Ajay Aluri, Ph.D.

Expertise

Dr. Ajay “AJ” Aluri is an Associate Professor at West Virginia University and Founding Director of the WVU Hospitality Innovation and Technology (HIT) Lab. An internationally recognized scholar, educator, and keynote speaker, his research focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics, customer experience, trust, and digital transformation in hospitality and tourism. His work examines how socially intelligent technologies can enhance operational efficiency, employee effectiveness, and guest experiences while preserving the human essence of hospitality. 

Dr. Aluri serves on the Global Board of Directors of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and contributes to HFTP’s AI initiatives, including the HFTP AI Council and Hospitality AI Collective. He also advises industry organizations and publications, including Hospitality Technology, Hotel Executive, and MURTEC, and serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology. 

His contributions to hospitality education, research, and industry engagement have received national and international recognition. In 2026, the International Hospitality Institute (IHI) named him among the Global 100 Most Influential Educators in Hospitality. He has also been recognized among IHI’s Top 100 Most Powerful People in U.S. Hospitality and received the 2022 ICHRIE McCool Breakthrough Award. 

Through applied research, executive education, industry partnerships, and global keynote presentations, Dr. Aluri works with hospitality organizations and technology companies to advance the responsible adoption of emerging technologies. His work centers on a high-touch, high-tech vision for the future of hospitality—where human, artificial, and physical intelligence work together to improve performance, create more personalized experiences, and ensure that technology enhances rather than replaces the human foundations of hospitality. 

Education

• Ph.D., Hospitality Administration, Oklahoma State University
• M.S., International Studies, Oklahoma State University
• Graduate Certificate, Business Data Mining, Oklahoma State University
• SAS Business Data Mining Certificate, SAS Institute Inc. and Oklahoma State University
• B.Tech., Computer Science and Information Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India