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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT ALUMNI NEWS Lauren Bohatka, MTA (2004) – Sustainable Destination Management Working in Albania as Program Manager for UNPD’s Eco and Cultural Tourism Support Program since August 2006, Bohatka has recently been nominated to serve on an advisory board for tourism development to the Government of Albania. Bohatka encourages all students, faculty and alumni to visit and share in the undiscovered beauty and fascinating country of Albania. Daniel Chang, MTA (2006) – Sustainable Destination Management Chang, a recent graduate, is currently working on the Rough Guide to Belize, a guidebook that will be published later this fall. Linda Joyce Forristal, AMTA (2004) – Destination Management  Forristal is pursuing her Ph.D in Tourism at Purdue University, and has completed her first year of classes. Her focus currently is tourism in relation to the indigenous species of the United States with special emphasis on those with culinary connections and/or importance to Native Americans.
 Chrystal is pleased to announce her recent marriage to Peter Denys. Their wedding ceremony was held in Howell, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Denys now reside in Reading, U.K. Shiri Leventhal, MTA (2006) – Sport Management A recent December graduate, Leventhal works in Sri Lanka with local NGO, Sewalanka Foundation as a Micro Finance Business Development Advisor with Sewa Finance. Recently, Leventhal was one of twenty selected runners to participate in Blue Planet Run, a 15,200-mile, 92-day inaugural relay around the world dedicated to funding clean water projects in developing countries. Starting on June 1st and running through 13 countries, Leventhal will run through DC on August 31st, completing in NYC on September 3rd. Her interest in the Blue Planet Run Foundation was piqued during a lecture series while visiting the Olympics last Fall with Dr. Delpy Neirotti’s MTA course. Paraskevi Voula Papadopoulos, MTA (2006) – Sport and Event Management Papadopoulos joined New York Red Bulls (MLS) this March as an Account Executive, and was a former Sales and Marketing Associate with Jungle Bay Resort and Spa, Dominica W.I. from September 2006 to February 2007. Papadopoulos was also a Co-Branded Credit Card Coordinator for Walt Disney World, after a Sports and Recreation Graduate Internship with Disney's Wide World of Sports. Kathryn Parente, MTA (2006) – Event Management As a recent graduate, Parente was promoted to Recruitment Manager in the GW Law School Career Development Office, where she is able to combine a recruiting background with event management. She will hold nationwide legal recruiting events throughout Spring and Fall semesters, and currently assists in organizing small- and large-scale interview programs throughout several cities in the U.S. She is in daily contact with the nation’s top law firm and government agency vendors, and travels extensively for conferences, recruiting events, and career-building opportunities. In addition, Parente is planning another large event, her wedding, to be held in October 2007. Jodi McKeeman and Zachary Rozga, MTA (2004) – Sustainable Destination Management McKeeman and Rozga, both MTA '04 graduates, tied the knot in Troncones, Mexico, on May 5, 2007. McKeeman and Rozga met in the MTA program and have been living in Cape Town, South Africa, managing World Hotel Link Africa, in addition to running their own tourism consulting company, GeoSavvy Development. Jodi and Zack, we all wish you the very best in your future happiness together. Robert Miller, Esq., CMP, MTA (1999) – Event Management Miller has accepted a recent invitation to serve as a representative on the GW School of Business Alumni Association (GWAA) Board of Directors, and hopes to bring positive attention to the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management in his new position. He will continue to serve as President of GW Tourism Alumni Network (GW TAN) until he passes the baton to Linda Robson on June 30th, and will continue his active involvement as Immediate Past-President and other leadership roles in the future. Miller looks forward to representing the MTA degree program within GWAA and the university-wide alumni system. Amy Shapiro, MTA (2006) – Sport Management  Shapiro and her husband, Josh, are happy to announce the birth of their son, Benjamin Harry Shapiro, on April 13th, 2007. He weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz. Theresa Tronolone, CMP, MTA (2003) – Sport Managment Thronolone is currently a Global Events Manager at Actix, and achieved her Certified Meeting Professional designation in January 2007. Neal Rosenshein, BBA (2003) – Sport Management TThis fall, Rosenshein will be Co-Editor in Chief of the Willamette Sports Law Journal, a small online journal. He views it as a great opportunity to stay involved with sports and contribute in strengthening journal. Rosenshein will work with a Willamette professor to solicit submissions from other schools and reach out to practicing sports lawyers outside of the academic realm. Other Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management Alumni: Where are they now?
The Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management Faculty and Staff encourage all alumni to touch base and let us know what you are doing. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGMENT GRADUATE STUDENT NEWS S Mitch Biersner, MTA (May 2007) – Individualized Studies Biersner interns at AARP, and has served on-site at an AARP Summit in LA, the Life@50+ | AARP's National Event & Expo in Anaheim, and Latino American multi-generational event in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Biersner is also active in both PCMA and MPI, and acts as Students Sub-Committee Co-Chair of the Capital Chapter PCMA Emerging Leaders Committee, and serves on the Potomac MPI Member Care Committee. Biersner received several PCMA and MPI scholarships to attend the PCMA 2007 Annual Meeting and PMPI 2006 Mid-Atlantic Conference and Exposition (MACE!). He also attended the MPI 2007 PEC-NA conference, and was recently selected to attend the MPI-IMEX Future Leaders Forum at MPI WEC in Montreal in July. Marlene Blas, AMTA (May 2007) – Event and Meeting Management  Blas is the Associate Director for Meetings and Events at California Western School of Law in San Diego, where she plans over 100 meetings and events each year. In April 2007, Blas launched Top Dog Event Management, LLC, an event management and consulting firm specializing in unique events for people and pets. She is also an instructor at Cal State, San Marcos and Mira Costa College in the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate Programs. She is a member of ISES, on the Strategic Alliance Committee for MPI, and district conference special events Chair for CASE. An international speaker on meetings and events, Blas will speak at ISES Event World in Montreal in August 2007 on “Work-Life Balance.” Each year, Blas volunteers over 200 hours for non-profit organizations in Southern California.
 Last summer, Reynold traveled to Torino, Italy for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games and to Palm Springs, California for the 2006 Pacific Life Open Tennis Tournament with Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti. In the fall, Reynold interned at The White House in the First Lady's Scheduling Office, and has since volunteered for numerous events and organizations in the DC metropolitan area. Reynold is a student member of the International Special Events Society (ISES) and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Joo Hwan Seo, MTA (May 2007) – Sustainable Destination Management Seo, who will pursue a Ph.D. in the Department of Marketing at GWU after his recent graduation, will present his paper at the 2007 Travel & Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Conference in Las Vegas, NV this June. The paper is entitled Korea Outbound Tourism Demand: VAR Model and Granger Causality Test, and is co-authored with Dr. Soyoung Boo of the George Washington University, and Sung Yong Park or the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Another paper, The Measurement of Crowd Perception at Events: The application of stimulus overload theory, also co-authored with Dr. Boo, has been accepted to the July 2007 International CHRIE Conference in Dallas, TX. Angelia Taylor, AMTA (2007) – Event, Sport and Destination Management 2007 AMTA Valedictorian and recipient of the Philip Ogilvie Award for Academic Achievement, Taylor is also owner of “Angie’s Country Cookies” in Niigata, Japan. Six years ago, she began hosting a yearly Christmas party for Japanese friends, and served homemade desserts in gratitude for their support during her stay in Niigata. The requests for her desserts grew into a business. Being in the AMTA program helped Taylor focus on the contributions she wants to make to society, which has shaped her business principles, including a commitment to give 10% of its yearly profits, in the form of a Christmas present, to charity. The first charity selected will be in honor of Jeanette Taylor, her mother, who is bravely living with diabetes. AMTA student named to DMAI Foundation Board of Trustees Robert Canton, AMTA (May 2008) – Sport & Sustainable Destination Management Robert Canton has been a DMAI Business Partner since 2001. As Director of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Sports, Convention & Tourism Practice, Mr. Canton has spent the past 20 years providing a wide range of strategic planning services related to destination development projects such as convention centers, sports venues, performing arts centers, theme parks, and tourism development plans. He has worked with hundreds of local, state, and federal agencies throughout the world as well as with private-sector clients including teams in all four professional major leagues, and various companies in the entertainment industry. Mr. Canton has been involved in identifying opportunities for public/private partnerships to development a variety of tourism initiatives. He has been engaged to assist cities and counties throughout the U.S., as well projects in international destinations such as Malaysia, Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, Brazil, Morocco, South Korea, Venezuela, the U.K., and Ireland. Robert Canton's board term begins August 1, 2007 and continues through August 1, 2010. For full text, please see: http://www.destinationmarketing.org/page.asp?pid=250 DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT NEWS STORIES 2007 Summer Study Abroad Program/International Consulting Practicum Istanbul, Turkey  A month-long course on consulting theory and best practices will precede the intense two-week on-site project. Upon completion, a written report of the students’ findings and recommendations for increased sustainability and marketability of the Peninsula will be delivered to an NGO consisting of public and private stakeholders in the Eminönü District of Ístanbul. The students will complete their time abroad with a 2-day trip to the Aegean coast city of Ízmir, sponsored by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism. Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME) Conference In late March, more than 75 sports and industry executives participated in the annual Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME) Conference hosted by The George Washington University School of Business Sport Management program. SEME is designed for aspiring students and young professionals who want to further their careers in the sports and events industry. More than 150 attendees interacted with representatives from the NFL, NBA, NFL, NHL, NASCAR, athlete marketing agencies, local teams, and media organizations, and many participants were GW alumni. SEME workshops included an executive leadership seminar, the role of media in sports, sponsorship negotiation, athlete marketing, resume critique sessions, and personal marketing tips for career seekers. The highlight of the program was keynote address by CareerBuilder.com Founder Rob McGovern, and Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten. For more information, pictures, and videos, go to: www.seme-now.com International Institute for Tourism Studies (IITS) teams up with the NFL Players Association As of the spring semester, International Institute for Tourism Studies (IITS), in conjunction with the NFL Players Association, has begun offering sport and event certificate courses as well as two newly created courses in real estate development and small business management especially tailored to retired NFL Players. Major League Baseball's Scorecard: What Does the Future Hold? Panel Discussion On January 23rd, The George Washington University School of Business and Advancement office hosted a panel discussion Major League Baseball's Scorecard: What Does the Future Hold? featuring GW alumni Theodore N. "Ted" Lerner, A.A. '48, L.L.B. '50, managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals; Randy Levine, B.A. '77, president of the New York Yankees; and Sam Perlozzo, B.S. '73, manager of the Baltimore Orioles. The forum was moderated by Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti. Following the panel discussion, the three distinguished alumni were inducted into the inaugural class of the GW School of Business Sports Executive Hall of Fame. Over 400 people requested to attend, and the event was broadcast in the Marvin Center for overflow attendees. A private dinner was held later that evening with key GW donors and the honorees. During the dinner, Grady Raskin, BBA 1996, Director of Corporate Sales with the Texas Rangers, and current MTA student Greg Foscato, who was recently hired by the Washington Nationals, made remarks along with Russ Ramsey, Chairman of GW Board of Trustees. AMTA Capstone Residency & Second Annual AMTA Case Competition  This year’s case competition, entitled The Impact of Gaylord’s National Harbor Project on the Washington, D.C. Hotel and Convention Business, had students mulling over a planned 300-acre waterfront National Harbor project that will bring more than 3,000 new hotel rooms – including lavish suites and VIP towers – and a 470,000 square-foot convention center just across the river from Washington. Students were challenged to come up with a marketing and strategic plan for D.C. tourism as it confronts this new competition. Over three days, students had the opportunity to hear from several experts from Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County, M.D., and Virginia, including Mathew Neitzey, Executive Director of Prince George’s County CVB; Todd Scartozzi, Vice President and Managing Director of Omni Shoreham Hotel; Roger Murphy, Tourism Development Specialist with Arlington Economic Development; Michael Altman, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Cundari SFP (consultants for the D.C. Convention Center); Bill Hanbury, President and CEO of the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation; Reba Pittman-Walker, CEO and General Manager of Washington Convention Center Authority; Rocell Viniard, Vice President and Director of Marketing for National Harbor; Jeff Parana, Vice President of National Harbor; Jamie Murdock, Executive Manager of National Accounts for Gaylord Hotels; Tina Sampson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center; and Kathy Callendar, CMP, Director of the Washington DC Area Office for the Nashville CVB.  On May 17th, six teams competed to give the best 20-minute presentation and 10-minute Q & A session to a panel of expert judges, who chose two finalist teams to compete in a showdown that would determine the day’s winner. The first runner-up and winning teams were announced at a celebratory banquet held that same night. First runner-up team, Pentamuse Consulting, was coached by Kristin Lamoureux and consisted of Crystal Ryan, Angelia Taylor, Mickey Tveter, and Christine Winebrenner. The winning team, The Masters, was coached by Dr. Elliot and consisted of Stephanie Drew, Tracee Fisher, Yiyi Gallant, and David Krantz. Congratulations to The Masters. Dr. Raynald Brouard, Director of the AMTA Program and Assistant Professor of Tourism Studies, commented, “We were impressed with the students ability to navigate the complicated social, economic, and political issues generated by this impending competition between two visions – Prince George’s County’s shiny new waterfront convention city and Washington’s established tourism business – and ultimately present viable strategies to benefit both groups."  The Masters were not the only ones to receive an award at the night’s banquet. Ms. Angelia Taylor was also honored as the AMTA 2007 Valedictorian and recipient of the Phil Olgilvie Award, which was presented by Bill Brown, President of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia. This award was created in memory of former GWU tourism professor, Phil Olgilvie. The evening was nicely topped with an inspiring keynote address by Doug Price, CEO of Destination Marketing International and member of the DTHM Advisory Committee, who urged students to be proud of themselves today, however, to always keep in mind how fascinating people are in detail, to take time to really listen to others, and never think that we know all there is to know, despite the gain of an MTA degree. Congratulations AMTA Class of 2007. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT STUDENT AWARDS – SPRING 2007 Bearcom Sports Management Award Recipient: Shauna Smith The Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management awards the Bearcom Sports Management Award every academic year. This award is sponsored by Bearcom Sports Management Company, and recognizes an undergraduate student studying sports management with a GPA above 3.25 and demonstrating leadership quality in student organizations and activities. This year’s award recipient is Shauna Smith. Master of Tourism Administration – Potomac Hospitality Services Student Leadership Award Recipient: Lisa Jordan The Master of Tourism Administration Potomac Hospitality Services Student Leadership Award recognizes one MTA Student who has played a significant leadership role in student activities at department, school and university levels, and has made outstanding contribution to the department, the school and the university in each academic year. The award recipient is nominated by MTA students, faculty and staff, and is sponsored by Potomac Hospitality Services, D.C.-based hotel development and management company. This year’s award recipient is Lisa Jordan, who has played a significant leadership role as president of the GW Tourism for Tomorrow student organization as well as various other student activities. Master of Tourism Administration – Harvey Shield Award for Academic Excellence Recipient: Brandon Miller The Master of Tourism Administration Harvey Shield Award for Academic Excellence is awarded to an MTA student who has achieved the highest academic performance. This year’s award recipient is Brandon Miller who accomplished a 3.95 GPA academic performance during his studies in the MTA Program. Accelerated Master of Tourism Administration (AMTA) Student Award – Spring 2007 Recipient: Angelia Taylor The Accelerated Master of Tourism Administration recognizes academic excellence each academic year by awarding the Dr. Philip W. Olgilvie Award to an AMTA student with the highest GPA. This award is sponsored by the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of DC, and this year’s winner is Angelia Taylor. Angelia received the award at the recent AMTA Capstone Residency banquet dinner. Marriott Scholars  Following the luncheon, Marriott was hosted by the F. David Fowler Career Center where campus recruiters provided an information session open to all students. "The recruiters were very impressed with GW students and look forward to coming back in the fall to interview for internship and permanent placements at Marriott corporation," said Jill Bond, GWU corporate relations director. Greg Miller, M.B.A. `84 and vice president for asset management at Marriott also participated in the luncheon and information sessions. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT FACULTY NEWS Dr. Soyoung Boo, Assistant Professor of Tourism Studies In January, Dr. Boo attended the 12th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism in Houston , TX , where she moderated two Standup Sessions, and presented her paper The Influential Factor of Perceived Value: Price Perception. During the spring semester, Dr. Boo taught a graduate course, Conference and Exposition Management, and undergraduate course, Convention and Meeting Management . Students of both classes were able to listen to several invited industry experts in her classes, including Reba Pittman Walker, CEO and General Manager of Washington Convention Center Authority. Dr. Boo's summer and fall will be busy with conference presentations. In June, Dr. Boo will present at the Travel & Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Conference in Las Vegas , NV , and in July, at the International CHRIE Conference in Dallas , TX with current MTA students. In October, she will present a paper entitled, Predictors of Career Indecision Among Hospitality Major Undergraduates , at the EuroCHRIE Conference in Leeds , UK . Recently, Dr. Boo's article, An Exploration of the Influence of Prior Visit Experience and Residence on Festival Expenditures , co-authored with Dong-Woo Ko and Michael A. Blazey, was published in Event Management (Vol. 10). Dr. Boo is an active editorial member of the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing and World Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management . She also acts as an ad-hoc reviewer for the Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing , and the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research , and was also a reviewer for the 2007 International CHRIE Conference. Dr. Raynald Brouard, Director of AMTA and Assistant Professor of Tourism Studies As Director of the Accelerated Master of Tourism Administration (AMTA), Dr. Brouard spent the fall and spring semesters managing applicants and new admits to the AMTA program, serving as liaison between students and respective lectures in the program, addressing student concerns, and more recently, coordinating the Capstone Residency Case Competition for the AMTA graduating class. As Assistant Professor of Tourism Studies, Dr. Brouard taught Tourism Policy Analysis, Applied Strategic Planning, Practicum and Professional Development, and Directed Reading and Research for AMTA this past spring. In summer, he will coordinate the AMTA Inaugural Residency to take place at the start of the fall semester. In addition, he will spearhead a field trip to the island of Jamaica during fall semester, giving students an opportunity to explore community based tourism initiatives in developing countries. Dr. Brouard is actively involved in the MTA Department and in the Washington DC community. He serves as a member of several on-campus committees including the Master Program Council and the Distance Learning Committee, and regularly attends conferences and events in and around the Washington DC area. Dr. Sheryl Elliot, Director of the BBA/MTA 5-Year Program, Associate Professor of Tourism Studies As Director of the BBA/MTA 5-Year Program, Dr. Elliot carefully advises prospective and current students to ensure a seamless transition from the undergraduate to masters level programs. As Associate Professor of Tourism Studies, Dr. Elliot taught two undergraduate courses this semester. In her Travel Marketing Communication course, students developed a marketing campaign for Washington, DC’s Georgetown district, aimed at increasing their tourism trade. The class was formatted in a competition, with the winning team presenting their campaign to the Georgetown Business and Improvement District. As part of the Accelerated Masters of Tourism Administration (AMTA) program, Dr. Elliot taught online course, Environmental, Cultural and Social Impacts of Tourism. In addition, she served as faculty advisor/co-coordinator for undergraduate and graduate students participating in an internship or fieldwork experience (practicum), and is currently spearheading the AACSB, business school accreditation effort. Dr. Elliot is pursuing publication of a joint paper with Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti, that explores the resurgence of tourism to Cuba, and Cuba's long-term viability as a non-market economy in a competitive global and service-minded marketplace; and in May, Dr. Elliot will present a paper on Cuba and tourism at the 7th Annual Hawaii Business Conference. In addition, Dr. Elliot wrote a paper exploring the unfolding relationship between tourism and poverty reduction, which takes the form of a case study analysis of tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa, addressing whether or not tourism a legitimate poverty reduction strategy for countries to follow, given its inherent threats and opportunities, and whether development assistance agencies should support a tourism strategy. An active community member, Dr. Elliot continues to serve as the Governor-appointed "tourism expert" on the Maryland Heritage Area Authority. During the spring semester, she testified at three public hearings before the Maryland Public Service Commission on the impact of a proposed expansion of a coal burning plant on tourism and heritage assets in southern Maryland, leading a campaign that resulted in the National Park Service and the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium’s intervention in the case. Dr. Douglas C. Frechtling, Acting Department Chair and Professor of Tourism Studies In addition to teaching Tourism Research and Advanced Topical Studies during the spring semester, Dr. Frechtling addressed the Eighth Meeting of the World Tourism Organization’s Committee on Statistics and Macroeconomic Analysis of Tourism at the Instituto Nacional de Estatística in Lisbon, Portugal, on March 26-28, 2007. The meeting was called to further develop consensus on the theory and application of the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), a new approach to measuring the economic benefits of tourism on countries. Dr. Frechtling’s paper, “Developing Tourism Consumption Estimates through Visitor Expenditure Models”, argued that visitor expenditure models produce estimates of tourism consumption for the TSA superior to survey methods. On April 11, 2007, Dr. Frechtling attended the Board of Directors meeting of the Travel Industry Association in Little Rock, AR, where the chief topic centered on funding efforts to facilitate foreign visitor entry into the U.S. and to encourage these visitors to travel to the United States. He also met with the Board of Trustees of the Travel Industry Association Foundation to discuss ways of funding student scholarships and applied research. Dr. Donald E. Hawkins, Eisenhower Professor of Tourism Policy Dr. Hawkins has had a full and exciting year. In January, he presented Tourism, Millennium Development Goals and Development Assistance Policies as a guest lecturer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After which, he traveled to Australia where he was honored by the by the world’s largest think-tank, Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Center, as a Tourism Hospitality Education Center of Excellence Visiting Scholar for 2007. While in Australia and New Zealand, Dr. Hawkins delivered several presentations on how to use tourism as a tool for achieving Millennium Development Goals. His lectures included Building on a Sense of Place in the Global Travel Market, and Higher Education’s Role in Transferring Knowledge into Practice: Implications for Early Career Tourism Scholars. In March, Dr. Hawkins returned to Northern Mozambique to continue his role as principal investigator for the USAID tourism development program, where he co-authored several publications focusing on the sustainable development of the Cabo Delgado region. In April, Dr. Hawkins will attend the Travel and Tourism Research Association European Conference and present Stakeholders: the Forgotten Experts, emphasizing the importance of including local stakeholders in evaluating World Heritage Destinations. This work came about through continuing collaboration with the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) and a project conducted by George Washington University MTA students who surveyed local stakeholders of destinations rated by the CSD’s Destination Scorecard. This summer, Dr. Hawkins will lead the international consulting practicum of George Washington students in Istanbul, Turkey, which is a partnership with the GWU MTA program and the Turkish Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Bogaziçi University, and a number of local NGOs and private enterprises. Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti, Director of MTA Program and Associate Professor of Tourism and Sport Management In January, Dr. Delpy Neirotti moderated the Major League Baseball’s Scorecard: What Does the Future Hold? panel discussion, which was hosted by the The George Washington University School of Business and Advancement Office. The event featured several alumni, and afterwards three distinguished alumni were inducted into the inaugural class of the GW School of Business Sports Executive Hall of Fame. Dr. Delpy Neirotti also attended the annual Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME) Conference, which was organized by the GWU Sports Marketing Student Association under her advisory of Dr. Delpy Neirotti, and hosted by The George Washington University School of Business Sport Management program in late March. The conference is designed for aspiring students and young professionals who want to further their careers in the sports and events industry. During the spring semester, Dr. Delpy Neirotti taught two undergraduate courses, Sport and Event Marketing and Issues in Sport and Event Management, as well as the graduate course Sport and Event Facility Management. She invited several industry professionals to her classes, many of whom are GW alumni, to give students wider insight into the field by discussing “real world” application to the covered curriculum. Some of these speakers included Grady Raskin (BBA alum), Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships and Business; Brian Sereno (MTA alum), Assistant Director of Media Relations, Washington Wizards; Andrew Chalfant, Director Major Events, Ridgewells Catering; and Joe O’Neil (MTA alum), Ticket Sales Associate, Washington Capitals. Dr. Delpy Neirotti’s undergraduate Sports and Event Marketing class was also fortunate to participate in a press conference held at Union Station for Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather. Dr. Larry Yu, Associate Professor of Hospitality Management & Department Chair Dr. Yu has been on sabbatical for throughout the spring 2007 semester. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and has taken this opportunity to carry out research of the hospitality industry in Cambodia. The Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management’s faculty, staff and students are looking forward to Dr. Yu’s return to Washington, DC, and The George Washington University’s School of Business this May. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT GRADUATE ASSISTANT NEWS David Brown, MTA (December 2007) – Sustainable Destination Management
 David continued his work this spring with Dr. Neirotti on several exciting projects, including a sports site inventory of the Metropolitan DC Area and an economic impact survey of Motor Coach Tours. Additionally, he worked with Dr. Neirotti and Dr. Elliott to research and edit a case study on Cuban tourism, which is submitted for publication in Tourism Geographies. David has also been working with US Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) as a market research intern, where his work includes research on Canadian travel to the US, and a contribution to an upcoming Department of Commerce study on Western Hemisphere competitiveness entitled “Progress in the Americas.” Amanda Charles, MTA (May 2008) – Sustainable Destination Management  Amanda is finishing the second semester of her first year as a student in the MTA program, and working for Dr. Elliot as a Graduate Assistant. She hails from Dominica, the Nature Island and leading Eco-tourism destination in the Caribbean. She is pursuing studies in Sustainable Destination Management, and her focus is integrating cultural heritage and community involvement in tourism development initiatives in rural and developing communities. This summer, Amanda will intern with the Global Sustainable Tourism Alliance, a new USAID program that allows tourism destinations in developing countries to access funding and expertise to address development challenges, with particular emphasis on sustainable tourism development. Helen Davisson, MTA (May 2008) – Event and Meeting Management  Helen continued tourism and event-related journal research for Dr. Boo this spring. In the fall, she interned with Dave Edwards, Inc., and team-produced a successful fundraiser in support of micro-financing. She was also part of GW Tourism for Tomorrow’s 2006 DTHM Colloquium planning committee. In January, she became President of GW Tourism for Tomorrow, and liaised with the Tourism Alumni Network (TAN) to assist with the 2007 Spring Colloquium. As a student member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Helen was selected to attend the MPI-IMEX Future Leaders Forum and World Education Congress in Montreal this July, and she is also excited to intern with MacNair Travel Management in their Groups, Meetings & Incentives department this summer. Stephanie Smith, MTA (August 2007) – Individualized Studies  Stephanie spent the spring semester working closely with Laura Calder, Associate Director of the MTA program, to redesign the 2007 Fall Orientation program, which will be student-focused, interactive and entertaining. Stephanie has continued her internship in the Communications Department at Travel Industry Association (TIA), where she assisted in planning the TIA International Pow Wow (IPW), and which she also attended in Anaheim, California in April. Assisted by Dr. Yu and the Washington DC Chapter of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Stephanie will begin a Collegiate Chapter of HSMAI at GWU, of which she is a Student Liaison of the DC Chapter Board. Stephanie also traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for the Annual HSMAI Leadership Forum in March. Kathryn Warnes, MTA (December 2007) – Sustainable Destination Management  Kathryn has thoroughly enjoyed her first year at GWU, living in DC, and working for Dr. Hawkins as a Graduate Assistant. In fall, Kathryn stood on the GW Tourism for Tomorrow planning committee for the 2006 Colloquium, and in January she became the GW Tourism for Tomorrow Alumni Liaison. She is looking forward to participating in the consulting practicum trip in Istanbul this summer, followed by a trip to Crete. In Crete, she will continue independent research on gastronomic agro-tourism and learn first-hand from the outstanding Crete Culinary Sanctuary program. Kathryn feels that next year promises to be just as rewarding and will begin an internship with the National Park Service Heritage Education Services department. Patten Wood, MTA (December 2007) – Sustainable Destination Management  Patten has truly enjoyed his first year in the MTA program. As a Graduate Assistant for Dr. Frechtling, Patten’s favorite experience was compiling data for the 2006 31st Annual Marine Corps Marathon Economic and Characteristics of Visitors and Local Spectators Report. As an intern with the Travel Industry Association (TIA), Patten has enjoyed assisting in the creation of state travel economic impact reports. Over the summer, Patten will continue working for TIA and also hopes to visit Dominica, film site of Pirates of the Caribbean, in search of Kiera Knightly. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT GRADUATES The Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management would like to congratulate and send our best wishes to all Spring and Summer 2007 Master of Tourism Administration graduates:
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT GROUPS GW Tourism for Tomorrow Student Organization
The GW Tourism for Tomorrow (GW TFT) graduate student organization aims to facilitate interaction between students, alumni and faculty associated with the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management (DTHM) by creating opportunities for these various groups to come together both socially and professionally.  GW TFT is committed to being a vibrant resource for current students, alumni and faculty of DTHM, and aims to capitalize on the strengths and resources of the Department; provide a social outlet for and encourage professional development among current students of the Department; promote responsible tourism practices within the Department, and to the GWU campus and community; and provide a forum for students interested in sustainable tourism practices regardless of their degree program. GW TFT is a graduate student organization, however, membership in GW Tourism for Tomorrow is open to all currently registered GWU students who are interested in sustainable destination management, event management, sport management, hospitality management or sustainable tourism practices.  In the fall semester, GW TFT organized and hosted the DTHM 2006 Fall Colloquium “How Green is Green?” bringing together an esteemed panel of speakers: Bob Billington, President of Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Inc.; Steve Samson, Vice President of Rooms Operations, Marriott International; Michelle White; Corporate Manager of Environmental Affairs, Fairmont Hotel; and Tony Robinson of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission. In the spring semester, several social gatherings were held, including a GW TFT and GW Tourism Alumni Network happy hour for faculty, alumni and current students. In addition, GW TFT partnered with Professors Ginger Smith and Juan Luna-Kelser’s TSTD 262 Tourism Policy Class in welcoming Caroline Beteta, California State Tourism Director and Chair of the Western States Tourism Policy Council, and Vice Chair of TIA. Plans for the Fall 2007 semester include an orientation kick-off party, several social events, organizing the Fall 2007 Colloquium, implementing a mentorship program with GW TAN, and a field series for event students. For more information and to become a member of GW Tourism for Tomorrow, contact Helen Davisson, President, davisson@gwu.edu. GW Tourism for Tomorrow 2006 – 2007 Officers: President, Helen Davisson Vice President, Danielle Rosenzweig Financial Officer, Bryan Grackin GW TAN Liaison, Kathryn Warnes Social Events Manager, Maria Kovar Professional Development Manager, Erika Herfert GW Sports Marketing Student Association The GWU Sports Marketing Association (GWU SMA) is a student organization providing students with a forum for professional development, networking and social interaction within the Sport Industry. The purposes of this organization are to: promote and provide social opportunities for the purpose of networking among students, professors, alumni, and professionals; provide opportunities to develop professional contacts through seminars, discussions and social gatherings; and to conduct both athletic and social events for the purpose of experience and fundraising. On April 19th, the GWU SMA and the Sports Law class held a panel discussion in conjunction with the DC Bar on Sports Arbitration with Roger Kaplan, former NBA Arbitrator, Richard Bloch, MLB and NFL Arbitrator, and Jack Friedenthal, NCAA Arbitrator and GW law professor. In addition, GWU SMA organized the Sports Events Marketing Experience (SEME) Conference, hosted by The George Washington University School of Business Sport Management program in late March. The conference is brought together hundreds of industry professionals, faculty and students involved in the sports and events industry. GWU Sports Marketing Association 2006 – 2007 Officers: President, Cameron Ungar, cungar@gwu.edu Senior Vice President, Matt Budnick VP Events, Danielle Rosenzweig VP Public Relations, Gina Ekmekjian VP Communications, Mahogany Woodland VP Finance, Ansley Brett GW Tourism Alumni Network (GW TAN) The GW Tourism Alumni Network (GW TAN) consists of on-campus and remote program alumni of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and alumni of the International Institute for Tourism Studies (IITS), including its professional certificate programs. The Network was formed in 2006, and has since hosted two Spring Colloquiums in conjunction with the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and one Alumni Happy Hour in conjunction with the GW Tourism for Tomorrow student organization. In 2007, GW TAN will launch a website devoted to its mission of connecting alumni and students globally. This website will announce upcoming events, allow alumni and students to contact each other, and provide information about the organization and its Board of Directors. Communication with our alumni and relationships among the Department and the School of Business are instrumental to the continued growth and progress of the Department and its programs, and GW TAN strives to:
The GW TAN Board of Directors is comprised of the following voting members: Association President, Association President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Association Treasurer, Association Secretary, and Vice Presidents of Programs & Awards, Membership & Marketing, Student-Alumni Initiatives, and Sponsorship. Any alumni from GWU’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management program or the International Institute for Tourism Studies (IITS) are eligible for election and appointment to the Board of Directors. Candidates are currently being sought for Board positions or committee member volunteers. For more information about GW TAN, or to volunteer to be part of this exciting group, please contact Linda Robson, President-Elect, at robsonlinda@hotmail.com. |
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