Dr. Naumov is a senior educator, researcher, consultant and quality assurance specialist with a rich international academic career, having held teaching and research positions in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and India. He is frequently invited as a keynote speaker at both scholarly and industry events and regularly delivers professional workshops as a trainer in hospitality and service excellence. His consulting experience includes work with the Council of Europe, the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai.
Dr. Nick Naumov is a highly experienced academic with a strong multidisciplinary background in critical heritage studies, human geography, and tourism. His expertise spans diverse areas including heritage and urban tourism, cultural and historical geography, intangible heritage, food tourism, and urban development. He has presented his research at numerous international conferences across six continents. He currently serves on the editorial boards of over 20 academic journals and acts as a regular ad-hoc reviewer for more than 50 titles across tourism, hospitality, and related fields. He has authored over 50 scientific publications focusing on cultural and heritage tourism, food tourism, urban tourism, and cultural and historical geography.
Dr. Naumov brings a robust blend of academic excellence and industry experience. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Assen Zlatarov University (Bulgaria), an MSc in International Tourism from the University of Bedfordshire, and a PhD in Human Geography from King’s College London. His academic
qualifications are further strengthened by certifications and training from prestigious institutions such as the London School of Economics, University of Oxford, Cornell University, University of Waterloo, University of Michigan, University of South Florida, Imperial College London, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Art and others.
Dr. Naumov is recognized as a Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE) by the Chartered Association of Business Schools (UK), a Certified Hospitality Educator (American Hotel & Lodging Institute) and a Certified Online Hospitality Educator (American Hospitality Academy). He is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), demonstrating his dedication to teaching excellence and continuous professional development. In 2025, Dr Naumov was recognised as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Hospitality Educators by named by Global Hospitality Magazine.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Naumov gained industry experience in the tourism and hospitality sectors in the UK, USA, and Bulgaria. His roles spanned across front of house operations, food and beverage, tour operations, and aviation. This combination of hands-on industry experience and academic rigor allows him to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering unique insights to students and industry partners alike.
Currently based in the UAE, Dr. Naumov is actively seeking opportunities that leverage his expertise, including academic appointments, consultancy roles, and industry collaborations. He is particularly interested in positions that involve curriculum development, research, and leadership in educational institutions or hospitality businesses.