18 Sep Milestones: Celebrating Dr Ailin Fei

In May 2026, Ailin graduated from Purdue University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management with a PhD, completing a journey that combined research, teaching, and a passion for data-driven tourism. Her dissertation: The Sustainability Communication Gap in Responsible Group Tours and the Surcharge Paradox.

Just before graduating, Ailin started a new role as Data & Research Manager at Visit Austin in November 2025. In this role, she uses tourism data and research to support data-informed decision-making and help tell the story of Austin’s visitor economy.

These milestones mark an exciting transition from doctoral research into a career applying research and analytics to real-world tourism challenges.