Q&A with Xitlalic!
1. What is the Dimond Fellowship, and what does your internship entail?
The Dimond Fellowship is an internship opportunity with Stonebridge Companies to be able to gain experience and work at one of their various properties! You get the opportunity to choose an area of the hotel in which you are interested in working and gaining experience. As for my internship, I am learning and working in the Guest Services section, which is the front desk team of the hotel. It is more than just checking guests in and out, it’s creating experiences and ensuring guests have a memorable stay at the property. Sometimes, it can even entail assisting other areas such as the The Bistro or the housekeeping team.
2. What has been your favorite aspect of the experience?
I have really enjoyed learning and talking with all the guests who stop by the desk! Whether they are leaving or arriving, each person has a unique story and I love learning and seeing what we can do to make their stay as great as possible.
3. What do you hope to take away from your internship?
I entered the internship wanting to learn more about the hotel industry in general and take away some general knowledge about that. Now, I hope to keep learning about the effectiveness of communication and the importance of strategizing to create memorable experiences.
4. How have your studies at the School of Hospitality prepared you for the role you are in now?
My studies at the School of Hospitality have prepared me for my current role by teaching me about everyday tasks that deal with revenue, guest satisfactions and more. By having come into the role with such topics already learned, it allowed me to focus more on the technological side of things and gave me more time to adjust to the work culture.
5. What are your future plans?
I want to keep learning and gaining experience about the hotel industry to help prepare me for when I graduate. I plan to do a graduate program to earn my Master’s degree and afterwards, work more towards the casino industry or within luxury hotels!