Jinal Dalal is a graduate student pursuing an MS in Tourism Management at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. 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 The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), a policy-oriented research organization providing analysis and innovative solutions through consulting projects, documentary films, and publications. My job title is Program and Research Intern.
What projects have you been working on so far?
I am working on three major projects: Sustainable Destination Development in Big Bay, Michigan; Marketing Strategy to protect the Belize Barrier Reef; and Development of Future of Tourism Coalition to promote responsible tourism practices globally.
Have there been any challenges in your internship so far? If so, how have you learned to overcome them?
I love that the challenging aspects of CREST projects pique my curiosity. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of tourism, one challenge is navigating through multiple stakeholders and evaluating the complexity of economic and environmental impacts on destinations and communities. I’m happy to gain insights on this aspect from the expertise of my team members.
What do you hope to take away from your internship?
CREST is a pioneer in sustainable tourism and the experience that I am gaining is invaluable. From this internship, I hope to connect the dots in the tourism supply chain and think more critically about the challenges, solutions, and strategies to implement sustainability in a holistic way. I also look forward to learning the practical aspects of consulting projects.
What are your future plans?
I want to gain knowledge, hone my consulting skills through internships, and work as a Sustainable Tourism Consultant upon graduation. My interest lies in sustainability assessment and development of destinations to create an economic impact and protect biodiversity. I also love developing strategies to mitigate climate change risk by incorporating sustainability into the core business models of travel companies.