Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association Teams Up With the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority Foundation to Award Scholarships

AC Concierge Association/ACCVA Foundation Hospitality Scholarship to be awarded in April 2009

The Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association (GACCA) and the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority Foundation (ACCVA Foundation) have created a partnership to create scholarships for education in the hospitality industry and promote the value of that education. The scholarships will initially be available to students from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Atlantic Cape Community College, with additional colleges to be included in future years.

Prospective donors should contact Pete Elco at 609-449-7106 or pelco@accva.com, or Doreen Prinzo at 609-449-7156 or dprinzo@accva.com.

Purpose of Program

• To acknowledge and reward academically successful students who have chosen a field of study related to the hospitality and tourism industry.
• Scholarships will be granted to students enrolled at selected colleges based on specific criteria.
• This award is specifically designed to acknowledge students that excel in academic life, chose the hospitality industry, and who have also demonstrated a unique ability to reach out to others through personal initiatives.

Objectives/Summary
Greater AC Concierge Association and the ACCVA Foundation have similar goals of educating a future workforce in the field of hospitality. The organizations have joined forces to recognize students that achieved academically and are studying hospitality based course study by awarding scholarships in order to:

• Recognize academic achievement
• Assist in helping students achieve degrees in hospitality related fields

A volunteer committee of members made up of the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association and the ACCVA Foundation will select the award recipients using a criteria selection form that will use a point system for compliance. Members of the selection committee and their family members will be en-eligible for scholarships. Payment of the awards will be sent directly to the attending college for the purpose of tuition and tuition-related expenses.

• Recipients may apply or reapply for the scholarship according to the criteria outlined in the application.
• GACCA/ACCVAF will collaborate with committee members and the appropriate college representatives to ensure the integrity of the selection process.
• No applicant will be refused due to race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
• A Criteria Selection Form that awards points will be used to qualify applicants.
• Upon selection of scholarship recipients, GACCA/ACCVAF will prepare appropriate internal and external communication.
• GACCA and ACCVAF reserve the right to discontinue this program at its sole discretion.
• If the terms of the award are violated the recipient(s) will be stripped of the scholarship and the scholarship will be awarded to the next in line recipient.
  

“Atlantic City provides a great visitor experience; however, the area’s growth over the next several years will require a larger and well-trained workforce,” said Doreen Prinzo, GACCA president. “This program will help eligible students gain the knowledge and skills they need to serve the industry with distinction.”

According to Pete Elco, ACCVA Foundation director, “The mission of the GACCA dovetails with our mission of supporting the area’s hospitality industry and promoting tourism education. This is a great way to help create a prepared workforce.”

About Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association: Members of the Atlantic City Hotel Lodging Association saw a need to bring together the Concierge community and thus helped to found the GACCA. The primary purpose of the GACCA is to promote high professional standards in the hospitality community. Additional goals are to foster a better understanding of the concierge profession, improve front line skills, and create a network of contacts to better service visitors.

About the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Foundation: The City of Atlantic City has consistently reigned as a premier tourist destination. With an emphasis on supporting and enhancing this valuable industry, the ACCVA Foundation will seek to generate resources to promote the value of tourism education and training.