BU School of Hospitality Administration Appoints Makarand Mody, Ph.D., to New Director of Research Position
(July 22, 2021) Boston, MA – Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration 
(BU SHA) Dean Arun Upneja, Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Makarand Mody, Ph.D., to Director of Research, the first-ever position of its kind at the School of Hospitality Administration. Dr. Mody’s primary role is to spearhead research and grant initiatives, as well as mentor faculty in this effort.
“Makarand’s personal stellar research efforts during his tenure at BU SHA thus far have proven noteworthy,” said Dean Upneja. “Now a respected expert on the shared economy and hospitality experiences, he is often called upon by media as an expert resource, and by academia and industry to participate in speaking engagements on related topics. His renowned performance as a researcher and pedagogue greatly qualifies him to take on this role and steer our School’s initiatives accordingly.”
Dr. Mody’s background includes tenures with Hyatt Hotels Corporation in Mumbai as a Trainer and with India’s Kingfisher Airlines as a Quality Analyst. He also served as a Qualitative Research Specialist with IMRB International, a market research, survey, and business consultancy. Additionally, he advises companies on branding, service, and marketing strategy-related issues.
Earlier this year, Dr. Mody was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. His published research includes articles on the sharing economy, including Airbnb and the Hotel Industry: The Past, Present, and Future of Sales, Marketing, Branding, and Revenue Management. More recently, he moderated a panel discussing the future of hospitality and wellness as applied to senior living, one of SHA’s master’s level concentrations.
“Hospitality is an ever-changing industry with new products, strategies, and technologies constantly surfacing,” said Mody. “This past year has ushered in an unprecedented need for the industry to change and adapt to new standards and environments. As such, we have had to also change and adapt. We will continue to produce outstanding research, providing the best insights to the industry’s most pressing issues.”
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About Boston University School of Hospitality Administration: Established in 1981 and now celebrating 40 years of Innovating the Business of Hospitality, Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (SHA) offers students a combination of rigorous academics, liberal arts curriculum, and international experiences for the pursuit of success in lodging, restaurants, food service, and other avenues of the hospitality industry. SHA has a unique relationship with the city of Boston, where the area’s hotels and restaurants provide students with numerous opportunities for internships to satisfy work experience requirements for their degree. For more information about the powerful SHA undergraduate program, visit https://www.bu.edu/hospitality/academics/undergraduate/ , and to learn more about the internationally recognized MMH program, visit https://www.bu.edu/hospitality/academics/mmh .
About Boston University: Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 33,000 students, it is the fourth-largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 schools and colleges, along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes integral to the University’s research and teaching mission. In 2012, BU joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Arun Upneja, PhD
Dean and Professor
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration
Email: aupneja@bu.edu
Office: 617-358-6744
Topic Participants
Jonathan Albano