INAUGURATION OF ITT CHAIR

Professor Rhodri Thomas of Leeds Metropolitan University was appointed to the new ITT University Chair at the beginning of 2007. ITT is the first travel association to appoint an academic chair to provide industry-specific research.

Professor Thomas is “delighted to have been appointed as the new ITT Chair. The prospect of undertaking and sharing research that will help shape professional practice is very exciting. I’m sure that the findings of my work will sometimes challenge conventional wisdom and not everyone will agree with my interpretation. However, by contributing to a greater understanding of some of the key issues facing the industry and the people that work in it, I am hoping to strengthen the contribution that ITT is making to the travel and tourism industry in the UK. The vision and leadership that ITT is providing by forging closer links between universities and industry must be good for the industry’s competitiveness and will surely be a model that others will follow.”

BIOGRAPHY:

Professor Rhodri Thomas

ITT Chair in Tourism and Events Policy

UK Centre for Events Management

Leeds Metropolitan University

Rhodri is a career academic who seeks to understand and influence policy and practice. Initially trained as an economist, he now takes a broader perspective on the various issues he examines. To a large extent, this involves undertaking research, reflecting on the policy implications of the findings and utilising effective ways of communicating the outcomes of that process. He is the co-author or editor of six books and numerous articles. He makes presentations regularly at national and international events, and sits on the Editorial Boards of four international journals. His expertise has been utilised by a variety of agencies, including the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), People 1st and the Heritage Lottery Fund. He has also acted as ‘Specialist Expert’ on tourism SMEs for the European Commission. In addition to his academic work, he is involved directly in strategic tourism and major events policy-making within Yorkshire, as Non-Executive Director of Yorkshire Tourist Board.