Professional Certification and Awards

Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute,

American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Fundamentals of University Teaching, University of Waterloo, Centre for Teaching Excellence.

 

Professional Society Membership 

Canadian Congress on Leisure Research, Member (CCLR)

Travel and Tourism Research Association, Member (TTRA)

International Tourism Studies Association, Vice President for Canada (ITSA)

International Journal of Tourism Cities, Editorial Review Board Member

Academic Publication

Journal Paper

• Gao, M., Smale, B.*, Wells, E., & Redoschi, B. (Accepted). Moderating effects of recreation opportunities on the relationship between leisure and wellbeing among children and youth. Loisir et sociéte/Society and Leisure.
• Gao, M., & Potwarka, L. R. (2021). Investigating the role of family travel and family functioning in promoting Chinese adolescents' subjective wellbeing. Journal of Leisure Research, 52(4), 487-507. DOI: 10.1080/00222216.2021.1927264. (SSCI)
• Gao, M., Havitz, M. E., & Potwarka, L. R. (2020). Exploring the influence of family holiday travel on the subjective well-being of Chinese adolescents. Journal of China Tourism Research, 16(1), 45-61. DOI: 10.1080/19388160.2018.1513883.
• Gao, M., Chen, C. C., Huang, Y. C., & Lin, Y. H. (2019). Work and leisure in Taiwan: Examining the antecedents and consequences of work-leisure conflicts. Leisure Studies, 38(1), 128-143, DOI: 10.1080/02614367.2018.1512646. (SSCI)
• Huang, Y. C., Chen, C. C. B., & Gao, M. (2019). Customer experience, well-being, and loyalty in the spa hotel context: Integrating the top-down & bottom-up theories of well-being. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 36(5), 595-611. DOI: 10.1080/10548408.2019.1604293. (SSCI)
• Berbary, L. A., Valtchanov, B. L., Torabian, P., Gao, M., Miller, M. C., & Briscoe, C. L. (2018). Onto-epistemological and theoretical engagements through praxis and beyond: Comfort, crises, shifts, and re-groupings. Leisure Sciences, 40(3), 95-109. DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2017.1377125. (SSCI)

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• Gao, M., Chen, C. C., Huang, Y. C., & Lin, Y. H. (2024). Work and Leisure in Taiwan: Examining the Antecedents and Consequences of Work-Leisure Conflict. In H. Liu (Ed.), Leisure and Work in China (pp. 170-190). Routledge.
• Gao, M., Havitz, M. E., & Potwarka, L. R. (2021). Exploring the influence of family holiday travel on the subjective well-being of Chinese adolescents. In M. Li & X. Lehto (Eds.), Family, Children, and Tourism in China (pp. 45-61).

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• Gao, M. & Smale, B. (2024, January). Can social leisure experiences mitigate the impact of loneliness on wellbeing emerging from COVID-19 pandemic? 7th World Research Summit on Tourism and Hospitality, Orlando, Florida, USA.
• Gao, M., Smale, B., Wells E., & Redoschi, B. (2023, May). Relationship of leisure and wellbeing among children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. 17th Canadian Congress on Leisure Research (CCLR), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Gao, M., & Smale, B. (2021, November). Responding and rebuilding residents' wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Yukon's community wellbeing survey. Community Indicators Consortium 2021 Impact Summit, November 1-4. [Online].
• Gao, M., & Smale, B. (2021, May). The moderating effect of leisure experience on the work- life conflict, mental health, and wellbeing relationship among employed adults. 16th Canadian Congress on Leisure Research (CCLR), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. [Online]
• Smale, B., Wilson, J., Akubueze, N., & Gao, M. (2021, May). The role of leisure in moderating the effect of social isolation on the well-being of older adults. 16th Canadian Congress on Leisure Research (CCLR), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. [Online]
• Gao, M., & Smale, B. (2018, June). Family vacations: Potential benefits for the well-being of adolescents. International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) 2018 Annual Conference, June 14-16, Hong Kong SAR.
• Smale, B., & Gao, M. (2018, June). The contribution of arts participation to various aspects of community quality of life. International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) 2018 Annual Conference, June 14-16, Hong Kong SAR.
• Smale, B., Gao, M., & Yu, J. (2018, September). Gender inequities in wellbeing over time: Selected evidence from the Canadian Index of Wellbeing. Community Indicators Consortium 2018 Impact Summit, September 17-18, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

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• UNICEF Canada

          2022 to 2023 Siksika Child and Youth Wellbeing Survey

          2020 to 2021 “One Youth”: The Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being

• Manitoba

          2022 to 2023 Profile of Wellbeing in Manitoba

• Yukon Territory

          2020 to 2021 Profile of Wellbeing in Yukon

• Nova Scotia

          2019 to 2020 Nova Scotia Quality of Life Initiative

• Wood Buffalo, Alberta

          2019 Wood Buffalo Social Sustainability Plan

• Waterloo Region, Ontario

           2022 Residents' Wellbeing after three years into COVID-19

           2018 Wellbeing in Waterloo Region

• Bruce and Grey Counties, Ontario

           2018 Bruce and Grey County Community Wellbeing Survey

• Orillia and Area, Ontario

           2018 Orillia and Area Community Wellbeing Survey

• Oxford County, Ontario

          2018 Oxford County Community Sustainability Plan