Rick Lagiewski
Co-Director Executive Education, External Engagement
Department of Management
Saunders College of Business
585-475-2820
Office Location
Rick Lagiewski
Co-Director Executive Education, External Engagement
Department of Management
Saunders College of Business
Education
BS, MS, Rochester Institute of Technology; Ph.D., Edinburgh Napier University (United Kingdom)
Bio
Rick Lagiewski is a Principal Lecturer in the Management Department and Co-Director of the EMBA and Executive Education Programs. He has taught university-level business courses for more than 30 years and received the Distinguished Lecturer Award from RIT’s College of Applied Science and Technology. His research explores destination development, marketing, and management, including the lodging sector’s role in destination resilience during crises, supported by a grant from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation. His current research examines hospitality services and support for vulnerable consumers. Rick has lectured, taught, and led study abroad programs in Costa Rica, Italy, Croatia, Kosovo, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates.
Beyond the classroom, Rick has worked with the EastWest Institute on cross-border institution building for tourism in the Balkans. Through a funded U.S. Department of State fellowship, he conducted research in Croatia on lodging-sector privatization during the country’s transition to a market economy. He also developed a gamification-based project to market and promote destination attractions, funded by New York State’s Path Through History tourism marketing program. His service training seminars and courses have served corporations undergoing transition in Croatia, the wine industry throughout New York State, and energy-sector managers in Kosovo.
Select Scholarship
Published Conference Proceedings
Lagiewski, R., Uzumcu, T., Kesgin, M., Schneider, J., & Cetin, I. (2025). Hotel Managers' Assessment of Destination Disaster Management: A Comparative Analysis of United States and Turkiye. The 6th Conference on Managing Tourism Across Continents – Tourism for a better World (MTCON'25).
Pohland, L., Kesgin, M., & Lagiewski, R. (2018). Safety and Security Concerns of Tourists: Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks in Turkey. 23rd Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism.
Lagiewski, R., & Barron, P. (2018). The effect of offering hospitality and tourism degrees overseas on the home campus faculty. ICHRIE 2018.
Lagiewski, R., & Nikolić, D. (2017). Exploring Interorganizational Relations in Post-Socialist Croatian Tourism Then and Now. ATLAS Annual Conference 2017 "Destinations past, present and future".
Invited Article/Publication
Lagiewski, R., (2023). Customer experiences and situational vulnerability: An exploration of hotel services during a disaster. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 108. .
Kesgin, M., Murthy, R., & Lagiewski, R. (2021). Profiling food festivals by type, name and descriptive content: a population level study. British Food Journal 124. 530-549.
Lagiewski, R., Barron, P., & Leask, A. (2019). The effect of exporting hospitality and tourism degrees overseas on the home campus: A conceptual model. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education 24. 211-222.
Dobie, S., Schneider, J., Kesgin, M., & Lagiewski, R. (2018). Hotels as Critical Hubs for Destination Disaster Resilience: An Analysis of Hotel Corporations' CSR Activities Supporting Disaster Relief and Resilience. Infrastructures 3. 46-65.
Lagiewski, R., & Kesgin, M. (2017). Designing and implementing digital visitor experiences in New York State: The case of the Finger Lakes Interactive Play (FLIP) project. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management 6. 118-126.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Lagiewski, R., & Barron, P. (2021). The push and pull factors in the internationalization of hospitality and tourism education: today and tomorrow. 2021 ICHRIE Summer Conference.
Lagiewski, R., & Ehinger, L. (2019). Exploring the role of technology and personalized service in the private club environment. 5th World Research Summit for Hospitality and Tourism.
Lagiewski, R., & Barron, P. (2018). The effect of offering hospitality and tourism degrees overseas on the home campus faculty. ICHRIE 2018.
Lagiewski, R., (2018). The Convergence of Customer-facing Technology and Specially-Abled Restaurants.. 3rd Annual NTID Student Research Symposium.
Lagiewski, R., & Kesgin, M. (2016). AR/VR applications in hospitality and tourism. VR & AR Symposium.
Full Length Book
(2008). Destination Marketing: an integrated marketing communication approach. Lagiewski, R.,
(2006). Encyclopedia of Tourism. Vučetić, A., & Lagiewski, R.
(2006). Aspects of Tourism: The Tourism Area Life Cycle Vol.1. Applications and Modifications. Lagiewski, R.,
Book Chapter
(2008). Case study 12.1 Long Lake, New York: small destinations and experiential differentiation – what to do?. Destination Marketing: an integrated marketing communication approach. Lagiewski, R.,
(2006). Montenegro. Encyclopedia of Tourism. Vučetić, A., & Lagiewski, R.
(2006). The Application of the Tourism Area Life Cycle Model: a literature survey. Aspects of Tourism: The Tourism Area Life Cycle Vol.1. Applications and Modifications. 27-50. Lagiewski, R.,
Currently Teaching
INTB-225
Global Business Environment
3 Credits
Being an informed global citizen requires an understanding of the global business environment. Organizations critical to the development of the global business environment include for-profit businesses, non-profits, governmental, non-governmental, and supranational agencies. This course introduces students to the interdependent relationships between organizations and the global business environment. A holistic approach is used to examine the diverse economic, political, legal, cultural, and financial systems that influence both organizations and the global business environment.
INTB-820
International Business
2 Credits
The primary objective of the course is to examine the strategies, concepts, theories, and practices associated with conducting international business. It seeks to develop practical and theoretical problem solving skills needed in the global business environment.
INTB-825
International Study Seminar
2 Credits
This international study tour is an integral part of semester long focus on the strategic and operational issues facing organizations in a global competitive environment. Students will engage in lectures, plant visits, and interviews with international corporate managers. Students will apply the insights gained from their previous and concurrent coursework. This seminar offers students an inside view of individual companies and industries, and some of the broader economic, political, social, and cultural factors that influence business opportunities and practices in a particular region of the world.
MGMT-150
An Introduction to the World of Business
3 Credits
Designed as an introductory business course for students in the Saunders College that want to learn more about the fundamentals of business. This course provides an overview of the functions and processes of business organizations. Topics include the role and responsibility of the manager, the processes and functions of business, the impact of technology, business planning process, doing business in global environments, and career exploration. NOTE: Students may not take MGMT 150 if they have already taken MGMT 101 and MGMT 102.
MGMT-755
Negotiations
3 Credits
This course is designed to teach the art and science of negotiation so that one can negotiate successfully in a variety of settings, within one's day-to-day experiences and, especially, within the broad spectrum of negotiation problems faced by managers and other professionals. Individual class sessions will explore the many ways that people think about and practice negotiation skills and strategies in a variety of contexts.
MGMT-860
Executive Leadership Series
2 Credits
The course explores leadership topics in depth with an emphasis on current management and leadership issues. During each class a community leader guest lectures on topics of leadership. Past speakers have included senior-level executives from local industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations.
MGMT-889
Capstone Consulting Project I
3 Credits
Teams of students analyze specific operational problems or improvement opportunities in client organizations. Under the guidance of a faculty supervisor, teams identify relevant issues, collect data, develop alternatives and make recommendations to the client. The project, a two-course equivalent, is the capstone experience of the Executive MBA program.
MGMT-890
Capstone Consulting Project II
3 Credits
This course is a continuation of MGMT-889. Teams of students analyze specific operational problems or improvement opportunities in client organizations. Under the guidance of a faculty supervisor, teams identify relevant issues, collect data, develop alternatives and make recommendations to the client. The project, a two-course equivalent, is the capstone experience of the Executive MBA program.
SCBI-758
Special Topics Seminar
3 Credits
Current topics seminars offer an in-depth examination of current events, issues and problems. Specific topics will vary depending upon student and faculty interest and on recent events in the business world. Seminar topics for a specific semester will be announced prior to the course offering. Prerequisite: Depends upon topic of seminar.