Purdue University
CFS Links CFS Home Prospective Students Current Students Faculty/Staff Alumni/Friends
About HTM Undergraduate Graduate Research Industry Alumni News and Events
About HTM
Academic Programs
Administration
Department Head
Department Profile
Faculty and Staff Directory
Restaurants
Mission
Giving

Xinran Y. Lehto, PhD

Associate Professor

Search
Contact Information

Hospitality and Tourism Management
Stone Hall, Room 106
700 W. State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2059

Phone: (765) 494-4643
Fax: (765) 494-0327
E-mail: htm@purdue.edu

E-mail Web site administrator

Xinran Lehto Research interests: Tourism
E-mail: xinran@purdue.edu
Phone: (765) 496-2085
Fax: (765) 494-0327
Office: Matthews Hall, Room 128B
 

Biography

Education

Courses Taught

Research Interests

Recent Research and Publications

BIOGRAPHY

Xinran Y. Lehto is an associate professor of hospitality and tourism management at Purdue University. Prior to joining the Purdue faculty, she was an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism at Colorado State University. Dr. Lehto had seven years of professional experience as a marketing executive with the China National Tourism Administration and as a senior planning executive with Chan Brother Travel Inc. in Singapore .

Dr. Lehto's research centers around cross-cultural and cross-cohort consumer behavior, decision making, and marketing communication strategies. Dr. Lehto’s work emphasizes theoretical and methodological development as well as their applications. She has authored over 40 academic articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Recognizing the applied and interdisciplinary nature of the hospitality and tourism field, Dr. Lehto has actively engaged in drawing the rich bodies of existing theories in consumer science and marketing, sociological, and family studies into the context of her research areas. Her interdisciplinary efforts are evident in her engagement with the Purdue Center on Aging and the Life Course as a research faculty fellow and the Purdue Center for Families as a faculty partner. She also has several on-going synergistic collaborations with other faculties outside HTM.

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Lehto has worked closely with various marketing organizations to evaluate and develop marketing communication and planning strategies for tourism destinations. She is the recipient of a two-year Purdue Research Foundation grant (2004-2006). She is the principal investigator of the market competitive analysis of Purdue Memorial Union Food Services and Purdue Memorial Union Hotel (2005-2007). She is a co-principal investigator of Louisville Destination Image Study (2006-2007). She was the principal investigator for a two-year research project (2002-2004) on the eight Colorado Welcome Center’s assessing the economic impact and behavioral influence of travel information, a study commissioned by the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. She was the principal investigator for Fort Collins Conversion Study of Promotional Efforts (2001-2003), commissioned by Fort Collins Conventions and Visitor Bureau, Colorado. She is also co-principal investigator for the Harrison County Visitor Profile Study (2004) and Harrison County Image Study (2004), commissioned by the Harrison County Conventions and Visitor Bureau in Indiana.

EDUCATION

  • PhD, Department of Forestry, Purdue University
  • MS, Purdue University, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management
  • MA, Department of English Language and Literature, Beijing University
  • BA, Department of English Language and Literature

COURSES TAUGHT

  • HTM231 (Hospitality and Tourism Marketing)
  • HTM372 (Global Tourism Geography)
  • HTM501 (Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism)
  • HTM602 (PhD Seminar)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Destination marketing and planning
  • The impact of aging and life course on travel behavior
  • Family travel
  • Information processing and decision making
  • Cross-cultural issues
  • Secondary data analysis of longitudinal travel and recreation related data.

RECENT RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Journal Articles In Print/Accepted:

  • Lehto, X. Y., Kim, D. Y., and Morrison, A. M. (2006). The effect of prior destination experience on online information search behavior. Tourism and Hospitality Research - The Surrey Quarterly Review, 6 (2).
  • So, S. I. and Lehto, X. Y. (2006). The situational influence of travel group composition: Contrasting Japanese family travelers with other travel parties. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing.
  • Brey, E. and Lehto, X. Y. (2006). Assessing the relationship between daily and vacation activities. Annals of Tourism Research.
  • Kim, D. Y., Lehto, X. Y., and Morrison, A. M. (2006). Gender differences in online travel information search: Implications for marketing communications on the Internet. Submitted to Tourism Management.
  • Choi, S. J., Lehto, X. Y., and Morrison, A. M. (2006). Destination image representation on the web: Content analysis of Macao travel related websites. Tourism Management.
  • Choe, P., Kim, C., Lehto, M. R., Lehto, X. Y., and Allebach, J. (2006). Evaluating and improving a self-help technical support website: Use of focus group interviews. International Journal of Human - Computer Interaction .
  • Lin, Y. C. and Lehto, X. Y. A study of female traveler's need trajectory and family life cycle. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing.
  • Lehto, X. Y., Brown, S., Chen, Y., and Morrison, A. M. (2006). Yoga tourists as a niche within the wellness tourism market. Tourism Recreation Research, 31 (1), 25-36.
  • Brown, S. and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). Traveling with a purpose: Understanding the motives and benefits of volunteer vacationers. Current Issues of Tourism, 8 (6), 479-496.
  • Lee, G. H., Morrison, A. M., Lehto, X. Y., Reid, J., and Webb. J. (2005). VFR: Is it really marginal? A financial consideration of French overseas travelers. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 11 (4): 340-356. (VFR: Visiting Friends and Relatives)
  • Lehto, X. Y., O'Leary, J. T., and Morrison, A. M. (2004). The effect of prior experience on vacation behavior. Annals of Tourism Research, 31 (4), 801-818.
  • Lehto, X. Y., Oleary, J. T., Cai, L. A., and Huan, T. C. (2004). Tourist shopping preferences and expenditure behaviors: The case of Taiwanese outbound market. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 10 (4), 320-332.
  • Oh, J. Y. J., Cheng, C. K., Lehto, X. Y., and O'Leary, J. T. (2004). Predictors of tourists' shopping behaviour: Examination of socio-demographic characteristics and trip typologies. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 10 (4), 308-319.
  • Lehto, X. Y., O'Leary, J. T., and Morrison, A. M. (2002). Do psychographics influence vacation destination choices? A comparison of British travelers to North America, Asia, and Oceania. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 8 (2), 109-125.
  • Lehto, X. Y., Morrison, A. M., and O'Leary, J. T. (2001). Does the visiting friends and relatives' typology make a difference? A study of the international VFR market to the U.S. Journal of Travel Research, 40 (2), 201-212.
  • Lehto, X. Y., O'Leary, J. T., and Lee, G. H. (2001). Mature international travelers: an examination of gender and benefits. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 9 (1/2), 53-72.
  • Cai, L A., You, X., and O'Leary, J. T. (2001). Profiling the U.S.-bound Chinese travelers by purpose of trip. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 7 (4), 3-17.
  • You, X. and O'Leary, J. T. (2000). Age and cohort effects: An examination of older Japanese travelers. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 9 (1/2), 21-42.
  • You, X., O'Leary, J. T., Morrison, A. M., and Hong, G. S. (2000). A cross-cultural comparison of travel push and pull factors: United Kingdom vs. Japan. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 1 (2), 1-26.
  • You, X. and O'Leary. J. T. (1999). Destination behavior of senior UK travelers. Tourism Recreation Research, 24 (1), 23-34.

(Dr. Lehto has published both under her maiden name “You” and her married name “Lehto.”)

Book Chapter

  • O'Leary, J. T., Lehto, X. Y., Cheng, C. K., and Oh, Y.-J. (2004). A synthesis of tourism research topics. In M. J. Manfredo, J. J. Vaske, B. L. Bruyere, D. R. Field, and P. J. Brown (Eds.), Society and Natural Resources: A Summary of Knowledge (pp.225- 234). Jefferson, MI: Modern Litho.
  • You, X., O'Leary, J. T., and Fesenmaier, D. (2000). Knowledge management through the web: a new marketing paradigm for tourism organizations. In B. Faulkner, G. Moscardo and E. Laws (Eds.), Tourism in the 21st Century: Lessons from Experience (pp.181-197). London and New York: Continuum.

Refereed Conference Proceedings

  • Kim, D. Y., Lehto, X. Y., and Morrison, A. M. (2006). Tourist emotional engagement online: concepts, evolving themes, and conceptual framework. Proceedings of 11th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. Seattle, Washington. January 5-7.
  • Park, O. J. and Lehto, X. Y. (2006). Family vacation function and household role. Proceedings of 11th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. Seattle, Washington. January 5-7.
  • Brey, E. T. and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). Family oriented destination resorts: A supply-side analysis of recreational amenities. Proceedings of 2005 International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) Conference. Chicago, October 21-23.
  • Oh, J. Y., Lehto, X. Y., Cheng, C. K., and O'Leary J. T. (2005). Cross-cultural study of tourist shopping behavior: An examination of preference and expenditure Patterns of international tourists. Proceedings of 2005 International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) Conference. Chicago, October 21-23.
  • Lehto, X. Y., and Jang, S. C. (2005). Exploring tourism experiences sought: A cohort comparison of baby boomers and the silent generation. Proceedings of 11th Annual Conference of Asia-Pacific Tourism Association (APTA). Goyang, Korea. July 7-10.
  • Choi, S. J. and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). The effect of online leisure past-time on older people's well-being. Proceedings of 11th Annual Conference of Asia-Pacific Tourism Association (APTA). Goyang, Korea. July 7-10 .
  • Park, O. J., Lehto, X. Y., and Park, J. K. (2005). Service failure in the family travel market: A critical incident technique approach. Proceedings of 11th Annual Conference of Asia-Pacific Tourism Association (APTA). Goyang, Korea. July 7-10.
  • Lee, J. K., Park, J. K., and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). Traveler usage of e-personalization features: Implications from privacy concerns. Proceedings of 11th Annual Conference of Asia - Pacific Tourism Association (APTA). Goyang, Korea. July 7-10.
  • Choi, S. J. and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). What does the consumer want from a DMO Website? : A study of US and Canadian tourists' perspectives. Proceedings of Tenth Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 5-7.
  • Kim, D. Y., Lehto, X. Y., and Morrison, A. M. (2005). Gender differences in online travel information search. Proceedings of Tenth Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. January 5-7.
  • Lin, Y. C. and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). A study of female traveler's need trajectory and family life cycle. Proceedings of Tenth Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 5-7.
  • Park, O. J., Lehto, X. Y., and Park, J. K. (2005). Travelers' third party complaint behavior via online channel. First Virtual Conference of the Global Symposium for Consumer Sciences. Available: www.consumersciences.org/abstarct.html .
  • So, S. - I. , Lehto, X. Y., O'Leary, J. T., and Cheng, C. K. (2004). Traveling with family? An examination of the neglected Japanese travel segment. Proceedings of Second Asia Pacific CHRIE (APacCHRIE) Conference & The Sixth Biennial Conference on Tourism in Asia. Phuket, Thailand, May 27-29.
  • O'Leary, J. T., Lehto, X. Y., Cheng, C. K., and Oh, Y. J. (2004). A Synthesis of tourism research topics. 10th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM), Colorado, June 2-6.
  • Oh, Y. J., Lehto, X. Y., and O'Leary, J.T. (2003). The hidden motivator: Assessing the role of tourism s hopping. Proceedings of The 8th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 5-7.
  • Vaske, J. J., Donnelly, M. P., and Lehto, X. Y. (2002). Response format effects in front-country encounter norm questions. 9th International Symposium on Society and Resources Management. Bloomington, Indiana, June 2-5.
  • Lehto, X. Y. (2001). Shedding lights on international travel market through secondary data analysis. 2001 National Recreation and Park Association Congress, Denver, Colorado, October 3-6.
  • Lehto, X. Y. (2000). Data mining: the US in-flight survey. The 5th Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Trends Symposium. Lansing, Michigan, September, 17-20.
  • Cai, L., You, X., and O'Leary, J. T. (2000). Understanding the US-bound Chinese travelers: Marketing implications. Proceedings of Sixth Annual Conference of Asia Pacific Tourism Association, Phuket, Thailand, June 28-July 1.
  • You, X. and O'Leary, J. T. (1999). Philosophy, benefits and destination attributes: A comparison between UK travelers to Asia, North America and Oceania. Proceedings of Asia Pacific Tourism Association Fifth Annual Conference. Hong Kong, August 23-25.
  • You, X., O'Leary, J. T., and Nah, F. H. (1999). Knowledge sharing with customers on the WWW: Approaches by national tourism organizations. Proceedings of 1999 Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS). Milwaukee, WI, August 13-15.
  • Huan, T. C., O'Leary, J. T., Beaman, J., and You, X.(1999). Tourism product positioning by pleasure visitors' pre-travel image and on-site image. Proceedings of Asia Pacific Tourism Association Fifth Annual Conference. Hong Kong, August 23-25.
  • You, X., O'Leary, J. T., and Glenn, T. (1998). A look at the U.S. meetings/conventions and incentive travel market. Proceedings of 1998 Travel and Tourism Research Association Conference (Canada Chapter). Toronto, Canada, October.

Refereed Posters

  • Cheng, C. K., Oh, J. Y., Lehto, X. Y., & Oleary, J. T. (2005). Examining the trends for tourism dissertation, 1953-2003 . Poster session presented at 2005 National Park and Recreation Association (NRPA) Leisure Research Symposium. San Antonio, Texas. October 18-22.
  • Brey, E. T., Edwards, A., and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). The growing minority travel market in the US : implications for destination resorts . Poster session presented at the Tenth Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 5-7.

Technical Reports and Research Monographs

  • Lehto, X. Y., Park, O. J., and Cai, L. A. (2006). PMU marketing survey fall 2005. Submitted to Purdue Memorial Union, Purdue University.
  • Cai, L. A., Ismail, J., and Lehto, X. Y. (2005). Harrison county visitor profile study. Submitted to the Harrison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Corydon, Indiana.
  • Cai, L. A., Lehto, X. Y., and Ismail, J. (2005). Harrison county image study. Submitted to the Harrison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Corydon, Indiana.
  • Lehto, X. Y. and Ceurvorst, R. (2004). Colorado welcome center study 2003-2004: Yearly on-site survey. Submitted to Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Colorado.
  • Lehto, X. Y. and Ceurvorst, R. (2004). Colorado welcome center study 2003-2004: Yearly follow-up survey. Submitted to Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Colorado.
  • Lehto, X. Y. and Ceurvorst, R. (2003). Colorado welcome center study 2002-2003: Yearly on-site survey. Submitted to Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Colorado.
  • Lehto, X. Y. and Ceurvorst, R. (2003). Colorado welcome center study 2002-2003: Yearly follow-up survey. Submitted to Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Colorado.
  • Lehto, X. Y. (2003). Fort Collins conversion study of promotional efforts of 2002. Submitted to the Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau, Fort Collins, Colorado.
  • Lehto, X. Y. (2002). Developing a method for managing data for Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau: Final report. Submitted to Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau, Fort Collins, Colorado.
  • Vaske, J., Donnelly, M. P., and Lehto, X. Y. (2002). Visitor crowding and normative tolerances at congested areas of Rocky Mountain National Park. Submitted to Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
  • Lehto, X. Y. (2002). Fort Collins conversion study of promotional efforts of 2001. Submitted to the Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau, Fort Collins, Colorado.
  • O'Leary, J. T., Hill, A., Sorzabal, A. A., and Lehto, X. Y. (2001). Outdoor recreation and the NSRE: An examination of involvement patterns: Final report. Submitted to US Forest Service.
  • You, X., O'Leary, J. T., and Glenn, T. (1998). Preliminary analysis on the U.S. meetings/conventions and incentive travel market (1998). Submitted to Canadian Tourism Commission.
  • Morrison, A. M., You, X., and Bai, X. (1997). Hamilton County Convention & Visitors Bureau conversion study of direct-response advertising 1996. Submitted to Hamilton County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Indiana.
  • Morrison, A. M., You, X., and Bai, X. (1997). Conner Prairie conversion study of direct-response advertising 1996. Submitted to Conner Prairie Convention & Visitor Bureau, Fisher, Indiana.
  • Morrison, A. M., You, X., and Bai, X. (1997). Howard County Convention & Visitors Bureau conversion study of direct-response advertising. Submitted to Howard County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kokomo, Indiana.
  • Morrison, A. M., You, X., and Bai, X. (1997). Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau conversion study of direct-response advertising for1996. Submitted to the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • Morrison, A. M., Sung, H. S., and You, X. (1997). Greater Pittsburgh visitor profile study. Submitted to the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • Morrison, A. M., Sung, H. S., and You, X. (1997). Brown County visitor profile study. Submitted to the Brown County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Nashville, Indiana.
  • Morrison, A. M., Sung, H. S., and You, X. (1997). Bloomington/Monroe County visitor profile study. Submitted to the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Indiana.
  • Morrison, A. M., You, X., and Sung, H. S. (1996). Conversion study of direct-response advertising. Submitted to Brown County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Nashville, Indiana.
  • Morrison, A. M., Sung, H. S., and You, X. R. (1996). Conversion study of direct-response advertising. Submitted to Brown County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Nashville, Indiana.
  • Morrison, A. M., Braunlich, C. G., Sung, H. S., Nadkarni, N., and You, X. (1996). Glen Oak Country Club member analysis study, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
  • Morrison, A. M., You, X. R., Sung, H.S., and Cai, L. A. (1996). Conversion study of direct-response advertising. Submitted to Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, Springfield, Missouri.
  • Morrison, A. M., Cai, L. A., and You, X. (1996). Conversion study of direct-response advertising (1996). Submitted to Hamilton County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Noblesville, Indiana.

Invited Professional Presentations and Workshops

  • Image, Positioning and Branding in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry (2005). An industry workshop organized by Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT), Macao, China, June, 2005. Conducted together with A. M. Morrison.
  • Harrison County Image Study (2005). Presented to a wide audience including a mix of business leaders, elected officials, residents, and industry practitioners from Harrison County, Indiana, April 18, 2005.
  • Harrison County Visitor Profile Study (2005). Presented to a wide audience including a mix of business leaders, elected officials, residents, and industry practitioners from Harrison County, Indiana, April 18, 2005.
  • Research in the Family Travel Market (2005). Presented to the Strategic Council of the Purdue Center for Families, October 2005.
  • Shedding Lights on International Travel Trends (2002). Presented at the Colorado Governor's Conference on Tourism.