Research Tourism, travel and hospitality is the world's largest economic sector and generates more jobs than any other industry. David L. Edgell, Sr., PhD has conducted local, national, and global tourism research to respond to the growing challenges and changing needs of tourism organizations and professionals. He has been dedicated to conducting quality multidisciplinary research focusing on issues relevant to tourism, tourism development, and tourism management. Dr. Edgell has conducted research in subject areas including the social, cultural, and leisure aspects of tourism; travel decision-making processes; marketing and promotion of tourism destinations; tourism information; community tourism development, and the social and environmental impacts of tourism. His work on sustainable tourism on a worldwide basis is a classic case in its own right. In this regard, Dr. Edgell has focused on developing strategies to attract tourists while maintaining the long-term economic and environmental viability and integrity of a particular destination or region. Dr. Edgell's unique educational background highly qualifies him for a leadership role in conducting tourism research. His BS degree in Business had a strong orientation towards "quantitative and qualitative methods". He completed a BA degree in Economics with a major emphasis on economic development, econometrics, and international economics. As Dr. Edgell became more involved in the management and administrative aspects of running a business or administrating governmental programs, he completed a MA in Public Administration. Later, as he conducted tourism activities abroad, he finished a PhD in Management with a special interest in "international management". Dr. Edgell furthered these academic endeavors with post-graduate studies at the University of California, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Dr. Edgell has worked with and been associated with many different groups in conducting tourism research. A few are mentioned below: Tourism Development, East Carolina University International Academy for the Study of Tourism World Tourism Organization, International Center for Advanced Tourism Studies International Institute of Tourism Studies, The George Washington University Center of Sustainable Tourism, University of Colorado at Boulder Executive Development Institute for Tourism, University of Hawaii at Manoa Management Seminars on Hospitality and Tourism, University of the U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Research Laboratory, University of Illinois Organization of American States, Inter-American Travel Congress