Paul Jervis. That name may not be familiar to those relatively new to our industry but Paul was a man at the forefront of many of the paradigm changes that impacted Canadian travel and tourism especially in the eighties and nineties. Tragically, Paul died in Mexico, on February 4th, after suffering a brain hemorrhage from a fall.
“He and Colin Hunter were visionaries,” Susan Webb, President of VoX International. “When I look back on Adventure Tours and Jack Tar Villages, then ITH joining tour operators Sol-Vac, Adventure Tours, PS Holidays and Fiesta West to be a national company it was amazing. And then Canada 3000 and Signature Vacations – it’s quite the story.”
They were also involved with early tour operators including Sunflight and Carousel. At Adventure Tours they were at the forefront of the development and operation of the all-inclusive model and many other innovative and original concepts within the tourism industry.
Hotel development and management was also in the mix with Jack Tar and companies such as Allegro and Interclubs. Paul moved to Mexico where he later retired after working with partners on hotels such as Reef Club Cozumel, and Reef Club Playacar.
Webb told us that Paul Jervis was a great mentor to her. “He taught me the value of developing relationships in the industry, keeping your reputation above repute, (how) to work hard and have fun. He wanted our staff to be proud of the company and to make sure the industry loved working with us and that we have the best service, product and the most creative industry events. Our annual Award of Excellence events at Stage West were epic.”
“Paul was such a character – but a true entrepreneur,” said Webb, “I remember him smoking his pipe in his office at Adventure/ITH. He would use the ‘loud speaker’ in the office to ‘summon you’ – ‘Webb my office!’ Intimidating to some, but he was harmless and he had a huge heart.”
Paul Jervis was raised in Bournemouth England, where he met his first wife Maureen (Harris) Jervis. After their daughter Samantha was born, they moved to Canada where they had a second daughter, Natasha.
Samantha Jervis told us she, “was born and raised in the industry. I started working at Adventure Tours during summers in high school and learned about every department.” Her father insisted she be the first Jervis to go to university, which she did, getting a BSC in Hospitality Management, and then worked at his hotels before moving on to other hotels in the Luxury Hotel business.
“I was born into the travel industry, taught to work hard for what I wanted to achieve, and it will forever be in my veins, as it was with my father.” Samantha told us in an email, “I will be 52 years old this year, have worked in many different positions from the bottom up, to executive roles in our industry, as my father believed it was the best way to learn and grow. I will forever live and breathe the hospitality and tourism industry and am grateful to him for that.”
Though his daughter Natasha was unable to be there, many of Paul’s family were with him at the end. His wife Iliana, his eldest daughter, Samantha, his son Mauricio and his youngest daughter Maya. “We stayed by his side, held his hand, talked to him and played his favourite music,” said Samantha.
“In the end Paul Jervis was a simple cheeky rugby boy from England,” said Samantha, “he could be tough, but was deeply loved by his family and highly respected by so many. He always had a project and idea in mind. He was a man who knew how to turn an idea into reality.”
“In my opinion, my Father, Paul Raymond Jervis, was a true legend and an icon in the travel industry. He was at the forefront and responsible for so many amazing projects and parts of our industry would not be what they are today without his hard work, dedication, efforts and forethought.”
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