Gary M. Thompson has been appointed executive director of the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, effective July 1, 2003. Thompson is an associate professor at the Hotel School.

The Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) was founded in 1992 to conduct research aimed at improving industry practices. Under the leadership of outgoing executive director Cathy Enz, who served for three years, the center has earned a reputation in industry and academe as a leading source of practical knowledge that can be applied across the full range of operating disciplines. Enz continues as the Lewis G. Schaeneman Professor of Innovation and Dynamic Management, at the Hotel School. CHR research reports can be accessed at the center's Web site: http://www.chr.cornell.edu .

"The Center for Hospitality Research plays a vital role in creating and sharing research that helps shape the global knowledge base of our industry," said Hotel School Dean David Butler. "Gary Thompson has an outstanding research record, and he appreciates the crucial role research plays at the Hotel School. I am confident that under his stewardship our center will continue to be a leading voice for rigorous, relevant research that helps define the future of our industry."

Thompson teaches courses in operations management at the Hotel School. His recent research has looked at optimizing restaurant table mixes for greater profitability; effective course scheduling in post-secondary and corporate training environments; and the effects of labor staffing and scheduling decisions on customer service. A prolific researcher, he has published in Decision Sciences , the Journal of Operations Management , Management Science , Naval Research Logistics , Operations Research, the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly and elsewhere. He is a consultant to several prominent hospitality companies and is the founder and president of SchedulExpert Inc., a software development firm focusing on scheduling products. "I look forward to building on the tremendous progress achieved by Dr. Enz and her team," Thompson said. "There is enormous opportunity to engage in research that can have a significant impact on how business is done in the hospitality industry. We will continue to emphasize our fund-raising efforts so we can broaden our leadership in discovering and sharing best practices for our industry."

The Cornell School of Hotel Administration is shaping the global knowledge base for hospitality management through leadership in education, research and industry advancement. Founded in 1922 as the nation's first collegiate course of study in hospitality management, the Cornell Hotel School is recognized as the world leader in its field. For more information, visit http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu .