The University of Guelph’s strength in hospitality and tourism was recognized multiple times at the Ontario Hostelry Institute [1]’s Gold Awards Dinner held last week at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. The annual event celebrates industry leaders who demonstrate excellence in their field, and the University of Guelph was well represented by its alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends.

Highlights from the evening include:

Top 30 Under 30 Awards

Three School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management [2] alumni were recognized as Top 30 Under 30 Award winners:

• Kyle Forth (Hotel and Food Administration, 2010) Chef de Cuisine, Brux House
• Appolline Gaignard (Hotel and Food Administration, 2014) Assistant Housekeeping Manger, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
• Kristen Renaud (Tourism Management, 2010) Assistant Director of Catering, Fairmont Royal York

Additionally, Melissa Pulvermacher, Operations and Logistic Manager, Cru Wine Merchants, was recognized with this award. Pulvermacher is a University of Guelph alumna who now teaches in the School’s Wine, Spirit and Education Trust (WSET) [3] program.

Gold Award honorees

Craig Youdale, dean of the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College, was recognized with a Gold Award for his work in education. Youdale is a graduate of the University of Guelph’s MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management [4].

Owen Roberts, director of research communications at the University of Guelph and president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, was recognized with a Gold Award in the media category for his work promoting current issues in food and agriculture.

Student speaker

Amber Douel, who won the OHI’s Gordon Cardy Hotel Management Scholarship [5], was selected to give an address on behalf of all student scholarship recipients. Douel gave a heartfelt thank you to the Institute for their support of students.

Fellows

Court Desautels, president of the Neighbourhood Group of Companies, was awarded a Fellow of the Institute. Desautels, who is the son of notable alumnus Bob Desautels [6], is a longtime supporter of the College of Business and Economics.