2012 MSVU Business & Tourism Conference

Click here to follow the B&T Society on Facebook!

Stay current on event, check out all the photos and contests - never miss a thing!

 

 

The Business & Tourism department at MSVU is a community of people, experiences, opinions and voices. Our blog will reflect that community with the inclusion of guest bloggers who have stories to share of value to our community.

Today's blogger is Rebecca Skinner, a third year marketing student and Vice President of Marketing with the MSVU Business & Tourism Society.

______________________________________

 

We all see “Be Part of Something BIG” around campus and online, but what does it truly mean?

 

For me, a third year Marketing student, it means that I don’t have to wait for graduation to make a difference – or to start my professional life. I’ve grown more and more thankful to be attending a university that opens so many opportunities to my generation. Whatever I want to do – wherever I want to go – I know that everyone at the Mount is here to see me succeed.

This past Thursday, October 18^th, the Business & Tourism Department, in conjunction with the Business & Tourism Society, hosted the 38^th Annual Learners & Leader’s: Igniting Success Business & Tourism Conference. With a full day of guest speakers, informative panels, and networking opportunities, the event sold out within a few short weeks of ticket availability.

 

To me, this event reinforced the belief that faculty and staff at the Mount want their students to succeed. The department wasn’t forced by the university to host the conference; it was done solely for us – the students and future generation.

I had the opportunity to speak with Ross Simmonds, Digital Marketing Specialist at Colour Creative, who expressed how great of a chance the conference presents to students. He summarized his thoughts by saying, “…if the students here today are any indication, its inspiring to see how bright the future of Nova Scotia is!”

 

If someone were to ask me what one thing I took from this year’s conference, I would have difficulty trimming it down to a single point. During the Human Resource panels, I learned various ways to gain experience in my field while still in school, and the day’s speakers motivated me to begin the necessary steps to take control of my future.

 

If there was one single concept that stuck the most with me, and that I would like to amplify to anyone reading this, it would be to follow your passion. Christopher Webb, co-owner of Pavia Gallery and morning keynote speaker, followed his passion, Ross Simmonds, Digital Marketing Specialist and morning keynote presenter, expressed his passion through social media, and employers want to see your passion when they are hiring you.

 

Your passion keeps you motivated, it tells people who you are and what you stand for, and it is the driving force that has inspired and encouraged me to propel myself into my future career.

 

Why wait?

 

Social Leadership (because sometimes, the world just sucks!)

The Business & Tourism department at MSVU is a community of people, experiences, opinions and voices. Our blog will reflect that community with the inclusion of guest bloggers who have stories to share of value to our community.

Today's blogger is Professor Ryan MacNeil, our newest faculty member in the Department of Business & Tourism & Hospitality Management.
______________________________________

SOMETIMES, THE WORLD JUST SUCKS!
(...AND THAT’S WHY WE NEED SOCIAL LEADERS LIKE YOU!)

This fall, the Department of Business & Tourism is launching a new campus-wide social leadership program, open to all Mount students. The program is a hands-on chance to lead positive change in the world.

We’re offering a social leadership certificate that will look great on your resumé. But we’re hoping that the bigger reason you’ll want to join the program is to have an impact on society.

To earn the “year 1” social leadership certificate, you will complete 15 hours of volunteer work, participate in two professional development activities (including our social enterprise conference in February), and work with a team of your friends to run a social project in the community. At the end of next term, you’ll document your social impact “portfolio-style”.

As a new Assistant Professor here at the Mount, I’m excited to be leading this program. We’ll meet every other week for an hour to discuss social leadership and make plans for our projects. A preliminary drop-in information session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 26 from 2-3 pm in Seton room 404. If you can’t attend, you can contact me for more information or to join the group. Reach me via email (ryan.macneil@msvu.ca) or twitter (@ryanmacneil).

Third person alternative:

The program is being led by our new full-time professor, Ryan MacNeil. We’ll meet every other Wednesday for an hour to discuss social leadership and make plans for our projects. . A preliminary drop-in information session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 26 from 2-3 pm in Seton room 404. To sign up, or get more information you can email (ryan.macneil@msvu.ca) or tweet (@ryanmacneil) to Professor MacNeil.

Business & Tourism Society 2012-13

 
The Business & Tourism department at MSVU is a community of people, experiences, opinions and voices. Our blog will reflect that community with the inclusion of guest bloggers who have stories to share of value to our community.



B&T Society Co-Presidents: Jessica Skinner & Angela Muise

Today's blogger is Jessica Skinner, a third year accounting student and acting Co-President of the Business & Tourism Society.

______________________________________

Hello fellow Business & Tourism Students! As a student here at the Mount, you are becoming part of something big.

 

But are you looking for something bigger? Look no further!

 

Business & Tourism (or ‘B&T’) Students make up the largest student body on campus and consequently the largest on campus Society! As I frequently tell students, you are already a part of the Society because you are a B&T student. We have no membership or selection process - You’re in!

 

Now, it is up to you to get involved.

 

What do we do?

 

Our mission is to bring together B&T students, both on and off campus. We get together, plan events, hang out, have a lot of fun and talk about the degree. It’s a great way to meet other students and get advice from them as well. It connects you with faculty and opens up an incredible number of opportunities for your academic career.

 

This semester, join us every Wednesday at 2pm in Seton Annex #4 for the weekly B&T Society meeting. Hear about upcoming plans, get involved in activities and share your ideas.

Bring your friends and come get connected!

______________________________

Do you want to be the first to know when a new B&T Blog gets posted? Just input your preferred email into the slot over in the right hand column and every post will arrive in your inbox! You'll never miss out on the most up to date news & events!! 

Reflections on my first co-op.

Guest Post: Reflection on my first co-op

The Business & Tourism department at MSVU is a community of people, experiences, opinions and voices. Our blog will reflect that community with the inclusion of guest bloggers who have stories to share of value to our community.

Today's guest blogger is Lauren Perry, a second year tourism student who has just returned after her first co-op experience in Jasper. AB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just got back from an amazing summerco-op work experience working for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts at their Jasper,Alberta location. Last fall I heard about the opportunity and applied not even expectingan interview. Yet, after a few phone calls and interviews back and forth I wasoffered a job with their housekeeping department in late January.

 

Beforeleaving the Mount last spring I began to doubt my decision slightly as everyonewas talking about going home for the summer. However, although I had justfinished my first year, I embraced the experience and tried to learn as much asI could.

Showing initiative really paid off for me.If you show a passion for something, I have now learned, you will be rewarded.My managers knew from the beginning that I was there on co-op and they providedme with so many great experiences as I showed a desire to achieve within theindustry. I had thought that I would just be another room attendant and wouldget lost in the mix within such a large company. However, I got to advance tothe late shift after just over a month, I shadowed front desk for a day, mymanagers, and other housekeeping personnel, and I even got to fill in as clerkfor a few days while they were on vacation. My manager made a point to give mespecial tasks and said as I left Jasper that I could contact him aboutabsolutely anything. He was a huge part in making my experience out west trulymemorable.

When leaving Jasper I felt a mix ofemotions. I took away so many great pictures, and had so many great memoriesexploring a region I had never experienced before; however I did miss home andwas ready to get back into the swing of things at the Mount. I am so glad thatI experienced this my first summer away from home. I have truly grown as an individual.I was sad to leave people I met, and the memories I made, but I will alwaysremember this summer.

Everyone at the Mount told me I would comeback a different person. I did not believe them. However, having a trulymemorable first co-op experience has changed me. I learned a lot about myselfliving away from home and encountering new relationships. I also got to learn alot about the tourism industry and where my career may take me. If I can giveany advice to new students, or any students taking co-op, I would say toexplore any options that come your way, and truly do not limit yourself. Keepyour options completely open and great things will come. Also, turn to supportfrom your friends and family as well as Profs and the co-op office.

 

You may bewondering, where will I go for my next co-op experience? Honestly, I have noidea. I want to keep my options open. It may be for Fairmont, or it may not. Idefinitely want to explore more and see what another department and locationcould bring to my development. MSVU, do like I did and get out there and “bepart of something big”.

Students Study Tourism in Yarmouth

The Business & Tourism department at MSVU is a community of people, experiences, opinions and voices. Our blog will reflect that community with the inclusion of guest bloggers who have stories to share of value to our community.
 
Today's guest blogger is Kylie Toner, a Senior in the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management year BBA student. She currently works as a Guest Service Agent at the Delta Barrington. After graduation, she hopes to work in the cruise industry and has a passion for the wine industry.

_________________________________________________________

  

Tourism Study in Yarmouth

Fourth year students fromMount Saint Vincent University went on a field trip the weekend of February 10^thto meet with tourism sector employees in Yarmouth. The purpose of the trip wasto gather information on Yarmouth as a destination and to create ideas to helpYarmouth attract more tourists. The past few years have not been kind to thepeople of Yarmouth since the Ferry system to the United States stopped in 2009.The ferry system contributed enormously to the local economy by puttingcustomers on the doorstep of the businesses in Yarmouth. This major change hasmade it so that businesses in Yarmouth and surrounding areas will have topromote themselves.

The students met with a numberof movers and shakers such as Wayne Hamilton, Group sales for Yarmouth, DeniseNickerson, who manages the historic Cape Forchu Lightstation (http://www.capeforchulight.com/) and also wears another hat as General Manager of Yarmouth& Acadian Shores Tourism Association. The visit included a wonderfullobster dinner (of course) at Rudder’s on Friday night followed by the studentsattending an auction to raise funds for the Mariners Junior A Hockey Team. Avisit to the Mariners Center (http://www.mariners-centre.com/) really showed the students how important hockey is to the townof Yarmouth with over 400 children playing different levels of hockey. Yarmouth willbe hosting the World Junior A Hockey Challenge this November. 

Saturday morning thestudents were up early and ready to scope out the Yarmouth Farmer’s CommunityMarket. It was a perfect opportunity to see what kind of localproducts Yarmouth has to offer and also a chance for the students to furthertheir research by mingling with locals. A meeting with Ingrid Deon, marketmanager, gave the students some insight on the vendors as well as the customersof the farmers market. The students had a chance encounter with Mayor PhilMoody of Yarmouth, discussing the details of their upcoming presentation. Thefield trip came to an end with a memorable visit to the Cape Forchu Lighthousewith Denise Nickerson and a successful stop in at Frenchy’s for a few of thestudents.

The students were happy tobe so warmly received in Yarmouth by everyone. From the employees at the RoddGrand Hotel to citizens out walking their dogs, the town of Yarmouth has provedto be a kind hearted and hospitable place to visit and the student look forwardto their next visit!

This project on Yarmouth is part of a fourth year course THMT 4406 DestinationDevelopment and every year a community is approached to partner with thestudents. The course covers tourism development and how tourist destinationscan create facilities and services to meet the needs of tourists. This yearposes a significant situation due to the many challenges destinations such asYarmouth is facing with decreased tourists visitations. Challenges include thecurrent economic environment, increased gasoline prices, and the market forlobster has dropped dramatically, which is a mainstay in Yarmouth. In spite ofthe challenges, the students are confident they can give recommendations thatcan help Yarmouth as a destination.

The project includes a tourism audit on the inventory of tourism attractionsand services in the Yarmouth area. At the end of March the students will createsuggestions to increase visitations and business. The project culminates with awritten report that will be given to Yarmouth as well a presentation to be givenlive (online) via the use of Collaborate. Invitations will be sent out tostakeholders in the tourism industry including provincial and municipalrepresentatives. The exciting part of the presentation is that Mayor Moody ofYarmouth is threatening to attend!

March B&T Newsletter

The Sisters bring spirit to Caritas Day.

The March volume of the MSVU Business & Tourism Newsletter is now online!

Check out all of the amazing activities that have been going on within the department! See how active and engaged the students have been and continue to be!

To get the full newsletter, click on this link: B&T Newsletter March 2012

This month, there is informative and up-to-date information topics including:

• An outstanding $2.25 million contribution towards our new building
• Our relationship with FAFU, a Tier 1 university in China
• The incredible success during Caritas Day 2012
• Work our upper year students are doing to help Yarmouth, NS
• A focus on the fabulous Dr. Sandi Findlay-Thompson
• The huge success of our first-ever Student Enterprise Conference
• The successful path of a star student, Melissa Gerrow
• And much, much more!

If you're a student, alumni, or a enthusiastic member of our MSVU community, you'll want to keep up on all the adventures in Business & Tourism. Be sure to sign up to this blog with your email to have all the news delivered directly to your inbox.

WM

PS - If you've missed out on past events, catch up on all the happenings in our newsletter archives!

MSVU Develops New Links in China

Guest Post: MSVU Develops New Links in China

The Business & Tourism department at MSVU is a community of people,experiences, opinions and voices. Our blog will reflect that community with theinclusion of guest bloggers who have stories to share of value to ourcommunity.

Today's blogger is Michael Whalen, Associate Professor in the Businessand Tourism Management department. Professor Whalen’s biography can be foundhere: http://bit.ly/w7LQU5

__________________________________________________________________________________

MSVU Develops New Links in China

If the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU)were a city in Nova Scotia it would be the province’s second largest afterHalifax. 

Over 40,000 students live on the university’s beautifulcampus in Fuzhou on the south east coast of China. Students entering FAFU’sOverseas Education College choose their program knowing they will spend twoyears studying in China and finish their degree with two years at a partnerinstitution overseas.

For the last five years students from FAFU have formed thelargest international student group a

t the Nova Scotia Agricultural College(NSAC) as part of a 2+2 agreement between the two institutions. In the fall of2011 MSVU welcomed its first students from FAFU. Our relationship is set toexpand with the signature of a 2+2 agreement with FAFU that will initiallycover our BBA, BTHM and BSc (AHN) degrees.

As part of this agreement MSVU has also agreed to exchangesof faculty with FAFU and the development of bilingual (English-Chinese) coursesthat will be part of the curriculum at FAFU. The first bilingual course will bean introductory marketing course developed by Prof. Michael Whalen of MSVU andProfs. Junling He and Wei Dong from FAFU. The course will be taught for thefirst time in April of this year and other courses will follow as therelationship develops between the universities. 

Plans are also underway to develop a summer program for MSVUstudents that will introduce them to Chinese history, language and culture andgive them the opportunity to teach English on the FAFU campus. This would be awonderful opportunity for students to gain valuable experience in the world’sfastest growing economy.  

The Mount looks forward to welcoming more students from FAFUin 2012 as well as visits from the faculty and staff of our new partner.       

Career Week - Winter 2012!

With March just around the corner, the Business and Tourism Department is gearing up for our biannual Career Week. We have a sensational week of events planned, starting Monday, March 5^th going through until Friday, March 9^th. If you are a business or tourism student, you are not going to want to miss a minute of the action! (All events are learning passport eligible so don’t forget to bring your passport along.)

Here is what’s planned so far:

On Monday, March 5^th the week will kick off at 11:00pm in the RBC Link with a Resume Road Show, hosted by Career Planning Services. This is a great opportunity to get a professional critique of your resume and get advice on those cover letters you have been working on.

Join us in Seton 508 at 12:30pm-1:45pm for the Careers in Marketing & Management speaker panel. A group of professionals from the industry will be discussing potential careers and how to obtain a position in the field. I am personally excited to see Mr. Rob Batherson from the Halifax based marketing/PR company, Colour speak. This event is a must see!

At 2:00pm -3:00pm in Seton 504 a job coaching session will be taking place. This event is “drop in” so stop by to get advice on how to find and land that dream job of yours.

Careers as Entrepreneurs is another speaker panel taking place at 6:00pm-8:50pm in Seton 502. We will have the opportunity to pick the minds of this panel of entrepreneurs and hear their stories of how they made an idea into a success business.

If you can’t make it to campus on the 5^th, no sweat! We are having a speaker panel on Leadership being streamed live at 6:00pm-7:00pm. This panel will consist of people in leadership position discussing what it takes to be an effective leader. Watch for more details on the exciting opportunity for our distance learners to take part.

On Tuesday, March 6^th we will continue the fun with a panel of Human Resource Professionals at 12:00pm- 1:15pm in Seton 503, hosted by Career Planning Services.  This event will address topics such as, best practices for interviews and proper business conduct. Come hear from panelists such as. Cindy Wheeler from Customizing Wardrobes discussing the dos and don’ts for interviews.  

Careers in Tourism & Hospitality is another speaker panel taking place at 12:00pm-1:20pm in Seton Auditorium B. This is one of the most exciting and fastest growing fields for students to work in. All students should attend this event to learn about a variety of exciting careers. I can’t wait to hear from our wonderful panelists, including Mr. Adam Bower from Delta Halifax.

We are closing the day’s events with a much anticipated Networking Workshop at 2:00pm-3:00pm in Seton 306 given by Mr. Nathan Ward from CIBC Human Resources. Learn effective strategies for developing business relationships and how to implement them.

On Wednesday, March 7^th check out a workshop on Culturally Sensitive Business Conduct, taking place in Seton Auditorium B at 12:30pm- 2:00pm. This workshop will be great for all students, especially those interested in international business.

On Thursday, March 8^th the Careers in Accounting & Finance speaker panel will be taking place at 1:30pm- 2:45pm in Seton 505/506. This panel will include financial managers, CAs, CMAs, and CGAs and is ideal if you are considering working in this industry. Come down to hear the panelists discuss potential careers opportunities in the field.

On Friday, March 9^th Career Planning Services is hosting the final event of the week with the Winning Resume Workshop at 10:00am- 11:00pm at Seton 508. Join us to learn tips and tricks for getting your resume noticed by employers to land interviews. This is a perfect ending to a jam-packed week.

No matter what your specialized field is, there is something happening during Career Week for you. Getting to engage with industry professionals gives us firsthand information on what these careers are really like. These events will help students the right career path and help prepare us for life after graduation.

Guest Post: Social Enterprise for a Day SE4D

Guest Post: Social Enterprise for a Day

The Business & Tourism department at MSVU is a community of people, experiences, opinions and voices. Our blog will reflect that community with the inclusion of guest bloggers who have stories to share of value to our community.
 
Today's guest blogger is Tanis Trainor, a first year BPR student who was selected to participant in the SE4D event. Her blog was written with the help of Brenna Hill, also a first year BPR student. 

_________________________________________________________

  

SE4D: Social Enterprise for a Day

This academic school year, Mount Saint Vincent University hosted Social Enterprise for a Day, a new conference focused on students.

A social enterprise is a not-for-profit enterprise that has a final goal of helping society. Students attended the conference from Mount Saint Vincent University, Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Nova Scotia Community College and various high schools in Halifax Regional Municipality. Students were split into groups on Friday, February 3rd and ran their enterprise on February 4th.

On Friday night, I was placed into the Black Team. Our team met and discussed what issues surround us on a day-to-day basis and brainstormed some possible solutions we could act on. We had a few really great ideas! But given the time frame (we had to launch it the very next day!) we decided to focus on the issue of bottled water.

In North America, we have access to the very clean tap water, yet we choose to pay over one dollar for water in a plastic bottle. By purchasing bottled water, we choose to act in an environmentally unfriendly way while others in the world struggle to have access to fresh water.

We decided to call our group @H2KnowH2O to raise awareness on this issue and developed a three point mission statement for our venture:

• H2Know H2O is a social enterprise venture created by youth who are looking to meaningfully engage in social change using entrepreneurial principles. Social enterprise creates profits, which are reinvested in efforts that support youth business experience, ecological sustainability, and philanthropic goals. Social enterprise ventures encourage a “triple bottom line” and socially responsible model for industry. Supporting H2Know supports social enterprise.

• H2Know H2O is advocating the reduction of bottled water usage. By targeting elimination of plastic water bottles we are promoting corporate and social responsibility that acknowledges the impacts of industry on our natural systems. Pledging support to H2Know H20 is not simply a monetary investment in a social enterprise. Supporting H2Know raises awareness to reduce consumption impacts on environmental degradation.

• H2Know H20’s campaign fosters a culture of mindful actions pertaining to global water systems. By raising funds through social enterprise, H2Know is able to invest in developing nations to create potable wells and safe water systems. Supporting H2Know allows business and industry to improve human living conditions and quality of life.

With our mission in hand, it was time to come up with a plan!

We decided to run a water taste test! With a table set up at Halifax Shopping Center on Saturday afternoon, we approached shoppers and ask them to “take the test”. We “tested” customers on both filtered Brita water and bottled water to see if they could taste the difference. Most shoppers could not tell the difference and if they could, we asked them if the difference was strong enough for them to spend large sums of their money per bottle as well as negatively contributing to environment. Their response was consistently NO. We also had information and fact sheets laid out to raise awareness of the real impacts of bottled water.

After the taste test we asked shoppers to also “take the pledge”. We printed off a pledge sheet and asked customers to sign their name in efforts to help reduce bottled water consumption. Most shoppers happily agreed! We also accepted donations to sponsor the building of a well in a developing country. In our three-hour time frame we raised over $300 dollars to donate to our cause.

This “Social Enterprise for a Day” was a truly rewarding experience with a great cause for each individual group. There were teams all over Halifax who dealt with socially important issues in innovative ways and raised money for their causes.

In the end, we had a lot of time to bond as a team and we came out with an amazing feeling of contributing to a good cause!