CQU’s Associate Professor Gayle Jennings recently took recreation leave to fulfil her final duties as a Board Member of the International Society of Travel and Tourism Education (ISTTE) and Conference Paper Chair.

These duties culminated at the 2004 ISTTE Conference held in Hong Kong, SAR China.

Associate Professor Jennings has been a Board member of ISTTE since late 2000 to 2004. She completed a one-year term, followed by a three-year term of office. She was the Research Paper Chair from 2002-2004.

President of ISTTE, Sharon Scott, CEO, Education Systems/Travelcampus, lamented Gayle’s departure from the Board. Mrs Scott commented:.

“Gayle cheerfully took on the responsibility of Paper Chair for the annual conference and concurrent publication of conference proceedings.

During her three-year tenure, the entire process was handled flawlessly. In addition, her insights and contributions to Board discussions were always right on. The level of professionalism within the Society has been raised as a result of Gayle's participation. It is with a great deal of regret that we move forward without Gayle. However, we look forward to her contributions in the future.”.

Due to workload constraints, Associate Professor Jennings declined a request to be nominated for President in the 2005 ISTTE elections.

Upon reflecting on her participation in executive roles in ISTTE, Associate Professor Jennings said that her time on the Board had been productive and noted a number of outcomes:.

 Appointment as the Research Paper Chair for the Research Paper Stream of the ISTTE Annual conferences between 2002-2004.

 Chair of ISTTE Best Paper and Best Poster Committees.

 Editor of three Conference Proceedings and the complete set of Conference Proceedings, Volumes I-XV.

 Experience in the planning of the 2001-2004 conferences.

 Organisation and facilitation of two panel sessions at the 2003 and 2002 annual conference respectively: “Travel and Tourism Education and Internationalisation: Imperatives and Implications”; and “Towards a global view of Tourism and Hospitality Education: Is there one view or just multiple perspectives?”.

 Facilitation of one writing workshop at the 2002 annual conference for beginning academic writers.

 One book chapter on ‘Interviewing’ (CABI) and two chapters related to business research in an Encycopedia (Academic Press/Elsevier).

 Two refereed journal articles, one conference paper.

 Editorial Board appointment to the Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism.

 Invitation to University of Calgary and recipient of a Canadian Pacific Sponsored Scholar Award Oct-Nov 2003.

 Collaborative research projects with Faculty from Hawaii Pacific University, University of Calgary.

 Visiting Professors to CQU (Professor Goeldner, University of Colorado, Associate Professor Hudson, University of Calgary).

Associate Professor Jennings also commented that her involvement in ISTTE had also benefited CQU and the Faculty of Business and Law in a number of ways, such as:.

 the benchmarking of the former Bachelor of Tourism program and current course offerings at CQU internationally.

 complementing the CQU Tourism staffing profile with visiting professors.

 promotion of CQU as an institution offering tourism and hospitality internationally.

 expansion of institutional networks.

 external interest and approved preliminary discussions regarding potential dual badging of degrees in tourism and hospitality internationally.

 external interest from overseas universities regarding potential exchange programs for tourism students and staff.

The 2004 ISTTE Conference, at which Associate Professor Jennings completed her term, was a landmark conference for ISTTE as it was the first time that the conference location was not hosted on the north American continent. This year the conference was held in Hong Kong in recognition of ISTTE’s international agenda and membership profile.

Photo (left): Associate Professor Jennings and the Best Paper Awardee, Dr Paul Barron, University of Queensland.

Photo (above): CQU's Associate Professor Gayle Jennings (seated bottom right) with other board members at the 2004 ISTTE Conference.