Robert J. Kwortnik has been appointed the academic director of the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, as announced by Steven Carvell, associate dean for academic affairs. With a three-year term as CHR academic director that begins on July 1, 2012, Kwortnik, an associate professor of services marketing at the School of Hotel Administration, succeeds Rohit Verma, professor of service operations management, who has led the CHR for the past three years.

"I am delighted that Rob Kwortnik has agreed to take on this responsibility," said Carvell. "Under the stewardship of Rohit Verma and the previous directors, the CHR has grown to be a strong voice for research-based strategic management."

"This is a tremendous opportunity," said Kwortnik, "I am looking forward to extending the CHR's research connections with the hospitality industry. In particular, I want to focus on what the industry as a whole can learn from studying cases of individual companies."

A graduate of Temple University, Kwortnik also holds a Ph.D. from that institution, and was previously a travel industry consultant and marketer. A recognized expert on the leisure cruise industry, he has had considerable industry involvement, including developing sales and marketing training programs for Marriott International, the American Automobile Association, the National Tour Association, and the Cruise Lines International Association.

Although Verma's term as CHR director is ending, he continues as chair of the second Cornell Hospitality Research Summit, scheduled for October 8-9, 2012, at the School of Hotel Administration. "Professor Kwortnik is a very well respected scholar with research expertise in the design, management, marketing, and consumption of service experiences," Verma said. "He is also a highly regarded teacher in our school's undergraduate, master's, and executive education programs. At the 20th anniversary of CHR, there could not have been a better choice of its next Academic Director. I look forward to working with him and under his leadership as he steers CHR towards excellence."

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

Jane Henion
607.255.9780
CHR