Prof. Dr.-Ing. Vanessa Borkmann

Research Director and Head of the FutureHotel Innovation Network

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Vanessa Borkmann is a leading expert in hotel innovation and future-oriented urban systems. As founder of the FutureHotel Innovation Network (since 2006), she has shaped numerous forward-thinking hospitality concepts, including the FutureHotel Showcase, the Urban Living Lab, and co-developed pioneering hotel brands such as Hotel Schani Vienna and projects for the TUI Group.

She is well known for her outstanding expertise in the field of technology and digitalization. She is the author of over 50 books and scientific studies, a sought-after international keynote speaker, and serves on multiple advisory boards.

Prof. Borkmann heads the Urban Systems Engineering research department at Fraunhofer IAO, managing a team of 80 interdisciplinary researchers, and holds a professorship in Tourism and Hotel Management at SRH University. With a PhD in mechanical engineering and a background in architecture, her work focuses on how built environments influence human behavior, health, and well-being.

She is also a recipient of the Hospitality Innovation Award.