Carol Southall

Head Of Department - Business

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

A former Operations and Training Manager in the tourism industry, I am currently studying for a PhD focusing on the relationship between cultural awareness and visitor satisfaction in tourism. I have worked as a Tour Guide and Tour Driver for over 25 years for one of the UK’s leading award winning coach tour operators, accompanying trips to destinations as diverse as Singapore, Australia and Italy. Industry experience also includes seasons as a Resort Representative in France, Switzerland and Yugoslavia as well as a period of hospitality and PR industry employment in Sydney, Australia. Additionally, I have events industry experience, involving planning and managing travel events and roadshows, as well as coordinating UK band tours.

Research interests include Culture, LGBT Tourism and Family Tourism and I have authored a number of chapters and articles in these fields. Research projects include an Environmental Impact Assessment for Lichfield Cathedral, a retail tourism project and article for Which magazine and Smartour (Erasmus+) project for Sustainable Tourism Management. I am also a member of the Senior Advisory Board for Harrington Park Press.

Professional memberships and activities

Member Tourism Management Institute (MIMI)

Association for Event Management Education – corporate member

Association for Tourism in Higher Education - corporate member

Academic qualifications

PhD (currently studying) The Relationship between Cultural Awareness and Visitor Satisfaction in Tourism – University of Wolverhampton

MA Tourism Management – University of Wolverhampton

HND Tourism Management (combined with French and German) - University of West London (Was ECHE)

Certificate in Education (CertEd) – Manchester Metropolitan University

Expertise

LGBT Tourism

Culture and tourism

Family Tourism

Research interests

The relationship between cultural awareness and visitor satisfaction in tourism.

LGBT Tourism.

Family Tourism.

Customer experience/service.

eSports Events and Tourism.

Enterprise and commercial interests

Working with a range of local and regional industry partners including Alton Towers, Dorothy Clive Garden, Middleport Pottery, Hanley Park and Biddulph Grange Garden, to enhance student employability.

Teaching

BA (Hons) Tourism Management

BA (Hons) Event Management

FdA Visitor Attraction and Resort Management

BA (Hons) eSports

Publications

  • Viol, M. and Southall, C. (2023) A conceptual framework for understanding Western-centrism in transnational education in tourism, Current Issues in Tourism, 26(1), pp. 1-5. DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2021.2019203

  • McCormack, K. & Southall, C. (2022). Encouraging the student voice during induction through playfulness: Using Playmobil.pro to elicit conversation, laughter and understanding. CABS LTSE 2022 Conference Proceedings. Available from: https://cabs-199e2.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/LTSE-2022-Conference-Proceedings-FINAL.pdf.

  • Cai, W. and Southall, C. (2021) Managing Sexuality for Gay and Lesbian Parents in Heterosexual Family Holiday Spaces: Setting an Agenda for Research in Vorobjovas-Pinta, O. (Ed) Gay Tourism: New perspectives. Bristol: Channelview.
  • Cai, W. & Southall, C. (2019) Gay Parents in Heterosexual Family Holiday Space. Abstract submitted and accepted for Critical Tourism Studies Conference: 'Pride and Prejudice: Que(e)rying Tourism Hope', 24-28 June, Ibiza 2019.

  • Cai, W. & Southall, C. (2019) Managing Sexuality in Family Holiday Space in Gay Tourism: New Perspectives’. Channel View Publications (not yet published)

  • Southall, C. (2018) Family Tourism in Agarwal, S. Busby, G. & Huang, R. (Eds) Special Interest Tourism: Concepts, Contexts and Cases. Oxford: CABI.

  • Viol, M. & Southall, C. (2018) Western-centrism in UK HE Tourism Curricula. Conference Presentation at Critical Tourism Studies, March 2018, Universitas Gadja Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

  • Southall, C. (2017) Business Pages COMMENT: 'Doing business overseas exposes us to different cultures and new ideas' in The Sentinel (May 2017), Stoke-on-Trent

  • Southall, C. (2017) Business Pages COMMENT: “Staffordshire University lecturer Carol Southall on culture, lobby and business survival” in The Sentinel (April 2017), Stoke-on-Trent

  • Southall, C. (2017) Family Tourism in Williams, P. (Ed) Special Interest Tourism. Oxford: CABI. (Awaiting Publication)

  • Hughes, H. & Southall, C. (2012) Gay and Lesbian Families and Tourism in Schänzel, H., Yeoman, I. & Backer, E. (Eds) Family Tourism: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Bristol: Channelview.

  • Southall, C. (2012) UK Family Tourism: Past, Present and Future Challenges in Schänzel, H., Yeoman, I. & Backer, E. (Eds) Family Tourism: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Bristol: Channelview.

  • Southall, C. (2012) Wine Tourism in Robinson, P. (Ed) Key Concepts in Tourism. Abingdon: Routledge.

  • Southall, C. (2012) Family Tourism in Robinson, P. (Ed) Key Concepts in Tourism. Abingdon: Routledge.

  • Southall, C. (2012) LGBT Tourism in Robinson, P. (Ed) Key Concepts in Tourism. Abingdon: Routledge.

  • Phillips, L. & Southall, C. (2012) Sport Tourism in Robinson, P. (Ed) Key Concepts in Tourism. Abingdon: Routledge.

  • Phillips, L. & Southall, C. (2012) Adventure Tourism in Robinson, P. (Ed) Key Concepts in Tourism. Abingdon: Routledge.

  • Robinson, P. and Southall, C. (2011) Heritage Tourism in Robinson, P., Heitmann, S. & Dieke, P.U.C. (Eds) Research Themes in Tourism. Oxford: CABI.

  • Southall, C. & Fallon, P. (2011) LGBT Tourism in Robinson, P., Heitmann, S. & Dieke, P.U.C. (Eds) (Research Themes in Tourism. Oxford: CABI.

  • Southall, C. (2010) Family Tourism in Tourism Insights. London: Visit Britain.

  • Southall, C. (2009) Business Benefits of Cultural Awareness in Tourism Insights. London: Visit Britain.

  • Southall, C. (2009) Retail Tourism: Do People Travel just for Shopping? in Tourism Insights. London: Visit Britain.

  • Southall, C. (2009) Gay Tourism in Tourism Insights. London: Visit Britain.

External profiles

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021