News and Events

Issue 1, February 2006

1. Alumni Association

   The Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management is currently searching for MTA and AMTA alumni. An alumni association, under the leadership of Robert Miller, '01, with executive committee coordination from Mary Dobson (formerly Wyndham), '99 and Josh O'Driscoll, '05; has been developed. Resources and programming are in the works for Spring 2006. If you are interested in becoming involved, please email robert@traveladvocates.com.

   [Back]

2. Calling All Alumni - Where are you?!

   We would like to encourage our program's alumni to visit https://my.gwu.edu/login/alumni.cfm to register as alumni and to update current contact information by completing the "online registration form." As a registered alumnus, you will have access to the alumni directory to find former classmates and professors.

   [Back]

3. December Graduation Luncheon

   MTA alumnus Lisa A. Kidder delivered the keynote address for the December Graduation Luncheon. Ms. Kidder is the Convention Sales Manager for the Midwest/West Associations for the Washington, D.C. Convention & Tourism Corporation (WCTC). In the hospitality industry, Kidder has many noted achievements, including her most recent accomplishment, being named CVB convention sales representative to the World Travel & Tourism Council for the 2006 Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Washington, D.C. The Summit will unite the CEOs and Chairmen of the world's foremost Travel & Tourism businesses, Cabinet Ministers, senior government officials and influential journalists from around the globe. "It will encourage interactive debate and dialogue among industry leaders and those who can shape the future of Travel & Tourism."

   [Back]

4. Save the Date - Alumni Gathering Spring 2006

   The Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management has planned the spring colloquium to feature MTA & AMTA alumni, with words of wisdom shared in a panel discussion with current students. The event will be held the evening of Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at GW from 6-8pm. Location will be announced shortly.

   [Back]

5. "An Evening with Randy Smith" Fall Colloquium 2005

   On November 10th the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management hosted Randy Smith, CEO and Founder of Smith Travel Research (STR), which produces monthly reports (STAR Reports) on the hotel industry. Mr. Smith's presentation to students, faculty, and industry professionals was entitled "Hospitality Industry Changes and Challenges: How the Last Twenty Years will Shape our Future." This was part of the Colloquium series hosted by the department.
   
   The Colloquium series was established nearly 30 years ago as a way to bring students, faculty and members of the tourism industry together to discuss a timely topic, as decided by the faculty. "We try to identify topics of current interest to students and tourism managers and invite speakers to address them. From time to time we recognize a tourism leader with a special award, as we are doing this year with Randy Smith," explains Dr. Douglas Frechtling. The department's Meritorious Service Award is occasionally awarded for recognition of achievements and contributions to industry leaders, as well as faculty in the department.
   
   Past topics have included space tourism, extra-terrestrial tourism, crisis management , green tourism, tourism forecast, sport and meeting/event futures, the top ten issues facing tourism development across the world, tourism development in Latin America , the outlook for tourism, sport and event careers, and media coverage of tourism.

   [Back]

6. If You Build It, Will They Come?

Sketch of Embassy Suites-Convention Center

Last year, the hotel industry in Washington D.C. had its best performance since 2000, with annual occupancy of 72 percent and average daily rate of $132. With 102 properties in the downtown area, developers are on the hunt for empty lots or are investing heavily into existing properties to add visibility to their companies and appeal to travelers of all classes. The Hilton Hotels Corporation is the most visible with 2 new properties opening this year: Hampton Inn-Convention Center, at 6th St. and Massachusetts Ave., and Embassy Suites-Convention Center, at 10th and K Streets. In addition, the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown completed a $22 million renovation to compete with the newer luxury brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental hotels. The Park Hyatt, at 24th and M Streets, is expected to be renovated this year. . Local luxury hotel managers realize the competitiveness of this market and strive to attract tourists with superb services and top-of-the-line amenities, such as fully staffed spa and fitness centers, flat screen televisions in every room, and high quality in-house dining. David Del Russo, general manager of the Embassy Suites-Convention Center comments that, "In the downtown market there are many upscale hotels, but the thing that sets any hotel apart is the service." Hotel managers in every competitive market note the importance of employee training as a means to instill a sense of company pride and responsibility since hotel staff is the primary service providers that keep guests happy for future revisit and word of mouth referral.

 

Construction of Mandarin Oriental Hotel-Washington, D.C.

Completed Mandarin Oriental Hotel-Washington, D.C.

[Back]

7. Tourism for Tomorrow

Students of the GW Department of Tourism Masters program established Tourism for Tomorrow (T4T) in March 2004. The group is a student run organization, established to promote global and sustainable tourism by positioning the GW Department of Tourism as an epicenter of tourism research and education, while maintaining a worldwide network of students, alumni and industry professionals. The organization is open to all but predominately consists of Master of Tourism Administration Students from the School of Business.

The objectives of the group are:

The objectives of the group are:

• Provide a forum for students interested in the tourism field to network with each other as well as professors from Tourism and other departments, alumni and tourism professionals
• Promote responsible tourism practices to the GWU campus and community through outreach and education
• Link students with alumni and other industry professionals for class projects, internships and jobs
  
  Since the launch of the organization, T4T has hosted roundtables and discussions with industry professionals, provided outreach and education to the GW student body and organized social outings to local sites, such as the National Zoo and a guided 'Haunted Halloween' walk around DC. T4T hopes to continue to offer and expand programs to students involved and interested in the tourism field as well as alumni and regional professionals. We would like to invite alumni to join in with some of these events, to meet present students and maybe impart some of your knowledge on them.
  
  If you would like more information please contact Simon Jones (President, T4T) at ljordan@gwu.edu.

[Back]

8. Faculty Research and Honors

Donald Hawkins, the Eisenhower Professor of Tourism Policy, received the first World Tourism Organization (WTO) Ulysses Prize for individual accomplishments in the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the area of tourism policy and strategic management in 2003. He coordinated the WTO Tourism Policy Forum focused on using tourism as a development assistance strategy for LDCs, conducted at GW, October 18-20, 2004. He received the WTO Themis Foundation Science Fellow Award, in April, 2005. Congratulations!

[Back]

9. MTA and AMTA Student Awards and Scholarships 2005-2006
   
   TIA Foundation Continuing Graduate Student Scholarships

   Three MTA students from GWU were awarded the TIA Foundation Scholarship to a Continuing Graduate Student, worth $4,000. A formal presentation of the awards was held during TIA's Marketing Outlook Forum, October 26-28 in Seattle, Washington. Congratulations Brian Beall, Daniel Chang and Amy Shapiro!

Brian Beall
Brian Beall is combining his interest in international relations and tourism development to pursue a career in international tourism development. He is enrolled in the Master of Tourism Administration program at The George Washington University, where he maintains a 3.9 grade point average. He spent the summer of 2005 in Panama City, Panama as part of a university delegation tasked to develop a master tourism plan for Soberania National Park in Panama. Brian is part of the Outstanding Scholar Program for the Federal Trade Commission and in 2001 he worked at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France as a U.S. Department of State Intern.

Daniel Chang
After earning an undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College, Daniel Chang is now enrolled in the Master of Tourism Administration program at The George Washington University where he maintains a 4.0 grade point average with a concentration in Sustainable Destination Management. Daniel has gained valuable experience as a research assistant for the National Geographic Society, managing the research for the "Destinations Scorecard Survey" in National Geographic's Traveler magazine. He aspires to one day create a travel publication dedicated to sustainability issues in travel and tourism. "I hope to combine my knowledge of journalism, photography, and publications with my training and experience in sustainable destination management," Daniel says.

Amy Shapiro
An athlete her entire life, Amy Shapiro is fusing her interests in tourism and sports by promoting the growth of travel and tourism through sport and recreation. "As I continue with my career in sports, I would like to apply the tools that I have learned through my studies in tourism to make people feel welcome and walk away from a sporting game or event with memories that will be with them forever," she says. Amy is seeking a Master's degree in Tourism Administration with a concentration in Sports Management at The George Washington University, where she earns a 4.0 grade point average.

AMTA Student Receives $7,000 Scholarship from MPI
Marlene Blas (AMTA Cohort 16, Event & Meeting Management student) was awarded the Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Women's Leadership Initiative scholarship for $7,000. Great work Marlene!

[Back]

Academic Recognition

1. Reflections on Study Abroad in Panama

A group of 17 GWU students went to Panama last June to assist the Panamanian Environment Ministry (ANAM) for the identification of sustainable tourism opportunities of Soberania National Park.

The Consulting Practicum is a component of the WTO TedQual Volunteers program which attempts to give an expertise to developing countries on their tourism development projects. For the year 2005, George Washington University students conducted an assessment of the Soberania National Park in Panama. The GWU consulting team conducted a rapid assessment and a market analysis of the sustainable tourism potential of Soberania National Park (SNP) and its surroundings area. The Soberania National Park has a surface of 22,000 hectares of tropical forest and is part of the Panama Canal watershed. It is located close to Panama City, only 20 minutes by car, and it is renowned worldwide for its bird diversity.

As a result of the assessment and market analysis, the consulting team believes that the SNP has the potential to become a world-class tourism destination and recommended implementation of specific actions towards marketing, park and visitation management techniques, and small business development in the surroundings area. In fact, it is believed that a park trail network development as well as an effective park management enhanced by an effective website and promotional event can increase frequency of visits to Soberania National Park.

For more information about the findings, go to:
http://www.gwu.edu/~dmp/283/Final Report-Full.pdf

Similar study experiences abroad were proposed by GWU in previous years; Morocco (2004), Honduras (2003), and Dominica (2002). The 2006 Summer Study Abroad Program is offered in Montenegro (South Eastern Europe) and students will focus their expertise on the Durmitor World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.

[Back]

2. Study abroad in Torino and Montenegro

Professor Lisa Delpy Neirotti, along with 50 GW students traveled to Turin, Italy for the 2006 Winter Olympics. Behind the Scenes at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, was offered to all MTA, AMTA, MBA and BBA students. Due to an overwhelming interest in the course this year, Dr. Delpy Neirotti allowed two separate sessions to go to Turin. While in Italy, students met with a variety of people involved with the Olympic Games, i.e. event and political officials, administrators, employees, volunteers, local scholars, sponsors, architects and planners. Students ha the opportunity to tour Olympic facilities and events. They studied the marketing objectives and strategies of Olympic sponsors and learned the importance of marketing research in mega-events. There was also time for personal observations, spectator interviews (research), and attending social functions per invitation of event organizers, sponsors, or the local community. Keep an eye out for our next issue, where we will give you a behind the scenes look at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

The MTA program is offering 2006 Summer Study Abroad Program focused on the Durmitor World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve in Montenegro ( South Eastern Europe). TSTD 282:80 International Experience will focus on conducting a rapid assessment field studies in Montenegro on the sustainable tourism potential of Durmitor World Heritage Site/Biosphere Reserve and surrounding communities with a team of University of Montenegro students. The support for accommodation, meals, research facilities, transportation and additional requirements will be coordinated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and funding will be provided from the Ministry of Tourism, Montenegro. Students would arrive in Montenegro on June 11 and leave on June 24.

 

3. Master of Tourism Administration (MTA) Highlights

MTA Welcomes Dr. Andrea Luoma to Washington
The Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management welcomes Dr. Andrea Luoma as a visiting professor teaching in the Event & Meeting Management concentration for the 2005-06 academic year.

Dr. Luoma, received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and a masters degree in Organizational Communication with a focus on management training and development from Washington State University (WSU), while her undergraduate double major was in international relations and political science, with emphasis on Japan and Foreign Affairs. Her research focuses on the areas of meeting and event management, leadership, cross-cultural and human resource management.

Andrea's hospitality and tourism academic experience has been gained in large public, small private, community college, and international settings. She taught a summer term in Nairobi , Kenya , at United States International University in 2005. Andrea spent the past three years at Alliant International University in San Diego , California, where she directed and taught in a small hospitality and tourism program. In San Diego she also adjunct taught for San Diego State University and Mesa Community College . She also consults at Mesa College where she is working on revising and updating their disciplines in hospitality management, destination and event management, hotel management, and culinary arts/culinary management. Andrea has had two teaching experiences in Sydney , Australia at the International College of Hotel & Tourism Management, recently renamed the International College of Management Sydney.

Primary teaching areas include: meeting and event management, hospitality and tourism management, cross-cultural management, leadership, ethics, human resource management, organizational behavior and dynamics, and career preparation at both the internship and placement levels.

Meet the 2005-2006 Graduate Assistants

Back row: Chrystel Cancel, Ashley Cummings, Krista McConnaughey
Front row: Megan Reynold, Carly Glennon, Mitch Biersner

This year we have a group of diverse and interesting students assisting the faculty. The Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management is proud to introduce:

Dr. Yu's Graduate Assistant, Megan Reynold, is from Columbia, Maryland. She has a BA in Political Science from Elon University in North Carolina. This is Megan's first year in the MTA Program and her concentration is Event and Meeting Management. Her career goals include working for a hotel or resort as the representative in charge of coordinating large events and conferences. She is interested in keeping conference rooms booked to capacity and organizing memorable and efficient events.

Dr. Luoma's graduate assistant, Krista McConnaughey is from Olean, NY, She received her BS in International Studies (with minors in Business Administration and Latino Studies) from SUNY Fredonia in 2004. After planning many events while an undergrad and planning weddings in her hometown while managing a bridal shop, Krista started the MTA program in the fall of 2005, and her concentration is Event and Meeting Management. Her career goals include working for a large sports/concert arena, coordinating concerts, conventions, and the like. Eventually, Krista is also interested in opening an upscale bridal shop that also offers wedding planning services.

Dr. Hawkins' graduate student, Chrystel Cancel is from France, and she is currently working on her third Masters degree in Tourism Administration (she currently holds Masters in Political Science and International Business). She is in the sustainable destination management concentration tract. After her first graduate studies, Chrystel lived in Latin America for three years, mainly in Panama. Her future plan is to work as a consultant for International Organizations or consulting companies and help developing countries to achieve tourism development in a sustainable way.

Dr. Frechtling's graduate assistant, Ashley Cummings, is from St. Louis, MO, and received her BS in Nutrition and Hospitality Management (with a minor in Chemistry) from Alabama A&M University. Ashley is a first-year student in the MTA program, and is working on an Individualized Studies tract, focusing on International Hotel Management.

Dr. Elliot's graduate assistant, Mitch Biersner is from Dike, Iowa, and received his BA in American Studies (with minors in English and Film Studies) from The George Washington University in 2005. Mitch is a first year student in the MTA program, and is working on an Individualized Studies tract, focusing on Cultural Heritage Tourism. His future goals are to travel and work in destinations across the world.

Dr. Delpy Neirotti's graduate assistant, Carlene "Carly" Glennon, is from Arlington, VA, and graduated from the University of Florida in 2004, with a B.S. Telecommunications - Operations (with concentrations in Business Administration and Psychology). She is a first year MTA student, concentrating in Sport Management. Carly hopes to use both her Telecommunications and Sport Management degrees/experience to work for ESPN or the PR (Media) or Marketing Dept. of a professional basketball/football team.

[Back]

4. Accelerated Master of Tourism Administration (AMTA) Highlights
   http://www.gwutourism.org/amta

AMTA Reunion

Two creative and motivated students Marlene Blas and Sarah Hamilton (both AMTA Cohort 16, Event & Meeting Management students) planned a reception for AMTA students, alumni and faculty on October 28th at Karma on 19th and I (Eye) NW. In true AMTA style, this was all planned from a distance. Marlene is in San Diego and Sarah is in Boston. They kept things in the "family" - Karma is owned by Ellie Djavadkhani, an Event Management Professional Certificate student.

[Back]

5. International Institute of Tourism Studies (IITS) Highlights
   http://www.gwutourism.org/iits

IITS Announces MTA Alumnus New Director, Kristin Lamoureux
International Institute of Tourism Studies is thrilled to announce MTA alumnus, New Director, Kristin Lamoureux.

In June 2005, the DTHM faculty nominated Kristin to take over the position of IITS director. In that role, Kristin oversees our Professional Education Programs including the very popular Event Management Certificate Program and the Tourism Destination Management Certificate Program. Additionally, she manages the research and technical assistance arm of IITS. This allows IITS to seek donor and foundation funding to for tourism development worldwide. This year, IITS received a contract from USAID with Nathan Associates to develop sustainable tourism in Mozambique. IITS also conducts customized professional education programs including recent training programs in Jordan and Brazil.

In addition to being the new IITS Director, Kristin also serves as a DTHM as an adjunct faculty member specializing in the sustainable tourism, planning and development of tourism. Currently, her duties include the oversight of all IITS activities including the IITS Professional Education Program and the administration of all IITS grants/contracts such as the Montenegro Rural Tourism Project, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Interactive Guide project with the US National Park Service. Additionally, she is involved in several projects focusing on the development of tourism competitive clusters as a means for economic development in various destinations.

Ms. Lamoureux has been involved in tourism projects within the United States as well abroad beginning with Ecuador where she lived for several years. Additionally, she has worked in tourism development in Bulgaria , Morocco , Israel , Jordan , Jamaica , Dominica and Honduras.

Ms. Lamoureux has an A.S. from La Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, a B.S. from Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island and a M.T.A.from The George Washington University in Washington , DC . She is presently completing a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a focus on Strategic Management and Tourism Development at GW.

Research Assistants for the International Institute of Tourism Studies

The research assistants are remarkable students from all over the world. We would like to acknowledge these capable students for all of their efforts and successes within the department:

Rodrigo Soares is responsible for a joined program of IITS and the Citizens Development Corps focusing on internship and career opportunities for students through Tourism Development Corps programs.

Simon Jones works on two main projects at IITS. One of his two major projects is developing a tourism strategy for The Conservation Fund, which is a national environmental non-profit organization interested in expanding the use of tourism as a sustainable economic development tool. The second major project that Simon works on is development of a monitoring and evaluation system for National Geographic' Center for Sustainable Destinations. The Center provides a suite of services, including the innovative 'Geo-Mapguide' tool, to communities around the world.

Milena Nikolova is a distance learning coordinator for the Tourism Destination Management Certificate Program. She provides assistance and support to distance learning students; helps expand and enrich resources in Tourism Destination Management certificate courses. She is also responsible for the technical development and maintenance of online courses, and provides administrative assistance for customized training programs.

[Back]

6. Alumni Highlights

Robert Miller, '01. Founder, Travel Advocates, Inc. is looking for new clients to service. Are you responsible for booking a group block of hotel rooms (usually five or more) or someone who plans meetings that require hotel rooms. Who better to turn to for help than your friends and alumni colleagues?! Travel Advocates is a no cost service, that shops for the hotels so you don't have to. The best rates at the best hotels are negotiated, in a very expedient time period; usually within 24 - 48 hours from time of request. All major hotel chains worldwide are represented. If you know any meeting planners, training managers, tour operators, or anyone else who buys hotel rooms, have them give Travel Advocates, Inc. contact Rob at robert@traveladvocates.com.

If you know of an alumni highlight to share, please let us know so we can include it in our next newsletter.

[Back]