Created in partnership with the local convention and visitors bureau, Visit Orlando, the eighth annual Hospitality Job Shadow Day is an on-the-job learning experience that exposes hospitality students to the variety of careers offered within Orlando’s industry-leading hospitality and tourism community.

“This is an amazing opportunity for our students to be mentored by many of the top leaders in the hospitality industry and get an up close and personal look at their future careers,” said Veena Garib, the College’s assistant director of employer relations. “For some students, this event will be an eye-opening experience, and for others, it will be the perfect opportunity to network with employers. But overall, it’s a chance for our students to learn from the hospitality industry’s most successful companies.”

Garib anticipates that more than 30 companies will participate in this year’s event, including Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, Sea World, Rosen Hotels, and J.W. Marriott.

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Rosen College of Hospitality Management will match their students with an employer based on their individual career interests. Students can choose from theme park/attraction management; golf/club management; restaurant management, tourism management, event management, lodging operations and resort time sharing.

“Hospitality and tourism is Orlando’s largest industry, employing nearly 360,000 people directly and indirectly with wages exceeding $13.4 billion a year,” said Kristin Rothbauer, Visit Orlando’s community relations manager. “And this invaluable job shadowing opportunity allows future hospitality leaders to explore all the exciting careers within this important industry.”

The 2012 Hospitality Job Shadow Day is only open to current students of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Students must register online before August 31 at .

Wyndham Vacation Ownership offered similar internship opportunities to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Rosen College students in the past, but downsized its college recruiting efforts over the past few years due to the U.S. economic climate. However, according to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Rosen College Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Amy Gregory, the College’s ARDA affiliation and expanded timeshare curriculum has sparked a renewed interest between WVO and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

“We had an increased presence at ARDA’s global convention this year due to our student scholarships, involvement in the Education Committee and Research Committee, and various other networking opportunities,” said Gregory, who helped Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s Rosen College become a member of ARDA. “Our visibility within ARDA has certainly helped generate or reinvigorate interest within the industry. Wyndham, aware of our presence within ARDA, recently visited our campus to discuss new partnership opportunities with our administration.”

As a result of those discussions arranged by Lori Cosimides and facilitated by Dr. Joe Hutchinson, Dr. Youcheng Wang, Dr. Amy Gregory, Tom Barr and Veena Garib, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Rosen College students will have the opportunity this summer to participate in Wyndham Vacation Ownership’s 11-week paid “WYNternship” program. The full-time, 40-hour week program will allow students to gain excellent industry experience, along with the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced and talented individuals in the hospitality industry.

“This is a great opportunity for learning, exposure, and visibility to the many levels of Wyndham’s organization, including direct interaction with senior leadership,” said Gregory. “The students that are selected will be very fortunate to have these opportunities.”

According to Shelly Griessel, Senior Vice President of Contact Center Operations and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Management, “the WYNternship program allows for students to work in a variety of areas within our Hospitality division whilst being part of a wider group of interns.”

The rotational program will help students gain a deep understanding of the inner workings of several areas, equipping them with the ability to make more informed decisions on their true passion in the world of hospitality.

Wyndham Vacation Ownership is currently interviewing Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Rosen College students to fill four summer WYNternship positions, which are all set to begin on May 29, 2012.  Students interested in the internship opportunities, as well as other full and part time work with Wyndham Vacation Ownership should refer to the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s Rosen College listserv communications and/or contact Tom Barr or Veena Garib in Student Services for additional information.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ is one of eight academic institutions in the United States, who are current members of ARDA’s vast network of industry professionals and organizations.