Deborah T. Curtis, DBA, CMP, CME

Director of The Hospitality Training & Research Center

Email:

dcurtis@niagara.edu

Phone:

(716) 205-0075

Fax:

(716) 205-0077

Bio

Deborah Tallman Curtis has been a leader in the hospitality industry for over twenty years. Debbie is the Director of the Hospitality Training & Research Center at Niagara University; the Center conducts feasibility studies, industry diagnosis, professional development, and customized training for arts and cultural organizations, hotels, casinos, restaurants and attractions. Dr. Curtis is also the Director of the Americas for the Leading Hotel Schools of the World. The Leading Hotel Schools of the World is an organization consisting of the world’s top hotel schools and academic institutions with dedicated hotel management programs. The mission is to provide the most advanced and comprehensive educational opportunities available to the hospitality industry.

Her industry experience ranges from ownership of a 60 room property to Director of Sales and Marketing at a 500 room Hilton to National Sales Director with a Convention and Visitors Bureau. As a consultant, she assists hospitality based organizations improve their performance. She has conducted seminars across NYS for the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association. Dr. Curtis has helped to develop a “learn to lead” program for the Leading Hotels of the World, and trained managers at Trump International Hotel and Tower. She conducted multi day workshops for managers with the Villa d’Este hotel group in Lake Como Italy. Villa d’Este was voted #1 spa hotel in Europe. She conducted revenue optimization training at a One&Only resort in the Republic of the Maldives. She has also conduct training workshops for multi Leading Hotel of the World properties throughout the US and Caribbean. She has worked with Travel Management companies, economy to luxury properties and industry associations. Debbie has been involved with the Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service since its inception. This program provides industry training for those with physical disabilities.

Dr. Curtis earned a DBA, Management from the University of Sarasota. Her dissertation was “A study of the effect of diversity on job placement and salary in the hotel segment of the hospitality industry.” She took doctoral classes at UNLV- Hotel Management and completed the University of Nevada, Reno’s Executive Development Program in Casino Management; in addition to her D.B.A., she holds a M.S. in Education from Canisius College and a B.S. in Transportation, Travel, and Tourism from Niagara University.