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College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  • SmartState Tourism logo with garnet background

About SmartState Tourism

The Richardson Family SmartState Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Tourism was funded and established in 2010 as the first endowed SmartState Center related to economic development and tourism at the University of South Carolina. The Richardson Family SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development (SmartState Tourism) is dedicated to generating data-driven insights that inform and support the growth of tourism economies.

Goals

Tourism in South Carolina is responsible for more than $17 billion in spending annually and employs approximately 10 percent of the state's workforce. The Center's vision is to be the leading center for innovative, relevant, and interdisciplinary research in tourism and destination management throughout the world.

  1. Become a one-stop resource of relevant data and research related to tourism and hospitality for the South Carolina tourism industry.
  2. Help guide public and private sector policies through academic consulting that will lead to improved tourism planning and development in South Carolina.
  3. Disseminate research via speaking engagements, conferences, research seminars, the website, newsletters, social networking, and marketing.
  4. Provide training and education for domestic and international leaders and scholars in various areas of excellence in the tourism industry.
  5. Act as a think tank for both applied and academic tourism-related research.


Our Faculty and Staff

Lori Pennington-Gray headshot

Lori Pennington-Gray, Ph.D.

Director and Endowed Chair

Lori Pennington-Gray is a leader in tourism crisis management. She currently is the director of the Richardson Family SmartState Center for Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development. She has a strong commitment to enhancing the industry and aiding in strategic policy decisions.

Estefania Basurto headshot

Estefania Basurto, Ph.D.

Research Assistant

Estefania Basurto serves as research assistant professor in The Richardson Family SmartState Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development. In addition, she serves as the Destination Management Team Leader for the center.

 

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