Dr Rob Hallak (PhD, GAICD) is an Associate Professor in Management, and Executive Co-Director of the Centre for Enterprise Dynamics in Global Economies (C-EDGE). He is internationally recognised for his expertise in entrepreneurship and business performance in the tourism industry. He has authored/co-authored over 70 publications including journal articles, book chapters, conference papers and industry reports. He is the author of the book ‘Managing Tourism Enterprises: Start-up, Growth and Resilience’, CABI Publishing: UK.
About me
Dr Rob Hallak (PhD, GAICD) is an Associate Professor in Management, and Executive Co-Director of the Centre for Enterprise Dynamics in Global Economies (C-EDGE). He is internationally recognised for his expertise in entrepreneurship and business performance in the tourism industry. He has authored/co-authored over 70 publications including journal articles, book chapters, conference papers and industry reports. He is the author of the book ‘Managing Tourism Enterprises: Start-up, Growth and Resilience’, CABI Publishing: UK.
Dr Hallak has a BBus, Master of Business (Tourism), and PhD in Business & Management. His Doctoral thesis -“Examining the place identity-performance relationship among tourism entrepreneurs” - was awarded a scholarship from the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Sustainable Tourism. Dr Hallak is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and has completed a Certificate in Performance Leadership from Cornell University.
Prior to working in academia, Dr Hallak spent five years in the restaurant industry in managerial positions. He has lived and worked in several countries including Japan, Singapore, Dubai and Vietnam. Rob completed the Asian Studies Program at Kansai Gaidai University, Japan as a scholarship recipient. Following his graduation from Japan, Rob moved to Singapore where he undertook the position of Marketing Executive for a major events management company with offices in Singapore and Sydney. His responsibilities included the project management of large scale events for Govt and multinational organisations including Tiffany and Co., Lido Aeronautical Services, WH Smith, Plaza Singapura and the International Trade Institute of Singapore. Dr Hallak also spent time in Ho Chi Minh City where he consulted for PEB Steel, one of the largest steel-building developers in South-East Asia.
About me
Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors (GAICD)
Board Member: Christian Brothers College, Adelaide (2018-2021)
Member: Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE)
Editorial Board Member: Tourism Analysis (ABDC = A)
Editorial Board Member: Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management (ABDC= A)
Editorial Board Member: Journal of Vacation Marketing (ABDC= A)
Editorial Board Member: Entrepreneurship Research Journal
Editorial Board Member: Tourism Planning & Development
Editorial Board Member: Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
Associate Editor: Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism
Guest Associate Editor: Frontiers in Psychology
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 05/07/2022 |
Hospitality sector catering to younger health-conscious consumers could help industry return to former glory - new research, https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2022/07/hospitality-sector-catering-to-younger-health-conscious-consumers-could-help-industry-return-to-former-glory-new-research.html |
| 04/07/2022 |
Consumers will pay more for healthier products in restaurants, says research, https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/166302/consumers-will-pay-more-for-healthier-products-in-restaurants-says-research/ |
| 01/07/2022 |
Increasing trend towards healthy drinks when dining out, https://lismoreapp.com.au/news-sport/news/increasing-trend-towards-healthy-drinks-when-dining-out?id=62baab4c96c640002ceeedbe |
| 29/01/2020 |
More Australians are choosing probiotic drinks (in bars) over alcohol, https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/more-australians-are-choosing-probiotic-drinks-in-bars-over-alcohol-20200128-p53vek.html |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy (Business and Management) University of South Australia
Master of Business (Tourism) University of South Australia
Bachelor of Business (International Business) University of South Australia
Associate Professor in Management, Jan 2020 -
Program Director, International MBA and Postgraduate Management Programs, Feb 2020 - Feb 2023
Senior Lecturer: Management, University of South Australia, 2015 - 2020
Program Director: Master of Management (Arts & Cultural Management), University of South Australia, 2016 - 2017
Lecturer: Management, University of South Australia, 2009 - 2014.
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
BGANZ Visitor Experience Surveys 2024, Australian National Botanic Gardens, 10/06/2024 - 31/12/2024
Wagga Wagga City Council VSQ 2024, Wagga Wagga City Council, 04/03/2024 - 31/07/2024
Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden VSQ 2023, Friends of The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden, 23/10/2023 - 31/05/2024
Australian National Botanic Gardens VSQ 2023, Australian National Botanic Gardens, 23/03/2023 - 30/11/2023
Visitor service quality, destination image, and tourism marketing strategies for Botanic Gardens in South Australia (external partner contribution), SA Dept of Environment Water and Natural Resources, 20/06/2019 - 31/05/2021
Research Projects:
2019 - Impacts of Technology Investment on Tourism Growth and Employment (Chief Investigator). Regional Australia Institute.
2019 - Destination image and marketing strategies for Botanic gardens in South Australia. SA Dept for Environment & Water.
2018 - Examining the supply and demand of healthy beverage options in the hospitality industry: Growth strategies for Australian and New Zealand markets (with C.Lee, University of Otago). Le Cordon Bleu and School of Management Research Grant/ Organic and Raw Trading Company Pty Ltd..
2017 -: ‘Entrepreneurship and sharing economy in tourism: unravelling and comparing the invisible labour in Australia and China (with M. Sigala, UniSA and H. Jao, Beijing Normal University). UniSA Business School & Beijing Normal University Funding Scheme.
2015 - Ongoing. ‘Restaurant menu information and its effects on customer attitudes and behavioral intentions: implications for international hospitality management (with. G. Assaker, P. O'Connor- ESSEC Business School, Paris, and A. Assaf - UMass. Amherst) Le Cordon Bleu and School of Management Research Grant 2015.
2013 - 2016: ‘Factors influencing the performance of hospitality SMEs: A study of fine-dining restaurants in Australia and France’ (with G. Assaker and P. O'Connor - ESSEC Business School, France). Le Cordon Bleu and School of Management Research Grant,
2014: ‘Public holidays: Business as usual? A study of restaurant and catering businesses in South Australia’. Restaurant & Catering South Australia.
2012 – 2015: ‘Examining a hierarchical model of Australia's destination image’ (with G. Assaker). School of Management Research Grant,
2011- 2012: ‘Meeting and Event Management Organisations in Australia: A national study of business characteristics and best practice’ (with V. McCabe and G. Brown). In partnership with Meetings and Events Australia (MEA).
2010 – 2011: ‘Profile, issues and practices of meeting and event management organisations in Australia’ (with V. McCabe and G. Brown). In partnership with Meetings and Events Australia (MEA).
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
5
65
|
| 2020 |
Open access
59
41
|
| 2018 |
Open access
117
100
61
|
| 2017 |
Open access
75
68
|
| 2012 |
171
150
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
1
|
| 2017 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
2
|
| 2024 |
1
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
15
12
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
2
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
5
65
|
| 2022 |
Open access
9
6
|
| 2021 |
Open access
2
2
3
|
| 2020 |
51
46
|
| 2020 |
Open access
23
20
|
| 2020 |
Open access
5
5
53
|
| 2020 |
Open access
59
41
|
| 2019 |
Open access
11
9
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
65
48
|
| 2018 |
Open access
72
57
|
| 2018 |
Open access
117
100
61
|
| 2017 |
Open access
75
68
|
| 2017 |
7
4
|
| 2016 |
5
4
|
| 2016 |
Open access
48
43
|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2016 |
63
47
|
| 2016 |
Open access
32
25
|
| 2016 |
192
152
1
|
| 2016 |
Open access
18
10
|
| 2016 |
Open access
27
21
1
|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
Open access
28
17
|
| 2015 |
30
21
1
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2014 |
55
38
|
| 2014 |
70
59
|
| 2013 |
241
219
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
111
90
|
| 2013 |
5
4
|
| 2013 |
36
28
|
| 2012 |
17
|
| 2012 |
4
4
|
| 2012 |
Open access
34
29
|
| 2012 |
15
11
|
| 2012 |
171
150
|
| 2011 |
46
33
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
Open access
|
| 2012 |
|
| 2012 |
Open access
|
| 2011 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2010 |
|
Conference Papers:
Hallak, R., Lee, C & Onur, I (2019) Examining the supply of healthy beverages in the hospitality industry: A study of business operators in Australia and New Zealand. In Global Congress of Special interest Tourism & Hospitality (GLOSITH), 20-22 April 2019, Taipei.
Lee, C, Sardeshmukh, S. & Hallak, R (2018) 'Understanding the innovation development process in tourism SMEs'. In: Young, Tamara (Editor); Stolk, Paul (Editor); McGinnis, Gabrielle. CAUTHE 2018: Get Smart: Paradoxes and Possibilities in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Education and Research. Newcastle, NSW: Newcastle Business School, The University of Newcastle, 2018: 121-134. Availability: <https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=895120696813729;res=IELBUS> ISBN: 9780994514127. [cited 25 Oct 18].
Hallak, R, Assaker, G, O’Connor, Lee, C (2017) ‘Entrepreneurship in the fine dining restaurant sector’. Council for Australasian Tourism & Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), 2017 Conference, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Lee, C & Hallak, R (2017) ‘Investigating the moderating role of education on a structural model of restaurant performance using multi-group PLS-SEM analysis’. Global Innovation & Knowledge Academy (GIKA) Conference, Lisbon School of Economics & Management, University of Lisbon. June 2017.- Winner of Best Paper Award.
Assaker, G, Hallak, R & O’Connor, P (2017) ‘Examining heterogeneity in the relationships between human capital and firm performance: An empirical analysis of upscale restaurants using REBUS-PLS’. Global Innovation & Knowledge Academy (GIKA) Conference, Lisbon School of Economics & Management, University of Lisbon. June 2017.
Assaker, G & Hallak, R (2015) 'Perceived service quality and its effect on value, satisfaction and destination loyalty'. The 5th Advances in Hospitality & Tourism Marketing and Management (AHTMM) Conference. Beppu, Japan, 18-21 June, 2015.
Lee, C, Sardeshmukh, S. & Hallak, R (2015) ‘Innovation as a driver of performance in the Australian restaurant industry’. CAUTHE 2015 Annual Conference. 2-5 Feb 2015. Southern Cross University
Assaker, G & Hallak, R (2013) 'Identifying travel market segments based on tourists' need for novelty: A cluster analysis of Mediterranean destination travelers'. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Emerging Research Paradigms in Business and Social Sciences, Nov 26-28, Middlesex University, Dubai.
Lee, C, Hallak, R & Sardeshmukh, SR (2013) 'Innovation as a driver of performance in small tourism businesses'. Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Emerging Research Paradigms in Business and Social Sciences, Nov 26-28, Middlesex University, Dubai.
McCabe, VS, Hallak, R & Brown, G (2013) ‘Business practices and characteristics of meeting and event organisations: findings and observations from an Australian study’. Bournemouth University, 277-282.
Lee, C, Hallak, R & Sardeshmukh, S (2012) ‘Antecedents of business performance in small tourism firms: A conceptual framework and research propositions’. World Business and Economics Research Conference. 10-11 December, Auckland: NZ.
Hallak, R & Assker, G (2012) ‘ Family vs non-family owned enterprises in tourism: examining business owners’ commitment to their town’. In C.Lade (ed) CAUTHE: Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Conference. Latrobe University.
Hallak, R & Brown, G (2011). ‘Examining SMTE owners' support for their communities’. In M. Gross (Ed.), CAUTHE:, Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference. University of South Australia.
Hallak, R (2008) ‘Examining the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial performance: Evidence from SMTEs in South Australia’. In S. Richardson, L. Fredline, L., A. Patiar & M. Ternel (Eds.), CAUTHE: Proceedings of the 18th Annual Conference. Griffith University.
Hallak, R (2007) ‘Applying ‘place identity theory’ to the study of small and medium tourism enterprises’. In. I. McDonnell, S. Grabowski & R. March (Eds.), CAUTHE: Proceedings of the 17th Annual Conference. University of Technology Sydney.
Research Reports:
Hallak, R., Lee, C & Onur, I (2019) ‘Examining the supply and demand of healthy beverage options in the hospitality industry’ (Industry Report), Centre for Tourism & Leisure Management.
Hallak, R & Lee, C (2015) 'A study of fine dining restaurants in Australia 2014-2015' (Industry Report)’. Centre for Tourism & Leisure Management.
Brown, G, Hallak, R, & Lee, C (2014). ‘Public holidays: Business as usual? A study of restaurant and catering businesses in South Australia’. (Consultancy Report). Restaurant & Catering Australia South Australia.
McCabe, VS, Hallak, R, & Brown, G (2012) 'Meeting and Event Management Organisations in Australia: A study of business characteristics and best practice'.(Consultancy report) Meetings and Events Australia (MEA).
McCabe, VS, Hallak, R, & Brown, G (2010)' Profile, issues and practices of meeting and event management organisations'. (Consultancy report) Meetings and Events Australia (MEA).
Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors (GAICD)
Member: Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE)
Board Member: Christian Brothers College, Adelaide
Editorial Board Member: Tourism Analysis (ABDC = A)
Editorial Board Member: Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management (ABDC= A)
Editorial Board Member: Journal of Vacation Marketing (ABDC= A)
Editorial Board Member: Entrepreneurship Research Journal (ABDC= B)
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| American University | UNITED STATES |
| Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University | TURKEY |
| ESSEC Business School | FRANCE |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon | PORTUGAL |
| Jinan University (China) | CHINA |
| Lebanese American University | LEBANON |
| Lusofona University | PORTUGAL |
| Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies | PORTUGAL |
| North-Eastern University | THAILAND |
| Otago Business School | NEW ZEALAND |
| Pablo de Olavide University | SPAIN |
| Tohoku Gakuin University | JAPAN |
| University Institute of Lisbon | PORTUGAL |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | UNITED STATES |
| University of Nottingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Nottingham Malaysia | MALAYSIA |
| University of Otago | NEW ZEALAND |
| University of Quebec | CANADA |
| University of Quebec at Montreal | CANADA |
| University of Seville | SPAIN |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Board MemberChristian Brothers College, Adelaide |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberJournal of Hospitality and Tourism Management |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberTourism Analysis |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberTourism Analysis |
2017 |
Editorial Board MemberJournal of Hospitality and Tourism Management |
2017 |
Ad hoc reviewer for the following refereed journals:
Project Management
Entrepreneurship
Innovation
Tourism and Hospitality Management
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Technological adoption, routinisation, and abandonment in Small and Medium-sized Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs): a three-phaseexploration | Current |
| Innovation, entrepreneurship, and business performance: a mixed methods study of the Australian restaurant sector | Completed |
| The person-environment fit approach to employee resilience: the role of leadership and co-worker support | Completed |
