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| Reynolds |
PULLMAN, Wash. – The art of creating an outstanding experience for a guest doesn’t just “happen” in the hospitality industry.
There are 528 accredited hospitality schools in the country, including Washington State University, and hundreds more outside the country that prepare future hospitality professionals though extensive training. They learn food management and lodging – and all that encompasses: operations, revenue management, sales event planning and consulting.
One thing these schools have in common is membership in the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (I-CHRIE), the global advocate of hospitality and tourism education for schools, colleges and universities. I-CHRIE is a marketplace for facilitating exchanges of information, ideas, research, products and services related to education and resource development for the hospitality and tourism industry.
Professor Dennis Reynolds of the WSU School of Hospitality Business Management (SHBM) recently took office as elected president of I-CHRIE at the organization’s international conference. He is the fifth WSU faculty member to serve as president since the organization’s establishment 67 years ago.
“I am passionate about our organization and want to be integral as it continues evolving as the best possible source of representation and advocacy for our field,” said Reynolds.
In his new role, Reynolds will increase visibility of the WSU school as a leader in hospitality education and research. SHBM is the third oldest hospitality program in the country and is ranked in the top 20 in the world in hospitality research productivity, according to a 2012 study in the Journal of Culinary Science and Technology. Individually, Reynolds ranks 14th in research productivity internationally.
The presidential role requires a three-year commitment during which Reynolds plans to develop a strategic plan for 2020, redesign the organization’s annual awards dinner and explore creating an I-CHRIE Foundation. In October, he will travel to Germany to attend meetings for Euro-CHRIE, the official federation for Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and Africa.
Reynolds is no newcomer to I-CHRIE; he has held membership for 20 years and served in other leadership roles including director of membership and development (2008-2010), director of research (2012-2012) and vice president (2012-2013).
During his years of service, Reynolds was instrumental in I-CHRIE’s ability to successfully maintain membership numbers during difficult economic times. He helped the organization compile a comprehensive list of hospitality programs to facilitate networking with the academic hospitality community and implement a reviewer recognition program for conferences and I-CHRIE journals.