Three times each year staff from the School of Tourism at University of Queensland, the School of Tourism and Hotel Management at Griffith University and the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Southern Cross University meet to discuss their research interests. Originating in 2000 these seminars have become one of the highlights of the School calendar. To start the year Southern Cross University hosts a seminar at Byron Bay where we enjoy the relaxed, informal setting of the Surf Lifesaving Club while listening to postgraduate students presentations. Around the middle of the year on 16 August we hosted the second seminar here at the University of Queensland, Ipswich.

We invited staff from each of the universities to present their research to other academics, postgraduate students and government and industry representatives. The final seminar for the year is hosted by Griffith University at their Gold Coast Campus. This seminar is usually held in late November to coincide with the Martin Oppermann Memorial Lecture.

The range of topics for the Seminar in August covered was diverse, encompassing the areas of tourism, hospitality, leisure and events. It was this diversity that stimulated discussion, both immediately after the presentation and during the lunch break following.

In addition to providing an ideal forum to present and discuss ideas, the seminars also provide a great opportunity to network with industry and government representatives and to catch up with colleagues from other universities. The sessions have not only provided useful feedback and fruitful discussions on topical issues but have also facilitated collaboration between the three universities.

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Seminar Series Recently conducted in conjunction with the School of Tourism included the following speakers:

Dr Neil Carr
School of Tourism – University of Queensland
Topic: An assessment of the relationship between leisure and holiday behaviour

Ms Elizabeth Fredline
School of Tourism and Hotel Management – Griffith University
Topic: Host community reactions to major sporting events

Dr Shane Pegg
School of Tourism – University of Queensland
Topic: Towards the development of a volunteer satisfaction scale

Dr Kreg Lindberg
School of Tourism and Hotel Management – Griffith University
Topic: Social Impacts: A choice modelling approach to gains and losses

Dr Neil Leiper and Ms Nerilee Hing
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management – Southern Cross University
Topic: On the PIS: the Partial Industrialisation Syndrome in Tourism – its provenance, causes and implications