Professor Joe Goldblatt - Research Profile

Professor Joe Goldblatt , International specialist in planned events  

Professor Joe Goldblatt, a leading international light in the field of events management, is Executive Director of Queen Margaret University’s International Centre for the Study of Planned Events.

Formerly Executive Director of the Event Leadership Executive Certificate Programme and Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University in Philadelphia, Goldblatt boasts an international reputation for event management and has produced hundreds of events for luminaries including two USA presidents and the opening of the Donald Trump Taj Mahal Resort.

With an outstanding international reputation both in academia and in the organisation of planned events, Joe Goldblatt was invited by Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh to take up a lecturing position within its School of Business, Enterprise and Management. He did so and took the Scottish events industry by storm. Whilst teaching on the events management degree programme at QMU, he established the International Centre for the Study of Planned Events. The Centre has not only secured high levels of funding for its research and consultancy, it has attracted an impressive list of international events industry professionals to Scotland to engage with QMU students and industry professionals. Recent VIP visits have included William Morton, producer of the Athens Olympic Games’ opening and closing ceremonies; Dr Frank Supovitz, Senior Vice President for Events for the National Football League (NFL); and Nick Rago, former Director of Walt Disney Company Cruise Lines.

In 1999, Queen Margaret University awarded Joe Goldblatt a professorship. His energetic work in developing productive relationships for the University with all manner of organisations including business, education, public body and government, goes from strength to strength and he continues to develop his research and consultancy on an international level. In May 2010, his work led to the First Minister’s announcement that the Homecoming Archives for 2009 had been awarded to Queen Margaret University.

An experienced media commentator Professor Goldblatt is a regular contributor to BBC arts programmes, BBC business news, TV programmes such as Newsnight Scotland, Scottish daily newspapers, specialist arts and event management magazines, and international publications. His reputation continues to develop on a global basis with requests for him to speak to international audiences of event industry professionals. Recent trips have included the Philippines, the USA and

According to the publishers, John Wiley and Sons, Professor Goldblatt is the foremost authority internationally in the field of event management. He is the author, co-author and editor of 19 books in the field of planned events .

Examples of Professor Goldblatt’s research and consultancy work:

• Funding for the culture events including the Edinburgh Festivals

Professor Goldblatt and event management researchers at QMU identified a scheme which could generate millions of pounds in additional funding for cultural events including The Edinburgh Festivals. They devised a scheme which could generate in excess of £3 million a year to support cultural events in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The team consulted with the major festival directors in Scotland who stated that the single most critical need for the future of Scottish cultural events was to identify additional sources of funding. The research study showed that a substantial income stream could be generated if a £1 levy was added to all ticket sales. This solution was favoured over other alternative schemes by a majority of the cultural events directors, local council members and quangos who were all interviewed as part of the report.

The study, which involved interviews with cultural leaders in both Edinburgh and Glasgow and an in - depth examination of best practices in the USA, was conducted to identify sustainable funding sources specifically for The Edinburgh International Festival, Festival Fringe, Piping Live and Celtic Connections.

• Evaluation of The Gathering 2009

The Centre for the Study of Planned Events systematically evaluated the happiness factor of The Gathering 2009 participants in July of 2009. 150 ethnographic interviews, hundreds of photos and thousands of observations resulted in a happiness scale depicting the satisfaction level of The Gathering 2009 participants.

RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY

Queen Margaret University has a range of experts who are available to work with business, research partners and government organisations.

Over the years Professor Goldblatt has provided his expertise to a wide range of government, public body and commercial organisations including The Scottish Government, Event Scotland, Visit Scotland, the Balmoral Hotel, East Lothian Tourism Council and others.

If you’re interested in accessing Professor Goldblatt’s expertise to assist your business/project development pleased contact: Sue Gordon , Business Development Manager, or Kim Gilchrist , Senior Research Officer, or T: 0131 474 0000 and ask for each member of staff by name.

KEY MEDIA TALKING POINTS

Professor Goldblatt would be happy to provide specialist comment in the following areas:

• The Future of the Edinburgh Festivals
• Festivals and the Funding Crisis
• Tourism and Events Management including The Edinburgh Festivals, ‘The Gathering 2009’ and ‘Homecoming Scotland’
• Event management and leadership
• Event policy making
• Event evaluation (economic, social, risk management, environmental)
• Event marketing
• Event economics
• The Olympic Games
• Major public events such as Hogmanay
• Events and terrorism
• Events and the environmental movement
• Events and human resource development

CONTACT:

If you require Joe Goldblatt for comment, please contact Lynne Russell , Press and PR Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 317 3652, mobile: 07711 011239.