The Tourism Research Project

Welcome to the website of the Tourism Research Project. This project includes a number of research initiatives dedicated to enhance our understanding of the tourism and hospitality industry in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada. The Tourism Research Project (TRP) is a joint research initiative of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, and the Nova Scotia Community College in Dartmouth, Akerley Campus.

	Dr. Candace Blayney, Coordinator Assistant Professor (Tourism and Hospitality Management), Department of Business and Tourism, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Candace joined the university after a distinguished career in hotel administration – human resource management. In September of 2007 she successfully defended her doctoral dissertation entitled Examining the Capabilities and Strategies Used by Canadian Lodging Managers during Adverse Economic Times. She received an award for research arising from her dissertation which was presented at a conference in Costa Rica. Her research has also included crisis management models used in the hotel industry, management competencies and their acquisition in both the workplace and in educational programs, and human resource issues within the tourism industry. She authored a working paper entitled Strategic Planning and Program Advancement Strategies for the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management Degree Program and was a co-author of a Proposal for a School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Her research continues in areas of labour issues and management competencies, and she has presented at conferences with papers published and in progress.

	Prof. Karen Blotnicky Karen Blotnicky, Associate Professor (Marketing) Department of Business and Tourism, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS Karen is a partner in The Marketing Clinic (TMC), a full-service research and consulting firm based in HRM. Karen has worked in applied research for over 20 years. She is a doctoral candidate at Northcentral University in Arizona. Karen is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, and past member of the management board of the Centre for Women in Business in Halifax. She is a small business columnist for The Sunday Herald newspaper based in Halifax. She was also the Eastern Canadian business columnist for CBC Radio One from 2005 through 2007, where her weekly radio interview was heard in nine cities across Canada.  She is the coordinator of a multi-disciplinary research project focusing on the impacts of marketing on high school and middle school students gambling activities. Karen was awarded a best paper prize for her research into the gambling activities of women, youth and seniors. In addition, she is conducting research into labour relations, information technology impact on profitability and marketing orientation, managerial competencies, workplace stress, and the impact of marketing strategy on firm success.

	Mr. Peter Semadeni Faculty (Hospitality Management), Akerley Campus, Nova Scotia Community College, Dartmouth, NS Peter joined NSCC after a long and productive career in hotel administration, including being the general manager level of a leading Halifax-based hotel. He has established a reputation as a highly knowledgeable and hands-on instructor with a wealth of experience in both domestic and international hospitality management. He brings his vast industry experience and best practices knowledge to this project, forging a partnership between Mount Saint Vincent University and the Nova Scotia Community College, two leading institutions in tourism and hospitality education in Atlantic Canada.