THUNDER BAY – Confederation College is proud to announce that the Tourism-Travel and Eco-Adventure program has earned SMART + Premium accreditation from Tourism HR Canada. The program is among a select few to receive this national recognition for demonstrating tourism-related programming that exceeds industry standards.
“We have worked very hard to achieve this accreditation, which reinforces that our program is of premium quality,” said Giannina Veltri, Program Coordinator. “Exceeding industry standards has made our program measurable, adaptable and responsive to today’s tourism industry demands.”
Program professor Matthew Villella added that accreditation will benefit students in many ways. “Thanks to this accreditation, students will be able to access discounts through Emerit Tourism Training and Certification for further professional development and will also have access to the latest industry information,” he said.
The accreditation is evidence that students are receiving, and have received, the best possible experience during the two years of their Tourism-Travel and Eco-Adventure program, and that the program has a knowledgeable and dedicated faculty.
“I’m very proud of this achievement, which will bring great value to our College,” said Richard Gemmill, Dean, School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts. “The hours that Matthew Villella and Giannina Veltri spent throughout the accreditation process were tremendous, but pale in comparison to the amount of time they spend each and every day supporting their students. Achieving SMART + Premium accreditation is a testament to the dedication of our program team to our students and communities.”
Philip Mondor, Tourism HR Canada President added his congratulations to the team. “This recognition is an impressive accomplishment, and we commend Confederation College for its commitment to creating programming that reflects current industry needs and provides the type of graduate that will be integral to growing Canada’s tourism sector.”
Tourism is an $88.5 billion industry employing over 1.7 million people across Canada and the sector continues to grow. This accreditation will ensure that students are well prepared to meet the diverse challenges of their future careers.
For more information about the Tourism-Travel and Eco-Adventure program, visit: www.confederationcollege.ca/tourism.
