Introduction
The Symposium is based on the notion that collaboration between tourism, hospitality and other service industry providers is key for sustainable regional development and destination management. Shifting demographics, social trends and climate change are subjecting the hospitality sector to unprecedented levels of skills shortages, infrastructure demands and increased and more sophisticated customer expectations. Regional firms must collaborate into the future with government, industry partners, peak associations and engage with regional communities if they are to succeed; this is particularly the case for small and remote service firms. The ‘Cross Collaboration in Hospitality and Related Services: Synergies and Future Possibilities, 2007’ Symposium, uses a broad services theme in creating a forum for sharing alternative perspectives and provides:
- Complimentary views of the tourism and hospitality industry to establish its position within a larger regional service sector;
- A shared understanding of the linkages and synergies between tourism and hospitality firms and other service organisations;
- Expert sector knowledge of challenges and opportunities; and
- Insights into how service firms may network effectively to achieve and sustain success.
Format
The Symposium is designed for practitioners, professionals and researchers. Plenary sessions and panel discussions feature keynote speakers drawn from the private and public sectors representing peak global and regional industry associations, education and businesses. There are also themed sessions where research papers will be presented by a number of speakers. Delegates will therefore have immediate access to expert advice, commentary and cutting edge research findings. Invited keynote and sessional speakers include:
- Campbell Charlton – Managing Director of Kleinhardt Pty Ltd, Cairns
- Mark Evans – Owner, Paronella Park, Mena Creek, Cairns
- Don and Judy Freeman – Company Directors, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Cairns
- Rob Giason – Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Tropical North Queensland
- Professor Leo Jago – Deputy CEO and Director of Research, Sustainable Tourism CRC, Victoria University
- Andrew McEwen – Manager Economic Development, City of Thuringowa
- Gabriel Orti – Management Lecturer, Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE
- Professor Philip Pearce – Foundation Professor of Tourism, James Cook University
- Mary Sutton – Tourism Traineeship Manager, Tropical North QLD Institute TAFE
- Ron de Wit – Senior Partner, Cushman and Wakefield (formerly Atrium Hospitality Services)
- Charles Woodward – Managing Director, CAPTA Group, Cairns
Cushman and Wakefield Workshop
Market demand and profit improvement programs, valuation and corporate advisory services. Cushman and Wakefield are specialists in areas including market demand, feasibility studies and associated corporate advisory services
Themed research presentations
The Centre for Tropical Tourism and Hospitality invites proposals for papers in the following areas:
- Starting and sustaining your business – topics could include:
- sustainable government strategies targeting services, tourism and hospitality;
- existing and future practice at corporate and organisational level;
- carbon trading options and new opportunities for development of sustainable operations;
- feasibility, strategic and operational planning and marketing of small tourism and hospitality business startups including restaurants, tours and excursions, accommodation, indigenous enterprises, heritage sites, destination branding.
- Emerging markets - topics could include:
- new and emerging international and domestic demand patterns with a focus on key enablers such as low cost air travel;
- ‘grey nomads’ and baby boomers with increasing disposable income.
- Labour markets - topics could include:
- skills shortages, demographic changes, volunteer workers, associated government responses and strategies for addressing these issues
Who should attend?
Organisations and individuals with an interest in the services, leisure, tourism and hospitality sectors and how they may effectively network for the sustainable economic and environmental development of the state and region including:
- Industry practitioners and professionals
- Entrepreneurs and small business owners/managers
- Government departments involved in associated strategies, small business development, indigenous entrepreneurship
- Regional and state tourist commissions and agencies
- Consultancy firms
- Researchers and educators
Outcomes
All papers for the Symposium will be refereed by a panel of international academics and will appear as proceedings. Subsequently they will by published by the Centre for Tropical Tourism and Hospitality, James Cook University. Selected authors will be invited to contribute to a special edition of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Refereed symposium manuscripts
Contributions should be approximately 3,500 – 4,500 words and will be double-blind reviewed by leading academics in the general field. Papers should be submitted by July 20th 2007. Editorial feedback will be provided by August 17th 2007, with final submissions in by September 21st 2007.
Please submit abstracts to:
Dr Darren Lee-Ross
Symposium Convenor
Centre for Tropical Tourism and Hospitality
James Cook University
Email: Darren.leeross@jcu.edu.au
Symposium Venue
The Symposium is hosted by the Shangri-La hotel,
The Marina, Cairns.
