Thomas Zenteno is a student in the Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Tourism Management at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. In this post, he tells us more about his internship this spring semester.
Where are you interning, and what is your job title?
I am interning at LodgIQ, a startup company that provides revenue management solutions for hotels. LodgIQ uses machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to create the travel industry's most precise and adaptive revenue optimization platform. My job title is Hotel Account Management Intern.
What projects have you been working on so far?
During my time at this internship, I have been working directly with the Director of Customer Success, which has allowed me to work directly with revenue managers of various hotels. As an Account Management Intern, I have been given the opportunity to be involved in many exciting projects involving customer satisfaction solutions, planning for upcoming features, and implementing new tools to improve our customer service. Additionally, my time at LodgIQ has allowed to learn about the product and the solutions it provides while being able to participate in team meetings regarding the solutions and development of the product.
Have there been any challenges in your internship so far? If so, how have you learned to overcome them?
I believe one of the biggest challenges I have faced during this internship was adapting to an online environment. Although working from home provides me flexibility in terms of my schedule, I undoubtedly miss that direct interaction you can only get while working in person. Working in person can be beneficial as it provides an opportunity to ask direct questions or get a chance to have a more casual conversation about features or projects I don't completely understand yet. However, the entire team at LodgIQ has been so patient in giving me enough time to adapt to their product and their solutions. Thanks to their incredible support, I learned about their product and overcame the initial adaptation process.
What do you hope to take away from your internship?
One of the main reasons I decided to intern at LodgIQ is because I have no previous experience in the financial management field of the industry. Taking this opportunity has allowed me to be more comfortable with the financial terminology I have learned during my previous lectures. Also, I have realized that memorizing terms and understanding how they interact in the industry is so different than actually having them in front of you and making reports trying to explain what that terminology is attempting to express. As a Hotel Account Management Intern, I hope to gain more experience with systems in the industry, such as CRS and PMS, and how all of these various systems integrate with the Revenue System Programs. Additionally, my time at LodgIQ has allowed me to become more confident and express myself with ease. Thanks to the incredible support they provide me, I believe my opinions and even concerns are welcome and valued.
What are your future plans?
I will be graduating by the end of this year, and I am so excited about what the future might hold for me. However, my short-term goals are to continue getting as many opportunities and experience as I can during my remaining time as a student at NYU. I firmly believe taking advantage of every possible opportunity will give me the option to experience and decide which field within the industry I will focus my career.
I am also contemplating the possibility of starting a graduate program, as this seems the next reasonable step for my academic development. Lastly, my Business Development III course has been one of the most challenging and exciting courses during my time at NYU. Thanks to a project in this course, I have developed an interest in implementing accessibility for the industry. I'm not sure how I could implement this interest in my career. Still, if possible, I would like to dedicate some time to researching and implementing ways in which the industry can take into consideration individuals facing any sort of disability.