Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research and Expedia announced they have renewed their partnership, with the online tour operator to also sponsoring several field study internships for Cornell School of Hotel Administration students, who will study models of community-based sustainable tourism in South America.

This year, five Cornell students will travel to Mexico and Costa Rica to study community-based sustainable tourism and develop case studies of best practices. The students will use their learnings to inform the work of the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (WHA), of which Expedia is a founding member. Later this year, WHA will carry out its fourth Expedia Employee Service Program engagement in Baja California, where Expedia employees, representatives of the UN Foundation and a Cornell graduate student intern will work with local tourism groups to develop sustainable tourism-based economies while preserving the community’s cultural, physical and environmental integrity.

“We value the expertise Expedia brings as the global leader in online travel, and the opportunities it provides Cornell hospitality students,” said Joseph D. Strodel, Jr., director of corporate relations at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. “Expedia has been a strong supporter of Cornell's hospitality research projects and we’re pleased to continue our relationship.”

Paul Brown, president of Expedia, Inc. Partner Services Group and Expedia North America will continue to serve on the center’s Advisory Board. In addition, Expedia will contribute its industry perspective and expertise to the center’s ongoing research exploring key issues facing the hospitality industry.

“The Center for Hospitality Research contributes valuable insights that foster continued growth and innovation in the hospitality industry,” said Brown. “I’m pleased to participate on the center’s Advisory Board and to have Expedia sponsor its worthwhile research and educational efforts.”

Brown continued: “Engaging Cornell students in our sustainability efforts allows us to tap the creativity of some of the industry's freshest thinking, while giving the students a first-hand look at what’s happening in the field through the eyes of a global travel industry leader.”