2007 Tourism 1st Vision Award Winner
Glenn Squires, Pacrim Hospitality Services Ltd.
2007 Tourism 1st Vision The Vision Award is presented annually to recognize an individual whose vision and demonstrated leadership has contributed significantly to the economic success of the Nova Scotia tourism industry. The recipient of the 2007 Vision Award is living his dream!
He is the driving force behind a company squarely based in Nova Scotia, that today owns, operates and has under development 60 hotel properties across and the . These properties represent over 4,800 hotel rooms and suites that are branded with many of North America ’s finest hotels flags. His company, Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. has opened three new and rejuvenated properties in Nova Scotia during 2007. He has two more under construction in Nova Scotia and has added 9 properties in other Canadian locations. Just this month he added a second property, in Myrtle Beach .
His efforts have resulted in over $100 million dollars worth of investment from outside this province into Nova Scotia . Just a year ago, this recipient launched Holloway Lodging Real Estate Investment Trust, based in Halifax, and in July of 2007 it began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange with over $400 million worth of assets and 23 hotels across North America.
With their sister companies, Winport Developments – which has recently signed with Choice Hotels to develop 25 extended stay properties across Canada and Intergy an e-commerce company that will handle over $10 million in hotel bookings this year – these four companies work symbiotically in their shared goal of becoming the premiere North American hospitality leader.
This recipient has leveraged his companies’ strengths to invest in the future of our industry. He has raised over $200 thousand dollars to support the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at Mount Saint Vincent University . Recently, he led a fundraising drive by ’s Holiday Inn owners which culminated in a villa being built at Give Kids the World in Orlando, Florida . In 2008 Pacrim Hospitality will join Habitat for Humanity enabling staff from its hotels across to Travel to and build homes in .
His personal leadership and visionary strengths have long been recognized and he is currently in line to take the Global chair for the owners association of Intercontinental Hotels Group. He sits on the Franchise Advisory Board for Radisson Hotels and is a member of Wyndham Hotels Preferred Client Group.
This year’s winner has had great professional success, and at heart … he is a good man. A proud Newfoundlander and Nova Scotian by choice, he began his 40 year hospitality career washing burnt tapioca off pots on coastal boats in Labrador during summer vacation. He continues to inspire that fundamental work ethic within his companies every day.
Tonight, on behalf of TIANS, The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage, and the Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council, we are extremely proud to present the 2007 Vision Award to the Chief Executive Officer of Pacrim Hospitality and CEO of Holloway Lodging REIT, Mr. Glen Squires.
