PULLMAN, Wash. Innovation or invasion? Not everyone in the Puget Sound area appreciates it when huge events like Seafair or the Northwest Flower and Garden Show bring upwards of 75,000 people into town. While tourist dollars may result in jobs, increased business and economic gain, some residents resent the change in their environment, especially if they are non-tourism business owners.
Washington State University Professor Dogan Gursoy, one of the top 10 researchers in the field of hospitality and tourism, will join a panel of business leaders addressing these and other challenges, threats and opportunities related to the tourism industry, as well as recent initiatives and solutions to the state’s exit from travel and tourism promotion.
The panelists will speak at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Seattle’s Grand Hyatt Hotel during the Sound Thinking: The Puget Sound Economic Impact Series sponsored by KeyBank and WSU. Registration is free and open through Thursday, Oct. 4, at http://key.com/soundthinking.
Gursoy’s most recent research offers insight into resident perceptions of impacts and attitudes toward hosting mega events such as Olympics, world cup, etc., and other forms of tourism development. His area of expertise includes services management, hospitality and tourism marketing, tourist behavior, travelers’ information search behavior, community support for tourism development, cross-cultural studies, consumer behavior, involvement and generational leadership studies.
“I am pleased to be able to bring a research perspective to help Puget Sound’s tourism industry improve its practices,” said Gursoy. “Informative discussion about the tourism industry and its importance to Puget Sound’s economic engine will drive understanding and collaborative opportunities among businesses.”
About the WSU College of Business
The WSU College of Business is accredited across all business disciplines at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Faculty across disciplines produce scholarly and applied research at the main campus in Pullman as well as at urban campuses in Vancouver and the Tri-Cities. International activities include academic centers in China and Switzerland as well as thriving partnerships with several schools around the globe. Innovative online programs supplement face-to-face offerings. For more information, visit http://www.business.wsu.edu.
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