Simon Hudson has just been appointed by Mayor Steve Benjamin to the Board of Directors for the Columbia Metropolitan Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism. The mission of the Authority includes: directing and managing the activities and mission of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Regional Sports Council and the Columbia Regional Visitors Center, and overseeing the development and operation of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Congratulations to the Center's Dr. Fang Meng!

Dr. Meng has been named as an Expert Committee Member to the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF). The distinguished honor is given to only 15 individuals who serve a 5 year term each. For more information please click on the link below: 
  http://www.hrsm.sc.edu/PressReleases/2013/meng_fang.html

Speaking at the Ministry of Truth!

On August 8th, Simon Hudson presented a paper in Senate House at the University of London. The buildings use by the Ministry of Information during the Second World War inspired George Orwell's description of the Ministry of Truth in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Dr. Hudson was speaking at the 2013 International Conference on Business Tourism and Applied Sciences, and the title of his paper was Knowledge Transfer in Tourism.

Simon Hudson presenting at the 6th World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress yesterday in Las Vegas. Dr. Hudson gave two talks: one called "Health and Wellness Tourism: What Do Consumers Want?"; and the other titled "Understanding Domestic Medical Travel". The conference was attended by over 2,000 delegates from all over the world and was held in Caesars Palace.

Great Professor on the Great Wall!

Dr. David Cardenas, Assistant Professor with the SmartState Center for Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic development is representing the Center, the college and USC in China. Dr. Cardenas is a visiting scholar at Shandong University in the city of Jinan.

Guest Scholar Visits Center

Dr. Rhodri Thomas, professor of tourism and events at  Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, visited the Center from September 16^th-27^th, 2013. During his visit, Dr. Thomas offered valuable consultation  and provided  guest lectures at several classes.  It was a delight to host such a wonderful and impressive visiting scholar!

When Work Resembles Play!

Dr. Simon Hudson’s work responsibilities include a boat ride on Lake Russell

In an effort to revitalize and expose some of South Carolina’s hidden gems, Dr. Simon Hudson was contacted by the SC Great Outdoors project to evaluate the tourism/ hospitality needs of  both Calhoun Falls (see pic)  and Gaffney, SC.  Dr. Hudson has lent his time and expertise to the this project by evaluating the immediate needs of these communities and proving feedback to the coordinators on next steps.