Industry Internships

The FFEA Education & Emerging Leaders Committee encourages its members to utilize students from Event Management Programs at Florida based Universities when producing their events. Details on each participating University are listed below.

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Career Development Program assists students and alumni by providing guidance and resources for the achievement of career goals and making connections between their academic experiences and desired career paths.

Industry Experience Requirement
Undergraduate students must complete 1,000 hours of industry related work. An additional 300 hours and 10 weeks minimum are required to fulfill the HFT 4945 – Advanced Internship course. A maximum of 500 hours of prior work experience can be applied to this requirement. The remaining amount must be completed while enrolled in the program.

Graduate students must complete 1,000 hours of hospitality related practical training work experience plus 300 hours for the Graduate Internship. A minimum of 800 hours must be completed while enrolled in the graduate program at FIU. Students with prior experience may request a waiver for all or part of this requirement.

How do I recruit an intern from FIU?

First, determine the available intern positions at your company.
Then write a great internship description that will attract students and detail the learning opportunities, type of projects assigned, and qualifications.
Create an account and post your opportunities directly to FIU students via the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Career Link.
Evaluate student resumes on the website and conduct interviews.
Lastly, select qualified candidates to intern at your company.

The Dedman College of Hospitality has approximately 550 students majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Many of these students are interested in meeting and event planning and are looking for opportunities around the state of Florida in that area. All Hospitality and Tourism Management Majors are required to complete experiential learning opportunities, totaling a minimum of 1,000 hours, before graduation. There are two components that our students must complete: work experience and an internship.

Work experience
Students are required to work a total of 1,000 hours in any area of the hospitality industry. This includes hotels, restaurants, private clubs, event companies, theme parks, non-profit organizations, etc.
Internship
Of the 1,000 hours of industry work experience, at least 250 must be in an approved internship(s) at a hospitality organization or in a hospitality function at a non-hospitality organization. Internships must provide an opportunity to work in at least two positions and to shadow a manager, or to see an event from planning to execution.

Recruiting our Students:

If you have a job or internship position that you would like to advertise to Dedman College of Hospitality students, please email Dr. Alishia Piotrowski directly (apiotrowski@dedman.fsu.edu). Alishia is the Director of the Marriott Career and Professional Development Center. She will review your internship, and once approved, will share your position with our students, via email. Please make sure that your advertisement includes a small blurb about your organization, a position description, desired hours/schedule, and how students should apply. Students can apply directly to you and we are always happy to provide interview space on campus or help facilitate virtual interviews.

Recruit on campus at the Career & Internship Expo!

Agency Eligibility Requirements

Internship Manual

Student Internship Responsiblities

UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management students are required to complete three (3) semesters of experiential learning (internships, part- and full-time positions) to graduate. They must work at least 256 hours over the duration of the semester, either hourly or stipend. Our internships are an academic class, so they follow the college semesters.

UCF Rosen College Bachelor of Science in Event Management
We have 3,500 students at Rosen College, 800 of which are earning their Bachelor of Science in Event Management. These students take courses in all aspects of meeting, trade show and event planning, as well as actually participate in creating an event, some with external clients. Important aspects of their curriculum are marketing, production, fundraising, budgets and technology. We also encourage our students to join industry organizations and volunteer for meetings and events to increase their knowledge.

Opportunity Postings
Rosen College has a jobs email that goes out weekly advertising internship, part- and full-time jobs, and volunteer opportunities. Our students are mobile as the Internship course is mixed mode and on-line. Would you like to promote your internship opportunity directly to Rosen College students? Please click here to complete the Rosen Professional Internship Interest Form. For more information on The Office of Rosen College Professional Internships, please visit our website.

For additional information please contact Rosen College Office of Professional Internships:

Professor Jessica Wickey - email
Professor David Wixted - email
Professor Gisele Canova - email

UF College of Health and Human Performance & E-Newsletter
The College of Health and Human Performance enrolls 1,845 students. These students receive a weekly electronic newsletter containing information about volunteer and internship opportunities. If you are interested in posting to this e-newsletter, please contact Dawn Shores at dshores@hhp.ufl.edu.

UF Department of Tourism, Recreation, and Sport Management
The Department of Tourism, Recreation, and Sport Management has 705 students enrolled and many of these students are earning a Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Events, Recreation, and Management. These students are required to complete 80 hours of volunteer work the semester prior to their internship and are also required to complete a 13-week internship, working 40 hours per week during the semester of expected graduation.

The Student Manual and Employer Requirements listed below are resources to help you determine whether or not your agency would like to be considered as an internship site. Dr. Douglas DeMichele is the Internship Coordinator for the Department. If you have any questions, please contact him at (352) 294-1660 or by e-mail at demiche@hhp.ufl.edu.

Florida Gulf Coast University offers a comprehensive Resort & Hospitality Management program. The curriculum, developed by academic and industry leaders, is uniquely focused on the essential knowledge needed to manage the complex operations of multi-million dollar resort and private club properties. Earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Resort & Hospitality Management (RHM) and open doors to highly regarded management careers in the industry. Concentrations in Event Management, Spa Management and Restaurant and Club Management are offered.

The internship and field experiences expose students to a different way of thinking and working and are an important bridge between the classroom experiences and a career in the resort and hospitality management industry. The program has relationships with over 300 of the area's finest resorts, hotels, private clubs, events, spas, food and beverage, and other industry related contacts.

Employers – Reach Resort & Hospitality Management students with internships, full- and part-time positions and volunteer opportunities by emailing Jennifer McGurk, Internship Coordinator, at jenmcgurk@fgcu.edu to be included in our free daily e-blast to current students and qualified alumni.

Industry Internship Programs