Funded in part through a generous grant from the prestigious Sloan Foundation, headquartered in New York, the center adopted the official name: The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Travel & Tourism Industry Center at the University of South Carolina.
Center Mission
The mission of the center is to support the business success of the wide-ranging segments of the travel and tourism industry through excellent research and teaching.
To accomplish its mission, the center has identified several strategic focuses:
- Locate connections among the diverse segments of the travel and tourism industry to establish a common ground for understanding and collaboration
- Conduct research and analyze effective practices that industry can adopt through inter-disciplinary and cross-institutional teams of faculty
- Tap into the experiences and best practices of other industries by utilizing the Sloan Industry Centers network, which represents more than 25 areas of commerce and manufacturing
- Partner with travel and tourism companies in setting research agendas, and deliver impartial, practical information, and analysis to the industry
- Exchange ideas and information across industries and institutions through such vehicles as “think tanks” and summit conferences
- Provide educational resources and opportunities for the travel and tourism industry
- Become a source of outstanding workforce talent for the industry through work-study, internship and permanent employment opportunities
- Encourage workforce development and advancement at all levels
- Utilize strategic alliances with universities around the world to address global challenges and opportunities