTAR-Centre co-hosted the first of a series of collaborative events centred around the theme of Our Robin Hood: Past, Present, and Future in Action. 

The event brought together local stakeholders and Robin Hood enthusiasts from across Nottinghamshire, who were invited to discuss the history and future of the legendary local figure.

Director of STTAR-Centre, Professor Marina Novelli said:

'At the STTAR Centre, we look forward to taking this experience to the next phase and continue collaborating with local stakeholders in what is one of the UK’s top destinations and contributing more valuable insights to local authorities' policy and planning of the sector.'

A big thank you goes to all the participants for their passionate contributions and insights, which truly enriched the event, making it a memorable and impactful experience for everyone involved.

Armistice Day: the voice of Chinese Contingent - November 2024

Thanks to Ming-Ai for the invitation and to Peacock London for their generous support in hosting the Luncheon Talk following the Armistice Day service on 11th November 2024. Together with our London-based member Dr Rui Su, Dr Carol Zhang, deputy director of STTAR-Centre and our ECRs Dr Fenfen Jiang and Mr Lip Vi Teoh, we aim to give voice to the underrepresented Chinese contributions to multicultural British history.  Specifically, Lip, Rui and Fenfen have also conducted three focus groups to explore participants’ travel to honour their history, identity, and community.

Over 40 representatives were welcomed from various cultural communities, including veterans, TV presenters, filmmakers, photographers, musicians, authors, Sinologist, and linguists. It was great to see so many different communities paying tribute to the Chinese Labour Crops and commemerating the memories of different generations of Chinese contributions during both World Wars. This gathering was not just about remembrance, it was also about inspiring future collective efforts to uncover hidden voices and strengthen British-Chinese cultural dialogues.

Food, Migration, Memory Festival Summary - October 2024

The ‘Food, Migration, Memory’ festival was a great success with over 100 guests attending the festival in London on Monday 28 October to celebrate inclusivity via culinary experiences.

Through a series of hands-on activities, participants experienced the joy of tasting new flavours while immersing their senses – sight, smell, sound and touch – as part of a memorable culinary experience. The chefs’ individual experiences, business practices and everyday memories showcased the intergenerational transmission within the British-Chinese community and the influence of how historical events across two national contexts impact on the culinary landscape of today.

Liz Hutchinson, Director of Communications & Marketing, The British Academy, said of the event ‘It is an incredibly imaginative example of how to engage and be truly participatory with the public and with communities in doing research. I think this research really shows the value of the humanities and social sciences in helping us to understand people, societies and culture, in the past, present and future.’

Tourism without plastic: World Economic Forum Article - October 2024

As part of the recent World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils 2024 in Dubai, Professor of Marketing & Tourism and Director of the Sustainable Travel & Tourism Advanced Research Centre, Marina Novelli, and Travel Without Plastic founder, Jo Hendrickx, co-wrote an article highlighting the challenges and opportunities of moving towards a plastic-free future in tourism. 

Plastic has revolutionised the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries by providing lightweight, affordable, and durable solutions. However, this convenience comes at a high environmental cost, as plastic waste increasingly pollutes our oceans, landscapes, and communities. With mounting awareness of the ecological harm caused by single-use plastics, there is growing urgency within the tourism industry to reduce reliance on these materials and explore sustainable alternatives.

Despite the challenges, a shift away from single-use plastics offers compelling benefits for both the environment and the industry.

STTAR-Centre Supports MSc ITMM - October 2024

This program emphasises the integration of top international research success with practical application. On October 9, STTAR-Centre academics and MSc International Tourism marketing and management students, along with Laura Simpson, Visitor economy manager for Nottinghamshire County Council, visited Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle. Following Covid-19, Nottinghamshire is eager to enhance its global destination identity via its globally recognised legendary figure, Robin Hood. Under the guidance of the course instructors, the students will write project reports evaluating the current Robin Hood experience at Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle, providing recommendations for Nottinghamshire’s tourism policy direction. 

This is the first of a series of collaborations which will see both STTAR Centre researchers and Nottingham Business School students working in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council to enhance the Robin Hood experience under the direction of Dr Carol Zhang and Prof. Marina Novelli.

Ode to Notts Series - November 2024

Join GOBS Collective founder and poet Bridie Squires and University of Nottingham academic and poet Dr Hongwei Bao in a series of creative writing, publishing and performance workshops. 

In the workshops, you will learn about performance techniques and creative writing. No writing experience is required to take part. The event is part of the Ode to Notts series, a series of workshops and a performance night, led by the University of Nottingham, exploring Nottingham's local history, culture and heritage. 

Attendees are encouraged to attend all workshops and take part in the Open Mic night.

The HK experience: My Nottingham exhibition

From 17th Sep to 31st October 2024, the exhibition showcases 40 artworks created by both Hong Kong new immigrant children and locally born children aged 5-13 in three mixed-media collage workshops at Nottingham Central Library. This exhibition explores children's self-identity, immigration experience and life in Nottingham.

Creating an inclusive and child-friendly city for families of all backgrounds has been a priority in Nottingham. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) at the University of Nottingham, the Hong Kong Experience project unites multidisciplinary scholars from the Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre to contribute to this goal.

In collaboration with Nottingham Central Library, Visit Nottinghamshire, and Nottingham City Council, this project provides a platform for recent HK immigrant families to share their experiences in a supportive space where their stories are valued. Through art-based cultural workshops and interviews, it explores the lived experiences of HK immigrant families with young children, as they navigate significant life changes, overcome challenges, and build a sense of belonging in Nottingham.

Food, Migration, Memory Festival - October 2024 

The Food, Migration, Memory Festival is a unique culinary showcase where we will explore the rich heritage of the British-Chinese community through food.

Through a series of hands-on activities, participants will experience the joy of tasting new flavours while immersing their senses – sight, smell, sound and touch – as part of a memorable culinary experience. The chefs’ individual experiences, business practices and everyday memories will also showcase the intergenerational transmission within the British-Chinese community and the influence of how historical events across two national contexts impact on the culinary landscape of today. 

This is a collaborative project between Middlesex University, Ming-Ai (London) Institute, University of Nottingham (STTAR-Centre), Lee Kum Kee Europe. Funded by The British Academy.

The festival takes place on Monday 28 October from 5pm to 7:30pm.

Taste of Memory Exhibition - October to November 2024

The Taste of Memory exhibition highlights the transformative influence of regional food on today’s British culinary landscape.

The exhibition begins with the iconic Chinese Arch in five Chinatowns across the UK. From there, participants will take on an emotional journey to uncover the often-underrepresented voices of British-Chinese community. Whether walking in or sitting in a dining room, visitors will navigate the personal narratives of three generations of chefs and gain insights into their collective memories of living, struggling, coping and integrating into British society.

This is a collaborative project from Middlesex University, Ming-Ai (London) Institute, University of Nottingham (STTAR-Centre), Lee Kum Kee Europe. Funded by The British Academy.

The exhibition takes place from Monday 14 October until Thursday 14 November. 

Addressing the problem of overtourism - how can we balance tourism growth with housing affordability for local communities? - July 2024

Professor Marina Novelli, who has researched, advised and published extensively on the issue of overtourism, was amongst panellists who shared insights, strategies and examples of successful initiatives at a recent online written discussion.

Hosted by the Business Fights Poverty think tank, panellists and audience participants explored the question, “How can we balance tourism growth with housing affordability for local communities?”

The problem of overtourism is an increasingly traversed subject. 

The discussion addressed the following three main questions:

• What are the primary social challenges you have seen facing local communities due to the growth of tourism, including with regard to housing and the quality of life for locals? 
• What strategies or solutions have you seen being implemented to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism, including on housing? 
• How can businesses, civil society and government collaborate more effectively to address the challenges posed by tourism growth? 

A summary of the key insights from each question along with a list of shared resources and hyperlinks is available.

View the insights summary

Wish You Weren’t Here - The Tourism Trap -  July 2024

Professor Marina Novelli was invited to discuss issues facing the tourism industry on the podcast The Why Curve with hosts Phil Dobbie and Roger Hearing.

Tourism is facing a backlash in some of the most popular destinations where local residents are feeling the negative impact of high number of tourists, such as the impact on the environment, the availability of affordable housing, prices being forced up and streets being congested with traffic. Local residents say too many tourists destroy the very thing they come for - beauty, tranquility and local culture.

This has resulted in various incidents where protestors have confronted tourists. For example, recent events have seen protesters in Barcelona fire water pistols at visitors and in Tenerife, thousands of locals turned out to tell holidaymakers to go home. 

The question Professor Novelli and the hosts of The Why Curve addressed was 'Are we all becoming too addicted to travelling too often and in the wrong way?'  

VivaTech 2024 - Can We Make Tourism Sustainable Panel

Professor of Marketing and Tourism and Director of The Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre (STTAR Centre), Marina Novelli, was invited to contribute to the panel ‘Can We Make Tourism Sustainable’ at VivaTech in Paris on Friday 24 May 2024.

VivaTech is Europe’s largest startup and tech event, attracting over 150,000 participants, including innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. 

In the session, moderated by Ivan Gladstone (Associate Partner at McKensey & Company), Marina was joined by esteemed panellists Alexandra Dublanche (Chairwoman Chose Paris Region) and Zina Bencheikh (Managing Director EMEA Intrepid), during which they discussed the challenges and opportunities in creating a sustainable future for travel and tourism. 

Tourism summit – Nottinghamshire

Professor Marina Novelli and Dr Carol Zhang were invited to deliver a talk at a tourism summit organised by Visit Nottinghamshire during the British Tourism Week on 21 March 2024.Over 200 local and national visit economy professionals, including government officials attended the event.

Professor Novelli gave an overview of the research centre and how it could support the local visitor economy. Dr Zhang gave a talk on ways in which we can create a more inclusive Nottinghamshire experience. She also introduced our MSc International Tourism Marketing and Management course, inviting industry partnerships.

We had a lot of follow-up conversations with industry and public sectors, including Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham conference centre, the library, poetry festival etc.

Professor Marina Novelli held an event in March for colleagues pursuing or interested in developing collaborations between arts and business research. Stemming from Marina's own previous experience working at the intersection between these fields, such as  the Building Bridges for Contemporary Arts - Africa (BBCA-A) initiative, the event  offered an interdisciplinary forum  where networking, creative thinking, and  identifying opportunities for collaboration were encouraged.

The event was well attended with participants from across the university and from arts and tourism representatives from the wider Nottingham community.The discussion highlighted several areas for future collaboration , including technology and sustainability, storytelling for policy change, mental health and wellbeing, entrepreneurship, and business and consumer behaviour.

Professor Marina Novelli joined colleagues from the WEF-GFC on the Future for Sustainable Tourism in Dubai to discuss some of the most critical issues and collaborate in shaping agendas for the future of sustainable tourism.

Over two days, members of the Council devised a programme of work and discussed a set of key priorities that included measures to achieve net zero, interventions to make working conditions in tourism fairer and ways to encourage travellers to be more responsible while travelling.

The Dubai Forum also provided participants with an opportunity to listen and contribute to broader discussion on issues relating to sustainable and responsible business practices, policy requirements and much more. 

Professor Marina Novelli (FASC) is a globally recognised authority in the field of tourism policy, planning and development. She joined Nottingham University Business School’s Marketing Department in October 2023 as a Professor of Marketing and Tourism.

As the recipient of the prestigious Leverhulme International Fellowship (IF), Marina is delivering a programme of research and knowledge exchange on Accelerating youth entrepreneurship in tourism for sustainable development throughout 2024 in collaboration with partners from Kenya and South Africa, where she has spent the past two and a half months.

Marina spent five weeks in between Nairobi and the coastal area of Mombasa in Kenya, followed by four weeks in Pretoria and Nelspruit in South Africa. You can read the full details on our blog.

Travel Cultures Network.

The main purpose of the network is to offer a space for exchange and reflection on questions concerning cultures and practices of travel.