Endless Opportunities in the Vast World of Tourism & Hospitality

Hi everybody!

I’m Olivia Wellman – a current Tourism and Hospitality Management student at Montgomery County Community College, PA. I've also secured an internship this entire year at the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board, working in multiple sectors from marketing and social media content, blog-writing, and visitor services at our tourism desk in Valley Forge National Historical Park’s Visitor Center.

I chose to enter the Tourism and Hospitality industry with not much experience at all, but I brought a lot of determination to explore a new path. I’m very social, creative, and a bit business-savvy. And I’ve learned this industry is just that – it's positive, spontaneous, and diversely innovative. There are so many more themes of the industry becoming relevant – such as sustainability, cultural awareness, and empathy. It’s not the type of business where I’m not stuck in an office every day or selling products. It’s promoting and selling experiences.

I'm continuing to follow the passion I've found in this industry because I feel inspired each day I am in it. Valley Forge Tourism is special to me because I’m promoting the local areas where I grew up. I get to speak to all kinds of people and share positive messages. My team has been incredibly encouraging and positive while I am eager to learn in a new environment. I ask a question or request a new project to take on, and they are all for it.

Tourism and Hospitality has such a wide range of career paths and opportunities -- it's not one-size-fits-all. The range of my position – a Visitor Services intern – allows for so many opportunities:

I was the volunteer coordinator for one of our biggest events of the year – Rev Run! I’m creating social media marketing content, writing blogs, and doing various research. I’m creating meaningful connections with the public at our tourism desk at the park. I recently even created a connection with a visitor that may bring future hotel meeting space business to the sales team.