Fresh after just finishing his recent two-month internship here at Custard, Josh Whilding shares his top five things he has learnt about hotel and hospitality HR…
After spending a week at Custard over Easter, with next-to-no knowledge of the world of PR, it was fascinating to gain an insight into how an agency in the hospitality industry operates. After my work experience, Custard offered me a two-month internship which, I completed in September of this year.
This enabled me to dive deeper and get a proper taste into the exciting world of hospitality and PR. Looking back at what I’ve taken away from my internship, these are the five key things I have learnt about hotel/hospitality PR.
1. You have to be quick on your feet
My first key takeaway would be that in the world of hospitality PR; it is never smooth sailing – you must always expect last-minute changes or challenges. Being in an industry where everything is constantly moving and changing, if you cannot adapt, you’re in trouble.
My two months here at Custard have shown me that working in PR involves managing multiple demands simultaneously, so the need to efficiently multitask and prioritise is paramount when juggling numerous tasks. No matter how big or small, it requires constant adaptation to unexpected situations, and a strong, cohesive team to survive and thrive in this field.
2. PR is more than you think
While I built an understanding of PR during my week of work experience back in Easter, I did not fully appreciate until now the huge scale of roles and responsibilities involved within a team of hospitality PR professionals. One notable aspect of PR that I had not previously acknowledged was issues management, and how crucial it is in building and protecting a hotel’s brand. Not only does it involve proactively monitoring the latest news for developing trends, but it also looks at how potential issues need to be communicated. It has taught me the importance of responding with a high degree of speed and accuracy to control any issues that may emerge.
3. The importance of connections
Of course, having strong relationships with relevant stakeholders is a necessity in any form of business, but none more so than in the world of hospitality PR. I learnt PR for hotels requires a strong base of close, healthy relationships with clients and the media, whether it is trying to open new doors to business opportunities or trying to secure media coverage. Whilst I did not personally get involved in this firsthand, I certainly noticed and now have a clear understanding of the importance of having a network of professionals across the industry.
4. Working in PR is fun!
From a more personal point of view, when I arrived at Custard, I had little knowledge of what the world of PR involved, and was fairly apprehensive about what I would be doing and if I would enjoy it.
Now, after finishing my last day here, I can confirm that working in PR for hotels and venues is fun and engaging! Obviously assisted by working alongside fun and friendly colleagues, but by working in a diverse, dynamic world of work, it has provided an environment that enabled me to be creative and have freedom over the work I am doing, which is extremely rewarding. The fast-paced, ever-changing nature of the PR hospitality world, combined with the responsibility of always facing deadlines, has taught me how I can thrive and work to the best of my ability in this kind of environment, while also having fun in the process.
5. How rewarding working in PR is
I learnt that working in PR within the hospitality industry, you can truly see your work come into fruition and how it can have a real tangible impact on clients.
Furthermore, seeing when members of the team have successes, such as landing coverage for the media was great to see how all their hard work truly means something, which is an immensely rewarding part of working in the PR field. Part of my work here at Custard has involved creating and supporting with campaigns for clients/charities that drive forward initiatives that are making a real difference to people’s lives, which is enriching and deeply fulfilling to be a part of.
It has been an absolute pleasure returning to Custard over the summer, and it is fair to say that I have learnt a lot about the world of hospitality PR. It has given me an opportunity to explore a field in which I knew nothing about previously, and has taught me so much, which has been amazing in developing me both personally and professionally as I explore graduate opportunities for the future.
