University of Leeds Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management

University of Leeds Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Name	Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Parent	University of Leeds
Established	1960s
City	Leeds
Country	United Kingdom

Contents

University of Leeds Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management is a teaching and research unit within the University of Leeds focusing on tourism and hospitality studies, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs and applied research, and engaging with the Hospitality Industry and Tourism Industry. The department collaborates with national and international bodies including World Tourism Organization, United Nations World Tourism Organization, VisitBritain, VisitEngland, European Commission, and Business Improvement Districts. It is located on the University of Leeds campus near the Leeds City Centre transport hub and works with organisations such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Accor, TUI Group, and Marriott International.

History

The department traces roots to the postwar expansion of vocational studies at the University of Leeds and curriculum developments influenced by policy initiatives from the Council for National Academic Awards, the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the Department for Education and Skills, and regional planning bodies like the West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council. Over decades the unit engaged with major events and institutions including the Commonwealth Games, the Edinburgh Festival, the Glastonbury Festival, and the London 2012 Summer Olympics planning networks, while faculty collaborated with scholars associated with Oxford University, University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, and King's College London. The department's evolution involved interdisciplinary links to research centres connected with the Economic and Social Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the European Research Council.

The department offers undergraduate degrees and postgraduate taught and research programs linked to professional accreditations and external partners such as Institute of Hospitality, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Institute of Travel & Tourism, Chartered Management Institute, and Association of British Travel Agents. Undergraduate cohorts have pathways involving placements with organisations like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair, EasyJet, and National Trust while postgraduate students pursue master's and doctoral projects co-supervised by networks tied to University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Imperial College London, and University of Warwick. Course modules incorporate case studies from companies such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Tripadvisor, and Ctrip and draw on regulatory frameworks shaped by institutions like the European Court of Justice, the World Health Organization, and the International Labour Organization.

Research strengths include service management, destination governance, sustainability, and event studies, with projects funded by bodies including the Economic and Social Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, the European Union, and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The department hosts research clusters and centres that collaborate with the Centre for Cities, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Nesta, UK Research and Innovation, and international partners such as University of Sydney, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, National University of Singapore, and Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Faculty publish in outlets including the Journal of Travel Research, the Annals of Tourism Research, the International Journal of Hospitality Management, and the Tourism Management journal and contribute to policy reports for World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and UNICEF.

The department maintains structured links with hotel groups like Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, AccorHotels, and InterContinental Hotels Group and travel corporations including TUI Group, Thomas Cook Group, Expedia Group, and Booking Holdings. Student placement arrangements and executive education programmes have been conducted in partnership with municipal and regional agencies such as Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and tourism boards including VisitScotland and Wales Tourist Board. Collaborative projects have engaged event organisers from Live Nation Entertainment, AEG Presents, Manchester International Festival, and venue operators like National Exhibition Centre and ExCeL London.

Academic staff have included scholars with profiles connected to University of Cambridge, University College London, University of Birmingham, Durham University, and Lancaster University', and visiting professors from institutions such as Cornell University, Penn State University, Michigan State University, and University of California, Berkeley. Professional services staff coordinate internships, employer engagement, and alumni relations with networks spanning Institute of Hospitality, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, and The Caterer magazine. Research associates and doctoral supervisors collaborate with international grant panels from European Research Council, Fulbright Program, Newton Fund, and British Council.

Facilities supporting teaching and research include dedicated seminar suites, simulation kitchens and mock hotel rooms modelled on industry standards used by Caterlink, Compass Group, Sodexo, and Aramark, computer labs with software used by Sage Group, Oracle Corporation, and SAP SE, and access to the university's libraries and archives including holdings from British Library and special collections linked to Leeds City Museum. The department is based on the University of Leeds campus in close proximity to transport links at Leeds railway station and cultural venues such as Leeds Playhouse, Royal Armouries Museum, and First Direct Arena, facilitating experiential learning with local partners like Leeds Festival, Bradford Literature Festival, and the Leeds International Film Festival.

Category:Hospitality schools in the United Kingdom