Jörn spent his formative academic years in the company of human geographers in Trier (Germany) and in Utrecht, before graduating with a master thesis on the economic sustainability of a backpacker tourist destination in southern Mexico. He developed his knowledge on tourism in that country through research activities on tourism in national parks at the Colegio de Michoacan before returning to Utrecht as a lecturer at the faculty of geosciences. His further qualifications include a PhD in Tourism Management at the Kent Business School/University of Kent on entrepreneurial networks and services in backpacker destinations in Mexico and Malaysia. His current research interests lie in community development through hospitality with a special focus on the so-called sharing economy.