Download the 2023 Annual Report: Community Sentiment of Tourism.

The Sustainable Tourism Lab was developed to protect tourism destinations for future generations of residents and visitors. 

The Lab provides data and services to help tourism organizations around the country balance visitor and community needs. It aims to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to pursue sustainable solutions to common tourism industry problems.

To improve the tourism industry through a collaborative, stakeholder-driven process, the lab works to research and design sustainable solutions to the industry’s most pressing problems.

Community Sentiment of Tourism

OSU researchers, along with partner institutions from across the US, Asia/Pacific, and Central America are quantifying how local residents perceive tourism.

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Food Waste Technology

Business, Engineering and Computer Science faculty and students have built a prototype to quantify and reduce post-consumer food waste.


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Building A Sustainable Workforce

There are jobs that will always have low retention rates and that technology is not currently available to automate. For those jobs, the answer is rapid, cost-effective and impactful retraining.

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2024

ANNUAL REPORT

tourism tax position paper 2024

Protecting Paradise A Socially Optimal Tourist Tax Framework – Montgomery 2024

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2025 Snapshot Research Reports

Residents Ask For Control

Published May 2025

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When Did Overtourism Begin?

Published April 2025

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33 States Introduce Bills to Constrain Tourism

Published March 2025

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2024

ANNUAL REPORT

PROTECTING PARADISE: A SOCIALLY OPTIMAL TOURIST TAX FRAMEWORK

Researching if tax revenue can mitigate the costs of tourism. 

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2023

ANNUAL REPORT

COMMUNITY SENTIMENT OF TOURISM

Investigating the relationships between tourism and community needs.

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ANNUAL REPORT

COMMUNITY SENTIMENT OF TOURISM

Investigating the relationships between tourism and community needs in orderto provide decision-makers with objective information forinformed decisions.
Download Now

2023

Our Research in the News

destination think

Learning from resident sentiment studies at OSU’s Sustainable Tourism Lab

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pbs

Sustainable Tourism Lab measures how residents weigh pros, cons of tourism in their communities

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usa today

Reports of price gouging at Oregon hotels after wildfires leads governor to issue order

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outside magazine

Overtourism Is Out of Control. Here Are the New Rules of Travel.

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nbc news

No free parking or hot tub ragers: Tourist destinations tighten their rules

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New technology from OSU-Cascades

Sustainable Tourism Lab measures how residents weigh pros, cons of tourism in their communities

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aaa magazine

Oregon and Idaho abound in urban attractions and endless outdoor recreation

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kgw

Rental car company owner says prices are surging amid shortage

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kezi

Ost kitchens emerge as restaurants innovate through pandemic

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dailyastorian

A year into the pandemic, the North Coast welcomes the return of tourism

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statesmanjournal

Future of popular venue at Silver Falls State Park unclear after operator ends contract

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restaurantandcafe

REVENUE MANAGEMENT FOR LABOUR?

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statesmanjournal

Unemployment claims in Oregon reach record levels due to pandemic

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osucascades

Experiential Learning in an Entrepreneurial Town

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bendbulletin

What’s behind Central Oregon’s niceness

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issuu

Hotel Brokers representing Buyers & Sellers in Oregon.

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bendbulletin

OSU-Cascades hospitality management program graduates first class

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kbnd

Relay the Robot Makes Its High Desert Debut

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bendbulletin

OSU survey: hospitality workers value company culture over pay

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KTVZ 21

New technology from OSU-Cascades and community partners is aimed at reducing food waste

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Our Research in the News

Technical Report

Technical Report 2023 Community Sentiment of Tourism : Annual ReportAlternative Title: 2023 Annual Report Creator : Montgomery, Todd  Communities throughout the worldRead More »
Posted byosu adminMarch 22, 2024 Posted inRecent News

Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable Tourism Protecting Communities and Environments for Future Generations Oregon and Idaho abound in urban attractions and endless outdoor recreation. It’sRead More »
Posted byosu adminMarch 22, 2024 Posted inRecent News

Tourism Industry Continues to Rebound

Tourism Industry Continues to Rebound Oregon Gov Kate Brown warns against hotel price gouging amid wildfires BY TODD MONTGOMERY, ROBIN ANDRead More »
Posted byosu adminMarch 18, 2024 Posted inRecent News

The Astorian: Seaside Part of Tourism Research

Seaside is one of over 40 cities worldwide taking part in project. By Abby Sourwine Seaside Signal Aug 7, 2023 ViewRead More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 22, 2023 Posted inRecent News

NBC News: No free parking or hot tub ragers: Tourist destinations tighten their rules

Tourist destinations tighten their rules No free parking or hot tub ragers: Tourist destinations tighten their rules​ March 31, 2023,Read More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 11, 2023 Posted inRecent News

OPB Think Out Loud Interview: Sustainable Tourism Lab measures how residents weigh pros, cons of tourism in their communities

Sustainable Tourism Lab OPB Think Out Load Interview: Sustainable Tourism Lab measures how residents weigh pros, cons of tourism inRead More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 11, 2023 Posted inRecent News

OSU Non Traditional Students - HM 2025

Watch one of our student’s story:

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Projects

Building A Sustainable Workforce

The labor shortage in the hospitality industry is significant and is impacting the industry’s ability to grow and serve customers. In 2016, OSU’s hospitality management degree faculty andRead More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 10, 2023 Posted inBuilding A Sustainable Workforce, project updates

Community Sentiment of Tourism

How Does the Community View Tourism? Communities worldwide have long grappled with the dual impacts of tourism—both its benefits and challenges. The pandemic has intensified thisRead More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 10, 2023 Posted inFood Waste Technology, project updates

Food Monitoring

Food Monitoring Food is a Data Problem The OSU Sustainable Tourism Lab, along with partners in the College of Engineering and Computer Science are using machineRead More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 29, 2023 Posted inProjects

About the Team

Get to know the talented individuals who make it all happen at

Meet the Team

Blogs

SKAGWAY, ALASKA

SKAGWAY, ALASKA It is June 2024.  Todd Montgomery, Hospitality Management instructor and Sustainable Tourism Lab Founder/Director, asks if I would like to become aRead More »
Posted byosu adminJuly 15, 2025 Posted inResident Survey

Tourism Lab Introduction

Lab Introduction: Too little tourism? Too much Tourism! Join us as our students explore how tourism is affecting your town!  Greetings and welcome to theRead More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 21, 2023 Posted inproject updates, Resident Survey

On The Road Again!

Pura Vida! Costa Rica Research Day One: Truly filled with pure life, Costa Rica is not only amazing for its views but also forRead More »
Posted byosu adminAugust 18, 2023 Posted inResident Survey