Dr. Kate Harland is an experienced academic and passionate educator in marketing, tourism, and hospitality at Northumbria University. Kate is currently Programme Lead for Business and Marketing BA(Hons) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Kate’s PhD research explored high-tech, high-touch hospitality, focusing on the role of technology in the guest-host relationship. Kate’s research areas are customer experience, service innovation, and hospitality technology. Prior to becoming an academic, Kate worked with Marriott International in various sales, marketing, and event management roles for over 14 years. 

As a member of the Education and Training Committee for the Institute of Travel and Tourism, Kate actively works on the promotion of graduate employment opportunities within the tourism industry, supporting the next generation of talent. Organising the annual Newcastle ITT Future You Roadshow is one of the highlights of the role which allows students to connect with businesses, bridging the gap between academia and industry. In 2026, Kate launched the first in a series of White Papers for ITT Future You, along with a team of academics and industry professionals, available here.