Toronto, ON (January 9, 2025) – Choice Hotels Canada is pleased to announce the 2024 recipient of the Mark Pearce Memorial Scholarship: Elliott Rivard. Elliott is currently enrolled at TELUQ University working towards earning his post-secondary Tourism Management Certificate as well as the Hotel/Motel Administration certificate at Northern Lights College. In addition, he has spent the last two years working as the Night Auditor at the Quality Suites in Victoriaville, Quebec.

The scholarship was created in memory of Mark Pearce, who was Senior Vice President, International Division, for Choice Hotels International and former head of the Canadian office. Mark embodied the spirit of hospitality and always went above and beyond to make sure everyone felt 'Welcome, Wanted and Respected'. The $2,500 legacy scholarship is designated for post-secondary education in the hospitality and tourism industries.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity to further develop my hospitality skills” says Elliott Rivard, recipient of the 2024 scholarship. “Pursuing a career in hospitality and tourism excites me because it combines my passion for human connection, cultural exploration and service excellence”

Elliot’s commitment to hospitality is evident in both his educational pursuits as well as his workplace experience. Before joining the team at Quality Suites Victoriaville, he also held two roles at Hôtel Le Victorin - including front desk attendant, as well as night auditor.

“We are proud to support the future generation of hospitality leaders,” says Brian Leon, CEO of Choice Hotels Canada. “Elliott embodies Mark Pearce’s passion for hospitality, and we are delighted to award him with this scholarship.”

The Mark Pearce Memorial Scholarship is intended to help support careers in the hospitality and tourism industry and elevate the next generation of industry leaders with a focus on hotel or restaurant management. Jointly funded by Choice Hotels Canada and the Choice Canada Franchise Advisory Board (CCFAB), applications are open to franchise owners, hotel level associates, Choice Hotels Canada head office staff, as well as their dependent children.

“In this field of work, every interaction is an opportunity to create memorable experiences for people from all over the world and I love the idea of being part of someone’s journey,” Elliott added. “The hospitality industry offers a dynamic environment where no two days are the same. This fuels my desire for personal growth, challenges me to think creatively and pushes me to improve.”

(OTTAWA, ON—January 9, 2025) As part of its commitment to fostering an inclusive tourism sector, Tourism HR Canada announces a new initiative to help Canada’s tourism employers by launching the Tourism Workplace Accessibility Clinic.

The Tourism Workplace Accessibility Clinic is an innovative new program aimed at enhancing inclusivity and accessibility within the tourism sector. The goal is to support employers with inclusive hiring, connect them with a largely untapped talent pool to address workforce shortages, and increase the sector’s capacity to better engage with persons with disabilities as part of their business.

Partnering on the initiative are the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) and MacLeod Silver HR Business Partners, both experienced subject matter experts with tourism workforce development experience.

Services will include:

• Customized training, tailored for tourism employers
• Recruitment support and job matching through experienced HR professionals and leading Canadian service partners
• Accessibility consulting and strategic planning that aligns with tourism business goals and legislation
• Workplace adjustment advisory services, as needed, to set everyone up for success
• Expert guidance around best practices for creating an inclusive workplace

The benefits are clear:

• Diverse perspectives lead to higher innovation and better staff retention.
• Inclusive businesses enjoy stronger customer loyalty and a positive reputation.
• Addressing accessibility needs helps fill workforce gaps and tackle shortages.

This initiative offers a real value for people with disabilities in Canada:

• Career exploration within tourism
• Access to inclusive employers
• Tailored workplace adjustments
• Success-focused careers for growth and fulfillment

Part of Tourism HR Canada’s Belong project, the Tourism Workplace Accessibility Clinic will not only help employers foster a more inclusive work environment, but also enhance the overall experience for employees and visitors alike.

This program is offered on a complimentary basis to tourism employers, thanks to funding from the Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. The Opportunities Fund provides funding to organizations across Canada to assist persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment or become self-employed, or advance in their careers. The program also supports employers to create more inclusive and accessible workplaces. 

Stockholm –January 9, 2024 – , an ASSA ABLOY company and provider of advanced technologies for the hospitality industry, has unveiled its latest innovation  a cloud-based solution that is set to redefine how hotels manage their workforce and daily operations. With a comprehensive set of tools designed to streamline scheduling, task management, and staff coordination across all hotel departments, this advanced workforce management platform has evolved based on real-world insights and is specifically tailored to meet the needs of the hospitality industry.

With its ability to optimize workflows and enhance communication, Vostio Operations Management empowers hotel teams to deliver a superior guest experience. From housekeeping and front office to engineering and F&B, the platform provides real-time information that enables hotels to make data-driven decisions, reduce operational costs, and improve overall service quality.

Key Features of the Vostio Operations Management platform include:

• Guest Experience Management: Facilitates quick, coordinated handling of guest complaints, ensuring that any issues are resolved efficiently and enhancing overall guest satisfaction.
• Housekeeping Optimization: Provides real-time room status updates, assists with cleaning schedules, and tracks amenity usage, making housekeeping more efficient and cost-effective.
• Front Office Support: Organizes guest requests, manages lost and found items, and improves communication between the front desk and other departments to ensure smooth service.
• F&B Management: Optimizes minibar management, allowing hotels to track usage, replenish stock efficiently and maximize turnover in food and beverage services.
• Engineering and Maintenance: Streamlines maintenance tasks and preventive measures, ensuring that issues are addressed promptly, minimizing downtime, and improving asset longevity.
• Management Insights: Delivers detailed analytics on asset use, task performance, and cost control, empowering hotel management with actionable insights to optimize processes and control costs.

"Vostio Operations Management has been refined through its implementation in over 500 hotels," said Li Wang, SVP and Head of Hospitality. “This real-world experience has allowed us to evolve the platform to meet the actual needs of hotel operations, ensuring efficiency across all departments.”

To learn more about the Vostio Operations Management platform, please

For more information about Vingcard and its products and solutions, please visit

DECEMBER 20^th, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Having now completed extensive site expansions and upgrades to its existing facility, Travelodge Canada is thrilled to announce the official re-launch of the Travelodge by Wyndham Cochrane, in Cochrane, Ontario.

The Travelodge by Wyndham Cochrane has now completed its site expansion by bringing online an additional 21 brand new guest rooms to the existing site. The property has refreshed all the previously existing guestrooms to provide a cohesive experience, which is well suited for the leisure, crew and corporate travelers frequenting the area. Guests will enjoy the modern look throughout the hotel, which includes free WiFi and onsite parking for vehicles and trailers, new HDTVs, a complimentary hot breakfast service, and direct onsite access to the areas vast network of groomed snowmobile trails.

“With the completion of this planned expansion and many site improvements, the Travelodge by Wyndham Cochrane offers a modern, comfortable stay, with amenities that you would come to expect at a Travelodge by Wyndham property in Canada.” said Trevor Hagel, Executive Vice President of Operations, Travelodge Canada. “Guests will continue to love the properties close proximity to the Cochrane areas’ many outdoor attractions and activities, many of which are merely steps from this property.”