Apollonia Karampatsou is a student in the B.S. in Hotel and Tourism Management, and is pursuing a minor in Media, Culture, and Communication. In this post, she tells us more about her internship this spring semester.
Where are you interning and what is your job title?
I am interning at PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager Hotel. My job title is Rooms Division Intern.
What projects have you been working on so far?
My internship has a rotational structure, working with the Housekeeping department for the first half of the semester and later transitioning to the Front Office department. Thus far, I am responsible for supervising and evaluating the quantity and quality of work performed by team members. I conduct over 100 rooms inspections every day, ensuring that all cleanliness and design standards are up to par, and produce room status reports through property management software that are then communicated to other departments. I am also assisting with staffing the Housekeeping department, allocating daily responsibilities to room attendants.
What do you enjoy most about your internship so far?
Most of my previous professional experiences were in Communications / Public Relations or Marketing, on a corporate or agency level. Therefore, one of the things I enjoy most about my internship at PUBLIC is that it allows me to develop my knowledge and skills related to hotel operations on-property. The rotational structure of my internship results in higher operational exposure and provides a more holistic understanding of how the hotel is managed. Also, I genuinely enjoy the interactions with guests that a front-of-the-house position permits.
Have there been any challenges in your internship so far? If so, how have you learned to overcome them?
The biggest challenge I have faced in my internship so far is the dynamic of supervising employees who are much older than me, or who have been working in the hotel for longer than I have. I have learned to overcome this by being empathetic and caring, valuing and appreciating the work of team members, and understanding people’s diverse backgrounds.
What do you hope to take away from your internship?
In my time at PUBLIC, I aim to learn as much as possible regarding how a boutique, lifestyle hotel in the heart of NYC is managed, and how the Rooms Division of the hotel (Front Office & Housekeeping) should be directed to effectively and efficiently provide the best quality of service to guests. I am also hoping to get a better sense of whether hotel operations are a good fit career-wise for me moving forward.
What are your future plans?
As a senior at NYU, I am currently exploring and considering different post-graduation opportunities that will allow me to continue learning and growing, both professionally and personally, in the hospitality industry that I am so passionate about.