MSVU Hospitality Students Benefit from $95,500 Raised in Annual Golf Tournament

30 July 2007

Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. (PHSI) has made a major contribution toward ensuring the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in Canada by coordinating the donation of more than $95,000 to Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU)  in Halifax. For six years the international hotel management company, based in Halifax, has brought industry partners together to raise the profile of careers in the tourism sector. Specifically, efforts center on attracting the best and brightest to the tourism industry through the MSVU Tourism and Hospitality Management Program.

The $95,500 donation brings the grand total that PHSI has donated to the MSVU tourism and hospitality program over six years to $214,000.

“A skilled and professional workforce is a key challenge facing the hospitality industry these days and is one that our company is committed to addressing,” said PHSI President and CEO, Glenn Squires “This is a great fit for us: MSVU’s tourism program is nationally recognized; we recruit and retain outstanding people every day.  This partnership not only makes sense, it makes us very proud to help attract budding professionals to this very exciting industry.”

The primary fund-raising event is an annual golf tournament.  Held on July 26, 2007 at Oakfield Golf and Country Club, the Pacrim Invitational attracted 144 golfers from, across Canada and the United States, many of whom are investors, partners and suppliers of PHSI.  “The golf tournament and the auction which completes the day are tangible ways for those of us in hospitality to help the base upon which we all grow,” said Mr. Squires.

“A financial award can mean the difference between attending MSVU or not, or the difference between having to work and taking longer to graduate,” said MSVU President Kathryn Laurin. “Students tell us they are encouraged and supported by awards like those PHSI has endowed. PHSI’s support has bolstered the future success of these students and is helping to create the best university experience for each of them.”

The donation to date has resulted in two endowed scholarships and three awards that have so far benefited 19 MSVU tourism and hospitality students. 2007 partners and  contributors include: ASG Financial Corp, Toronto, $5,000; Canaccord Adams, Toronto, $15,000; the Canadian Hotel Investment Conference also in Toronto, $25,000; Holloway Lodging Real Estate Investment Trust, Halifax, $10,000; Krise Commercial Real Estate, Fort Myers, Florida, $500 and Pacrim in Halifax, $40,000.

Presenting partners of the 2007 Invitational Tournament are Rideau Construction, Halifax; Canaccord Adams, Toronto; and Goodmans LLP, Toronto and the major partners are Superior Lodging Corp., Calgary; Wyndham Hotel Group, Parsippany, NJ; Intercontinental Hotel Group, Toronto and ASG Financial Corp., Toronto.

Tourism is a field of great economic importance, not only in Atlantic Canada, but also nationally with a total sector spending of close to $67 billion each year.  But the fastest-growing economic sector is grappling with a pending labour shortage and increased competition from other industries to attract and retain people.  

Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. is one of Canada’s leading, privately-owned hotel management companies with a portfolio of 39 hotels throughout Canada and the United States totaling more than 3,900 hotel rooms and suites. Pacrim Hospitality is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.