Tourism interns prepare for summer placements

The Hon. Shawn Crockwell J.P., M.P., Minister of Tourism Development and Transport today congratulated the four David Allen Memorial Internship Porgramme students who will be working with the Department this summer.

Now in its fifteenth year, in 2003 the former Tourism Minister Renee Webb renamed this internship programme to the David H. Allen Memorial Internship after the former Tourism Minister who was keen to ensure that the brightest Bermudians were trained and nurtured so that they can one day take over as the leaders in the island’s tourism and hospitality industry. 

The Bermuda Department of Tourism selects and places Bermudian University students at either one of the Department’s international marketing agencies, New York sales office or the Bermuda Department of Tourism head office in Bermuda. This programme commences in late spring with each agency preparing a work plan for the Intern that spans an eight week period. This programme offers the Interns firsthand experience geared towards embarking on a career associated with the hospitality industry.

Students must be currently enrolled in a college or university and majoring in Marketing Communications, Public Relations, Travel & Tourism, or Hospitality Management. Students must be entering a Junior or Senior year in September of current year.

Students submit a resume, together with a minimum of 1,000 word essay that outlines their perceptions of the challenges facing Bermuda’s Tourism Industry and their recommendations with regard to addressing the perceived challenges. All essays should end with an outline of their career objectives and indications of how the internship will assist them in achieving those objectives.

The Interns will be involved in some of the following activities during their Internship period:

Help organize logistics of media opportunities

Contribute to development of  itineraries for group press trips and individual visits

Participate in creative brainstorming meetings

Research and develop promotional opportunities for clients

Conduct follow up calls and media pitches

Assist in media analysis of Bermuda coverage results

Research and compile appropriate geocentric media lists for events, press trips and specialized pitches

Assist in updating island partner contact sheet database, including restaurants, museums, attractions, hotels etc

Assist in updating data on hotels and attractions in order to allow us to provide the most up-to-date information to media.

Assist in organization of Bermuda’s fact sheets, b-roll video and photography assets for media usage.

The 2013 David H. Allen Memorial Interns are:

Alton Roberts, currently a student of the University of the West of England, United Kingdom and pursuing a major in Tourism Management. Mr. Roberts will be working with our New York Advertising Agency Fuseideas.

Kharis Brooks is currently attending University of the West of England, United Kingdom and pursuing a major in Marketing Communications. Ms Brooks will be working with Lou Hammond and Associates.

Simon Benevides is currently studying at the University of Guelph, Canada and pursuing a major in Tourism Management. Mr. Benevides will be working with the Department of Tourism – New York Office.

Tiffany Sanchez is presently studying at Johnson & Wales University, United States and is majoring in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management.  Ms Sanchez will be working with the Department of Tourism – Bermuda Office.

Minister Crockwell said: “Congratulations to our four interns for 2013. These exceptional students are dedicated to their studies and plan to embark on a career in hospitality and the Department of Tourism will do all we can to ensure their success. I know they will gain valuable experience working in our offices in Bermuda and New York and with our Agencies  Lou Hammond and Fuseideas and I look forward to seeing great things from them in the future.