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SUMMER INTERN EXPERIENCE 2006 by: Adam Hanzalik |
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My time as the ABA Foundation intern has been a unique and fulfilling experience. Currently attending the University of Louisville as an Accounting major I looked upon this internship as an opportunity to develop job skills by working in a professional environment.
At school I am involved in many activities. I am a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Chair Intramurals, I work with SGA and the Intra-fraternity Council on public relations, and I'm the University's Head Lifeguard. Most recently I finished working as a Student Orientation Staffer, a leader for incoming freshman. Accustom to being on the move I didn't think twice about loading up my car when the position presented itself. I packed my car the day after finishing orientation and headed towards Washington, DC and what has become one of the most enriching experiences of my life.
My first few days working as an intern were focused on acquiring knowledge about the Foundation. I discovered its purpose is to provide annual scholarships, research grants, and internship opportunities to students. It works to secure donations that in turn are used to build programming which promotes the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. By awarding scholarships the Foundation helps students currently in a field of study related to the industry and also creates an interest in students that are not. After receiving a scholarship recipients are then eligible to apply for industry internships.
I was one of those students not directly in a tourism-related field. Before my internship my only experience with the industry was through my mother. She works for Motor Coach Industries. When people ask what she does I used to tell them she buys and sells parts for big coach buses. That was all I knew. I now tell people she works for MCI, which produces motorcoaches, the big buses, for bus and tour operators around the country. Basically, she makes sure her company has the right parts to provide enough buses to allow people to travel/tour around the country. Not a big improvement, but it's a start that may get people to ask questions which I now can answer.
My answers come from hands on experience with researching and developing business concepts that I have acquired through my internship. I have worked on a planned giving component of charitable donations as well as a business continuity plan for small businesses. I found the necessary information by doing primary and secondary research. My search for donation information sent me to various locations. The book "Economics of Charitable Giving" offered explanations for the intricacies of giving and various charitable organization websites offered models of donation possibilities.
My search for Business Continuity was nearly identical save one trip. The United States Chamber of Commerce held an event where members of the government and corporate America spoke on pandemics. The focus was on avian influenza, but the underlying theme was business continuity. This opportunity allowed me to hear speakers from the companies Roche, Verizon, New York Life, Con-way Inc., and others talk about ways their companies prepare for emergencies. Going to the Chamber heightened my understanding of business continuity. In addition, both of these assignments helped me refine my perception of business.
As a past scholarship winner and as an intern my knowledge of travel, tourism, and hospitality has grown exponentially. I'm not certain if my future lies somewhere inside the motorcoach industry, but it has definitely been added to my list of options. I have learned much from this internship and truly feel I am now a more marketable individual
My first few days working as an intern were focused on acquiring knowledge about the Foundation. I discovered its purpose is to provide annual scholarships, research grants, and internship opportunities to students. It works to secure donations that in turn are used to build programming which promotes the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. By awarding scholarships the Foundation helps students currently in a field of study related to the industry and also creates an interest in students that are not. After receiving a scholarship recipients are then eligible to apply for industry internships.
I was one of those students not directly in a tourism-related field. Before my internship my only experience with the industry was through my mother. She works for Motor Coach Industries. When people ask what she does I used to tell them she buys and sells parts for big coach buses. That was all I knew. I now tell people she works for MCI, which produces motorcoaches, the big buses, for bus and tour operators around the country. Basically, she makes sure her company has the right parts to provide enough buses to allow people to travel/tour around the country. Not a big improvement, but it's a start that may get people to ask questions which I now can answer.
My answers come from hands on experience with researching and developing business concepts that I have acquired through my internship. I have worked on a planned giving component of charitable donations as well as a business continuity plan for small businesses. I found the necessary information by doing primary and secondary research. My search for donation information sent me to various locations. The book "Economics of Charitable Giving" offered explanations for the intricacies of giving and various charitable organization websites offered models of donation possibilities.
My search for Business Continuity was nearly identical save one trip. The United States Chamber of Commerce held an event where members of the government and corporate America spoke on pandemics. The focus was on avian influenza, but the underlying theme was business continuity. This opportunity allowed me to hear speakers from the companies Roche, Verizon, New York Life, Con-way Inc., and others talk about ways their companies prepare for emergencies. Going to the Chamber heightened my understanding of business continuity. In addition, both of these assignments helped me refine my perception of business.
As a past scholarship winner and as an intern my knowledge of travel, tourism, and hospitality has grown exponentially. I'm not certain if my future lies somewhere inside the motorcoach industry, but it has definitely been added to my list of options. I have learned much from this internship and truly feel I am now a more marketable individual
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MARKETPLACE NASHVILLE 2006
by: Aubrey Allen
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As a first time Marketplace attendee, I found myself in a whole new world of interesting people and amazing opportunity. Stepping into the convention area for the first time, I felt at home, surrounded by friends and colleagues. Throughout the week I networked and made the connections I feel will be vital to my success in the future. Attending Marketplace gave me the extra leg up on the competition that will help me to be the best I can be.
I attended the STAR program, which helped to get acquainted with the floor and showed me how to best use the facilities available to me. This great program gave me the extra confidence I needed to approach the hundreds of people I would get to know in the next few days.
During the rather rare downtime I had the chance to experience new city; Nashville. Although The Opryland was almost a world in itself, venturing downtown and exploring the culture was extremely exciting for me. Each place I got to visit throughout the week brought new experiences and new friends. That's one of the greatest aspects of Marketplace and ABA in general, from the seminars to the nighttime networking events; people were always friendly, treating me as though I was one of them. The ABA staff and interns were especially helpful, sharing their own experiences and how Marketplace has helped them.
I volunteered in the research center one afternoon, helping other volunteers to aid the buyers and sellers in preparing for the next day. The women working in the center taught me the importance of the work they were doing and to appreciate the hard work that goes into being on the floor at Marketplace.
Today I use what I learned both in my job and in my daily life. I see each and every person I meet as a potential client or employer. Marketplace gave me an even greater drive to be successful in this industry. I can''t imagine anyone being more eager than I am to obtain my degree and begin focusing on a career in a world of wonderful people like those I met at Marketplace.
During the rather rare downtime I had the chance to experience new city; Nashville. Although The Opryland was almost a world in itself, venturing downtown and exploring the culture was extremely exciting for me. Each place I got to visit throughout the week brought new experiences and new friends. That's one of the greatest aspects of Marketplace and ABA in general, from the seminars to the nighttime networking events; people were always friendly, treating me as though I was one of them. The ABA staff and interns were especially helpful, sharing their own experiences and how Marketplace has helped them.
I volunteered in the research center one afternoon, helping other volunteers to aid the buyers and sellers in preparing for the next day. The women working in the center taught me the importance of the work they were doing and to appreciate the hard work that goes into being on the floor at Marketplace.
Today I use what I learned both in my job and in my daily life. I see each and every person I meet as a potential client or employer. Marketplace gave me an even greater drive to be successful in this industry. I can''t imagine anyone being more eager than I am to obtain my degree and begin focusing on a career in a world of wonderful people like those I met at Marketplace.
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MARKETPLACE CHICAGO 2005 by: John "Hans" Smucker |
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Having never been to Chicago or a trade show before, I did not know exactly what to expect from Marketplace. I had a picture in my mind of a large convention hall with lots of promotional giveaway items and crowds of people milling about, browsing the stands. Little did I know what I was in for.
First off, I found Chicago to have quite a unique feel to it--not quite the rush of New York City but not lacking in spirit or pride either. The city felt wonderfully welcoming as well, as if it just came naturally.
Then, I experienced Marketplace. The convention and visitor bureau (CVB) booths, the state tourism booths, the business floor, registration, appointments, buses, operator breakfasts, and delegate lunches (the list could go on). At first the whole event took a little getting used to. For a first-timer there is a whole lot to learn. But as the week went on I found the atmosphere to be quite jovial with all the meetings going on, education seminars, and the common purpose of everyone there: to promote tourism (whether it be a destination, hotel, restaurant, or attraction).After taking in all there was to see and learn, I settled into my tasks as an intern for the American Bus Association. During any given day I found myself helping at the registration desk, assisting the communications director with press releases and press kits, helping the president of ABA with his busy schedule of meetings, setting up radio interviews, ushering during delegate lunches, setting up extra tables at delegate lunches, assisting people at the e-mail center, manning the ABA booth, and, of course, eating Hard Rock Cafe brownies with ice cream. I enjoyed the opportunity to see first hand how an event like Marketplace is organized and managed. It is a large undertaking once you consider setting up the 90,000 or so individual appointments that take place during the event.
One experience that caught me off guard was finding my own county represented in the CVB booth section. As I walked through the booths for the first time, I did not expect to see a Lancaster County, PA booth. But there it stood in front of me. A lady from the Pennsylvania Dutch CVB introduced herself to me after noticing my puzzled expression. "Hi, can I help you?" she asked. I responded, "yes, I'm from Bird-in-Hand (a town in Lancaster County) and, well, I never expected Lancaster County to have its own booth at Marketplace." I had seen other states and major cities with booths but no other counties. The lady explained how the Pennsylvania Dutch CVB had done some extra sponsorships this year and subsequently had been given a spot for a booth. That explained the practical aspect, but I still wondered why they would want to have a booth in the first place. Then it dawned on me. Growing up, the motorcoaches that pulled into my family's motel meant I could get tips by carrying luggage to people's rooms for them. I had never seen it from the visitor's point of view, that Lancaster County was a destination.
After seeing the Pennsylvania Dutch CVB booth, I fully realized the power of Marketplace and the possibilities it represented. At Marketplace I saw the "other side" of the tourism industry where the ideas are pitched and the deals are made that make the tourism industry run. I got the feeling that since everyone is in this industry together, teamwork equals success.
At the end of each day I felt exhausted yet fulfilled. I found that with all the hard work of appointments and networking that goes on at Marketplace, once a year is enough to keep the tourism industry well connected.