Thursday, January 20th, 2022 / 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Eastern Standard Time
Schedule​
Time
Details
Welcome Remarks
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Speaker: Bing Pan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, the Pennsylvania State University and NETTRA President
​Keynote Addresses
​8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
​Navigating the Perilous Road to Recovery
Adam Sacks, Founder and President, Tourism Economics
  • The leisure market has led the recovery to date, and economic fundamentals point to a solid foundation for continued rebuilding. However, business and group travel remain suppressed and risks of inflation, labor force issues, and supply chain constraints (not to mention COVID-19) loom large. Adam Sacks will share Tourism Economics’ latest views on the economy, the mindset of travelers, and expectations for how and when travel will fully recover.

2021 Hotel Performance Review for the total U.S. and Northeast Regional States
Brandon Gill, Business Development Account Executive, STR
  • Please join STR for a quick session covering an overview of U.S. and Northeast region hotel performance as the hospitality industry continues on the path towards recovery.
 
Trends and Future Directions for Rural Tourism, Outdoor Recreation, and Agritourism
Dr. Lisa Chase, Director of Vermont Tourism Research Center and Natural Resources Specialist for University of Vermont Extension, joined by Chadley Hollas. 
  • The Northeast U.S. is well known for its urban destinations as well as rural regions that are rich in natural amenities, agricultural assets, and heritage appeal. Globally, rural tourism has been growing in popularity, and with more people heading to the outdoors for recreation and travel during COVID-19, many rural destinations have experienced even greater interest in outdoor recreation and farm-based activities. In this presentation, Dr. Chase and Chadley Hollas will share trends on rural tourism through the evolving pandemic as well as findings from a national study of agritourism operators, with a focus on the Northeast.
 
Protocols and Policy:  Supporting Tribal Nations' Tourism Development and Incorporating Their First Voice Presentations Onto Their Ancestral Lands
Ed Hall, Project Manager, Bureau of Trust Fund Administration​  
  • Tribal Nations have much to offer as tourism destinations, historians, interpreters and hosts.  Developing the infrastructure to do so is a challenge.  Understanding how to appropriately support and include Tribal history and culture on their ancestral homelands can also enhance destinations where they may no longer have a presence.  The Indigenous Tourism Collaborative of the Americas (ITCA) has been established to bring Indigenous representatives and Industry/Government/Academia together to address these issues.
Coffee Break
9:45 AM - 9:55 AM
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Research Colloquium: 
Colloquium participants will present their research in a 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) format – designed to “cultivate students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills”, increasing their capacity to effectively explain their research in a concise manner. This 3MT format is easily consumable for the Research Colloquium audience and provides a platform for eliciting feedback from both participants and attendees. Q&A will occur at the end of each theme.
9:55 AM - 11:10 AM
​Introductory remarks by Stephen Hood, SVP, Research and Director, SHARE Center, STR
​
Theme 1: Parks and Rural Tourism
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Clustering a Nexus to Regional Development: A Study of the Appalachian Region
Oluwatoyin Adebisi*, Department of Human and Community Development, West Virginia University
Dee Singh-Knights, Ph.D. / Michael Dougherty, Ph.D. / Jinyang Deng, Ph.D. / Micheal Strager, Ph.D., Davis College of Agriculture, Nature Resources and Design, West Virginia University

Understanding the Relationship of High Blood Pressure Prevalence and Access to Park and Forest
Yun Liang*, Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University
Xinsong Du, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida    
Bing Pan, Ph.D., Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University 

Agent-Based Microsimulations for Emergency Evacuation in Rocky Mountain National Park
Ayse Akyildiz* / Bing Pan, Ph.D., Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University 
Guanhao Xu / Vikash V. Gayah, Ph.D., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

Theme 2: Human Behaviors and Preferences

Explaining Intentions to Participate in Last Chance Tourism Through the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Value-Beliefs-Norm Model
Tara J. Denley* / Joseph C. Barr / Kyle Maurice Woosnam, Ph.D., University of Georgia Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Program

Explaining GA Residents’ Pro-Tourism Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Joseph C. Barr* / Tara J. Denley / Kyle Maurice Woosnam, Ph.D., University of Georgia Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Program

Does Blue Space Matter to Place-Specific Environmentally Responsible Behavior for Sport Tourists? A Mediation Model with Spatial Effects
Seungji Lee* / Jinwon Kim, Ph.D., Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management, University of Florida; Changwook Kim, Department of Sport Management
University of Florida

Theme 3: The Future of Tourism and Tourism Research

Regenerative Tourism: The Future the Tourism Industry and our Planet Needs
Yasmin Yusuff*, Department of Travel and Tourism Management, New York University

The Future of the Tourism Industry: Post-Pandemic Challenge and Opportunity
Kennedy Weaver*, Department of Tourism, Event, and Sport Management, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis     

The Social Impact of Tourism Research: Key Aspects
Alba Viana-Lora* / Marta Gemma Nel-lo-Andreu, Department of Geography, Rovira i Virgili University, Vila-seca

* Presenter
Coffee Break
11:10 AM - 11:20 AM
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Roundtable Discussions:
There are four different roundtable discussions each covering an important topic. The session is open to anyone registered for the NETTRA conference including marketers, academicians, and vendors. Each roundtable is conducted through a separate Zoom link. Please follow the link beside the Roundtable Topic.
11:20 AM - 12:20 PM
ROOM 1: How Data Analytics Helps Tourism Destinations Make Better Decisions
Moderators:
  • Evan Saunders, Vice President, Global Tourism & Hospitality, NEAR
  • Mengfan Wang, Manager of Research, Dragon Trail International
  • Bing Pan, Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University
​The last two years has presented the tourism industry with the constant need to evolve decision making, and as a result, it is critical that destinations and hospitality chains be armed with the timely data that will allow them to make the best decisions possible at every turn. Learn how human movement data, survey data, and social media data have helped destinations small and large make more real-time decisions based on research that is actionable.
This Roundtable discussion will start a conversation around the possibilities of data intelligence, from research, to advertising, and attribution. Join us!
​
ROOM 2: Applying Research Findings: Connecting with Communities
Moderators:
  • Lisa Chase, Ph.D., Natural Resources Specialist for University of Vermont Extension, Director of Vermont Tourism Research Center
  • Jada Lindblom, Ph.D., Field Specialist, Community & Economic Development, Belknap County, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
Tourism researchers constantly question how their research may have a greater impact. While large DMOs and travel and tourism corporations may have access to a wealth of data and key findings, many smaller destination communities and local operators may be left out of this pool of information. How do we as tourism researchers create better pathways to share our knowledge broadly and inclusively? With specific attention to rural communities in the Northeast, Drs. Chase and Lindblom will lead a conversation to share ideas and success stories, and brainstorm how we may collectively forge stronger connections to tourism actors at the community level.
 
ROOM 3: Our Industry by the Numbers: STR and Tourism Economics
​Moderators:
  • Stephen Hood, SVP, Research and Director, SHARE Center, STR
  • Chris Pike, Director, Impact Studies, Tourism Economics
Post-COVID Hospitality and Tourism Research Opportunities and Insights – A global industry update, reviewing complicated recovery scenarios, bright spots in the storm, and lessons learned.  Also a discussion of post-COVID research opportunities and educational implications.
 
ROOM 4: Diversity and Inclusion in Tourism
Moderators:
  • Prachi Thakur, Diversity Strategist, World Women Tourism
  • Christa Mahlobo, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
  • Jess Je, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Tourism, Sport, and Hotel Management, Griffith University
  • Mona Ji Hyun Yang, Doctoral Researcher
With an ongoing global pandemic, climate-induced disasters, geopolitical unrest, and growing calls for social justice, academics and practitioners are urged to rethink models for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in tourism. This Roundtable discussion will engage urgent and timely dialogue on how tourism must organize and expand capacity for DEI. Join us!
Closing Remarks
12:20 PM - 12:30 PM
Speaker: Yang Yang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University
 
Next ​NETTRA President Dr. Yang will give closing remarks and announce Best Paper winner.