08/24/2026
Internship Spotlight: Brianna
Over the summer, Brianna put her Hospitality Leadership and Tourism studies into action at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, where she has also spent the past year working full time as a front desk agent!
For her internship, Brianna wanted the opportunity to learn in an environment that goes beyond traditional hotel operations. With a restaurant, coffee shop, sales department, convention center, and multiple event venues, University Plaza gave her the chance to see how different areas of the hospitality industry connect.
One of her biggest takeaways? Strong hospitality starts with strong soft skills. From communication between departments to conflict resolution and guest interactions, Brianna has seen how those skills can make a difference in both day-to-day operations and the overall guest experience.
Her advice to other students is to be open to starting in an entry-level role, gain hands-on experience early, and look for opportunities to learn outside of your own department. The more sides of the industry you understand, the better prepared you’ll be to lead in it someday.
During her time at University Plaza, Brianna’s hard work has also earned her recognition as Employee of the Month! 👏 Way to go, Brianna!
