Published on 22 July 2018
Academics from the University of Sunderland have been leading the way in tourism and events research after organising an international conference.
Described as “the most significant research event” of its type, The Tourism, Hospitality & Events INternational Conference – THE INC – was organised in partnership with the University of Derby and the Centre for Research in Tourism Excellence (CERTE).
The event, held in June this year, welcomed representatives from 26 different countries across the five continents, with presentations made to more than 120 attendees.
In addition, three keynote sessions were presented by Professor Alan Clarke from the University of Pannonia in Hungary; Professor Elena Cavagnaro, from Stenden University in the Netherlands; and Professor Nigel Morgan from the University of Swansea.
Dr Nikolaos Pappas, Reader in Tourism, Hospitality and Events, and Director of CERTE at the University of Sunderland, said: “The diverse perspectives and research from different scientific fields and disciplines is important in understanding the changing dynamics of tourism, hospitality and events.
“THE INC aims to become a beacon of research knowledge dissemination.”
Organisers say THE INC 2018 has set the research output bar very high, hosting three highly esteemed (ABS 2*) journals (Event Management; Hospitality & Society; Service Industries Journal); generating special issues in two of those journals (EM; H&S) expected to be published in mid-end 2019; having as exhibitors three of the largest publishers in the world (CAB International; Goodfellow Publishers; Routledge); and launching a new scientific journal (International Journal of Spa & Wellness) with Taylor & Francis.
The conference was held at the University of Derby.
Dr Pappas added: “THE INC will be held in a biennial basis. The next conference will be organised in spring 2020 at Stenden University in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands.”