Engaging business elites from the travel and tourism sector
Lead Research Organisation:
Leeds Beckett University
Department Name: Carnegie Faculty
Abstract
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People |
ORCID iD |
| Rhodri Thomas (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Thomas R
(2013)
Research and scholarship with impact: a British perspective
in Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes
Thomas R
(2012)
Business elites, universities and knowledge transfer in tourism
in Tourism Management
| Description | The objectives of this Follow-on project were to: 1.develop better understanding among business elites of the potential for knowledge exchange with universities 2.improve academics' understanding of knowledge acquisition among business elites so that they might engage users more effectively 3.examine the feasibility of developing a jointly delivered (private sector and universities) executive programme, possibly at masters or doctoral level, which would harness the tacit knowledge of business elites as well as the formal research informed knowledge created by academic 4.develop a knowledge exchange strategy for the Institute of Travel and Tourism (2012-2017) 5.produce promotional material highlighting the lessons arising from this project which will be launched at the ITT's annual international conference, June 2011. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings represent a model for engaging with this and potentially other sectors. I have already started to develop similar project with the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) to good effect and I am aware that colleagues elsewhere are adopting this model of engagement. |
| Sectors | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| URL | http://www.esrc.ac.uk/my-esrc/grants/RES-189-25-0205/outputs/Read/1a4025f7-1d91-4004-b05d-116ddc2d21c1 |
| Description | Perhaps the most tangible impact of this project is on the Chair of the ITT and some other Board members. As an email sent to me at the end of the project states: 'This project has really helped move us on. The combination of events and reports to the Board have certainly transformed how I think universities and businesses might work together. I know several others within the Institute and the sector more generally share my view. I hope we can continue to build the relationships that have been started so effectively by you' (Steven Freudmann). The project received significant media attention. The Travel Trade Gazette - one of the two leading trade publications - featured the project several times. ITT newsletters also ran features on the project throughout the year and the ITT web site still contains details. It is difficult to quantify the impact of media exposure but the very positive associations reported to have developed between senior industry figures and the research of academics should precipitate a reassessment of relations between practitioners and academics in some quarters. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Board membership of professional association |
| Organisation | Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I now sit on the Board of ABPCO and am responsible for one of their five 'pillars', namely to make connections between academic research/ researchers and practitioners. In this role, I have created a new membership category (for universities) and a package of activities and offers. Small seed-corn grants have been made available to pump prime research and we have established a programme of round-table events where academics present their work to interested practitioners. I will lead one of these sessions on research I have undertaken (with Dr Emma Wood) on innovation. Six universities have joined the partnership already. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have provided seed-corn funding for projects and hosted an event at the Barbican in London where academics explored projects of potential interest to association members. Board members have also given their time to discuss how connections between academic research and practitioners might best be achieved. |
| Impact | There are no academic outputs arising from this collaboration but it is informing the development of a book proposal |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Development of new masters in travel and tourism manangement |
| Organisation | Institute of Travel and Tourism |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | In addition to the items reported already, the project has also contributed significantly to starting a collaboration with the Intitute of Travel and Tourism (the hosts for this Fellowship) for a major on-line masters programme developed in conjunction with the ITT. We expect to launch the programme at the Institute's annual international conference (Abu Dhabi) in 2013. |
| Description | Working with Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In addition to becoming a full Board member, I was invited to share my research on the professionalization of the events sector at the 'Chairman's lunch' (sic). Following my presentation, the association is reviewing its strategy to professionalise the sector, including a much closer articulation with universities (reflected in the introduction of a new membership category) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbtZH9dAa1k |