Chair: Carolin Lusby, Ph.D., Florida International University, USA

This topic aims to showcase the latest developments in the industry, including regenerative, slow, and blended forms of travel and work. We encourage proposals that highlight sustainable solutions, emphasizing benefits to the environment, workers, and local communities.

Chair: Atara Sivan, Hong Kong Baptist University, and Tony (A.J) Veal, University of Technology Sydney

The SIG on Leisure and Human Rights seeks to promote research and teaching on the topic of leisure, human rights, and social justice, based on the principles set out in the WLO Charter for Leisure. The SIG aims to enhance the profile of leisure rights among governments, leisure policymakers, practitioners, and researchers and within the UN human rights system. It encourages research papers on disciplinary aspects of leisure rights such as Education, Public Policy, Philosophy and Sociology as well as on practices that infringe the rights of a group to fair treatment and access in leisure settings.

Chair: Atara Sivan, Ph.D., Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, and Prof. Marie Young, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

The SIG on Leisure Education seeks to promote research, teaching, and evidence-based practices in leisure education on a global scale. It aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of leisure education, recognizing its significant impact on individuals’ well-being and quality of life and to foster collaboration and networking among scholars who share a passion for advancing leisure education. We welcome researchers, academics, practitioners, and professionals from various disciplines to share their academic and professional work exploring diverse aspects of leisure education, including but not limited to theoretical frameworks, innovative pedagogies and models, program development and evaluation, and the role of leisure education in different settings and cultural contexts.

Chair: Lisa Mische-Lawson, PhD, CTRS, The University of Kansas Medical Center, USA, and Nicole Peel, PhD, Western Sydney University, Australia

The World Leisure Organization is committed to ensuring that all members of the community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or ability, have access to beneficial leisure facilities and services. Our Diversity, Access and Inclusion Special Interest Group provides a forum for professionals to gain knowledge and support to advocate inclusion of underserved populations in leisure pursuits. At the upcoming World Leisure Congress 2025, we will highlight the many ways leisure professionals are actively engaging diverse and marginalized communities. This includes but is not limited to individuals with disabilities, individuals living in poverty, LBGTQ+ populations and individuals marginalized due to race and/or ethnicity, etc. We encourage our members to share their innovative approaches for navigating the barriers and ensuring accessible and inclusive leisure for all.

Chair: Heather Gibson, Ph.D., University of Florida, USA

This session provides an environment where contemporary research on gender and leisure can be presented. A discussant will address the similarities/differences across the session papers. The session will incorporate sport, events, hospitality, and recreation under the broad umbrella of ‘leisure’. It is based on a recognition of the fluidity and diversity of gender, and the contested and geographically specific nature of this.

Chair: Dr. John R Tower, Ph.D., Victoria University, Australia, and Dr. Jo An Zimmermann, Ph.D., Texas State University, USA

The WLO Congress Leisure Management stream calls for leisure scholars and professionals to share research and best practice explanations about leisure management topics. These topics include planning, delivery, management & control, quality, performance management, accountability, partnerships, equity, inclusion, diversity, competencies, resource management, experience management, human resources and any topic related the management of leisure programs, facilities and services. The presentations are expected to share research and best practice examples about leisure management issues that will be of interest to our industry.

Chair: Oksana Grybovych, EdD., University of Iowa, USA

Community development around the world has been used to address a broad range of challenges – from climate change to peace building, from economic development to human rights. And times and times again, communities have innovated, collaborated, and demonstrated the power of authentic and meaningful community change – driven by collective impact, leadership, forward looking policy, resilience, and sustainability. We are looking for stories of success and failure, persistence, resilience, collaboration and innovation – from community developers, planners, public administrators and others involved in practice and policy making in the realm of community development. Stories of collaboration on initiatives, activities, and projects for greater impact in communities. Now more than ever we need to learn from each’s experiences strategies to address the challenges of our time, engage others in discussion, promote collaborative decision-making, and develop a sense of community.

Chair: Douglas Kleiber, Ph.D. University of Georgia, USA, and Begum Aybar-Damali, PhD., Winona State University in Winona, Wisconsin, USA

Leisure and Aging, to include, but not limited to, the following themes: coping with disability and illness in later life; games and other nonphysical leisure activities in later life; the influence of gender and other diversifying factors on leisure experience in later life; grandparenting and intergenerational leisure; leisure, aging and mental health; retirement and leisure; adventure, sports and physical activity in later life; technology, digital communications and media influences; travel and tourism in later life; volunteerism in later life. The purpose and content of the session: to advance understanding of leisure and ageing in a changing world and how leisure experience of older people might be enhanced.

Chair: Cari E. Autry, Ph.D., CTRS, East Carolina University, USA, and Dr. Makhaya Malema, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

This session will explore the role of leisure in the lives of children and youth, addressing themes such as: integrating leisure into educational frameworks; the role of play in social and cognitive development; the impact of socioeconomic factors on access to leisure; family dynamics and shared leisure activities; mental health benefits of leisure activities; transitioning from structured to self-directed leisure; sports and physical activities for the young; digital and media engagement; travel and cultural exposure; and volunteerism among young people. The aim is to deepen our understanding of how leisure activities can contribute to the development of children and youth in our rapidly evolving society. By sharing research findings, discussing policy implications, and showcasing innovative practices, this session seeks to enhance the leisure experiences and outcomes for young individuals globally.

Chairs: Teresa Freire, PhD, Universidade do Minho, Portugal, Hélene Carbonneau, PhD, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada, and Maria Alexandra D’Araújo, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal

Leisure is considered one of the main sources of individual and social well-being. In the past two decades, the science of well-being has grown creating great and new opportunities for understanding how societies and individuals, can organize and experience worthy lives. Leisure encompasses individual, social and environmental components of peoples’ lives integrating pleasure and a sense of meaning in life, thus incrementing subjective and psychological well-being. Following an ecological perspective that matches person-environment features, leisure becomes a core scientific-based intervention tool making possible: i) the creation of new opportunities to develop and improve positive pathways, ii) the transformation of negative pathways, by promoting agency, empowerment, resilience, human development, creating and shaping individuals or societies’ well-being, along with a psycho-social-ecological approach. Leisure makes possible the articulation between people, contexts, activities, behaviors, places, environments, and cultures, contributing to “peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future” (United Nations). These aspects become the main purpose for this SIG’s action worldwide.

Chair: Prof. Ling Ping, Hangzhou Normal University, China

This session invites contributions on Leisure and Sports, focusing on the role of leisure sports globally. This track seeks to explore the integration of leisure sports with significant global events like the Paris Olympics and the European Cup, particularly their role in promoting urban economic development worldwide. Abstracts are encouraged on topics including water sports, mountain and outdoor sports, ice and snow sports, alongside the management, marketing, and development of sports events and clubs. This track offers a platform for discussing innovative strategies that enhance the economic and social landscapes of cities around the world through leisure sports.

Chair: Márta Wilhelm, PhD. University of Pécs, Hungary

This session will explore the dynamic interface between leisure and innovation, focusing on a broad range of themes including technological advancements in leisure, innovative leisure management practices, sustainability, the influence of digital media on leisure trends, and the future of leisure infrastructures. We encourage submissions from researchers, practitioners, and innovators across all sectors who are engaging with cutting-edge ideas that are shaping the leisure landscape.