Dr Gary Daniels
- Head of Centre
Centre for Hospitality Innovation and Leadership
- School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Biography
Dr Gary Daniels is an entrepreneurship-focused academic and former hospitality entrepreneur with over two decades of international experience in the UK, China, and Malaysia. His work is defined by a unique 'practitioner-scholar' identity, built on a foundation of ten years as the founder and operator of three successful F&B ventures in Chengdu, China.
This entrepreneurial experience directly informs his teaching and leadership. As Head of the Centre for Hospitality Innovation and Leadership (CHIL), Dr Daniels leads the development of innovative, industry-connected curricula. He has designed experiential learning projects like the 'Hospitality Bazaar' and established professional certification pathways with bodies such as WSET, ServSafe, and CHIA to enhance student employability.
Dr Daniels’ research integrates his practice with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). His applied research focuses on entrepreneurship ecosystems, sustainable and responsible practice, digital transformation in hospitality, and work-integrated learning (WIL), with a particular emphasis on ASEAN. His work has been published in high-impact Q1 journals.
Academic & Professional Qualifications
- PhD, University of Manchester, UK (2002)
- MA, University of Manchester, UK (1999)
- BA (Hons), Manchester Metropolitan University, UK (1995)
Research Interests
- Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Responsible Innovation
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Ecosystems
- Work-Integrated Learning
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Digital Transformation in Hospitality
- Labour and Innovation in Emerging Markets
Notable Publications
- 2025 - Abdul Latip, M. S., Zulkifly, M. A., Idris, N. S., & Daniels, G. (2025). The phantom of ghost kitchens: examining the influence of knowledge, eWOM, perceived benefits and trust on purchase decisions. British Food Journal, 127(10), 3671-3688. (Q1)
- 2025 - Gan, J.E. & Daniels, G. (2025). Personalized learning in a perforce single-student environment: The role of self-efficacy and self-regulation. Interactive Learning Environments. (Q1)
- 2025 - Abdul Latip, S. N. N., Abdul Latip, M. S., & Daniels, G. (2025). Work Ergonomics and Employee Task Performance in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry: The Moderating Role of Gender, Length of Service, and Employment Status. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 1–27.
- 2024 - Daniels, G. (2024). Navigating precarity: Health and safety challenges in Southeast Asia’s gig economy food delivery sector. Advances in Southeast Asian Studies, 17(1), 85-95.
- 2010 - Daniels, G. (2010). The Soviet Union and British Spies. Labour History Review, 75(2), 227-234.
- 2009 - Daniels, G., & McIlroy, J. (Eds.). (2009). Trade Unions in a Neoliberal World. Routledge.
- 2009 - McIlroy, J., & Daniels, G. (2009). An anatomy of British trade unionism since 1997: Strategies for revitalisation. In J. McIlroy & G. Daniels (Eds.), Trade Unions in a Neoliberal World: British Trade Unions under New Labour (pp. 98-126). London: Routledge.
- 2009 - McIlroy, J., & Daniels, G. (2009). An anatomy of British trade unionism since 1997: Organization, structure and factionalism. In J. McIlroy & G. Daniels (Eds.), Trade Unions in a Neoliberal World (pp. 127-164). London: Routledge.
- 2009 - Daniels, G. (2009). In the field: A decade of organizing. In J. McIlroy & G. Daniels (Eds.), Trade Unions in a Neoliberal World: British Trade Unions under New Labour (pp. 63-97). London: Routledge.
- 2006 - Daniels, G. (2006). Reflections on new unionism: past and present. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations (21), 35-62.
- 2006 - Hurst, J., Barker, S., Daniels, G., & French, S. (2006). The 24/7 Work Life Balance Survey. Work Life Balance Centre.
- 2006 - Daniels, G. & French, S. (2006). The growth of work-life balance and family-friendly policies and the implications for employment relations. International Employment Relations Review, 12(2), 9-18.