SPS Stories
Faculty Spotlight
Bruno Eeckels
Clinical Associate Professor
Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality
Inspiring the Next Leaders in Travel and Tourism
Fast Facts
- Bruno Eeckels serves as the academic director for graduate programs at the Tisch Center of Hospitality
- He has over two decades of teaching experience, including a role as dean of graduate studies at Les Roches
- His research in tourism finance includes forecasting models and the economic impact of tourism
<p>Bruno Eeckels has established himself as an invaluable resource in the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-travel-and-tourism-management.html" title="MS in Travel and Tourism Management">MS in Travel and Tourism Management</a> program at NYU SPS's <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/academic-divisions-and-departments/jonathan-m-tisch-center-of-hospitality.html" title=" Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality">Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality</a>. Serving as a clinical associate professor of hospitality finance, and more recently as the academic director for the graduate programs, Eeckels applies academic rigor and his industry experience in the classroom to shape the next generation of hospitality professionals. Fluent in both French and Greek, his multicultural background and international perspective make him a unique and impactful educator.</p>
An Academic at Heart
<p>With a career spanning over two decades, Eeckels has an extensive teaching career, which started in 2000. He recalls his time as an associate professor of finance at Les Roches Global Hospitality Education in Switzerland, where he taught both undergraduate and graduate students. During his tenure there, Eeckels covered financial management, investment strategies, and data analysis. </p>
<p>"I love teaching and academia," he shares. Eeckels' time at Les Roches allowed him to deeply explore the intricacies of hospitality finance and shape his approach to teaching it. His commitment to the field led him to become the dean of graduate studies at Les Roches from 2010 to 2016.</p>
<p>Eeckels' academic credentials are equally impressive. He earned his PhD in finance from Bournemouth University in the UK in 2013 and later served as a visiting research fellow there in 2017. His research interests center around hospitality finance, tourism economics, and forecasting, subjects he not only teaches but also explores through his numerous publications. He has co-authored several articles in esteemed journals, including the Journal of Travel Research, Tourism Management, and the Annals of Tourism Research, showcasing his dedication to advancing knowledge in the field.</p>
Bringing Tourism Finance to Life
<p>Always having been fascinated by the intricate relationship between tourism and economic growth, Eeckels' research explores different aspects of tourism, such as the impact of oil prices and democracy on economic growth within the tourism sector. He also investigates tourism forecasting models that employ macroeconomic dimensions and non-parametric models, including the singular spectrum analysis approach. These areas of study are crucial for understanding the broader economic impact of tourism and provide a rich context for the courses he teaches at NYU SPS.</p>
<p>Since joining NYU SPS, Eeckels has embraced the challenge of leading graduate students through the complexities of hospitality finance. His teaching approach emphasizes real-world application, encouraging students to engage critically with current trends and economic factors affecting the global tourism landscape.</p>
I enjoy teaching them because we have that shared passion about travel and tourism, although I teach finance, which is a bit more of a dry subject. I try to make my finance class relevant to travel and tourism students. We have a lot of common ground there.”
<p>By incorporating his research findings into the curriculum, Eeckels ensures that students leave his classes with a nuanced understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of hospitality finance.</p>
Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders
<p>Now as the academic director for the graduate programs at the Tisch Center, Eeckels is focused on fostering a learning environment that keeps pace with the rapidly evolving hospitality industry. He continues to emphasize the importance of forecasting and financial management skills, preparing students to thrive in a market characterized by uncertainty and change. His guidance and expertise have made a lasting impact on his students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the field.</p>
<p>Make your mark on the ever-changing travel and tourism industry when you pursue an <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-travel-and-tourism-management.html" target="_blank" title="MS in Travel and Tourism Management">MS in Travel and Tourism Management</a> at NYU SPS.</p>
