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About us

 

History

In 2006, Glion’s Governing Board approved the strategic plan for GIHE which included the creation of the Center of Marketing Excellence in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management.  In 2007, Dr. David Horrigan was hired as director, and the Governing Board approved the broad strategic plan for the center to build academic content and programs that would create current marketing knowledge relevant to industry.  This charge included the professional development of undergraduate and graduate students, academic and professional research, and industry consulting programs.  The initial concept of the center was driven by the realization that the rapid evolution of technology is changing how industry needs to conduct business in a global competitive market.  And the next generation of leaders needs to understand the dynamic effects of this evolution on marketing practices. Today, the Center focuses on providing consulting services to the hospitality industry.

Vision

The Center brings together leading scholars and professionals to share industry marketing knowledge by providing opportunities that inspire, challenge, and empower individuals to create diverse and sophisticated content in a passionate and flexible environment.
 

Mission

To become the academic leader for developing international human capital in order to meet the global marketing needs of the hospitality, tourism, and events industries through four strategic priorities:

  

    1. Consultancy services

    2. Corporate education

    3. Academic and professional marketing and communications research

    4. Human resource development

 

The Center’s Six Standards of Excellence

  • Passion: enthusiasm for obtaining and developing marketing knowledge.
  • Inspiration: influencing a creative environment for students, scholars, and professionals.
  • Empowerment: enabling an international body toward marketing excellence.
  • Challenge: motivating individuals to reach beyond conventional thought.
  • Sophistication: creating the highest level of marketing knowledge.
  • Curiosity: desire for analytical and creative exploration.
  

Director of the Center

Dr David Horrigan,

Director of the Center of Marketing Excellence

 
David Horrigan currently leads the Center of Marketing Excellence in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management at the Glion Institute of Higher Education and LRG University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland and is the Director of Marketing Curriculum. He has been teaching at university since 1993. David has a PhD in educational leadership and a MA in marketing communications from the University of Connecticut, a MEd in human resource education from Boston University, and a BA in multidisciplinary programs focusing on marketing, psychology and graphic design from the University of Massachusetts. David has consulted industry for the last fifteen years on integrated marketing strategies and brand development. His marketing communications career began with the Interpublic Group’s agency Dailey & Associates in Los Angeles and then with WPP’s agency Young & Rubicam in New York City.
David Horrigan, Director of the Center of Marketing Excellence

 

David’s current academic and strategic focus is to bring international industry and academia together through curriculum integration and research. His research is intended to inform curriculum, contribute to the academic community, and offer strategic services to industry. David currently sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Vacation Marketing and Google's Global Academic Panel for their annual global online marketing challenge.

David obtained his fourth degree black belt in taekwondo in 2009 studying under Grandmaster Jae Hun Kim, student of General Choi, Hong Hi (acknowledged founder of modern-day taekwondo) and Grandmaster Jung Tae Park, president of the Global Tae Kwon Do Federation.

 

 

 

Steering Council

The Steering Council acts as an advisory board for the Center of Marketing Excellence in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management. The Council members are representative of the academy’s areas in curriculum, research and administration to ensure that a full range of thought and interests are provided to the Center and its strategic mission. The Council is one conduit that communicates the Center’s activities throughout Glion’s campuses. The core Steering Council members are listed below.

Mr. Philippe Attia

CEO Glion Institute of Higher Education (GIHE)

Philippe Attia, CEO and Directeur General of the Glion Institute of Higher Education has more than 22 years of successful experience in hotel and resort management, cruise ship, theme parks, and executive conference centers.  His previous experience as General Manager and then Senior Vice President for Operations of Dolce Hotels & Resorts and General Manager for Occidental Hotels & Resorts offers Glion industry leadership that is invaluable to the development of Glion’s curriculum and research programs.  Philippe’s global experience also includes senior management positions at Club Med, Walt Disney Company, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in 11 different countries that continues Glion’s tradition of providing an international student body with an education steeped in diverse perspectives.  He speaks French, English, Spanish, Italian and German.

Philippe Attia CEO GIHE

 

 

Dr Debbie Prince

Director of Academic Affairs GIHE and CEO Les Roches Gruyères (LRG)

 
Debbie Prince has a BSc from the University of London, a DMS (Ed) from Sheffield Hallam University, a PGCE from the University of Leeds, and a PhD from the University of East Anglia. Her current role as the DG of the newly formed University of Applied Sciences is to ensure that all degrees are appropriate to student needs, academic standards and industry requirements. In addition Debbie is overseeing the development of all the normal systems (recruitment, student databases, and academic management) for effective and efficient institutional management. As Director of Academic Affairs, Debbie oversees all academic operations at GIHE.

 

Dr Debbie Prince CEO of Les Roches Gruyère

Dr Ian Jenkins,

Director of Research

Ian  Jenkins, (BSc Econ, MPhil, PhD, University of Wales), Director of Research, has worked in the tourism and leisure industries for the last twenty years as a researcher, senior lecturer, consultant and director of several research units.  His work has resulted in numerous publications including industry reports, conference papers, academic articles and book chapters; he has also been a peer reviewer for journal articles.  Some of the research projects he has been involved with have resulted in legislative change and improved industry standards. In addition, he has undertaken work for prestigious organisations such as UNESCO, British Council, British Standards Institute, Health and Safety Executive, VisitWales and CEN.  His research and consultancy expertise ranges from niche tourism development through to risk management of adventure tourism products.   Ian is currently an external examiner for the University of Birmingham at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. He has also recently been invited to be a PhD examiner at Cranfield Univesity.

 
Ian Jenkins, Director of Research LRG