Unforgettable Australian Experience & Internships for ICMS American Study Abroad Students

American students study abroad  

A pair of ICMS American Study Abroad students are making the most of their Australian adventure while studying at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) main campus and having secured internships at luxury Sydney hotels. The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) were instrumental in assisting the two students get to ICMS.

Third year Hospitality Management students Paul Galletta and Lucas Gobrin-Tarbell have harnessed their passions for travel and the hospitality industry and are currently on ICMS Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements, otherwise known as internships, at the Four Seasons Hotel and Sydney Harbour Marriott respectively

“I always knew I wanted to study at least one semester in Australia, even before I started university in America. Once I discovered ICMS, it was a no-brainer for me what higher education institution I would want to attend,” Paul said.

“The diverse student community, the internships, and the perfect location were all major influences that led me here and to this day these are some of my favourite aspects about the college! I can’t even begin to say how much I love ICMS and the life it has given me so far. I can’t begin to imagine how devastated I will be when I leave in August after my seven months here.”

TEAN is a full-service international education provider specializing in immersive study and internship programs throughout Asia Pacific and is an exclusive partner with ICMS to send students from North America/U.S.A.

Where is ICMS and what does it offer to study abroad students?

ICMS is located in the Northern Beaches, and in the city of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales. ICMS American Study Abroad students experience the very best of Australia’s natural beauty and coastline with nine beaches on ICMS’s doorstep. This, combined with the buzz of attending classes in one of the world’s busiest cities at the city campus or a ferry’s ride away on the Manly Campus.

Lucas and Paul are both current students of the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and have known each other since their introductory hospitality class.

“I chose to study hospitality because I have a passion to travel around the world while making positive and lasting memories for my guests.

Ever since I was a young child, I would usually plan the hotels we would stay at and the method of travel to take,” Lucas said.

“I was attracted to the study abroad program at ICMS because it was the only program that allowed me to study for a long period of time in Australia while taking advantage of the bustling hospitality industry in downtown Sydney.”

Both Paul and Lucas stay on campus where accomodation is offered to the Study Abroad students.

They both enrolled as ICMS American Study Abroad students within the option that allowed them to undertake WIL roles (internships) while in Australia*.

Securing a job in Australia through ICMS internships

The two American study abroad students describe how the dedicated ICMS WIL team supported and assisted them in their search for the best internship for each of them. This is all part of the ICMS Professional Mentor Eco-System that is tailored to students’ career goals and aspirations, helping individual students achieve personal success in their professional lives.

“With the help of my WIL advisor, Maria Macri-Nosari, I was able to receive a job offer as a Guest Service Attendant at the Four Seasons. Maria guided me through my entire hiring process.

We sat down and talked about my industry goals and inspirations and once she learned that the Four Seasons was my dream company, she used her own connections to get me an interview with the Four Seasons HR director.

Maria provided me with her wisdom developed through years of working in the industry and even prepped me for my four round interview process. She has been a coach and mentor to me, and I can’t thank her enough for everything she has done for me thus far,” Paul said.

Enriched learning through industry training

“This has been my dream company to work at for years, so I’m thrilled to finally have a foot in the door!

The Four Seasons is an absolute exceptional place to work, and I don’t see myself changing my choice of employment any time soon. I hope this experience will further polish my service skills and provide me with effective ways to enhance the guest experience. In addition, I hope this position will provide me with a much fuller understanding of how hotels operate in the real world.”

Lucas’ internship is at the Sydney Harbour Marriott at Circular Quay where he is a Front Office All Around. In his role, he rotates between the At Your Service call centre, bell desk, and the front desk.

“Through this placement, I hope to learn how each aspect of the front office is interdependent with each other, as well as with other departments throughout the hotel. This industry training will help me gain valuable experience of working in a line-level position that will be good preparation for managerial and corporate roles in the future,” Lucas said.

A key differentiator for these students is that ICMS is big enough to connect you and small enough to connect with you. ICMS presents its students with a unique student experience. To learn more about student’s stories, browse the Hall of Fame to hear from students about their ICMS experience.

“It is important to have this in-depth level of experience so as a future decision maker in the hospitality industry, I would have a better understanding of how future strategies and policies could impact employees by taking their perspective in mind and being their advocate.

My end goal is to be an Executive Vice President of either brand management, guest experience, loyalty, finance, revenue management, or human resources for a major hotel company. Having this experience will allow me to explore different avenues and interests as well within the hotel industry.”

ICMS is the Professional Mentor

As an ICMS American Study Abroad student, Lucas’ experience of the ICMS’ Professional Mentor Eco-System has been through the support and mentorship he has received from his ICMS Revenue Optimisation lecturer, Jamie Griego.

“Throughout my application process for Marriott, Jamie has been very supportive by giving me the confidence to succeed in my interview and being interested and excited to hear about my new experiences,” Lucas said.

Choosing this program has offered ICMS American Study Abroad students Lucas and Paul the opportunities of working in world-class hotels, gaining invaluable experience for their future careers, being able to experience Australia while studying, and having had access to the ICMS WIL Program as well as having been supported through the ICMS Professional Mentor Eco-System.

When they return to America in August, these ICMS American Study Abroad students take with them international working experience, a global network, personal and professional confidence as well as memories to last a lifetime.

Study Abroad Program Options

* For more information on the different ICMS Study Abroad options available, click here

For more information about the Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney, click here

For more information about the Sydney Harbour Marriot Circular Quay, click here

Want to hear from other study abroad students? Watch these videos