Directory & Faculty Profiles

Dr. Roberts received his doctorate in Strategic Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1995. Additionally, he has undergraduate degrees in finance and management, plus has an MBA. Chris has been teaching strategy, research methods, tourism, lodging, resort, and casino related courses for 20+ years. Professor Roberts has extensive industry experience. He has eight years of lodging industry experience with Holiday Inns: five years in hotel operations in Salt Lake City and another three years of experience in two of their reservation centers (SLC and Memphis). Chris gained some airline industry reservation experience through his short time with Key Airlines, which served the Sun Valley, Idaho area from Salt Lake City. In addition, he owned his own travel agency for two years and helped operate another travel agency for six more years. He has eleven years of corporate marketing, product management, and sales experience with the Bell Telephone System. Dr. Roberts has published widely with more than 50 articles in a variety of tourism and hospitality academic journals plus in a few industry trade publications. He has given more than 90 presentations at conferences and seminars around the world. In his free time, Chris has consulted with a number of Asian and American organizations, aiding them in the development and implementation of their strategic plans and organizational development. His research focus is centered on the strategic decision making process in hospitality and tourism firms, the composition of executive teams who make strategic decisions, leadership, and hospitality education.