August 9, 2012 - The next debate in The Hotel School Sydney Industry Futures Forum series will address the topic : "Is Australian Tourism Lost in Transition or Beating the Odds?"


Each presenter will speak for seven minutes on the subjects and a Question and Answer session will follow. Media are invited to attend.

Is Australian tourism lost in transition - or successfully meeting the pressures of a high Australian dollar and challenging international economic conditions? Is Australia losing its relevance to local and international markets - or successfully meeting the challenges and opportunities of a tourism industry in transition, facing polarising dualities - East vs West, city vs regional, balanced portfolio vs ‘Asian Century’?  Is our tourism sector being undermined by minimal government and stakeholder investment – or are we seeing a resurgence of domestic tourism; the beginning of new investment in infrastructure and development; and a new unity born of necessity, industry and government speaking with one voice?

The Hotel School Sydney’s Industry Futures Forums, held every semester, endeavour to ask controversial questions, encourage robust debate, highlight issues of concern, potency and currency in the tourism and hospitality industries, and are an integral part of THSS policy: striving to be at the cutting edge of tourism and hospitality issues awareness, learning and research in a rigorous academic environment.

The Hotel School Sydney (hotelschool.scu.edu.au), part of Southern Cross University (SCU), has been setting benchmarks in hospitality education for 23 years and is recognised as a centre of academic learning and research, linking formal academia and the fast-paced global hospitality industry. It is a unique partnership between SCU and Mulpha Australia’s portfolio of five star hotels and lifestyle properties (which include InterContinental Sydney, Hayman Great Barrier Reef and Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove).

THSS and SCU were awarded the coveted Australian Learning and Teaching Council 2011 Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in recognition of “pioneering and sustaining student-centred, transformative, work-enriched experiential learning opportunities in tourism and hospitality management”.

Media are invited to join THSS academic staff and students, Tourism Australia Chairman Geoff Dixon and Accor Pacific’s Simon McGrath at
The Hotel School Sydney Industry Futures Forum
Time: 10 for 10.30 a.m. Monday 20 August 2012
Place: The Hotel School Sydney, 60 Phillip St Sydney 2000.
Refreshments will be served

About The Hotel School Sydney
The Hotel School Sydney, a unique partnership between Southern Cross University and Mulpha Australia’s portfolio of hotels and lifestyle properties, is situated in Sydney’s CBD, close to Circular Quay and teaches a Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management degree, with opportunity for postgraduate studies. It is becoming increasingly recognised internationally as a leading centre of academic research into the fast-paced hospitality Industry.
 
According to THSS Director of Studies, Paul Weeks, “David’s multi - disciplinary and eclectic research interests and expertise in both the hospitality and tourism domains further strengthens The Hotel School Sydney’s strong academic team and international reputation. David’s industry work and extensive travel experiences will provide a currency for our students, in the classroom as well as in higher degree supervision and research.” 
 
THSS General Manager Julie Orton says she is “exceptionally pleased to have David on board. We share a fascination with international labour market trends in tourism.”