HMT students gain confidence, professional experience through international internships

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University students in the Hospitality Management and Tourism program got a taste of international culture through summer internships abroad. Uriel Rodriguez of Natchitoches worked at a boutique hotel in Spain while Olivia Habetz of Jennings worked at a luxury safari destination in the South African bush. Both said the experience was enriching personally and academically.

Rodriguez and Habetz are outstanding students who go beyond expectation in the classroom and in practical settings, according to Dr. Valerie Salter, HMT program coordinator,

"HMT is thrilled to have two of our graduating seniors amongst the first to complete their internships with international industry partners," Salter said. "Olivia and Uriel have demonstrated leadership throughout their college careers. Olivia has volunteered for numerous HMT affiliated events including the FCCLA State Conference, Columns Cafe, Chef's Table, Caveman Festival and the Academy of Country Music Awards, often serving as a volunteer lead. Uriel has extensive restaurant management, industry experience, and has also served in an integral role in Columns Cafe and Chef's Table."

Rodriguez landed his internship at the Hotel Castell d'Emporda, a restored 14^th century castle in the city of La Bisbal d'Emporda in the Catalonian region of Spain.

"I am fluent in Spanish, which helped me secure the role in the food and beverage department of the castell," he said. "The people's main language is Catalan and the city is known for its ceramics. Many local shops offer handmade coffee mugs, plates and vases. This particular region is known as Emporda and is most famous for being the home of Salvador Dali as well as its rich history and great selection of locally sourced wines."

Rodriguez spent much of his time in food and beverage, which included cleaning glassware and utensils, helping out in the hotel restaurants, Tres Margarit and Drac, and serving drinks by the pool. He found his bilingual skills to be an important asset.

"Since I was fluent in Spanish and English, I was often translating many requests to my supervisors which was very helpful to them because most guests speak English," he said. "I was surprised to know most people spoke English, considering the fact that I met people from all corners of the world. I was also surprised on how much influence America has on European culture through music, beverages and sports."

Rodriguez also learned that good service is universal and that though people come from different countries, they all common experiences.

"My experience introduced me to people from all over the world not only in the hotel but also at the students' house as well. Even though the Internet may make it seem like everyone is divided it was a really wholesome experience to get along with people from Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, India, Belgium and the Netherlands all in one building and have no resentment towards each other because at the end of the day we are all people and we learned to appreciate each other's differences instead of using it as a reason to attack each other. Because of my experience at the hotel I have gained more insight of different cultures than I had ever expected."

Rodriguez is an August 2024 graduate of NSU, as the conclusion of his internship completes requirements for his degree.

Meanwhile, Habetz, who is minoring in wildlife management, worked at Inkulu Adventures, which offers packages for big game hunting, fishing, relaxation and immersion in a range of options and prices. Inkulu Adventures is in the Thabazimbi region in the province of Limpopo, a subtropical woodland ecoregion surrounded by mountains.

Habetz landed her internship by networking at the Dallas Safari Club, where was a volunteer and intern. There she met the owner of Inkulu and arranged the 11-week internship where she gained experience in customer service, teamwork and lodge hospitality and was able to go along on game drives, animal auctions and hunts to learn more about the animals. She also learned stress management and confidence, especially when traveling alone and out of the U.S. During her internship, she fell in love with the atmosphere, people and scenery of South Africa.

"I cannot replace or compare this experience with anything else," she said. "It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I know there is no way I cannot return to South Africa. The people, the environment and the animals are simply something I can't walk away from without coming back."

Habetz thanked her advisors and faculty, Salter, McKenna Marsh, Dr. Mary Edith Stacy, Dr. Tamsie Jongile and JD Cox for their encouragement and sharing skills and knowledge needed for the opportunity, and the staff at Inkulu and her family and friends.

"Being in South Africa was a chance like no other," Habetz said. "It has given me the experience of stepping out of my comfort zone and being confident in traveling the world and exploring God's creations. Hard work pays off, and I am so glad that I stepped into the hospitality program my sophomore year to begin this amazing journey. Knowing that I can come home and find a job in multiple industries is the best part of being in this degree as a senior student."

"We are incredibly proud of Olivia and Uriel for beginning their hospitality management careers on an international stage," Salter said. "Olivia and Uriel's completion of field experience at international locations marks a significant step in their professional development and the global reach of our program. NSU's Hospitality Management and Tourism focus on global hospitality and tourism is essential to our students' and program's success. We are excited to see where Olivia and Uriel's careers take them next."

Northwestern State's HMT program recently earned accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration and is the only program in Louisiana accredited by ACPHA. Information on NSU's Hospitality Management and Tourism program is available at https://www.nsula.edu/hmt/.

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