Lorenzo Melone

Major: Hospitality Management
Company/Organization: Gateway Hotel & Conference Center
Company/Organization website: www.gatewayames.com
Destination: Ames, Iowa
Timeframe: Summer 2021
Advisor/Coordinator Email: briaj

Responsibilities

Throughout this internship I have had the opportunity to be able to work in almost every department of the hotel. In the beginning of my internship I started off working in the housekeeping department. During my time there I was able to learn how much goes into properly cleaning hotel rooms by having hands-on experience cleaning them. Also during my time there, I learned a lot about the responsibilities that go into being a housekeeping manager. Those responsibilities included assigning guest rooms housekeeping staff, training new staff, & ensure cleanliness throughout the entire hotel. After working within that department I moved to the front desk. Here, I learned how to check in guests in and out of their room by using the hotel's front desk software, take reservations over the phone, and answer any questions the guests have about the hotel. I also had the privilege of learning that duties that go into being a front desk supervisor. Those duties included handling front desk budget, compiling occupancy reports, and addressing customer complaints and queries.

Accomplishments

Learning the skill of being socially and emotionally conscious has to be my greatest accomplishment during my internship experience. While working at the hotel, I am constantly interacting with very diverse groups of people. I have learned that it is very important to remember that no one person is the same, so the skill of being aware that everyone's situation needs to be handled differently is a must within this industry.

Learning experience

I believe that working within this hotel taught me lessons that I would not learn anywhere else. This internship taught me about communication, prioritizing, quick problem-solving, and humility. But, the greatest lesson I learned is that you need to have patience in order to be successful in this industry. There can definitely be some troubling moments that occur during our shifts, but our management team has trained us well enough to keep a smile on our face despite those occurrences.

What advice would you give?

My advice for future Hospitality Management students is that you should always keep an open-mind and always stay positive throughout your internship. There are going to be a lot of new experiences that you may not be too comfortable with and that's okay. Stepping out of your comfort zone will make you a more productive individual and will allow you to to learn the skills you need to be successful in the professional world.

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