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.