Internship Experience
I have held two internships in the field of event management. Through these opportunities, I gained real-world experience with the day-to-day aspects of event planning and management. Read about each experience in detail below!
Organization/Company: Capers DMC
Internship Semester: Summer 2017
Job Description: This was a full-time, paid internship position. My tasks included updating pricing information for the company; researching and securing venues for various events; communicating with dozens of venue contacts via phone, email, and in person; attending site walk-throughs, client meetings, and venue visits; creating signage, information sheets, and spreadsheets for client files and upcoming events; and working with other members of the company to execute our major program for the summer, a large-scale conference at the end of July involving airport arrivals and transportation, conference shuttling, corporate receptions and fundraising events, and a street party in downtown San Antonio for 5,000 guests.
Requirements/Qualifications for Position:
Benefits/Opportunities: One benefit of this job was that it was a paid internship. This position also offered great networking opportunities due to the regular contact I made with event managers at different restaurants, hotels, and venues in San Antonio. Another benefit was the fact that I got to see and assist with various aspects of event management, from the event sales side to contracts to decor to the actual execution of the event, which helped me determine which areas of the industry I'd be interested in working in.
Achievements:
New skills/knowledge areas: I gained a lot of technical skill in Microsoft Excel and the creation of program details, spreadsheets, and diagrams. I also gained a lot of valuable knowledge in how to network with hospitality professionals as well as communicate with clients.
Completion of special projects: I arranged a site itinerary for a client that included more than a dozen venues within a tight time frame. I also worked on a team that successfully executed a downtown street party for thousands of people, the largest event Capers has ever taken on.
Contact Information:
Paul Nix, Owner and President
Capers DMC
(210) 226-6652
[email protected]
Links to Related Organizations and Information:
Internship Semester: Summer 2017
Job Description: This was a full-time, paid internship position. My tasks included updating pricing information for the company; researching and securing venues for various events; communicating with dozens of venue contacts via phone, email, and in person; attending site walk-throughs, client meetings, and venue visits; creating signage, information sheets, and spreadsheets for client files and upcoming events; and working with other members of the company to execute our major program for the summer, a large-scale conference at the end of July involving airport arrivals and transportation, conference shuttling, corporate receptions and fundraising events, and a street party in downtown San Antonio for 5,000 guests.
Requirements/Qualifications for Position:
- A junior- or senior-level undergraduate who already has a bit of experience in the field of events, including related classes and/or previous job experience
- Some previous knowledge, like the terms and abbreviations used in this industry or the basic overviews of the various services that event management companies provide
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
- Outgoing and positive personality
- A willingness to adapt and “roll with the punches”
Benefits/Opportunities: One benefit of this job was that it was a paid internship. This position also offered great networking opportunities due to the regular contact I made with event managers at different restaurants, hotels, and venues in San Antonio. Another benefit was the fact that I got to see and assist with various aspects of event management, from the event sales side to contracts to decor to the actual execution of the event, which helped me determine which areas of the industry I'd be interested in working in.
Achievements:
New skills/knowledge areas: I gained a lot of technical skill in Microsoft Excel and the creation of program details, spreadsheets, and diagrams. I also gained a lot of valuable knowledge in how to network with hospitality professionals as well as communicate with clients.
Completion of special projects: I arranged a site itinerary for a client that included more than a dozen venues within a tight time frame. I also worked on a team that successfully executed a downtown street party for thousands of people, the largest event Capers has ever taken on.
Contact Information:
Paul Nix, Owner and President
Capers DMC
(210) 226-6652
[email protected]
Links to Related Organizations and Information:
- www.capersdmc.com - Website of Capers DMC
- www.hosts-global.com - Website of Hosts Global, an international alliance of destination management companies to which Capers belongs
- www.visitsanantonio.com - Website of Visit San Antonio, San Antonio's Convention and Visitors' Bureau
Organization/Company: Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Internship Semester: Spring 2017
Job Description: This was a part-time, unpaid position. My tasks included answering the Designer Events office's phones; creating client files; organizing files; creating signage for events; designing menu and cookbook layouts for events; organizing the supply closet; checking supply stock; working various events at the winery including the Wine & Roses Festival, weddings, and several private events; assisting in setup and tear-down of events; and completing any other tasks assigned to me by Designer Events staff.
Requirements/Qualifications for Position:
- Highly interested in the field of events with a desire to work in event planning professionally
- Intrinsically motivated (you will work many hours, including nights and weekends, without recognition or financial compensation)
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher
- Positive and friendly attitude
Benefits/Opportunities: The biggest benefit of this internship experience was that I got a chance to work with other young, energetic, motivated people that wanted to do a great job. The event coordinators were both in their twenties just like me and worked long hours right alongside me with a great attitude. Their desire to work hard in order to accomplish something they were proud of instilled that same desire in me. This internship was also a nice transition into real-world experience because I was able to "ease into" event planning - I gained a lot of technical knowledge and learned directly from professional event coordinators, but I also was able to only work a few days a week and not experience the ultra-high stress or pressure that can be associated with event planning.
Achievements:
New skills/knowledge areas: I learned how client files are created and organized, which will be a valuable tool in the future. Through the creation of many cookbooks, menus, and flyers, I mastered Microsoft Publisher. I also learned how to answer phones professionally and use a phone system in general.
Completion of special projects: I designed and executed the wine display table, the focal point of the Messina Hof's Spring Wine Release Dinner. I also designed menus for several events and cookbooks for several Messina Hof cooking parties.
Contact Information:
Teri Ryan, Designer Events Manager
Messina Hof Winery & Resort
(979) 778-9463
[email protected]
Links to Related Organizations and Information:
- www.messinahof.com/designerevents - Website of Messina Hof Designer Events