Mount Media Release

Mount President signs Second Memorandum of Understanding to promote environmentally sustainable Tourism Mount Saint Vincent University President, Kathryn Laurin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this month, which will allow students to study abroad and will promote environmentally sustainable tourism. “Not only will the exchange program encourage cultural awareness, understanding and experience,” says Candace Blayney, Assistant Professor and Tourism coordinator at the Mount, “It will also educate prospective managers in sustainability issues in the North American Hospitality and Tourism industry.” This one, the second of two MOU’s worth more than $500,000, will allow 42 student exchanges and up to 12 faculty exchanges between Canada, Mexico and the United States. As part of the Developing Environmentally Sensitive Hospitality Managers (DESHM) program, students will be educated in the principles of sustainable tourism management, while increasing international and cross cultural understanding, including learning or improving on new languages. Partners include: Utah Valley State College, United States; Kapiolani Community College, Hawaii; North Island College, Canada; Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada; Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico; Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Mexico. “Our focus is to ease the shortage of environmentally sensitive managers and to increase the cultural understanding of this group,” says Blayney. “It’s also an opportunity to distinguish the differences and preferences of each society and to connect with them.” Students will be paired with classes in other nations as faculty work together to develop syllabus and curriculum materials which will be delivered through video conferencing, a web site, and other distance delivery systems. Students will interact with one another in these virtual, international classrooms as well as attending a full semester abroad. The paired video-conferencing has the potential of increasing sustainable tourism instruction and cultural understanding experience to over 400 students. Students will be enrolled in courses such as Cross-Cultural Communications, languages; Environmental Management, Global Tourism, or International Business. “This initiative will not only help to promote sustainable management in the tourism industry,” says President Laurin, “It also opens up the world to our students and faculty and advances our international understanding.” For more information contact: Akiko Lovett t. 457-6439 c. 441-0505

New Benefit for Mount Alumnae & Friends

Alumnae Relations, University Advancement is pleased to announce a new program offering our Mount alumnae and friends reduced rates at 60 hotels across Canada and in the US which are managed by Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc.

This new program for alumnae and friends is in addition to the ongoing affiliation with Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. It will guarantee a minimum discount of 10% off the best available rate at every hotel in the Pacrim portfolio, regardless of the season or the location. Along with great rates being offered, a portion of the room rate will be donated back to the Mount to support alumnae relations activities. The program features easy online booking at www.mountalumhotels.com and a toll-free number (1.866.908.7666) for immediate reservation assistance and confirmations. All alumnae and friends need to do is request the Mount’s Alumnae Rate.

We trust that the Mount community joins us in welcoming Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. as a new partner offering services to our alumnae and friends. For information on how to take advantage of this offer or to find out about Pacrim’s Summer Stimulus contest to win free groceries for a year, visit www.mountalumhotels.com

Pacrim Hospitality hosts the annual Pacrim Invitational Golf Tournament. The net proceeds from this event are designated to the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at the Mount to be used to provide assistance to students, through an endowment, and to support various program needs.

Shani Pearson
Manager, Alumnae Relations
University Advancement
Mount Saint Vincent University
Halifax NS B3M 2J6
T: 902.457.6340 F: 902.445.3962
E: Shani.Pearson@msvu.ca
Stay Connected! www.msvu.ca/alumnae

Nova Scotia awarded first World Culinary Summit

http://www.can-restaurantnews.com/content/publish/
national/Nova_Scotia_awarded_first_Culinary_Summit.shtml

HALIFAX— In September 2010, the culinary world will discover Nova Scotia. The province has won the bid to host the first ever World Culinary Tourism Thought Leadership World Summit and Consumer Marketplace.

The International Culinary Tourism Association organizes the event and Nova Scotia was in tough against other cities from Canada, the United States and Europe.

“We were competing against established culinary destinations from around the globe,” said Janice Ruddock, executive director of Taste of Nova Scotia, in a statement.

“Winning the bid for this summit confirms what we have known for a while—that our local farmers, fishermen, chefs, winemakers and tourism partners are producing international caliber culinary experiences for consumers.”

Between 300 and 500 leaders in the culinary tourism sector will gather to establish best practices for the industry and come up with solutions for sustaining and developing the culinary tourism industry going forward.

They will travel around the province to wineries, restaurants and tourism operators as well as take part in group seminars to come up with ideas to boost the culinary sector.

To wine the bid, Taste of Nova Scotia crafted a bid that not only answered the questions of the Oregon-based International Culinary Tourism Association, but also included Nova Scotia wine, a chocolate lobster, and post cards showing off the province.

“The dedication to culinary tourism, this conference and participation from so many different governing agencies within Nova Scotia made Nova Scotia an ideal pick for our first conference,” said Casey Canevari of the International Culinary Tourism Association, in a statement.

The host committee is make up of representatives from Taste of Nova Scotia, the Winery Association of Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Departments of Tourism and Agriculture, the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Association of Cooks & Chefs as well as Slow Food Nova.

“As the first summit, Nova Scotia will set the bar for future world culinary tourism conferences,” Ruddock said.

“We are very excited about this opportunity but it would have never been possible without the support and passion for culinary tourism of so many people in this province.”