The long and beneficial association between Smith Travel Research (STR) and Cornell University has been strengthened with the announcement that STR has become a Partner with Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research (CHR).

“This is an excellent next step in our relationship,” said STR co-founder and CEO Randell Smith. “Cornell researchers have produced several studies based on STR data, and I am looking forward to seeing additional research reports as a result of this new partnership.”

As a long-time friend of the School of Hotel Administration's Center for the Hospitality Research, STR has made its aggregate data available to researchers on a confidential basis, to allow in-depth analysis of industry trends.

“Smith Travel Research has made a continuous and valuable contribution to the industry,” said David W. Butler, Dean of the School of Hotel Administration.

“I am pleased that STR and the Hotel School will be working even more closely to improve the rigor and reach of hotel industry research. In particular, we note the participation of STR President Mark Lomanno as a continuing member of the CHR’s advisory board.”

Among the CHR Reports that have been based on STR’s aggregate data are:

“Why Discounting Doesn’t Work: The Dynamics of Rising Occupancy and Falling Revenue among Competitors,” by Cornell Professors Cathy Enz, Linda Canina, and STR’s Lomanno; “Lodging Demand for Urban Hotels in Major Markets,” by Cornell’s Linda Canina and Steven Carvell; and “The Influence of Gasoline-price Fluctuations on U.S. Lodging Demand: A Study of Branded Hotels from 1988 through 2000,” by Professors Linda Canina, Kate Walsh, and Cathy Enz.

These and all CHR Reports are available from the Center’s web site, http://www.thecenterforhospitalityresearch.org/.

Thanks to the support of partners such as Smith Travel Research and those listed below, all CHR Reports are made available free of charge.