Short Bio

Dr Ines Blal is the Executive Dean and Managing Director of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. Ines' research and consulting works focus on the asset light model, the execution of expansion strategies, the financing possibilities for small and medium hotels, and the effect of distribution choices on sales performance. Ines publishes in the leading hospitality journals, collaborates with executives and presents at industry conferences.

During her eleven years of experience in research and teaching strategic management for the hospitality industry, she designed and taught undergraduate, graduate, and executive courses and managed multiple applied research and consulting projects for the hotel industry. During her current position as Managing Director of EHL HE&A, she deploys an expertise in the management of education, curriculum development, digitalization of education, implementation of innovative teaching practices, academic governance, and program accreditation.

Publications

Das, P., Freybote, J., & Blal, I. (2020). The Importance of Micro-Location for Pricing Real Estate Assets: The Case of Hotels. Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/10835547.2020.1833612
Poretti, C., & Blal, I. (2020). The asset-light strategies and the dividend puzzle: International evidence from the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 91, 102639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102639
Blal, I., & Bianchi, G. (2019). The asset light model: A blind spot in hospitality research. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 76PA, 39-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.02.021
Heo, C., Blal, I., & Choi, M. (2019). What is happening in Paris? Airbnb, hotels, and the Parisian market: A case study. Tourism Management, 70, 78-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.04.003
Blal, I. Singal, M., & Templin, J. (2018). Airbnb’s effect on hotel sales growth. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 73, 85-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.02.006
Blal, I., Hodari, D., & Turner, M. (2016). Selecting a partner hotel by the chain. In The Routeledge Handbook of Hotel Chain Management (pp. 205-216).
Turner, M., Hodari, D., & Blal, I. (2016). Entry modes: Management contract. In The Routeledge Handbook of Hotel Chain Management (pp. 157-170).
Blal, I., & Sturman, M. (2014). The differential effects of the quality and quantity of online reviews on hotel room sales. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 55(4), 365-375. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1938965514533419
Blal, I., & Graf, N. (2013). The discount effect of non-normative physical characteristics on the price of lodging properties. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 34, 413-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2012.12.003
Blal, I. (2011). The role of middle management in the execution of expansion strategies: The case of developers' selection of hotel projects. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30(2), 272-282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2010.09.007

Awards

Michael D. Olsen Outstanding Alumnus Award (2018)
EHL Researcher of the Year (2013)
Winner of the Outstanding Doctoral Research Award in the Hospitality Management (2009)

Research Portals

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ines_Blal