When you look back in time, memories can throw up a wave of nostalgia.

The star interns of one of the top hotel management colleges in India, V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE) had the opportunity to experience international internships on foreign shores which offered them a wealth of learning and enriching experiences.

The past year has made international travel difficult especially for students looking to explore new experiences abroad. Looking back at those defining experiences the students and Star Interns of VMSIIHE share their fond memories of their internships.

Jacky Jha, TY Student, VMSIIHE
~Living alone on an island that I was unfamiliar with, was the best experience I could have had ~

Through VMSIIHE, I got the wonderful opportunity of interning at the Taj Coral Reef Resort and Spa, Maldives for six months. I personally got to learn a lot and put to practice what I had learned at VMSIIHE. It was a balanced mix of work and play. The blue-green beautiful lagoons of Maldives, famous for their natural beauty with white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters added to the charm of learning the ropes of the hospitality industry at one of the finest hotel group chains in the world. This internship allowed me to put into practice the theoretical knowledge I gained while in class.
I faced a lot of ups and downs during my time in Maldives but it really taught me how the hospitality industry works. There is only one principle goal everyone works towards, which is guest satisfaction. The experience pushed me to take up challenges and make decisions on my own as we had to do everything by ourselves after being guided by our supervisors. Coming up with creative ideas, upselling skills, innovative ways of working as part of the duty and that itself gave a boost to my confidence level to face up to guests and solve their problems.
It’s not only about how you work but also who we are working with. Having a good team and maintaining good coordination and communication with them allows the experience to be enriching. I’ve learned that respecting each other is also very important, regardless of the job, each individual performs. As everyone respected one another’s ideas, cultures, the language it increased my self-confidence and comfort level in terms of communication with people of various nationalities and cultures. Living alone on an island that I was unfamiliar with, was the best experience I could have.

I was awarded the Best Intern of the month award twice, which was also a great confidence booster at work. I will be forever grateful to my college, VMSIIHE for giving me this valuable experience that I will cherish for a lifetime!

Sharlene Fatima Colaco, TY Student, VMSIIHE
~An internship in Maldives was out of my comfort zone but I’m glad I took it up ~

Taj Coral Reef is a small quaint hotel located on an island in Maldives which was around 55 minutes away from the main city and just about everything else too. So the thought of even interning there felt like a crazy idea to me. But honestly, I can say that my time spent there resulted in one of the best experiences of my life. It was something out of my comfort zone but I’m glad I got this opportunity. Not only did I gain practical knowledge and skills but I also had the opportunity to meet many fantastic people. After those six months of internship, I definitely feel more confident in myself, more independent, and responsible. Overall, my internship at Maldives has been a success as I gained excellent hotel management training. I was able to gain practical skills, work in a fantastic environment, and make connections that will last a lifetime. I could not be more thankful to VMSIIHE for this opportunity. It has taught me so much that I can use the experience in my daily routines till today. It’s certainly one of the best hotel management colleges.

Simonelle Eliana Fernandes, TY Student, VMSIIHE
~The best advice I got was from a chef who told me that when one comes into the kitchen, the heart and soul is required to prepare the best food which will make other people happy. That’s something I will always remember ~

I got the opportunity of interning at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai and I was the only intern who was placed at the executive lounge in the hotel. I really loved the experience as I got a chance to interact with people of different nationalities, employees as well as guests. The chef I was working with was a Sri Lankan and he had a very harsh and loud tone. At first, I thought he was screaming at me but as time passed by I realized that it was his usual way of talking. I worked with so many people of different nationalities, different cultures and it is so very tricky to get used to that. That’s what I will take with me wherever I go in life. There was another chef who was from the Philippines who told me that whatever arguments or grudges you have against any co-worker, sort it out outside work and then come into the kitchen as that’s where one’s heart and soul is required to prepare the best food which will make other people happy. That is another thing I will take wherever I work in the hospitality industry. As I was put on live stations, I’ve learned the virtue of patience and problem-solving skills along with always having a cheerful attitude with guests. In life as well we work in groups and with so many different people, this experience has taught me to face whatever life offers me, with a sense of confidence, have patience and sort out problems and to hold no grudges against anyone.

Grendon V. Pereira Inacio, TY Student, VMSIIHE
~After my internship I now tend to take a professional approach towards even the simplest of tasks including my chores at home ~

My experience interning at the Taj Coral Reef, Maldives was excellent as I got exposure in three major departments – Front Office, Housekeeping and Food & Beverage. The staff and managers were all very helpful and taught us first-hand skills of the industry with patience and dedication whilst making sure we grasped the finer skills and helped us polish and put our skills to use. I learned the standard operating procedures of the restaurants and bar, taking check-ins, using the hotel property management systems (PMS), and also the techniques used to service a room apart from many other skills and practical applications. The skills learned in the industry are not only useful for work but are also very useful at home as I’ve noticed myself to be much more efficient with my chores at home after my internship. After my internship, I now tend to take a professional approach towards even the simplest of tasks and it just makes things less complicated and more structured. I’m certainly glad that I am studying at an institute like VMSIIHE which is one of the very best in hospitality management studies.