Royal Roads University Professor Inducted into Tourism Hall of Fame
Victoria - Rod Harris, an adjunct professor in Royal Roads University's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM), was inducted into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame Nov. 24, 2011.
"It is difficult to find the right words to express my excitement in receiving this award," Harris said. "I have been fortunate in having the chance to contribute to our industry over the past 20 years"
Before joining Royal Roads University in 2009, Harris was president and CEO of Tourism British Columbia. Leading the global marketing of Super, Natural British Columbia, he was responsible for managing the investment of more than $475 million in tourism destination marketing funds. In this period, the tourism industry of British Columbia saw tourist expenditures grow from approximately $8 billion annually in 1997 to $11 billion in 2009.
"Tourism British Columbia had a unique opportunity to contribute to Canada's tourism industry," Harris said. "I had the great pleasure of working with a provincial crown corporation that was industry led, independent and formula funded."
Under his leadership, Tourism BC won Gold Medals from the Canadian Marketing Association (2001), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (2000) and the Canadian Direct Marketing Association (1998). Tourism BC was named B.C.'s Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association (1999).
"His legacy was to bring a new discipline to tourism marketing, not only in B.C., but in Canada," said Geoffrey Bird, STHM faculty member. "He increased the profile of tourism as a critical economic sector."
The Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame was created by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada in 2006. It publicly recognizes individuals who have made tourism an important part of their life's work and whose actions have had a positive impact on the industry they serve.
Royal Roads University was established by the Province of British Columbia in 1995 specifically to deliver quality applied and professional programs to advance professionals in the workplace. The university blends online and on-campus learning with current, real-world relevance for doctorate, graduate and undergraduate degrees, certificates, diplomas, executive and custom education.
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Communications officer Doug Ozeroff
doug.1ozeroff@royalroads.ca, 250-391-2526, cell 250-812-5065
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