Rohit Verma has been named executive director of Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research. An associate professor of operations management at the School of Hotel Administration, Verma teaches executive, master's, and undergraduate classes in service operations, product-service innovation, project management, and quality improvement methods. He has published dozens of articles in prestigious business journals such as the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, California Management Review, Decision Sciences, Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Service Research, and MIT Sloan Management Review. Verma has also released several managerial reports related to the hospitality industry through the center.

As executive director, Verma will oversee the center's ambitious program of promoting and promulgating research for the hospitality and related service industries.

"The Center for Hospitality Research has made tremendous strides in expanding its reach to share the most current research-based information with the hospitality industry," said Verma. "I appreciate the efforts of outgoing academic director David Sherwyn, and I hope that we will continue to expand the scope of the center's research programs and industry events." Verma added: "The center's industry partners and friends are committed to promoting relevant and high-quality research. Along with the dedicated center staff, I am looking forward to working closely with our 70+ industry collaborators."

In addition to the center's existing research report series, the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, and industry roundtables, Verma would like to initiate web-based presentations and podcasts by center researchers. "I envision direct contact between our researchers and the industry, as well as other researchers and students," Verma explained. "Web 2.0 technologies and social media allows us to offer 'webinars' and other interactive events. The whole idea is to share as much research and information with the industry as possible."

About the Center for Hospitality Research

The purpose of the Center for Hospitality Research is to enable and conduct research of significance to the global hospitality and related service industries. CHR also works to improve the connections between academe and industry, continuing the School of Hotel Administration's long-standing tradition of service to the hospitality industry. Founded in 1992, CHR remains the industry's foremost creator and distributor of timely research, all of which is posted at no charge for all to use. In addition to its industry advisory board, CHR convenes several industry roundtables each year for the purpose of identifying new issues affecting the hospitality industry.

Center Members: Accenture • Access Point Financial, Inc. • Barclaycard US • Cvent • Davis & Gilbert LLP • Deloitte & Touche USA LLP • DerbySoft • Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts • Fox Rothschild LLP • Hilton Worldwide • Host Hotels & Resorts • Hyatt Hotels Corporation • IDeaS Revenue Solutions • InterContinental Hotels Group • Jumeirah Group • Marriott International • NTT DATA • Preferred Hotels & Resorts • priceline.com • PwC • The Rainmaker Group • RateGain • ReviewPro • Revinate • Sabre Hospitality Solutions • STR • Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces • Tata Consultancy Services • Wipro EcoEnergy • Wyndham Hotel Group

Jennifer Macera
Associate Director
(607) 255-3101
CHR