Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, as well as a Master of Business Studies in Human Resource Management from Massey University, New Zealand.
In 2009, she was conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism at the University of Otago. Her thesis titled, 'Halal Restaurants in New Zealand: Implications for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry', is the first study of its ki... moreMelissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, as well as a Master of Business Studies in Human Resource Management from Massey University, New Zealand.
In 2009, she was conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism at the University of Otago. Her thesis titled, 'Halal Restaurants in New Zealand: Implications for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry', is the first study of its kind, at least in the English language, with respect to halal issues in hospitality and tourism. During her study, she travelled across the country to interview and gather data from a sample of 99 halal restaurants. Her research was timely given the number of halal restaurants that has risen tremendously in New Zealand as a result of a rapidly growing domestic Muslim population and tourist arrivals from majority Muslim countries.
At present, Melissa's research interests continue to focus on halal food and other issues related to tourism.edit
