Faculty & Staff
JUSTIN TAILLON
Assistant Professor
School of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Education
Ph.D. Candidate (2011), Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
MBA (2007), Hospitality & Tourism Management, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
B.Sc (2003), Hotel & Restaurant Management, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
Research Interests
Justin is most interested in sustainable hospitality pedagogy and socio-cultural dimensions of sustainability. He has worked closely with industry Destination Marketing Organizations, hoteliers, and community members when conducting applied sustainability-oriented research in the following areas: community involvement in decision-making, emerging technologies in the hospitality field, sustainability certification programs, understanding successful brand communities, and the management of human resources within the field of hospitality.
Work History
Prior to returning to academia to complete a Master’s Degree Justin worked for six years in the hotel industry in Houston, TX. After beginning as an Intern in 2000 with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Justin worked his way up to Front Office Manager at The Hilton – Post Oak by 2004 and became an Assistant General Manager at a franchised Hilton property in 2007.
Courses Taught
Justin taught a wide-ranging set of courses at Texas A&M University as a PhD Candidate including: Attraction and Destination Management, Foundations of Recreation and Park, Theories of Leisure, Administration and Management in Tourism, Introduction to Tourism, International Tourism, and Tourism Impacts. Justin teaches Hospitality and Lodging Operations related courses at the University of Guelph.
Selected Research Experience
Justin has garnered many unique research opportunities while working in academia. He has primarily worked with communities to help create sustainable tourism programs. These opportunities have lead to:
- Madre de Dios, Peru where he worked with the indigenous Ese’Eja population to improve sustainability in the aguajals surrounding their community-operated lodging operations
- Hearne, Texas where he assisted in turning a World War II Prisoner of War Camp into an economically sustainable tourism destination offering a community learning experience.
- Bandera, Texas where he assisted in completing the community’s tourism master plan
- Calvert, Texas where he assisted community leaders in creating a memorial to professional baseball player Rube Foster, a local hero, Negro League star, and Hall of Fame baseball player enshrined in Cooperstown, New York.
- Messina Hof Winery in Texas where he assisted in creating their marketing plan and the creation of their Brand Community Initiative
- Corpus Christi, Texas where he assisted in the management of the Certified Wildlife Guide program for nature, fishing, and eco tourism guides
Selected Publications and Articles
Jamal, T., Taillon, J., Dredge, D. (2011). Sustainable tourism pedagogy and academic-community collaboration: A progressive service learning approach. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, 11(2), 133-147.
Taillon, J., & Schalk, C. (2011). The Application of Biological Conservation Techniques for Aguajals in South Eastern Peru’s Madre de Dios Region. George Wright Society Conference: New Orleans, LA.
Taillon, J., & Nguyen, T. (2010). Towards understanding sustainable technology implementation: The barriers faced by IT professionals when implementing technologies as part of an EMS program. iHITA Conference 2010: Orlando, FL.
Taillon, J., & Jamal, T. (2009). Understanding the volunteer tourist: A qualitative inquiry. The VolunTourist, 4(4).
Jamal, T., & Taillon, J. (2009). Sustainable Tourism Pedagogy and Student-Community Collaboration: Developing Diverse Cultural Heritage. ISTTE Conference 2009.
Taillon, J., & Choi, HS. (2007). Understanding the Volunteer Tourist: A Qualitative Inquiry. Graduate Student Conference: Orlando, FL.
