Research Methods in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management

In Research Methods in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management, the authors use a step-by-step approach to guide students through the whole research process, from initial ideas, through to writing up and presenting the findings.

Coverage of the Internet and the digital environment as a space to carry out research has been included, and the use of technology in analysis such as SPSS, NVivo and Qualtrics is covered alongside the more traditional ‘by-hand’ methods. Hints, tips, exercises as well as end-of-chapter case studies demonstrate real challenges and practical examples from a variety of settings to help students understand how to manage and present their own research.

The book is complemented by examples of tourism destinations from Spain, Switzerland, Italy and India, and a selection of PowerPoint slides for lecturers.

Suitable for undergraduate and foundation degree students undertaking a research project in Tourism, Hospitality or Events Management.

Professor Paul Brunt is Head of the School of Tourism & Hospitality at the University of Plymouth. Paul wrote ‘Market Research in Travel and Tourism’ in 1997, which was based on his teaching at the time. This booked helped many a student project, and was used extensively in teaching across colleges and universities in the UK at the time. Paul was a co-author of ‘Tourism: A Modern Synthesis’ in 2001, and has also written book chapters and papers on his research area of the linkages between tourism and crime.

Paul helped develop the first tourism and hospitality degrees at the University of Plymouth in the early 1990s. Events management, and cruise management were later additions to our portfolio, and our programmes are now delivered by the school to around 1000 students in Plymouth, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.

Dr Susan Horner is Associate Professor in Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management at Plymouth University, UK.  Susan wrote her first book ‘Marketing for Hospitality’ in 1996 and has gone on to write further books with collaborators including Professor John Swarbrooke and Professor Stephen Ball. Susan’s books include key texts such as Consumer Behaviour in Tourism, International Cases in Tourism Management, Business Travel and Tourism and Leisure Marketing. These books are used internationally and have been translated into a variety of languages including Chinese.

Among her other skills Susan has an interest in the learning styles of hospitality students and relationship marketing and management issues for hospitality. She has also developed an international reputation as a marketing specialist and been responsible for the academic content of hospitality courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level that have been delivered both locally and internationally. During her academic career she has encouraged both undergraduate and postgraduate students to publish their research at various academic conferences.

Dr Natalie Semley became a lecturer at Plymouth University in 2008, after successfully completing her BSc (hons) and MSc with a first and distinction, respectively. Since joining the teaching team, she has completed her PhD and become a Senior Fellow of the HEA. Natalie is currently the Programme Leader for the undergraduate Tourism pathways and is the module leader for the Tourism, Hospitality and Events management research methods module at Plymouth University. Her research interests are broad and include visitor motivation, the impacts of tourism-related crime, community responses to tourism impacts alongside specific areas of special interest tourism.