Tourism at the University of Sunderland

22/10/2026

Strategic tourism management, incredible scenery, wood-fired pizza and tomahawk throwing. Now that's a field trip! 🍕🌲

Our Tourism, Hospitality and Aviation Management students at the University of Sunderland recently visited Kielder Waterside as part of their Enterprise and Consultancy for Tourism module, and what a fantastic day it was!

The Kielder Waterside team gave our students plenty to think about, sharing their expertise on strategic management, sustainability, product design, event planning, guest experience and marketing in the age of AI.

You can explore these topics in a lecture theatre, but there's something special about seeing them brought to life in a real tourism setting.

A tour of the site and its beautiful lodges provided plenty of inspiration, as well as some delicious wood-fired pizza to keep everyone going!

The visit will now help shape four exciting student consultancy projects:

🌲 Future rural accommodation development

📅 Events to attract visitors throughout the year

🌿 Wellness and nature-based tourism

📱 Digital storytelling and immersive visitor experiences

These projects give our students the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice and develop ideas for a business they've now had the chance to explore firsthand.

And then came the competitive part of the day! Tomahawk throwing and crossbow shooting with the activity team, with prizes up for grabs. It's amazing how quickly a little friendly competition brings out everyone's competitive side! 🎯

Beyond the academic learning, it was wonderful to see our students enjoying themselves, getting involved and making memories together.

A huge thank you to David Hall, Mike Wardley, Gary Storey, Peter Pattinson, Becky Laidler, Tracey Robson and the wider Kielder Waterside team for their hospitality, enthusiasm and willingness to share their industry knowledge.

And a special thank you to our colleagues Dr Serkan Uzunogullari and Dr Stephanie Preston for making the visit such a success!

We returned with plenty of ideas, full stomachs and some brilliant memories. Now we're looking forward to seeing what our students come up with in their consultancy reports!

🎥 Take a look at the highlights from the day, brilliantly captured by Serkan!

12/10/2026

We were delighted to welcome Miles Manning to the University of Sunderland last week, who delivered a thought-provoking and engaging guest lecture exploring crisis management within the tourism industry! 🌍 ✈️

As part of our MGT2000 Current Issues in Tourism module, Miles shared fascinating insights into his career journey, the projects he has been involved in, and the realities of managing crises across the visitor economy.

Our students were thoroughly engaged throughout the session, gaining valuable real-world perspectives on the challenges faced by tourism professionals and the importance of effective crisis management.

Guest lectures such as these play an invaluable role in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practice, inspiring our students and preparing them for their future careers.

A huge thank you to Miles for sharing his time, knowledge, and experiences with our students - including some of the more gruesome details!

09/10/2026

02/10/2026

NoooOoooOOOOoooo, yes 😌

This October sun has got us feeling like it’s still summer ☀️

Credit 📸: Sachin and Raj, Stage 3 BSc (Hons) International Tourism and Hospitality Management students.

16/09/2026

Today we welcomed our new BSc (Hons) International Tourism and Hospitality Management students! A room full of new faces, big plans, and people doing their very best to remember everyone’s name.

By the end, a few friendships had begun, several questions had been answered, and everyone knew at least one more person than they did that morning.

Not bad for day one ❤️

Welcome again! We’re so pleased you’re here.

22/05/2026

A few highlights from our tourism field trips this semester ✨
We explored religious tourism, local heritage, and Durham’s old food market, to walking through the streets of York, learning about The Shambles, passing the iconic Bettys Tea Room, and ending the day at Shambles Food Court 🍴☕ Always nice to take learning beyond the classroom and experience destinations first-hand with our students across all levels of study 📹

11/03/2026

Hehe x

08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day! 🌸

Today we’re celebrating the amazing women across our HEAT community who are shaping the future of hospitality, events, aviation and tourism ✨

Here’s to the women who lead, inspire, and make things happen every day 👏



WomenInHospitality WomenInAviation

08/03/2026

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day and recognise the incredible contributions women make across the hospitality, events, aviation, tourism and business industries 💜

Across our HEAT community and the wider Business School, we are proud to work alongside inspiring women who lead, innovate, mentor, and support others every day. From students beginning their journeys to colleagues shaping the future of our industries, their impact is powerful and lasting.

At the University of Sunderland, we remain committed to supporting equality, opportunity, and representation; empowering the next generation of women to thrive in their careers and make their mark across the global visitor economy.

Today is a moment to celebrate achievements, recognise progress, and continue the conversation about building inclusive and supportive environments for everyone.

21/02/2026

Yesterday, our postgraduate tourism and business students had the chance to hear from Kem Small, founder of Reight Signature, and it was one of those sessions that lingers.

Kem walked us through his journey from Sales Manager to entrepreneur. Not the glossy version, but the real one. The leap. The doubt. The recalibration.

He shared what makes Reight Travel different. Thoughtfully differentiated, tailor made travel products designed with intention. From business oriented trips that respect time and purpose, to signature breaks that feel personal rather than packaged. Travel as strategy. Travel as experience.

And then came the honest part.

The financial strain at the beginning.
The quiet negotiations with your own confidence.
The risk, not just on paper, but in identity.

The room shifted when he spoke about building professional networks. Not transactional networking. Real relationships. The kind you nurture before you need them. The kind that outlast a single deal.

Questions flowed from students.

How do you know when it is the right time to step out on your own?
What is the first practical step if you have an idea?
What business skills do you think are most important for graduates

The discussion was thoughtful, probing, and refreshingly honest. Students leaned in!

A big thank you to Dr Serkan Uzunogullari, our Postgraduate Academic Champion in Employability and Enterprise, for organising the session and continuing to create spaces where industry and education genuinely meet.

And thank you to Dr Laura Nelson for opening up her class and contributing so meaningfully to the discussion. Collaboration like that quietly elevates the whole experience.

Moments like this matter.
They bridge theory and reality.
They remind students that careers are rarely linear, and that uncertainty is often part of the design.

University of Sunderland