New partnership and a world of opportunity at World Travel, Inc. and PTC’s School of Hospitality
PTC Hospitality students now have a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience by working part-time in the industry at World Travel Inc.—virtually—while completing their degree on campus. This opportunity has been made possible through our long-standing partnership with World Travel Inc., a travel management company since 1983.
Our partnership is in response to industry trends; members of the hospitality workforce are entering retirement, so there is a need for qualified, trained individuals. This partnership will assist with meeting industry demand by providing employment to students.
Through a tiered approach, students will start working early in their program and, with progress, will see boosts to their salaries as they move toward their internship and graduation. Sarah Esposito, a 6th quarter Hospitality student, will pave the way for future students by being the first person to work with World Travel Inc. through this partnership. She will be working remotely from PTC for the remainder of her program as a virtual agent. Upon graduation, she could transition to a full-time position seamlessly.
Liz Mandarino, President and CEO of World Travel Inc., and Patty Kaupinis, Director of Operations, are both graduates of the Boyd School, which was blended into PTC in 1998 adding Travel and Hospitality degrees. For the past 15 years, PTC has collaborated with Patty as an Advisory Board member, and she has supported the PTC Hospitality students through internship and full-time employment opportunities.
It’s this kind of innovative and forward-looking thinking that benefits our students and their employers. Long, productive alliances with employers help us keep our ears to the ground and act on trends that give our students meaningful experience before they graduate.