Tourism Project Spring 2016

Spring 2016  

ECU-UR Tourism & Hospitality Trends and Issues Links and Group Project

This is a project that will involve class discussions via live links as an entire class and then a small group project. For the group project each student group (composed of 1-3 students from each school if possible—this depends on the class size at UR and ECU) will be required to research trends and issues related to the tourism industry (the subjects must be approved by the instructors first), write a brief executive summary of each of the project’s live links, and create a final project that is a group slide show to share with the class during one of the final two links.

Project Steps:

1. Form groups to study topics/trends/issues as assigned
2. Research topics/trends/issues as assigned during local time
3. Discuss the topic/trend/issue during links as directed
4. Write a short summary about the topic/trend/issue discussed during each link as directed (required of individual students at ECU!)
5.  Create a collaborative project comparing one or more tourism topics between the two countries.  The end product for this collaboration may be a paper, a video, a PowerPoint, an audio production, or some other approved media.  Please note that you will not present your slides how or video or paper—but those products can be shared online—just not presented.
6. You will be asked to present a very brief summary of your project in class in the form of an “elevator story.” (See directions below). Group members from both countries should participate in the final elevator story presentation in some way.

Specific guidelines:

1. Form groups to study topics/trends/issues in the Tourism & Hospitality Industry as assigned

This project is to be completed in a group of students such that student groups are composed of 1-3 students from each school. As a group, students are to select topics/trends/issues related to the tourism industry as directed. The topics/trends/issues of your project must be approved by the instructor first. Please see the list of possible topics at the end of this project description.

1. Research the topics/trends/issues as assigned during local time

This project is to be about specific topics/trends/issues related to tourism. It is more than a descriptive project.  You are asked to defines trends or issues or problems affecting the tourism and/or hospitality industry and focus on their implications for management.  This means that you must study topics and then figure out what the trends are or what a problem or issue is concerning the topic.  You must do more than describe each topic.  You need to create something new from the sources you study.  After you research the topics you are to discuss the topic with your partners in the live links between the two classes, create a brief summary of your discussion during each link, and then for your final group “elevator story” presentation you are to present background facts and recommendations concerning the trends occurring or issues facing the global tourism and/or hospitality industry today. Be sure to compare and contrast the topic in the countries. That means that your group will present information on the similarities and differences between the countries regarding the tourism topics assigned.

Use at least 3 outside reference per topic (ideally 1 reference from students from each school) these may include Internet sources, periodicals, books, and interviews.

1. Discuss the topics/trends/issues during links as directed

During the live links you will discuss the trends/topics/issues as directed. During your links, try to get ideas about the issues/topics/trends from your partners in the other country and school. Questions will be developed to guide each live link. See more information about the topics, trends, and issues and live links below.

1. Write a summary of the issues discussed during each link

After each live link, every student (will write a summary of what was discussed (required of ECU students). This will summarize the major points of the link and what you learned about the trends/topics/issues from each other in a page or two. This is a quick overview of the link summary report—a maximum of 750 words. The link summary report should:*

• be typed double spaced in 12 point Times Roman font
• be free from spelling, grammar, and typing errors
• be organized and neat in appearance
• be submitted on Blackboard by Sunday night after each link

1. Create a Final Group PowerPoint slide show about the trends and issues

Create a collaborative project comparing one or more tourism topics between the two countries.  The end product for this collaboration may be a paper, a video, a PowerPoint, an audio production, or some other approved media.  Please note that you will not present your slides how or video or paper—but those products can be shared online—just not presented. The project should share what your group has learned about the topics, trends, and issues that you researched and discussed. Define and explain the issues and trends and tell the reader/audience why and how they relate to tourism. Be sure to compare and contrast the topic in the countries. That means that your group will present information on the similarities and differences between the countries regarding the tourism topics assigned. The project should include attractive, well-researched, and have a complete set of references. In your group project be sure to:

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