Using design thinking as an educational tool for conceptualizing future smart hotel guest experiences

Design thinking (DT) is the foundation of smart tourism innovation. This study extends the theoretical foundation by showcasing how DT was deployed in a tertiary classroom setting during a smart hospitality innovation project. The study involved 30 students who were asked to design tomorrow's smart hotel guest experiences for business and family travelers. The study used an explanatory case study to report the curriculum design, the DT methods used, and the waythey were applied to the design practice. We made suggestions for tourism professionals and educators who want to deploy DT in their smart tourism innovation projects.