William B. Pattison Research Fellowship
One prestigious research fellowship valued at $10,000 is awarded each year to an undergraduate student in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program with leadership experience and research interest in hotel management.
The recipient will have the opportunity to work on specialized research projects in the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research during the academic year.
$10,000
Awarded each year
to an undergraduate
HTM student
Story Behind the Award
William B. Pattison is best known in Canada for founding Delta Hotels Ltd. in 1962 with four partners, and serving as the first President and CEO until 1988, when the company was sold.
During his tenure, Delta Hotels grew from one hotel in Richmond, British Columbia, to a chain of hotels in seven provinces and Florida. Throughout his life, Bill was an outstanding volunteer and had a special affiliation with Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), formerly known as Ryerson University, serving as Chair of the university’s Board of Governors. He also served a term as President of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, co-chair of the Canada Japan Business Association (tourism sector), and on the boards for Guelph University, Women's College Hospital in Toronto, B.C. Paraplegic Foundation, and the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra.
Bill had a lifelong commitment to education and was a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard University. In a tribute for his 75th birthday, a leader in the industry wrote that “Bill's true legacy was the number of people he helped develop and support through the various stages of their professional careers who now have leadership roles in international hotel companies”.
Bill passed away in September 2015. In keeping with his legacy and long-standing relationship with Toronto Metropolitan University, the Ted Rogers School of Management is honored to associate Bill’s name with our student programs. Thanks to a gift from Marilyn Pattison, Bill’s widow, the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (TRSHTM) will be able to offer financial support to students pursuing research in the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research. Ted Rogers School is deeply grateful for both the financial support provided to our students and the opportunity to honor Bill’s legacy and commitment to education.
Recent recipients
Braden Tu
2025-2026
My name is Braden, and I am currently a fourth-year Hospitality and Tourism Management co-op student at Toronto Metropolitan University. I am someone who has strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and guest management skills.
Over the past three years, I have gained valuable experience through various part-time roles and co-op internships. At Cactus Club Cafe, I started as a Host, moved to a Busser, and became a Server. My internships have included roles as a Recreation Coordinator at an Autograph Collection Resort in New Brunswick, a Conference Assistant at KPMG, and recently, a Front Office Intern at Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna BC.
My end goal is to gain potential opportunities within restaurants or hotels, specifically as a director of F&B or operations.
Past recipients
Jenny Ng
2024-2025
Jenny Ng is a passionate and determined final-year co-op student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) with a Minor in Marketing at Toronto Metropolitan University. Jenny demonstrates a high degree of energy and enthusiasm for learning. She is passionate about learning and has earned certifications in Smart Serve, Food Handling, and WSET Beer Award, as well as multiple academic scholarships. As president of the Hospitality and Tourism Students’ Society (HTSS), Jenny leads a team responsible for planning and organizing events that focus on the hospitality and tourism industry for TMU students and external guests. Jenny is always willing to help her fellow students become positive role models. Previously, Jenny worked as marketing/events intern at Quell Now Inc., Delta Hotels as a food and beverage intern and as an administrative assistant at HTM faculty. Showcasing her strong leadership, communication, organization, teamwork, and time management skills.
Yi-Chen (Irene) Chen
2023-2024
Irene is a dedicated student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality & Tourism Management, Co-op. With her remarkable passion for the industry, Irene’s future in the hospitality industry shines bright. Outside of her academic pursuits, Irene is actively involved in extracurricular activities. She served as the Vice President of Marketing for the Hospitality & Tourism Students’ Society and is currently working at the Institute of Hospitality and Tourism as a Research Assistant. Irene is proud of her hard work in balancing academics and still maintaining a career-driven mindset. Irene's future goals and aspirations center around establishing herself as a leader in the hospitality industry, combining her academic knowledge with practical experience. Her dedication and passion for the industry set her on a path to a successful career in hospitality and tourism management.
Minah Kim
2022-2023
Minah is in her final year of studies, and the research she is working on under Dr. Wayne Smith's supervision is examining how to make hotels more accessible for those with autism. She is an involved student leader who is currently the president of the Hospitality and Tourism Students' Society at TMU.
After graduation in 2023, Minah hopes to get into the field of destination marketing.
Brenda Nguyen
2021-2022
During her time in the HTM, Brenda embarked on research on female leaders in the Hospitality and Tourism industry.
Brenda is currently based in Toronto and is working as a Guest Experience Associate at the Oxford Properties Group as well as working part time as an Educator at Lululemon.
Brian Riback
2020-2021
Brian is currently based in British Columbia and is an Entertainment Staff member at Disney Cruise Line. In addition, Brian was a guest speaker at the Arabian & African Hospitality Investment Conference. He spoke during the session "The Sustainable Hospitality Challenge - How Innovation Can Drive the Future of A More Sustainable Hospitality Industry?
Annie Bird
2019-2020
Annie is currently based in Toronto and is a Tourism Development Coordinator at Bannikin Travel and Tourism Ltd. Annie was also winner of the 2019 Genio Worldwide Innovation Summit for Best Concept and Best Presentation and has produced and hosted episodes of “Behind the Kerten: Kerten Hospitality,” a podcast that examines the global trends and insights of the industry.
Katherine Lo
2018-2019
The research conducted by Katherine Lo, under the supervision of Dr. Frederic Dimanche, served as the foundational study for the Luxury Service Management course that was first taught at the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2019.
After graduation Katherine started working for a travel tech company in Toronto, an OTA called TourRadar. She is currently working as a Talent & Culture Partner at Software Development Company, AfterShip.