It was true that I passed rounds of intense interviews and assessments, but when I first stepped into the Crowne Plaza Amsterdam-Zuid, I had no idea what kind of experience awaits me. Pressure? Challenge? Or learning? Happiness? My internship at the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) was more than just a stepping stone in my career; it was a deep dive into the dynamic world of hospitality marketing. It’s hard to summarize my journey in a few words. So take a moment with me and experience how a typical day of me showcases the blend of creativity, strategy, and teamwork.
Morning: Try not to split coffee on keyboard
My day usually started with a cup of coffee – or 2 cups. Ironically I was never a coffee person before I started working. In the morning, my focus is always onto search engine optimization (SEO). Enhancing the visibility of our websites, ensuring that you can see “Crowne Plaza Amsterdam-South” and our beloved “Manhattan Lounge Bar” on top of your search result. Websites were crucial for driving traffic and increasing bookings. I spent hours researching keywords, analysing competitors, and tweaking our content to climb up the search engine rankings. If you go to the websites right now, almost all the contents were created by me.
Midday: Just scroll social media…
Kidding – but catching up on the latest social media trends is really imporant. Managing the Instagram accounts for Crowne Plaza Amsterdam-Zuid, voco Den Haag, and their food & beverage services meant staying ahead of the curve. From creating visually appealing content to drafting engaging captions, every post needed to reflect our brand’s identity while resonating with our audience. In the meantime, researching for the appropriate influencers is also salient in increasing our visibility. Hey – subscribe to @manhattan_sth and you will see my works regarding the Jazz Night!
Afternoon: Meetings = Free Drinks!
Many events are happening around the Zuidas area, and this is why we often reserved our afternoon for meetings, especially those meetings that are related to collaborative projects. As an assistant project manager for several initiatives, I had the opportunity to work closely with various departments. One memorable project was the meeting room exposure campaign. We wanted to highlight our state-of-the-art facilities to attract more corporate clients. The delight of meeting is that you can always order free drinks in the Manhattan Lounge Bar. As the internship goes on, I started to enjoy the art of persuasion and negotiation with clients of various personalities and demands. I would say that the theoretical basis in Communication Science also helped.
Evening: Luckily don’t have to work extra hours.
However, as the day wound down, I often found myself reflecting on the lessons learned. Was the event I planned successful? Is there anywhere else in the website that can be optimized? I was lucky that the marketing team at IHG was incredibly supportive. They provided feedback that helped me grow both professionally and personally. The opportunity to connect with industry professionals was invaluable. I remember a particularly insightful conversation with the marketing manager of Merlin Entertainment, which broadened my perspective on hospitality marketing, and inspired me on how the collaborative power of local community can be so impactful.
The Takeaway
As I mentioned: It’s hard to summarize my journey in a few words. This internship was a transformative experience. It wasn’t just about executing marketing strategies; it was about understanding the intricate dynamics of the hospitality industry, learning how to create meaningful connections with guests, and eventually I even had my own project. Every day in the office is unique, and I can’t recommend IHG enough for their supportive environment and the opportunity to make a tangible impact.