Welcome to BSAP 2023

By: Zephan McMillan

For nine years, Baxter Media’s Baxter Student Ambassador Program (BSAP) has been committed to identifying the industry’s most-promising student talent in travel, tourism and hospitality programs at Canada’s leading colleges and universities.

Launched in 2014/15, BSAP is the only travel and tourism student mentoring program of its kind in Canada offering learning and networking opportunities for aspiring travel industry professionals.

BSAP has grown to encompass 16 post-secondary institutions. Based on a combination of academic success, industry and community involvement, leadership skills, and a skill-testing project, one graduating student from each participating school is designated as the Baxter Student Ambassador.

“Investing in the education and development of students pursuing careers in the tourism & travel industry is essential to ensure a sustainable and successful future for the industry,” says Andrea Dixon a professor of Hospitality and Tourism at Algonquin College. “By creating a platform for tourism companies to support students, BSAP is showcasing the diverse career opportunities available in the industry, which attracts and nurtures a new generation of talented professionals.”

BSAP wouldn’t be possible without the support of our industry partners and sponsors, including Propel powered by Tourism HR Canada, Air Canada, The Travel Corporation and Contiki, Jamaica Tourist Board, Manulife, Trees4Travel, ACTA, and Skal Canada. 

Each year, amazing opportunities for learning and networking await the new group of winning ambassadors. Through inspiring travel prizes, hands-on work experience, professional development, membership opportunities, and mentorship, these enthusiastic students will be empowered as they begin their careers in the exciting world of travel.

This month, Travel Courier caught up with past BSAP winner, Dani Berezowsky, to hear about her career steps after her win in 2019. “Participating in BSAP provided me with valuable experiences, skills and knowledge to use in my future career endeavours,” says Berezowsky. “The Baxter Student Ambassador Program helped me gain a deeper understanding of the tourism world. I am thrilled to have been part of the program.” You can read the full conversation HERE.

In 2023, BSAP is as focused as ever on our mission to ENCOURAGE young people to get involved in the travel industry, FOSTER networking opportunities for graduating students, MENTOR the next generation of travel professionals, and CULTIVATE engagement in the travel industry.

“Supporting travel students right now is crucial, for two reasons: first, the hospitality and tourism industry is in need of staff and second, of course we always want to support our students when they are readying themselves for the industry and to make sure they are met with positive influences and experiences during the transition into their careers,” says Stephanie Mercredi, Hospitality & Tourism instructor at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. 

“Our students have participated in BSAP for five years,” continues Mercredi, “and it has provided them with some great mentorship opportunities in the industry. We are always happy to be a part of it and to open up opportunities for our students!”

The special BSAP issue of Travel Courier magazine features profiles of each winning Baxter Student Ambassador and is distributed to more than 45,000+ travel industry professionals. Being featured in Travel Courier is an excellent way for our Ambassadors to make themselves known in the travel industry and to cultivate new connections.

Great things are on the horizon for this year’s winners, and we can’t wait to see where their paths take them! Congratulations to each of the 2023 Baxter Student Ambassadors: 




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