ABOUT | BIO
RACHEL DODDS, PhD
Director, Sustaining Tourism
A dynamic, self starter with over 25 years international experience across a wide spectrum of the tourism industry. Rachel has worked with hotels, large and small tour operators, ecotourism planners, sustainable tourism management and marketing projects, international development banks, landscape and park planning firms, governments, NGO’s, marketing organizations and hospitality and tourism attractions.
Rachel is currently the Director of Sustaining Tourism – a boutique consulting firm. She is also a Professor at Ryerson University in Canada where she joined the Ted Rogers School of Tourism & Hospitality Management in 2006. Since 2014, she also holds the role of Director, Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research.
Having been trained to look at many different aspects of tourism, Rachel knows that sustainability means long term planning and management and that experience and understanding of diverse cultures and environments is a fundamental part of tourism. She has furthered this understanding through both her personal and work travels. She has now has traveled extensively to six continents and over 80 countries.
Rachel has two specialties within the tourism industry:
Sustainable/responsible/ecotourism consulting – strategy, development, environmental management, research, business planning and marketing and communications. She has undertaken a range of tourism development and marketing consulting assignments both alone and in cooperation with other companies.
Communication, marketing and public relations implementation. Her experience includes non-profit organizations, tour companies, ecolodges and entrepreneurs.
Rachel holds a PhD from the University of Surrey in the UK and a Master of Tourism Management from Griffith University in Australia. She also has undergraduate degrees in business management, sociology and political studies from Canadian Universities.
She has taught at both colleges and universities delivering classes on sustainable tourism, research, ecotourism/adventure recreation, tourism policy, marketing and strategic business development. In addition to giving worldwide lectures on sustainable tourism and urban sustainability, she has guest lectured at events and conferences worldwide and contributes to the tourism community through a number of boards and memberships.
Rachel has written, co-authored and edited articles about sustainable tourism and ecotourism, islands and urban sustainability and has published books and numerous articles about sustainable tourism, heritage tourism, tourism policy, ecotourism, corporate social responsibility, certification, destination development and consumer motivations and perceptions.
For a list of publications, click here.
Rachel’s PhD examined coastal mass tourism and sustainable tourism policy
Professional Memberships and Boards
Transportation Options Board Member (2014 – present)
Sustainable Tourism International (STI) Canada (2013- 2014)
Sustainable Tourism Degree Program Advisory Board, Centennial (2011)
Transportation Options Board Member (2011 – 2012)
The Icarus Foundation founding member and Board Member (2007 – 2010)
Canadian Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council (2008-2011)
SDEA Advisory Board (2008-present)
Green Motion Express (2007 to 2010)
Travel & Tourism Research Association (TTRA), Canada – Board of Directors (2008 & 2009 and 2001-2005)
The International Ecotourism Society – Member
Tourism Concern – Member
Ecoclub:
The International Ecotourism Club – Member, International Speakers Bureau (2001-2005)
CESO Volunteer (2007-2011)
Toastmasters International – Designated Competent Toastmaster
2015: PM4SD, Practitioner Certification
2014: Faculty Scholarly, Research and Creative Activity Award, Ryerson University
2011: Faculty Scholarly, Research and Creative Activity Award, Ryerson University
2010: Outstanding contribution to the Ryerson Hospitality and Tourism Management student experience
2008: Nominated for Best Lecturer Competition, TVO
2006: ITB Science Award for Sustainable Tourism- selected for best international paper
2004: British Airways/Royal Geographical Society Travel Bursary