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.
Food Waste Technology
Business, Engineering and Computer Science faculty and students have built a prototype to quantify and reduce post-consumer food waste.
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.
2024
ANNUAL REPORT
tourism tax
position
paper 2024
Protecting Paradise A Socially Optimal Tourist Tax Framework – Montgomery 2024
2025
ANNUAL REPORT
Evaluating Economic Policy Responses to Appease Growing Dissent in Tourism
Todd Montgomery
2024
ANNUAL REPORT
PROTECTING PARADISE: A SOCIALLY OPTIMAL TOURIST
TAX FRAMEWORK
Todd Montgomery
2023
ANNUAL REPORT
COMMUNITY
SENTIMENT
OF TOURISM
Todd Montgomery
Snapshot Research Reports
Residents Ask For Control
Published 2025
When Did Overtourism Begin?
Published 2025
33 States Introduce Bills to Constrain Tourism
Published 2025
Does tourism have bipartisan support?
Published 2026
Do Higher Tourism Taxes Change Consumer Behavior?
Published 2026
Read More
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
pbs
Sustainable Tourism Lab measures how residents weigh pros, cons of tourism in their communities
usa today
Reports of price gouging at Oregon hotels after wildfires leads governor to issue order
outside magazine
Overtourism Is Out of Control. Here Are the New Rules of Travel.
nbc news
No free parking or hot tub ragers: Tourist destinations tighten their rules
New technology from OSU-Cascades
Sustainable Tourism Lab measures how residents weigh pros, cons of tourism in their communities
aaa magazine
Oregon and Idaho abound in urban attractions and endless outdoor recreation
kgw
Rental car company owner says prices are surging amid shortage
kezi
Ost kitchens emerge as restaurants innovate through pandemic
dailyastorian
A year into the pandemic, the North Coast welcomes the return of tourism
statesmanjournal
Future of popular venue at Silver Falls State Park unclear after operator ends contract
restaurantandcafe
REVENUE MANAGEMENT FOR LABOUR?
statesmanjournal
Unemployment claims in Oregon reach record levels due to pandemic
osucascades
Experiential Learning in an Entrepreneurial Town
bendbulletin
What’s behind Central Oregon’s niceness
issuu
Hotel Brokers representing Buyers & Sellers in Oregon.
bendbulletin
OSU-Cascades hospitality management program graduates first class
kbnd
Relay the Robot Makes Its High Desert Debut
bendbulletin
OSU survey: hospitality workers value company culture over pay
KTVZ 21
New technology from OSU-Cascades and community partners is aimed at reducing food waste
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:
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
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