Danny is a foreign advisor to Busan Global Tourism City as well as an advisor to the new Busan Wellness Medical Tourism Cluster. Additionally, Danny works as a Research Associate with the Wellness Tourism Association and is a senior researcher at the Wellness Tourism Institute.
About Danny Kessler Ph.D.
Danny Kessler, Ph.D. (Hotel and Tourism Management with a specialization in Wellness Tourism) , is an accomplished workplace wellness and wellness tourism expert with a specialization in Human Resources. Danny earned a Ph.D. in Wellness Tourism from Youngsan University in South Korea, where he was the first person to receive a wellness Ph.D. in the country. He completed the Wharton HR Management and Analytics Executive Education program and is a research associate for the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA). He also serves on the Global Advisory Committee for the Busan Tourism Organization and is a member of the Korean Tourism Service Association.
Danny currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Dongseo University’s International College in South Korea, where he mentors students and teaches business courses. He is the creator of the Dongseo University International College Sports Club and Yoga Club and the developer of the Workplace Wellness Micro-Degree. He founded the Workplace Wellness Research Society and serves as the director of the Workplace Wellness Research Lab.
Before embarking on his academic career, Danny founded Angels with Attitude, a company that provided self-defense classes for women. He also established Club E Network, an online social network for entrepreneurs, which sold in 2013. Danny is the author of several books, including Travel: 12 Rules for America, The Socially Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Personal Safety, and co-author of Hotelier Action English. He also advises graduate students on their MA thesis and Ph.D. dissertation.
Danny is a member of the Scientific Advisory board for the Biodiversity-Respectful Leadership (BIODIFUL) project, which is a Finnish Academy Strategic Research Council-funded initiative. He holds a Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, demonstrating his expertise in data analytics.
Professor Profile
2023: University of Pennsylvania Wharton HR Management and Analytics Executive Education
2021: Employee Wellness and Stress Management Stanford University Center for Health Education
2020: Ph.D. in Business Administration (Wellness Tourism) at Youngsan University
2017: Masters in Education (TESOL) at Framingham State University
2004: Bachelor in Business & Communications (Interdisciplinary Studies) at Arizona State University
Media
Dr. Daniel (Danny) Kessler (Ph.D., Hotel and Tourism Management with a specialization in Wellness Tourism) is a highly qualified and experienced professional with a strong background in wellness tourism and business administration. He has a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a focus on wellness tourism from Youngsan University in South Korea, where he was the first person to receive a Ph.D. in this field. He is also a Research Associate at the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) and a member of the Global advisory committee for the Busan Tourism Organization. In addition, Dr. Kessler has held several leadership positions at Dongseo University, including Assistant Professor, Developer of the Workplace Wellness Micro-Degree, Founder of the Workplace Wellness Research Society, and Director of the Workplace Wellness Research Lab. He has over 12 years of experience teaching at universities in South Korea, including at Youngsan University and Dongseo University, and has created multiple curriculums for students in the field of hotel and tourism management. Dr. Kessler is also the author of two books, “Travel: 12 Rules for America” and “The Socially Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Personal Safety,” and is a member of the Scientific Advisory board for the Biodiversity-Respectful Leadership (BIODIFUL) project. In addition to his academic and professional pursuits, Dr. Kessler has entrepreneurial experience as the Founder and CEO of Angels with Attitude, a company that teaches self-defense classes for women, and as a Startup Founder for Club E Network. He is also a Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate holder.
Research and Conference Presentations
- Currently Special Issue Guest Editor of the SSCI Journal Sustainability. ‘Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism Strategies: Aligning Stakeholder Behavior Towards Wellness in Protected Natural Sites’ – October 2024
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/R4N4P01N67 - Brennan, B.S, Kessler D. From Ritual to Renewal: Templestays as a Cross-Cultural Model of Sustainable Wellness Tourism in South Korea – July 2025
https://www.mdpi.com/3404658 - From Ritual to Renewal: Templestays as a Cross-Cultural Model of Sustainable Wellness Tourism – Summer Research Capacity Building Workshop with Dr. Timothy Lee at Youngsan University July 2025
- Choi H-M, Kessler D. The Role of the Korean Media in Shaping Sustainable Tourism Among American Audiences. Sustainability. – April 2025
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3253 - Exploring the Evolution and Significance of the Korean Jjimjilbang: Unveiling a Hidden Wellness Tradition Wellness Tourism In Asia in Wellness Tourism in Asia: Emerging Destinations to Rejuvenate, Relax and Retreat, Springer June 2025 9789819628667
- Wellness Tourism and International Living – Florida International University – Presentation for FIU students Miami Florida February 12th 2025
- Creative Approaches to Teaching Wellness to International Students – KOTESOL University of Ulsan – October 26, 2024
- Cultivating a Wellness Life for International Students in South Korea – National Association of Foreign Scholars in Korea (NAFSIK) – October 12, 2024
- Unveiling the Significance of the Jjimjilbang: A History of a Korean Wellness Tradition, Cultivating the Local Tourism Ecosystem – June 8th 2024
- A Comparative Analysis of Strategic Orientation: Applying the OODA Loop to Airbnb and the Hotel Industry – Poster Presentation, APacCHRIE 2024, May 26th, 2024
Events & Insights
A foreign advisor to Busan Global Tourism City as well as an advisor to the new Busan Wellness Medical Tourism Cluster. Additionally, Danny works as a Research Associate with the Wellness Tourism Association and is a senior researcher at the Wellness Tourism Institute.
ADDRESS
Dongseo University
47, Jurye-ro, Sasang-gu, Busan, South Korea
CONTACT
dannykess@gmail.com
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