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Baymont Inns & Suites Summer Intern Program Helps Prepare Tomorrow’s Hoteliers |
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Real world experience helps guide students as they prepare for satisfying careers |
MILWAUKEE, WIS. — (AUGUST 28, 2003) "One of the most important roles that a hotel owner or operator can play is that of a teacher or mentor; specifically, being someone who understands the importance of helping to prepare young people today for the careers they will embark upon tomorrow,” said Jim Abrahamson, president and chief operating officer of Baymont Inns & Suites.
Abrahamson was describing the midscale chain's new 10-week summer internship program for students who are studying hotel management.
"Part of the reason that the hotel industry of today is better managed and more competitive than ever before is the excellent work done in the hospitality management programs at colleges and universities," Abrahamson said. "Young people are being encouraged to look specifically at the hotel industry as a career choice, and educational programs are developed by people with experience as hoteliers.
"Our internship program supplements that education,” he said. The interns work 40-hour weeks and earn an hourly rate.
The internships begin in housekeeping where the students learn the responsibilities of room and laundry attendants, and those of head housekeeper. That experience is followed by a stint in both the maintenance and breakfast attendant departments, and then three weeks at the front desk where they have the opportunity to experience working each of three shifts. The sales department is next on the curriculum, and that includes outside sales calls, as the students accompany a Baymont Inns & Suites sales professional in visits to clients and potential clients. The program closes with time spent with the property general manager and the Baymont district director.
"The structured curriculum includes road maps for achievement where an intern outlines specific goals for each department and focuses on the action-plan process,” said Linda Korbel, director of training for Baymont Inns & Suites and developer of the training course. “The interns are required to keep journals for each department, noting struggles and successes. Basic tasks are learned and proficiency demonstrated making effective use of the associate training guides. These guides were developed with the specific intent to develop our property-level associates for consistency in job functions and service. They have proven to be excellent teaching tools for our interns."
"The internship manual is very thorough," said Elliott Mura, a senior at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. "It guides you through every aspect of the hotel.”
Abrahamson said that for too long the hotel industry has been plagued by employee turnover because workers have seen the hotel industry as a stopgap measure on the way to another job or another career.
"That has changed because of the commitment shown by our industry's educators in the work they do in attracting young people to the hotel industry for careers," Abrahamson said. Also, hospitality continues to play one of the most important roles in our nation's economy and students and their advisors—specifically high school guidance counselors—have come to recognize that fact."
Of course, there is more of a benefit to Baymont Inns & Suites from the intern program than just the knowledge it is helping young people prepare for careers in the hotel industry.
"We're increasing our bench strength," Korbel said. "Our objective is to retain these interns. This program is another part of fulfilling our commitment to our guests to provide quality stays with excellent service."
The property-level workers who are responsible for guiding the interns received specific instruction as to their duties in the program. Frequent contact takes place between Korbel and the interns and their mentors for updates and the sharing of suggestions to improve the program.
Students chosen for the program have found their excitement level raised as the program began in June.
Mura's internship is taking place at the Baymont Inns & Suites property in Milwaukee-New Berlin. Other Baymont inns interns are: Harrison Frith, student at Central Florida University, training at Tampa-Busch Gardens, Naples (Fla.); Liz Wagner, student at Southwest Missouri State University, training at Detroit-Romulus; Matthew Larson, student at Southwest Missouri State University, training at Columbus-Dublin (Ohio); Dan Popovich, student at Purdue University, training at Austin (Texas); Jennifer Wells, student at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, training at Woodfield Suites-Bannockburn (Ill.); and Andi Wilbee, student at Lakeland College, training at Woodfield Suites-Glendale (Wis.). The Marcus Corporation owns both Baymont Inns & Suites and Woodfield Suites.
"This program really begins their management experience," Abrahamson said. "Our goal is to mentor these individuals and, quite possibly, hire them upon graduation. One of the strengths of Baymont Inns & Suites is our ability to promote from within our own organization.”
In October 2002, Baymont Inns & Suites rolled out training programs on DVD. “We continue to provide training today and opportunity for tomorrow for all our associates,” said Korbel. “The state-of-the-art training materials provide everything that is necessary to put together and nurture a strong work team.
About Baymont Inns & Suites
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Baymont Inns & Suites continues to be a leading brand in the mid-market segment. The brand offers a 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, and has made a huge investment in its frequent-stay program—Guest Ovations®—with more than 275,000 members and growing. Under the 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if any guest is dissatisfied with any aspect of his or her night's stay and the hotel is unable to resolve the problem, the guest will receive their night’s stay for free, plus a coupon for a 10-percent discount on their next stay at any Baymont Inns & Suites hotel.
In addition, Baymont’s Ovations Rooms offer upscale amenities not found in competitive mid-market hotels, such as plush pillow-top mattresses, Down Lite™ pillows, fluffy towels, branded bath products and free in-room bottled water. The rooms also feature an enhanced workstation with an executive-sized desk, comfortable ergonomic chair and task lamp with a data port.
Baymont Inns & Suites operates or franchises more than 180 locations in 31 states nationwide, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS). For more information on The Marcus Corporation, go to www.marcuscorp.com. For more information about Baymont Inns & Suites or to make a reservation, visit www.baymontinns.com or call toll-free: 1-877-BAYMONT (1-877-229-6668).
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Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Baymont Inns & Suites, a mid-priced lodging chain that operates or franchises 182 locations in 31 states nationwide, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS). |
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