Environmental Management Within the Tourism Industry
Lead Research Organisation:
Leeds Beckett University
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Rhodri Thomas (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Thomas R
(2012)
Business elites, universities and knowledge transfer in tourism
in Tourism Management
Thomas R
(2013)
Research and scholarship with impact: a British perspective
in Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes
| Description | A) The project provided an insight into the potential value of university research for business practice to several business elites working in tourism (those in very senior positions within large corporations). A positive disposition towards universities among business elites has a potentially high impact because not only do they control significant organisational resources but are also opinion formers across the sector. B) The research capacity and capability of universities was promoted to the tourism sector via the newsletter and web sites of the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) and the trade press. Anecdotal evidence suggests that requests for business-university collaboration has increased. C) The Board of the ITT decided to extend their connection with academics by investing in and supporting an application for Follow-on Funding with the ESRC (an application that was successful). This reflects an important shift in attitude from leaders of a sector that has traditionally had very little contact with research or researchers from higher education institutions. D) My personal links with business elites have been strengthened considerably. This has resulted in discussions about further collaboration (in part reflected in the new Follow-on Project). E) The four academic colleagues who made presentations at a round-table event have also been given an opportunity to engage with business actors that are notoriously difficult to reach. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings will be taken forward in three ways: 1. A follow-on project. This has been delivered successfully. See ES/I01585X/1 2. I am currently planning a research project that will examine how business elites narrate their work and involvement with universities. 3. I am preparing an application for funding for a seminar series that will bring together senior executives and academics with an interest in engagement and impact. |
| Sectors | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| URL | http://www.esrc.ac.uk/my-esrc/grants/RES-186-27-0015/outputs/Read/bdf99603-2139-4ada-a178-7ec26d8f868b |
| Description | The main effect of the project was to encourage the Board of the ITT decided to extend their connection with academics by investing in and supporting an application for Follow-on Funding with the ESRC (an application that was successful). This reflects an important shift in attitude from leaders of a sector that has traditionally had very little contact with research or researchers from higher education institutions. The impact of the Follow-on funding is reported separately. In addition, Leeds Metropolitan University/ Leeds Beckett University developed a joint undergraduate and postgraduate distance learning programme that was informed by both constituencies. Those programmes have started recruiting. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |
| 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 |