Uncertain whether a placement year was an option she wanted to pursue, Sandra Seidel, studying for an International Hospitality Management BA (Hons), tentatively took off to spend a year at the luxury Sea Pines Resort in South Carolina.
Situated within a vast, 5,000 acre oceanfront retreat in South Carolina The Sea Pines Resort is a luxury Hilton Head destination resort, and Sandra's home and workplace for her 12 month placement year. Fortunately any concerns about taking on this placement have long since gone as Sandra reports back to the School full of enthusiasm for her role.
"I must say that I believe that the Sea Pines placement was the best choice for me and I would like to thank you for convincing me as I was a little unsure at the beginning.
"At the moment most of us are working 6 days a week because although summer is over, we still have a lot of groups coming in which keeps us quite busy. We are working hard at the moment to try and keep our 4 star standards and the resort has made us aware that a mystery shopper could come any minute now."
One of the advantages of taking a placement year is that students have the opportunity to put into practice some of things learnt during their first two years of study. For Sandra this has included getting involved in a wide variety of tasks within the resort.
"I am working at the Inn at Harbour Town but also worked a couple of shifts at the Welcome Center and at some of the restaurants. Although it is a lot of work I am definitely enjoying it.
I have already learnt so much, starting with all the computer systems, guest requests and issues and so much more and have done many different jobs, from front desk to butler services, concierge, room service, valet. At the end of August I was the first one out of the new interns to start doing the night audit shift and therefore taking care of the entire resort (the hotel as well as the 400 homes and villas). I even got to train one of my colleagues who moved from the Welcome Center to the Inn. Soon I will also have the opportunity to spend some time shadowing the accounts department.
"A recent task I enjoyed was the opportunity to be a mystery shopper for one of the resort restaurants, which also including writing up a report on the experience. Every staff member has different responsibilities and I have been given responsibility for stationery and amenity ordering."
Under grad ate Hospitality Course Leader, Gillian Parfitt, is delighted that Sandra is enjoying her placement.
" We have a long established partnership with The Sea Pines Resort and returning students are always very enthusiastic about their experience there. Representatives from The Sea Pines Resort will be visiting us again soon, in Eastbourne, to find students to join them in America next year, with opportunities for students studying across all our subject areas."
For more information about taking a placement year contact Jan Adams the School of Service Management Student Placement Co-ordinator by email J.A.Adams@brighton.ac.uk or by calling her on 01273 643607 for more information.
The Sea Pines Resort
School of Service Management News
6th November 2009
