June 9-11, 2026
Kalmar, Sweden

7th Advances in Destination Management

Keynote Speakers

The conference gathers researchers and practitioners interested in key issues alongside destination management. Our objective is to show the most interesting cases and best practices that we observe on the local and regional market as well as solutions and projects that are conducted. We also want to give the participants of the conference an overview of the national initiatives that focuses on sustainable tourism development.  Our goal is to inspire and discuss the current and future issues and challenges within destination management.  

Keynote Speaker 1

Prof. Dr. Christian Laesser is Professor of Tourism and Service Management at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and Director of the Institute for Systemic Management and Public Governance.

Prof. Laesser’s research centres on tourism and destination management, consumer behaviour in service industries, and governance in complex network industries such as transport and tourism. He is widely engaged in international research networks, advisory boards, and policy-related projects, contributing to the development of sustainable and effective governance frameworks in tourism and public service systems. He also serves as Managing Director of the SBB Lab, a research centre focused on service and transport management at the interface of state and market systems.

Keynote Speaker 2

Stefan Johansson is Head of Tourism at Destination Kalmar AB, where he is responsible for the strategic and operational development of Kalmar as a tourism destination. His work focuses on destination development, place branding, and the coordination of stakeholder collaboration within the visitor economy. Through his role, he contributes to shaping Kalmar’s long-term development as an attractive year-round destination for both residents and visitors.

Keynote Speaker 3

Dr. Marianna Strzelecka is an Associate Professor in Sustainable Tourism at Linnaeus University.
Her research focuses on sustainable tourism, rural community development, environmental governance, and nature protection. Drawing on interdisciplinary and community psychology perspectives her research examines the social and political dimensions of sustainable tourism, with particular emphasis on community participation, empowerment, and governance in rural contexts. Her recent work explores tourism in protected areas, environmental justice, and the relationships between communities and nature. She also serves as a Head of Knowledge Environment Sustainable Tourism (KEST) at Linnaeus University.

Keynote Speaker 4

Prof. Dr. Stephan Bingemer is a Professor for Future and Technology of Tourism at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences (HHN), where he is also a founding member of the School of Applied Artificial Intelligence (SAAI) and Director of the Institute of Tourism, Travel & Hospitality (ITTH). He previously held senior management positions at Deutsche Lufthansa AG in Frankfurt, Paris, Düsseldorf, and Budapest.
Prof. Bingemer’s research focuses on digital distribution systems, artificial intelligence, business travel, and the future of tourism and transport systems.
He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Tourism Futures and regularly serves as a reviewer for international journals and conferences.

Keynote Speaker 5

Prof. Dr. Malin Tillmar is Professor of Entrepreneurship at Linnaeus University, where she leads research on entrepreneurship and social change.
Her work focuses on the conditions for entrepreneurship across different organisational and societal contexts, with particular emphasis on rural development, women’s entrepreneurship, and cross-sector collaboration between public, private, and civil society actors.
Prof. Tillmar has extensive experience in interactive and collaborative research, including projects in Sweden and East Africa, and is part of several national and international research initiatives such as EMBLA and Horizon Europe–funded projects. Her research contributes to understanding how entrepreneurship and governance structures interact to shape social, economic, and sustainable development.