ABOUT | BIO

RACHEL DODDS, PhD
Director, Sustaining Tourism

A dynamic, self starter with over 20 years international experience across a wide spectrum of the tourism industry. Rachel has worked with hotels, large and small tour operators, ecotourism planners, sustainable tourism management and marketing projects, international development banks, landscape and park planning firms, governments, NGO's, marketing organizations and hospitality and tourism attractions.

Rachel is currently the Director of Sustaining Tourism - a boutique consulting firm. She is also an Associate Professor at Ryerson University in Canada where she joined the Ted Rogers School of Tourism & Hospitality Management in 2006.

Having been trained to look at many different aspects of tourism, Rachel knows that sustainability means long term planning and management and that experience and understanding of diverse cultures and environments is a fundamental part of tourism. She has furthered this understanding through both her personal and work travels. She has now has traveled extensively to 6 continents and over 75 countries.

Rachel has two specialties within the tourism industry:

Sustainable/responsible/ecotourism consulting - strategy, development, environmental management, research, business planning and marketing and communications. She has undertaken a range of tourism development and marketing consulting assignments both alone and in cooperation with other companies.

Communication, marketing and public relations implementation. Her experience includes non-profit organizations, tour companies, ecolodges and entrepreneurs.


Rachel holds a PhD from the University of Surrey in the UK and a Master of Tourism Management from Griffith University in Australia. She also has undergraduate degrees in both business management and sociology from Canadian Universities.

She has taught at both colleges and universities delivering classes on sustainable tourism, research, ecotourism/adventure recreation, tourism policy and strategic business development. In addition to giving worldwide lectures on sustainable tourism and urban sustainability, she has guest lectured at events and conferences worldwide and contributes to the tourism community through a number of boards and memberships.

Rachel has written, co-authored and edited articles about sustainable tourism and ecotourism, islands and urban sustainability and has published books and numerous articles. For a list of publications, click here.

Rachel's PhD examined coastal mass tourism and sustainable tourism policy

To read her book about whether theory is being achieved in practice - click here. Her latest book: Sustainable Tourism in Islands is released by Earthscan Publications

Professional Memberships and Boards

Sustainable Tourism Degree Program Advisory Board, Centennial (2011)

Transportation Options Board Member (2011 - present)

The Icarus Foundation founding member
and Board Member (2007 - 2010)

Canadian Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council (2008-present)

SDEA Advisory Board (2008-present)

Green Motion Express(2007 to 2010)

Travel & Tourism Research Association (TTRA), Canada - Board
of Directors (2008 & 2009 and 2001-2005)

The International Ecotourism Society - Member

Tourism Concern - Member

Ecoclub: The International Ecotourism Club - Member, International Speakers Bureau (2001-2005)

CESO Volunteer
(2007-2011)

Toastmasters International - Designated Competent Toastmaster