Sunday, April 01, 2007
Connecting with Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism
Ellsworth here to report that HEC is only 11 days away! There is still plenty of time for volunteers to sign up to help at particular events. To view available time slots, please visit Hotel Ezra Cornell on Blackboard and click the “Volunteer” button on the left module. To sign up for a shift, please e-mail Justin Sun at js389@cornell.edu.
As for now, I wish to disclose a preview of an upcoming HEC event. This week I had the pleasure of meeting with Professor Kwortnik and Mr. Ethan Hawkes ‘07 to discuss their case study, Connecting with Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism. Professor Kwortnik and Mr. Hawkes will discuss their case study at HEC 82 on Friday, April 12th between the hour of 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM.
Ethan began his research as a Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar (R-CPRS), a formal program that funds undergraduate Cornell students interested in pursuing research; the program collaborates undergraduate students with faculty members who exhibit prior industry research experience. Through the program, Ethan began researching the hospitality industry during his freshman year in coordination with Professor Kwortnik. “Along with a setting a roadmap and research requirements, the program provides funding and requires a summer spent pursuing research.” Whereas many CPRS students spend their summers conducting research in a laboratory setting, Ethan chose to pursue his research in Jamaica during the summer after his sophomore year at Cornell.
“I was feeling very independent about shaping the direction of my research, and Professor Kwortnik encouraged me to come up with a topic/study that I was interested in. I chose to do my summer of research in Jamaica. Specifically, I wanted to look at the differences between independent operations marketed as sustainable tourism ventures and the all-inclusive beach resorts. And that's exactly how I structured my summer; I spent half of it working on projects with Jamaica's sustainable tourism champion in the Blue Mountains, and half in Montego Bay with the GM of a large all-inclusive property.”
Professor Kwortnik commented on the study and its incorporation of a more hedonistic form of tourism. Jamaica, he noted, is specifically recognized for its crime and poverty troubles; all-inclusive resorts, such as the one Ethan spent time at, are criticized for reaping Jamaica’s benefits and not giving back to the community. However, many tourists who visit the island are not exposed to this side of Jamaica; instead, natives are literally fenced in from visitors and all-inclusive properties.
Upon his return to Cornell, Ethan sorted through the data with Professor Kwortnik. “We identified several emergent themes that would best be shared in a case study. I found that the process of actually turning data into a paper/case study is remarkably arduous and daunting. While I have no problem writing long papers for class, Professor Kwortnik had to set some hard deadlines to get me going. That was a memorable winter break, but the feeling of having a paper accepted for publication was equally unforgettable.”
During HEC weekend, Ethan and Professor Kwortnik will discuss the findings of the study. “I want to summarize my findings on sustainable tourism from Jamaica. These pertain to sustainability, development strategy, and tourism. I will also talk a bit about hospitality consulting work and research that I did in Lebanon this summer. I will do my best to do so in a way that can be extrapolated and used by the audience. I won't give it away here, so you'll have to come!” In addition, Ethan expects to cover the importance of undergraduate research and how research experience can augment an education. For undergraduate students, a research experience can be especially meaningful to future endeavors; Ethan’s commendable research in the hospitality industry is representative of the magnitude of an undergraduate research experience.
Cornell offers distinctive research opportunities to its students, especially at the undergraduate level. Ethan commented that, “research provides exposure and unprecedented access to both professors and new ideas. As students, we often do not see the research side of professors' work unless it is in final form. At Cornell, research is an exciting part of being a professor, and it can be the same for undergraduates. It is also a great opportunity to explore your interests and take ownership of your education.”
Professor Kwortnik added Ethan’s specific experience with research in the hospitality industry allowed him to bring together what students at the Hotel School learn about being an industry leader and extending knowledge to other areas. In addition, the research aspect of Ethan’s work has not just been about the dissemination of knowledge, but the creation of industry awareness as well.
“Furthermore,” Ethan added. “it takes an incredible teacher to translate research opportunities to the undergraduate community. In all my experiences, I have found that professors at The Hotel School are remarkably committed to the students. Involving students in research is a risk that many would not take given the pressure to publish. Indeed, from a pure publication perspective, intimately working with students seems to offer a lousy ROI, and I now understand why PhD programs can take five or more years. Receiving that research experience at the undergraduate level has made my Cornell experience exceptional; it has also brightened my prospects and interests for post-graduation. I firmly attribute my positive experience to three things: the culture of Cornell and The Hotel School, Professor Kwortnik, and the R-CPRS program.”
The above information is simply an excerpt of Ethan’s research on sustainable tourism. To learn more about Connecting with Culture: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism, be sure to attend Ethan and Professor Kwortnik’s discussion on Friday, April 12th between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM.
Bearably Yours,
Ellsworth
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