A endless journey begins...

Hello everyone,

It was a great pleasure to connect and share my views and experiences about my internship at Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel with you all. I would like to first of all thank my supervisor, my colleagues and all the management team of the hotel for having made my stay a memorable one. I have been very lucky when I got asked if I wanted to extend my training among them by the general manager. I am still part of my training journey at the hotel. I feel lucky to have a golden chance of expanding my knowledge and work experiences. I can furthermore be as a participant observer and also contribute to the working place. I also feel inspired by several blogs I read whereby they shared their experience and also help you guide you on how to be effective, productive , tell you even how different organisations function. It also gets you thinking of what if you got to work in such different category of organisation.

It helps to know how it would be like to be in such environment or specific field. As my journey is still going on as a Guest relations Trainee, I really look forward every day to learn something new in the tourism industry. This part is quite exciting and can never be a boredom for me as u always expect new things coming to your way as a lesson, as a reward or a lifetime experience.

I would rather say that PR internship was a cherry on the icing cake for my three year course degree; a door to another world of experience! On an ending note, I am sharing a few pictures of the hotel, I captured during my internship. Thanks for reading.

Front view of the hotel entrance

Hotel main entrance 

lobby

Private Jetty departure for sailing boats, Catamaran Cruise

By Tina Devi Halkhoree

Curtin Student - Charles Telfair Institute Campus, Mauritius

I.D. Number:17480767

Let’s connect to the other part of the world!

 Hello Everyone, I would like to share one of my wonderful experiences I used to look forward to have every morning and it was to connect with different nationalities of people round the globe. It could not have been better to be at one place and get connected with people of different culture, background and nationality and different personalities, unique in its way. It was always exciting to connect, learn and broaden your knowledge with life experiences tourists shared. It was a kind of feeling to be linked for a moment with their memories somewhere in a different world.

This was also the time to show your confidence and communication skills with an international perspective. Managers are always around, observing if everything is going on smoothly. Conversations varied from individual to individual. I got the chance to share the Mauritian history and also answer their questions related to Mauritius and also advise them places of interest according to their preferences and hobbies.

While having quick chat with hotel guests, some of them also want to be listened as they share their life experiences and about the place they originate from. I would also seize an opportunity to ask them feedback about their stay and the services.  It was always nice to hear words like “keep it up, your hotel staff is going a great job” or | "their holidays could not have been better than that, its heaven here”.  Feedback noted are used to further improve the hotel service and preferences specified by guests are noted in their files to better personalize their stay among us at Paradise Cove. 

There are certain guests who are hesitant to open up during check – in procedures. It is the staff’s duty to communicate with them at their convenience to ask them if they are satisfied with the food and if they prefer to have any alternatives. One of our Basic attitudes of the Attitude Group followed by the hotel says that “Whenever a guest has a problem or needs something special, we break away from our regular duties to address and resolve this issue as a priority. Therefore, negative feedback from our guests must be turned into a positive action. Whoever receives the complaint will be responsible to do the needful on the spot in order to meet the guests’ total satisfaction.” A meeting is fixed with the Chef and the guests to further personalize any menu he or she has been unhappy about to achieve our guests satisfaction.

At the entrance of Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel

At the reception Desk of Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel

PR internship has been a life changing experience for me as it has introduced me the professional world. It has been wonderful for me as a trainee where you get a platform to put into practice whatever you have learnt during three years of study. I also got to discover myself and learn about my capabilities of performing in a real workplace and also be guided by managers to further improve my skills.

By Tina Devi Halkhoree

Curtin Student - Charles Telfair Institute Campus, Mauritius

I.D. Number:17480767

How PR Interns should put the 'P' in PR

I have now completed one month and a half as an intern at Cockburn Integrated Health. Despite only needing to complete 20 mandatory days, the staff at CIH have fortunately taken me under their wing and are allowing me to continue to assist them with their projects and PR activities.

Throughout my internship I have observed, learnt and picked up essential traits that all interns should possess whether that being your dream internship or an 'accidental' internship.

These are summarised in by 5 'P's -

Purpose: I have found that employers like a sense of purpose and direction in your work. Simply saying 'I like that' or 'That is a good idea' does not help the team. You must know first hand the reasons behind every decision. Use resources, ask questions and do your research. Every decision must have a purpose.

Passion: Passon is essential for public relations practitioners and allows us to put 100% into all tasks.  PR is constantly changing and dynamic. Those people with the passion to learn, adapt and push boundaries will excite managers. Passion and enthusiasm means something to employers.

Persistence: Coming into my internship I did not really understand the level of persistence required in public relations. I have done countless drafts on the same newsletter for weeks on end, facing rejection and changes by the staff and I have spent weeks on end chasing up interview times with staff members in the centre. However when I over came all these challenges to meet my deadlines, there was definitely a feeling of achievement! Be persistent, no matter how long it takes.

Praise: One of my supervisors really emphasises is the need to praise, support and acknowledge good work. Appreciation and respect will drive your team and co-workers to continue to work hard. As interns we should also compliment and respect others for their time and help.

Pace: Use every opportunity as a learning experience and pick up the pace. Don't repeat what you did yesterday, strive to improve and better your self. As an intern I have learnt that I can't be doing the same thing over and over again without improving or getting faster.

Enjoy, learn and strive to be better than yesterday!


Until next time,
Haleh