Land Your Dream Hyatt Internship in the U.S. with the J-1 Visa

With over 1,200 hotels all over the globe, Hyatt Hospitality Company is one of the leading hospitality companies in the world. It’s no surprise, then, that aspiring students in hotel management and hospitality have international Hyatt internships on the top of their wishlist, wanting to gain real world experience from leading companies in their field and having the opportunity to immerse themselves in new cultures and workspaces. 

If you are one of these students wanting a Hyatt summer internship in the U.S., your first question is probably “How to apply?” In this article, we’ll be covering all the groundwork for the Hyatt internship application process, such as: 

1. What are hospitality internships and what you’ll be doing
2. Where you can find hospitality internship openings 
3. Why you should apply to international hospitality internships 
4. How to apply for U.S. internships with the J-1 Visa 

From researching hospitality opportunities to ensuring every part of your visa application is secure, navigating the U.S. Hyatt internship process can feel overwhelming and inundating with information. At Intrax Global Internships, our mission is to help students like you be able to gain international work experience to connect people and cultures, inspire personal growth, and prepare individuals to succeed as global citizens. 

As a U.S. Department of State designated J-1 Visa sponsor, we simplify the legalities across borders and provide ongoing support to students throughout the program. That means that we’re here to fully support your Hyatt internship application process, so that you can launch your global career in hospitality and hotel management. 

What are Hospitality internships? 

Hospitality internships serve as an essential stepping stone for individuals aiming to establish a career in the hospitality industry. These internships can help you gain crucial experience and a glimpse of the daily operations at hotels, resorts, restaurants, and event management companies. 

Internship opportunities in hotel management and hospitality are typically available to students who are enrolled in relevant degree programs, such as hospitality management, hotel administration, tourism management, or related fields. Some internships may also be open to recent graduates or individuals seeking to transition into the industry.

Because hospitality is such a broad sector, spanning from hotels to resorts and tourist organizations, you should double check internship opportunities and which specific industries they are associated with. Internship durations can also vary widely depending on the program and organization, so be aware of how this can affect your schedule and traveling if you want to intern in the U.S. 

Hotel Management Internships 

Hotel management internships are a subset of hospitality internships that specifically focus on providing students with hands-on experience in the operations and management aspects of hotels and resorts. These internships tend to be harder to come by, as the majority of hospitality internships are geared towards folks looking for front line and entry level experience. 

Interns may work in departments such as front desk, housekeeping, food and beverage, sales and marketing, finance, or human resources, depending on their interests and career goals.

Typical responsibilities for hotel management interns may include:

1. Collaborating with hotel management, General Managers, and/or regional leadership to execute projects. 
2. Undergoing rotations across various departments including Sales, Accounting, and Operations to gain a broad understanding of hotel functions.
3. Learning and utilizing different hotel systems, such as property management and financial reporting.
4. Contributing to the analysis and implementation of guest service standards.
5. Undertaking additional tasks as directed by management.

Typical qualifications for hotel management internships may include: 

• Prior experience in the hospitality industry.
• Organizational skills with the capability to handle information efficiently.
• Strong proficiency in written and verbal communication, with the ability to undertake independent tasks effectively.
• Familiarity with hotel property management systems such as Opera, Hot Sos, ALICE, or Oracle. 
• Proven ability to multitask under tight deadlines. 
• Legal eligibility to work in the United States.

In general, hospitality internships are a great opportunity to learn the ropes in the industry, develop key mentor-mentee relationships, understand large business operations, and earn professional leverage when applying for full-time positions.

Where Can You Find Hospitality Opportunities like U.S. Hyatt Internships? 

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When you are searching for hospitality internships, particularly for coveted internships at Hyatt U.S. locations, it’s important to explore various platforms to see what is out there and connect with those in the industry to build your network. 

Here are some avenues you can take to find hospitality internships: 

• Careers pages: If you have a specific organization where you want to intern (for example, Hyatt), you can look through their career page to see if they have any programs. Make sure that you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket by limiting your search to one organization, and be aware that the application process detailed on the main page may not reflect the more complex processes required for J-1 visa applicants. 
• University Career Services: Many universities and colleges have partnerships with companies like Hyatt for internships and training programs. You can set up meetings with your institution’s career services office to learn more about hospitality internships, and ask to be connected with intern alumni to hear about their experiences. 
• Online Job and Internship Boards: Websites dedicated to reviews and job boards can be great resources to find internships. Be careful to not fall for scams or fake job postings, and keep in mind that these websites often don’t provide support or guidance for the application process. 
• Networking: Attend industry conferences, seminars, and events where you can meet professionals working at Hyatt. If you develop strong and long-term connections, you can ask for referrals and have a greater chance of being a top candidate within a competitive applicant pool. 
• Social Media: One way to keep up-to-date and get live updates on intern  opportunities is to follow hospitality-related social media accounts on platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook. Companies often post internship opportunities on their social media channels, and engaging with their content can increase your visibility as a potential candidate.

Why J-1 Visa Sponsor Organizations Are Especially Effective 

As an international student seeking a Hyatt internship in the United States, it’s crucial to connect with J-1 Visa sponsor organizations.

A J-1 visa sponsor helps prospective international candidates obtain their J-1 visas so they can travel to the U.S. for an Exchange Visitor Program. J-1 sponsors can help in:

• Helping find internship opportunities
• Screening participants
• Selecting participants
• Monitoring participants throughout their stay in the U.S.
• Explaining to participants how the program work

You can find an official list of approved J-1 visa sponsors online. You can also save time by staying right where you are while reading this, since Global Internships has been a designated U.S. J-1 visa sponsor for over four decades. 

We can connect you with luxury hotels with our Premium Hospitality Internship, allowing you to gain experience working at ​​the world’s leading luxury hotels while making friends and connections in the United States.   

You can look through our list of available hospitality internships to find available opportunities or contact us if you have more questions. 

Why Should You Apply to Hyatt Internships in the U.S.? 

At first glance, finding international internship opportunities and dealing with the J-1 visa application process may not feel worth the effort, especially if you’re a homebody or just simply aren’t convinced on the benefits of gaining hospitality experience in the States. However, there are major benefits to pursuing a hospitality internship in the U.S. 

One major benefit is the positive impact it has on your employability post-grad. A 2006 study by O'Neill & Xiao found that internships provide students with practical experience, industry knowledge, and professional networking opportunities, which are highly valued by employers in the hospitality sector.  The more interesting conclusion? Working in the U.S. can provide additional employability benefits beyond the ones listed by O’Neill & Xiao. 

A 2020 study on the impact of internships on graduate employability in the hospitality industry concluded that the exposure to diverse cultural and operational settings, especially in the dynamic U.S. hospitality market, prepares students for a global career. This means that interning abroad can uniquely prepare you for foreign hospitality markets, making you a stellar candidate for future job opportunities. 

Another benefit you gain from pursuing a U.S. internship is developing cross-cultural sensitivity skills that are essential for customer service and global management. A 2013 study on cross-cultural sensitivities in the hospitality industry found that internships in the U.S. provide a unique platform for cultural exchange and learning. Moreover, interns will have an easier time learning to adapt and communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, enhancing their intercultural competence.

Hospitality internships in the U.S. not only enrich your practical experience in the industry, but also prepare you for a global career, laying the foundation for your long-term career goals through your unique internship background.

How to get a Hyatt Internship with Intrax Premium Hospitality 

Securing a Hyatt internship in the United States with a J-1 visa involves a multi-step process. We’ll guide you through the basics of the J-1 visa process in this section, but realize that the visa interview process and required documentation can be confusing to understand. 

With Intrax Premium Hospitality, our goal was to ease this process, simplifying the hard stuff so you can jumpstart your hospitality career with top-notch internships. This section will cover some of the ways our program can help you get your dream Hyatt internship. If you want to learn more, you can always request for more info.

An Overview of the J-1 Visa Process 

The J-1 visa application process has lots of steps, documents, and specific processes that you need to check off in order to intern abroad. We have an ultimate guide on the J-1 visa if you want to develop a deeper understanding. For now, here are some of the basic steps you should know: 

1. Secure a visa sponsorship: With Intrax Global Internships as your J-1 visa sponsor, we’ll help you from screening to program information, helping you get a J-1 visa and find available internships so you can spend your summer at your dream hotel. 
2. Apply for the J-1 Visa: For J-1 Visa Sponsorship, submit an application detailing personal and host organization information, along with necessary documents like proof of English proficiency and academic or work experience. Estimate payments with our J-1 pricing calculator, and upon document and fee submission, expect to receive the DS-2019 form within four weeks for your visa interview. Finally, complete the DS-160 form online, schedule your appointment, and prepare the required documents for the interview.
3. Attend a visa interview: J-1 visa applicants must undergo an interview and pay a $185 Embassy fee online in advance for shorter wait times. Essential interview documents include a passport, DS-160 confirmation, SEVIS fee receipt, personal photo, DS-2019, and DS-7002 forms. Optional but helpful items are financial documents, visa appointment confirmation, and transcripts to demonstrate nonimmigrant intent. Preparation is key, so consult our 10 smart tips to confidently answer J-1 visa interview questions. 

Once you complete your interview and are approved, you can start brushing up on your English skills and prepare to travel to the U.S. Make sure that you double check if host organizations have any additional requirements, whether that be appropriate attire or subsidizing transportation fees. 

Eligibility Requirements 

There are specific eligibility requirements if you are applying for a J-1 internship in hospitality. These include: 

• Internships must be in Hospitality Operations, Hospitality Management, or Gastronomy and correspond to your field of study.
• Must be 18 years old or older.
• Be a current full-time student and have completed at least 2 semesters at a post-secondary academic institution OR be a recent graduate able to start an internship program within 12 months of graduation date. 
• Education must be obtained outside of the U.S. 
• Speak English at an advanced level.

Host organizations have a separate set of eligibility requirements, so it’s important to make sure that you’re sending job applications over to companies that are qualified to hire J-1 visa holders. For example, you should check if the Hyatt internship program is eligible to hire international students. 

Intrax Premium Hospitality’s Role in Getting Your Hyatt Internship

With our Premium Hospitality internship program, we provide individual and consistent guidance throughout your internship process, with exclusive offerings such as:

• Focused on luxury: We work with the leading luxury hotels in the US. All hotels are rated by Forbes and have achieved a 4- or 5-star rating.
• Match based on skills & location: Every candidate and organization is unique. Applying to listings on job boards is competitive and time-consuming, so why not leverage our signature organization relationships. 
• Develop training plan: A training plan identifies goals and responsibilities for both the candidate and host. 
• Monthly check-ins: Our Program Advisors check-in with both the candidate and host to monitor satisfaction.
• Seamless transition: Many of our hosts provide the opportunity to transfer at the end of your program to one of their international sister properties, allowing you to return home with experience and time of service!

You can request for more information or contact us if you want to Global Internships to support your hospitality internship journey. 

Apply for a Hyatt internship today with Global Internships!

Preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview materials is already a lot to handle, and you shouldn’t have to worry about even more processes to land your dream Hyatt internship in the U.S. That’s where we come into the picture. Our hope is to make your J-1 visa application a breeze, so that you can focus on the fruitful and career-building experience of being a hospitality intern. 

As a U.S. Department of State designated J-1 Visa sponsor, we can help you get a J-1 visa, show you available internships, guide you through specific programs in hospitality and more. If you’re interested in starting your abroad experience today, you can request information, begin your registration, or contact us today! 

Not interested in hospitality but want to explore the J-1 visa internship program? Check out our other resources: 

• What are the best internships in the world?
• International Internships for College Students
• 10 Companies That Hire International Students For Valuable Internships
• U.S.-Based STEM Internships For College Students: How to Apply + Requirements

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